Shortly after they began co-leading and planning Claremont McKenna College’s 50 Years of Co-Education celebration, Mari Adam ’80 and Lorraine Bains ’88 became fast friends.

“Why didn’t we know each other before?” Bains recalled asking herself subsequent to meeting Adam for the first time last year. “Whenever I connect with a CMCer, I meet interesting alumni with amazing backgrounds and careers,” she added.

Now Adam and Bains are busy collaborating on something even more amazing—the official CMC co-ed anniversary. To be celebrated throughout 2026-27 with a dynamic series of events, stories, and initiatives, the milestone offers CMC an opportunity to recognize the outstanding achievements, leadership development, and cultural contributions of CMC alumnae, as well as female students, faculty, and staff.

Adam sees the anniversary as a time to “explore what co-education has meant to CMC, and to really chart what that path is going forward. It stirs up a lot of conversation, which I think is very healthy to have,” she said.

The College became co-educational during the academic year 1976-1977, under the leadership of then-CMC President Jack Stark ’57 GP’11, who, at the time, said, “an institution that did not admit women would have had a hard time calling itself a leader.” Later, he explained how the College selected its first co-ed students. “We took the best … We got a group of terrific women who came in and they were real, real pioneers.”

CMC going co-ed “doubled the available talent pool,” said Adam, who was among those pioneers, graduating magna cum laude with a double major in French and Political Science as part of the College’s first four-year co-ed class.

After CMC, Adam spent eight years working for the U.S. Department of State as a foreign service officer, and earned an MBA in International Finance/International Business from George Washington University School of Business.

Now a financial advisor and a founder/CEO of her own firm, Mari Talks Money, Adam credited her time at CMC with preparing her for a career in the male-dominated fields of diplomacy and finance, as well as for becoming an entrepreneur. “I really felt being a female was an advantage,” said Adam, noting that CMC is “all about giving you not just the skills, but the courage, the vision, and the resilience to go out there and change your part of the world.”

Bains, who this academic year was elected to CMC’s Board of Trustees as a regular trustee, charted new territory after graduating from CMC with a dual major in Political Science and Philosophy, becoming the first woman and woman of color to serve as President of the Claremont McKenna College Alumni Association. In recognition of her exceptional leadership and service to the College and its alumni community, she received the Jack L. Stark ’57 GP’11 Distinguished Service Award.

During her time leading the CMCAA, Bains worked with the College’s first female president, Pamela Gann, whose leadership style she described as “innovative and bold.”

“Collaborating with President Gann to increase alumni participation in preparation for her historic Campaign for Claremont McKenna was a phenomenal opportunity,” Bains recalled. “It was a master class in leadership.”

Bains serves as senior vice president at City National Bank, where she is a recognized leader in treasury management and working capital strategy. A certified treasury professional, she combines technical expertise with a passion for supporting clients. She earned a master’s in Public Policy with an emphasis on Business from Claremont Graduate University and is a fellow of the U.S.-Japan Leadership Program. Bains also volunteers her time to teach financial literacy to young people, bridging her professional experience with her commitment to community education.

“My closest friends are from Claremont … bonds are built here,” said Bains, who joined the CMC Board of Trustees in the fall. Over the years, she has continued to lead alumni initiatives, including recent collaborations with the late Ambassador and CMC Trustee Steven McGann ’73. While living in D.C., she and McGann developed a concept for a D.C. Program Speaker Series—which launched during the program’s 50th Anniversary in November, another milestone for CMC. 

As they plan the full scope of the 50 Years of Co-Education celebration, Adam is grateful to be partnering with Bains, and to be “tapping into her friendships and experience from leading the CMCAA.”

“We want to see broad participation from alumni,” Adam said. “It’s revealing and inspiring to learn from different generations about how things have changed and where we’re headed next.”

Bains agrees, emphasizing inclusion and belonging as guiding themes for the celebration.

“I’m hoping that we can engage as many people as possible who believe in what CMC stands for,” she said. “The future belongs to those who know they belong—to a place that develops responsible leaders and values every voice.

“We’ve had 50 memorable years and even more extraordinary ones lie ahead.”