Claremont McKenna College will celebrate its 75th Commencement Ceremony with the Class of 2023 on Saturday, May 13. CMC anticipates conferring 279 undergraduate and three graduate degrees, for a total of 282 May graduates. To honor the graduates’ achievements, the event will be filled with music, inspiration, and celebration. The event will be livestreamed (click here to livestream at 2 p.m. on Saturday).
Leading humanist and renowned political scientist, Robert Putnam, who has been called the “poet laureate of civil society,” will offer the keynote address. Putnam is the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy, Emeritus at Harvard University and former dean of the Kennedy School of Government. He is also author of the influential and groundbreaking book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Published in 2000, Bowling Alone documents Americans growing apart and is frequently cited in studies and articles about the rise in American loneliness and decline in social health.
Putnam will be introduced by Amari Huang ’23, CMC senior class president. Putnam will also receive an honorary degree, presented by CMC Trustee, Jeffrey S. Klein ’75 P’08 P’11 P’14 and Prof. Tamara Venit-Shelton.
Additional Commencement highlights include:
- Stags quarterback Zachary Fogel ’23 will perform the National Anthem during the ceremony.
- Annette Njei ’23, president of CMC’s Black Student Association, will share remarks as the elected student speaker.
- Class of 2023 Valedictorian, Angie Wang, will serve as the Student Marshal and Prof. Lisa Koch, recipient of the Glenn R. Huntoon Award for Superior Teaching, will serve as the Faculty Marshal.
- Trustee Rev. Darrell Smith ’74 P’00 will deliver the invocation.
- Trustee Robert Nakasone ’69 P’98 will receive an honorary degree, presented by Chair of the Board of Trustees David Mgrublian ’82 P’11 and Dean of the Faculty Heather Antecol.
- CMC Registrar and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Morgan will lead the singing of CMC’s College Song.
- President Hiram Chodosh will offer inspirational remarks to the new graduates. The ceremony will take place on CMC’s Parents Field on Saturday, May 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Additional 2023 CMC Commencement ceremony schedule and details.