Meet Our Alumni

An occidental alumus keeling in a grassy, flowery field

At Occidental College, our biology alumni are making waves across research labs, clinical settings, conservation initiatives, and industry. Whether pushing the frontiers of molecular science or restoring ecosystems, these graduates carry forward the spirit of inquiry and community that defines our biology program. Explore their stories below.

Sam Rocha headshot, white top
Sam Rocha, RN, ’19
Nurse, ICU, City of Hope National Medical Center
After completing an accelerated nursing program at George Washington University in Washington, DC, she landed a job as a registered nurse in the ICU at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA. She was accepted to USC's nurse anesthesia program, where she will graduate as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in 2029.
Louis Jochems headshot striped blue shirt
Dr. Louis Jochems ’15
Director, Geographic Information Science, Trout Unlimited
Louis brings expertise in spatial ecology and remote sensing to advance the prioritization, monitoring, and understanding of eco-geomorphic outcomes from river restoration projects nationwide. He communicates research findings as part of a broader effort to support TU staff and agency partners, and to inform conservation policies that further TU’s mission of protecting coldwater habitat for native and wild salmonids.
Tatum Katz headshot sunglasses black shirt
Dr. Tatum Katz ’17
Research Data Scientist, USDA Agricultural Research Service
As a research data scientist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Meat Safety and Quality research unit, Tatum uses disease ecology and data science to help meat industry producers reduce Salmonella on their products to ensure a healthier public. She works with a diverse team of microbiologists, animal scientists, and others to identify holistic solutions to achieve this goal.
Hope Hendry headshot in white coat
Hope Hendry ’21
Data Analyst, Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons
After earning a master’s degree in molecular epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Hope now works as a data analyst in the department of pediatrics at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She works in a clinical neuroscience lab overseeing data management and statistical analyses for physicians and clinical psychologists.
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Kevin Fistanic ’19
Restoration Programs Manager, Tidal Influence, LLC
Kevin manages habitat restoration projects, monitors sensitive flora and fauna, and leads volunteer and educational programs. His company just celebrated the groundbreaking of the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project, which will result in the restoration of over 100 acres of non-native vegetation into fully tidal salt marsh and coastal sage scrub habitat.
Chelsea Blankenchip headshot
Dr. Chelsea Blankenchip ’17
Research scientist, Scioto Agritech
Chelsea is a protein production scientist and a biology instructor at Central Ohio Technical College. She has a passion for communicating science and expertise in biochemistry, protein production, and microbiology.
Cecilia Prator headshot in a science lab in a biohazard suit
Dr. Ceci Prator ’12
Senior virologist and computational biologist, Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.
Ceci is a technical program lead for international pathogen surveillance initiatives. Her work focuses on supporting ministries of health and private partners in generating, analyzing, and interpreting sequencing data from diverse monitoring sites. She transforms genomic data into actionable insights that help detect and track emerging pathogens before they spread, ultimately supporting countries in building stronger early warning systems for infectious diseases.
Claire Willing headshot long blonde hair white shirt
Dr. Claire Willing ’12
Asst. Professor, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Claire earned a PhD in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley and then completed her postdoctoral training at Stanford University in the Department of Biology. At UW, she uses molecular tools, ecological theory, and techniques in plant physiological ecology and stable isotope ecology to better understand plant-fungal interactions and the functional consequences for plant communities in a changing climate.
Tina Tran headshot black turtleneck
Dr. Tina Tran ’14
Genetic counselor, St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center
Tina works with a team consisting of other genetic counselors, geneticists, nurses, and dieticians. Her role is to select and consent patients to genetic testing, interpret reports, and communicate results to patients and other providers, to help find an exact diagnosis which can inform treatment for conditions such as muscular dystrophies, differences in neurodevelopment, connective disorders, and more.
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