From academics to real-world impact, explore stories from our community that highlight the people and experiences making Occidental College a place of opportunity, discovery, and success.
Lauren Berger ’19 Alumni Geology Geology PhD student Lauren Berger recently received a prestigious grant from NASA to help her unravel the mysteries of Martian sand dunes and contribute to a deeper understanding of planetary evolution.
Laura Boykin Okalebo ’96 Alumni Biology For biologist Laura Boykin Okalebo, Occidental College was a life-changing experience, setting her on a career path that combines science and social justice. Her groundbreaking work in East Africa has empowered thousands of farmers to achieve sustainable livelihoods.
Alyanna McGrath Student Computer Science Alyanna McGrath ’25 embodies both academic and community leadership at Occidental College, majoring in computer science while championing inclusivity through her involvement in the Black Student Alliance, Women in STEM Club, and basketball.
Max Chun ’19 Alumni Politics When disaster struck his native Santa Cruz in 2023, reporter Max Chun and a small team of journalists sprang into action for their community—and pocketed a Pulitzer Prize for their work.
Liliana Madrid Larrañaga Student Biochemistry Public Health Liliana Madrid Larrañaga ’26 navigated her transition into college by finding opportunities to connect with her academic and personal interests, serving as a valuable resource to her peers, and taking steps toward her dream career working in women’s healthcare.
Peter Vartanian Student Diplomacy & World Affairs Comparative Studies in Literature & Culture Supported by Occidental through grants and faculty mentorship, Peter Vartanian ’25 is traveling the globe conducting research on the geopolitics of the global transition to green energy, among other topics.
Alana Pizarro ’22 Alumni Biology Alana Pizarro joined a fieldwork expedition to Isla Guadalupe, a wind-swept island off the coast of Baja California. The researchers were studying the Guadalupe Island Junco, a small sparrow with unique evolutionary characteristics and a delicate existence.
Keala Ede ’00 Alumni Politics Psychology As the first Native Hawaiian judge in Minnesota history, Keala Ede brings a commitment to justice to his courtroom—and a taste of surf culture to the shores of Lake Superior.
Will McMillan Student Diplomacy & World Affairs During his gap year, Diplomacy & World Affairs major Will McMillan ’27 traveled to Ukraine for a month to volunteer on behalf of the war effort. He has been gathering stories to help generate more support back at home for Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since early 2022.
Nikki Seymour Faculty Geology Meet Nikki Seymour of geology, whose research explores how deformation related to plate tectonic motion is accommodated in the middle to upper crust, the interactions between magmatism and deformation, and effects of sediment subduction at convergent plate boundaries.
Syeda ShahBano Ijaz Faculty Diplomacy & World Affairs Meet Syeda ShahBano Ijaz of Diplomacy & World Affairs, a scholar of the political economy of development, with a regional focus on South Asia. Her research, teaching, and public scholarship is situated at the cusp of international and comparative politics.
Alexandria Pivovaroff Faculty Biology Meet Alexandria Pivovaroff of biology, a global change biologist who specializes in plant water relations, hydraulics, and functional traits to understand how forests are responding to changes in the environment.
