Occidental says goodbye to seven retiring professors—and some of their brightest pupils express their appreciation for a combined 233 years of service to the College
Ron Buckmire
Professor of Mathematics | Years at Oxy: 30
“Ron showed me that mathematicians can be cool people with diverse interests who are great teachers and communicators.”
Jesse Kreger ’15
Read his interview and alumni tribute
Peter Dreier
E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics; Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy | Years at Oxy: 32
“Perhaps most inspiring is that Peter Dreier walks the walk. Wherever there are community organizations making real change in the city, chances are he’s not too far removed.”
Sunari Weaver-Anderson '24
Read his alumni tribute (interview coming soon)
Glenn A. Elmer Griffin
Professor of Critical Theory and Social Justice | Years at Oxy: 35
“Dr. Griffin was more than the professor who taught my most fascinating courses; he was a mentor and a friend.”
Jill Normington ’94
Read his 2001 profile and 2025 alumni tribute
Warren Montag
Louis M. Brown Family Professor in Literature in English | Years at Oxy: 38
“With his immense intellect, he demanded the same level of rigor from his students, but he also imparted his knowledge, wisdom, and insight with grace, warmth, and plenty of deadpan humor.”
Lynn Ta
Read his alumni tribute (interview coming coon)
Alexandra Puerto
Associate Professor of History and Latinx and Latin American Studies | Years at Oxy: 20
“I am incredibly grateful to have had Professor Puerto cross my path; she has shaped the framework of my identity and helped me become a version of myself that had lain dormant within me.”
Roxana Castro ’09
Read her interview and alumni tributes
Stuart Rugg
Professor of Kinesiology | Years at Oxy: 38
“If you were lucky enough to have Stuart Rugg as a professor, you left the classroom not only more knowledgeable but more inspired, more curious, and more grounded in what it means to be both a learner and a teacher.”
Matthew Bernstein ’04
Read his interview and alumni tribute
Margi Rusmore
Michael G. Gibby ’68 and Barbara J. Gibby ’68 Professor of Science, Geology | Years at Oxy: 40
“Her academic rigor, fairness, fantastic organization, and sense of humor are all things I’ve strived to emulate, and I know that I speak for so many students when I say that she played a pivotal role in shaping the person who I am today.”
Kirsten Menking ’90
Read her interview and alumni tributes
Top photo (L-R): Professors Elmer Griffin, Margi Rusmore, Warren Montag, Peter Dreier, Alexandra Puerto, Stuart Rugg, and Ron Buckmire.
