Living in a Wildlife Corridor

August 30, 2023

An immersive exhibit at Descanso Gardens underscores the diversity and proximity of Southern California wildlife—and the efforts under way to improve their mobility

Occidental Magazine

Occidental magazine brings you campus news, in-depth features, and profiles of exceptional alumni. For the 2023-24 academic year, the magazine will publish two print and digital issues (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024) and two digital-only issues (Summer 2023 and Winter 2024).

Features

Gay and Lesbian Association members in 1984.

Alumni Engagement

Rainbow Connections

Nearly 40 years after its formation, Out@Oxy has a new name and a renewed mission—to support Occidental’s LGBTQIA+ student community and curate a queer history of the College

Meko Winbush '03, winning director of Project Greenlight

Profiles

All Eyes on Meko

Winning Project Greenlight and making her first feature film has opened doors for Meko Winbush ’03. In return, she endured eight months in front of the camera

Academics

Living in a Wildlife Corridor

An immersive exhibit at Descanso Gardens underscores the diversity and proximity of Southern California wildlife—and the efforts under way to improve their mobility

Faculty

Fanfare for a Mountain Lion

Associate Professor of Music Adam Schoenberg found inspiration from ‘L.A.’s coolest cat’—and his latest composition may have helped save his own life

Science & Technology

18 Young Scientists to Watch

Occidental’s labs are the launching pads for countless careers in the sciences—and here are 18 graduates of the last 20 years, nominated by their former faculty mentors, doing exemplary work...

Illumination Chief Marketing Officer Sam Bergen '04

Profiles

Powering Up

Following the record-shattering box office launch of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Illumination Chief Marketing Officer Sam Bergen ’04 recounts his journey from Campus Road to Rainbow Road

Alumni Engagement

News and Kudos From the Board of Governors

As the academic year begins, the Occidental Alumni Board of Governors is gearing up for a busy fall season.

Oxy History

Diplomatic Community

Occidental's ties to foreign relations run deep—not just in the U.S. government, but in Japan and South Africa as well

Alumni Engagement

Supporting Oxy’s Priorities

The work of the Alumni Board of Governors builds connections to the College

First Word

Occidental College President Harry J. Elam, Jr.

President Elam

Navigating the New Admission Landscape

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions on race-conscious admission practices, Occidental is committed to adhering to the cornerstones of its historic mission

From the Quad

Isabel Wilkerson speaks at Occidental College's 2023 Commencement.

Academics

Wilkerson to Seniors: Embrace Your Power

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Isabel Wilkerson addresses the Class of 2023 at Occidental's 141st Commencement ceremony

A view of the AGC administration building

Alumni Engagement

Six New Trustees Elected to Board

The Occidental College Board of Trustees welcomed six new members to its ranks in July. Trustees are elected to four-year terms and can serve up to 12 consecutive years following their...

The 2023-24 Barack Obama Scholars at Occidental College.

Student Life

The Next Obama Scholars

Meet the eight sophomores and juniors selected for Occidental's premier leadership training program

Occidental's solar array reflects a colorful sunset in 2014.

Sustainability

A Decade of Sun Days

Ten years after its installation, Occidental’s solar array produces 12 percent of the College’s energy usage

Campaign

Making Good on Occidental’s Promise

As The Oxy Campaign For Good sprints to a successful conclusion, the Board of Trustees endorses an integrated strategic plan for 2030

Coach Dale Widolff and moderator Jeff Goldstein '86.

Athletics

Commemorating Occidental's Gridiron Legacy

With six decades of Tigers in attendance, Coach Dale Widolff returns to campus for a celebration of Oxy's storied football program

Mixed Media

More Mixed Media

A performance of Fetch Clay, Make Man featuring four Black actors onstage

Arts

Power Dynamics

Exploring the unlikely friendship between two Black cultural icons—Muhammad Ali and Stepin Fetchit—professor and playwright Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man packs a punch with L.A...

Richard Carlson '60, author of Mekong Medicine

Arts

Mixed Media

U.S. Army Medical Corps veteran Richard Carlson ’60 on his Vietnam memoir, Mekong Medicine, and more

Oxy Talk

More Oxy Talk

Keegan McChesney '16 and David Wigglesworth '50 M'53

Obituaries

Dave and Me

Separated by 66 years but drawn together by an Oxy bumper sticker, David Wigglesworth ’50 M’53 and Keegan McChesney ’16 became fast friends a decade ago. Keegan remembers his oldest friend...

Tye Hernandez ’23 (track and field), an economics/politics double major from Brea.

Athletics

Senior Moments

Ten standout student-athletes from Occidental’s Class of 2023 discuss the challenges and rewards of sticking with their sport through the pandemic

Last Page

Occidental College Professor of Chemistry Frank Lambert

Academics

Lessons From Lambert

Fifty-seven years after an ill-fated grade placed his academic dreams in jeopardy, Dr. Elliott Oppenheim ’69 recalls the counsel of his mentor, Professor of Chemistry Frank Lambert