Two Claremont McKenna leaders have been promoted to high-level positions at the College, expanding their responsibilities effective June 1, 2023.
Sharon Basso, who has served as Claremont McKenna’s Vice President of Student Affairs for seven years, has been elevated to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the College. Basso will also serve as Acting President during President Hiram Chodosh’s sabbatical effective July 1.
Dianna “DT” Graves ’98, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, is CMC’s next Vice President of Student Affairs, and will continue as Dean of Students until a national search for a Dean of Students is completed during the academic year.
With four decades of leadership experience in higher education, Basso has built an outstanding reputation as a skilled administrator, consensus builder, and empathic supporter of students. Since joining CMC in 2016, Basso has dedicated herself to developing a healthy student community, while emerging as an innovative, strategic, and effective leader.
“Sharon is a phenomenal team-builder and coach, always listening warmly and actively with the right questions. This informs her effective collaboration capability and sound judgment,” said CMC President Hiram E. Chodosh. “She is the perfect choice for this central role in support of our strong institutional priorities, outstanding leadership team, and close-knit College community.”
Prior to CMC, Basso served as Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students at Lehigh University, where she oversaw 18 departments in student affairs and was responsible for the management of nearly 60 professional and administrative staff. She was honored with the Tradition of Excellence Award.
In 2014, under Basso’s leadership, Lehigh University was named as one of the “30+ Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs” by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and the American College Personnel Association.
Basso holds a doctorate in educational leadership, administration, and policy from the University of Delaware. She received a master’s degree in college counseling and student development administration from Shippensburg University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lafayette College.
Graves has deep roots at Claremont McKenna. A 1998 CMC graduate, Graves was recruited in 2010 to become the Director of Academic Planning after leading the CMS women’s volleyball team as head coach for 12 seasons. As Director of Academic Planning, she oversaw federal grant administration, institutional accreditation, and external program review. She played a lead role in establishing the Personal and Social Responsibility Initiative, working with the Dean of Students and the Dean of the Faculty on issues related to sexual assault, drug and alcohol use, academic integrity, and campus climate. For that, she was honored with the 2015 Exceptional Service Award. Graves also served as CMC’s institutional liaison officer to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for seven years.
Graves was promoted to Associate Vice President and Dean of Students after serving as the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and trustees on CMC’s institutional priorities. In 2019 she was honored with the John P. Faranda ’79 Student Service Award, and in 2022, she received the Presidential Award for Merit.
“DT has a singular triple-threat in student affairs: a tireless commitment to student learning, growth, and well-being; a deep understanding of the value proposition and ethos of the CMC mission and community; and a rare, thoughtful sophistication about how we should measure impact and success,” said Chodosh. “We could not be more thrilled to see her in this elevated leadership role in service to all we do.”
Graves received a biology degree from Claremont McKenna College and holds a Ph.D. in education from Claremont Graduate University.