Alumni and Community Video Library

Academic Spotlight

Spotlight: Campaign Semester

Every two years, Oxy students venture into the trenches of politics, learning hands-on as participants in Campaign Semester – the only program of its kind in the nation. A panel of Fall 2020 Campaign Semester students take you behind the scenes of election 2020 and share their adventures supporting "swing" races across the nation.

Inside the Moore Lab of Zoology Bird Collection

Join Dr. John McCormick, director and curator of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology, for this insider’s tour, providing a rare view of the Moore Lab’s world-renowned collection of 65,000 bird and mammal specimens – a unique research and teaching resource for a liberal arts college.

Student for a Day: The Promise and Peril of Neural Networks

Professor Kathryn Leonard presented an introduction to feed-forward neural networks and how they have revolutionized certain aspects of AI. She demonstrated some of the weaknesses and misuses of the technology, and provided attendees with some key questions to ask about any AI achievement.

Student for a Day: Community Book Program Hands-On Bookmaking Workshop

<p>Join faculty members James Ford (English, black studies) and Jocelyn Pedersen (library, art/art history) for a hands-on bookmaking workshop. Using this year’s Community Book selection Red at the Bone as a guide, participants will work during the virtual workshop to create a handcrafted book. Prior to the event, participants will receive a packet of preprinted pages, a letterpress printed book cover, and supplies to bind the book, as well as art materials for adding imagery and text to personalize their copy during the workshop.</p>

Alumni Seal Conversations

Alumni Seal Conversation with Eric Newhall '67 P'99 P'06

On October 23, 2021, Alumni Seal Award recipient Professor Emeritus Eric Newhall '67 P'99 P'06 led a timely panel discussion, “Is Our Democracy in Danger?” Professor Newhall was joined by Congresswoman Karen Bass and Hector De La Torre '89, chair of the LA Care Board of Governors.

Alumni Seal Conversations: Louis '80 P'12 and Randall Hook '12

On August 6, 2020, Occidental presented the third webinar in Oxy's Alumni Seal Conversations series featuring 2020 honoree for Service to the Community Louis Hook '80 in conversation with his son, Randall Hook '12. They discussed Louis's work in helping to found and steward the Compton Jr. Posse Youth Equestrian Program and the Compton Cowboys.

Alumni Seal Conversations: Gloria Duffy ’75 and Chip Blacker ’72

On September 17, 2020, the fourth event in the Alumni Seal Conversations series featured Alumna of the Year Gloria Duffy '75 in conversation with her longtime professional collaborator and friend, Coit "Chip" Blacker '72. Gloria is an expert in international relations and public policy, having previously served as U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense and special coordinator for cooperative threat reduction. She has been the president and CEO of the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco since 1996. Over the past 40 years, in a relationship that began as Oxy students, she and fellow Oxy trustee Chip Blacker have worked together inside a presidential administration, written a book together, co-mentored younger colleagues and collaborated for social progress and justice. Blacker served as Special Assistant to President Clinton, and is now an emeritus senior fellow and professor at Stanford University. They shared some of their unique personal and professional adventures together.

Alumni Seal Conversations: Chris Varelas ’85 in conversation with Professor Woody Studenmund

On May 27, 2020, the first event in Occidental College's Alumni Seal Conversations webinar series featured the 2020 honoree for professional achievement, Chris Varelas ’85 and Woody Studenmund, the Laurence de Rycke Professor of Economics, in a discussion about Chris’ new book, How Money Became Dangerous, and the impact of the last several decades of finance on the world today.

Alumni Seal Conversations: Professor Dale Wright

On July 7, 2020, the second webinar in the Alumni Seal Conversations series featured Dale Wright, David B. and Mary H. Gamble Professor in Religion/Religious Studies Emeritus. In honor of his former students and in gratitude for the 2020 Faculty Emeritus Alumni Seal award, Professor Wright gave a brief overview of mindfulness meditation – what it is, how it’s done, and why it’s helpful in the face of coronavirus and the injustices of racism.

Arts & Culture

Oxy Arts and the Arts in Los Angeles Immersive Semester

On September 22, 2020, The Oxy Campaign For Good Virtual Event Series presented Oxy Arts and the Arts in Los Angeles Immersive Semester, with Lisa Coscino '85 hosting Oxy Arts Director Meldia Yesayan and Professor Amy Lyford, who discussed their work with Oxy students and the Eagle Rock community, and how these new programs are enriching the Oxy experience.

Inside Occidental Children's Theater

Enjoy this interview with director Jamie Angell and cast members of the Occidental Children's Theater, featuring wonderful acrhival footage of past Children's Theater performances.

Occidental Children's Theater Presents "Maui Slows the Sun"

The Occidental Children's Theater is online to present our annual summer series of outdoor shows. Watch Dyoni Isom '19 tell the story of "Maui Slows the Sun" featuring members of the Oxy Children's Theater from 2019.

Homecoming at Home – Glee Club Premier Performance

The famed Oxy Glee Club premiered a new selection, recorded remotely with students scattered across the country. They also continued the Homecoming tradition by singing Oxy Fair and Io Triumphe, and following the performance, Professor Desiree LaVertu hosted a Q&A with Glee Club students.

Occidental College Glee Club: "Song for Athene"

During the Fall semester, the Occidental Glee Club worked on a new performance of "Song for Athene" by John Tavener. The students dedicate this latest video to those we lost in 2020.

Occidental College Glee Club: "When the Party's Over" by Billie Eilish

The Occidental College Glee Club got together (virtually) to record “When the Party’s Over” by our Highland Park neighbor Billie Eilish.

Campus Spotlight

Occidental’s Campus: Beauty, History, and Innovation

On May 7, 2020, Oxy's Associate Vice President of Facilities Tom Polansky presented a webinar exploring the architectural foundations of the campus' design, how and where changes were made, and the philosophy we employ to stay true to this historical vision while meeting modern accessibility and sustainability needs.

Oxy Tunnels and Hidden Spaces

Join Associate Vice President of Facilities Tom Polansky and Sam Bergen '04 as they take you to see some of the lesser known spaces of Occidental’s campus, including Clancy Morrison's former apartment, the original pipe organ space in Thorne Hall, and maybe even a stop by Oxy’s infamous tunnels.

Oxy in the Movies

Featuring clips you will surely recognize, this video celebrates the campus' starring role in many movies and television productions.

Guided Campus Tour

Student tour guides are on-hand to give you a virtual tour around the campus of Occidental College. Hear about student life, get a look at academic buildings and find out more about the opportunities that await students at Oxy.

Community Programs

Oxy Community Book Program: President Harry J. Elam, Jr. & Patt Morrison '74 H'12 in Conversation

In this second event in Occidental College's new Community Book Program, Oxy President Harry J. Elam, Jr. is joined by Patt Morrison '74 H'12 for a conversation. President Elam discusses why he chose Jacqueline Woodson's Red at the Bone: A Novel as the first pick for the program, and how his choice reflects his background, values, and hope and aspirations for Occidental. This event took place on September 21, 2020. Patt Morrison in a longtime Los Angeles Times writer, columnist and podcaster whose journalism has earned a share in two Pulitzer Prizes. Her broadcasting work has won six Emmys as host of KCET-TV's Life & Times, as well as 12 Golden Mike awards, which include her work on the local NPR affiliate KPCC. Both of her nonfiction books have been bestsellers: Rio LA, about the Los Angeles River, and Don't Stop the Presses! Truth, Justice and the American Newspaper. She is the first woman in nearly 25 years to be honored with the L.A. Press Club's lifetime achievement award.

Oxy Women in Philanthropy: Values, Vision and Voice

On November 12, 2020, Oxy presented the first ever panel focusing on Oxy women in philanthropy. The conversation focused on women's growing influence as changemakers through their gifts of time, talent, treasure, and testimony. Host Gloria Duffy '75 (Occidental College Trustee and President and CEO of The Commonwealth Club) was joined by Jeannie Sager (Director, Women's Philanthropy Institute, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis) and a distinguished panel of female leaders in the Oxy community: Anne Cannon '74 (Independent Financial Advisor and CPA, Occidental College Trustee, The Oxy Campaign For Good Co-chair), Barbara Clarke P'19 (Investor, Economist and Entrepreneur), Alice Duff '69 H'02 (Retired Managing Director, Bread for the World Institute, Occidental College Emeritus Trustee, Black Alumni Organization (BAO) Co-convener), Judy Lam, J.D. '87 (Partner, Maynard Cooper & Gale, Asian Pacific Islander (API), Leadership Volunteer), and Silva Zeneian '01 (Managing Director, Fiducia CP, Vice-chair for Leadership Giving, Executive Committee of the Oxy Fund Council).

The Future of American Politics Post-Trump Presidency

On March 11, 2021, Occidental College hosted an exciting virtual panel discussion on the future of American politics, featuring four Oxy 1976 classmates and fellow native Arizonans. The Class of 1976 entered Occidental during Nixon’s reelection campaign and in the four years to come was energized by both Vietnam and Watergate as political topics. As a result, the class produced an unusually large number of politically engaged graduates. Four members of the Class of ’76 arrived from Arizona and were drawn together by politics and the student newspaper for which they all wrote. They developed significantly different political ideologies and intensified their friendship in the decades since, even as they have often been political opponents. In the summer of 2016, these four alumni came together at Oxy’s Reunion Weekend to discuss the upcoming presidential in a session entitled The 2016 Presidential Campaign: Train Wreck or an Energized Democracy? Five years later, we’ve invited them back to explore the future of American politics from the unique perspective of a “swing” state. Panelists: • Fred DuVal ’76, former Clinton White House staff member and Democratic nominee for Arizona governor in 2014 • Chris Hamel ’76, Senior Fellow, Municipal Market Research and former managing director and head of the municipal finance group at RBC Capital Markets • Robert Robb ’76, editorial columnist for the Arizona Republic and former chairman of the U.S. Senate campaign of Arizona Senator Jon Kyl • Grant Woods ’76, former chief of staff to John McCain and Arizona attorney general

Young Alumni Leaders: Champions For Change

On April 14, 2021, Oxy hosted it's first-ever GOLD sponsored virtual discussion with some of Oxy's young alumni leaders as they share their inspiring career journeys and how their paths have been shaped by Oxy's four pillars: excellence, equity, community, and service.

The World After COVID-19

On April 27, 2021, The New York Regional Engagement Committee hosted The World After COVID-19 with Richard A. Falkenrath ’91, Chief Administrative Office at Bridgewater Associates, LP. Richard explored what is on the horizon for corporations, schools and society as they grapple with some of the key issues and questions in a post COVID-19 world.

Io Triumphe: Oxy Traditions

In the 132 years since Occidental College enrolled its first students, the College has accumulated a unique mix of traditions, rivalries, movie appearances and myths. In a COVID-19 era that is anything but traditional, join Director of Communications Jim Tranquada for an entertaining primer on everything Oxy that has stood the test of time-- from Io Triumphe and senior comps to Olympic medals and the "Oxy statistic."

The Veterans Program at Oxy

On May 24, 2021, The Oxy Campaign For Good Virtual Event Series presented this special look at The Veterans Program at Oxy. For a century, veterans have made a positive impact on the Oxy campus. At this special event, Army National Guard chaplain and Veterans Programs Director Nathan Graeser discussed how Oxy is building the student veterans community, including a tour of the new student veteran housing.

From the President

State of the College Address with President Elam

Occidental College President Elam reflects on the institutional challenges and achievements of 2020 and provides an outlook towards the future in this state of the College address.

A Conversation with President Elam - Economics

On December 8 and 9, the Oxy Alumni Association held four virtual events for alumni and parents across the country to hear from President Harry J. Elam, Jr. about the current state of the College, what the future holds, and how as a community we can support each other during these historic times. Each program also included alumni volunteer voices, as well as unique conversations between President Elam, a current professor and their student to discuss their academic work during this period of remote teaching and learning.

A Conversation with President Elam - Oxy's Campaign Semester

On December 8 and 9, the Oxy Alumni Association held four virtual events for alumni and parents across the country to hear from President Harry J. Elam, Jr. about the current state of the College, what the future holds, and how as a community we can support each other during these historic times. Each program also included alumni volunteer voices, as well as unique conversations between President Elam, a current professor and their student to discuss their academic work during this period of remote teaching and learning.

A Conversation with President Elam - Rebellious Lawyering

On December 8 and 9, the Oxy Alumni Association held four virtual events for alumni and parents across the country to hear from President Harry J. Elam, Jr. about the current state of the College, what the future holds, and how as a community we can support each other during these historic times. Each program also included alumni volunteer voices, as well as unique conversations between President Elam, a current professor and their student to discuss their academic work during this period of remote teaching and learning.

A Conversation with President Elam - Media, Arts & Culture

On December 8 and 9, the Oxy Alumni Association held four virtual events for alumni and parents across the country to hear from President Harry J. Elam, Jr. about the current state of the College, what the future holds, and how as a community we can support each other during these historic times. Each program also included alumni volunteer voices, as well as unique conversations between President Elam, a current professor and their student to discuss their academic work during this period of remote teaching and learning.

The Barack Obama Scholars Speaker Series

The Barack Obama Scholars Program Speaker Series presents: How Art Inspires Social Change

Join President Harry J. Elam, Jr. and a renowned panel of Oxy community members for a robust conversation about how art can change the world. Guests Bob Johnson '77 (entertainment attorney and producer), Roger Guenveur Smith ’77 (actor, director, writer), and Meldia Yesayan (director, Oxy Arts) discuss what inspires their work, what role colleges and universities play in fostering young artists, how Oxy played a role in their creative lives and what they hope for the arts at Oxy in the future.

The Barack Obama Scholars Program Speaker Series Presents: Broderick Johnson

During Homecoming and Family Weekend 2021, President Elam welcomed Broderick Johnson, chair of the My Brother's Keeper Alliance Advisory Council and current EVP, Public Policy & EVP, Digital Equity for Comcast Corporation. They discussed mentorship, equity and justice, and the digital divide.

The Barack Obama Scholars Program Speaker Series Presents: Valerie Jarrett

On February 11, the Occidental College community joined President Harry J. Elam, Jr. for a conversation with Valerie Jarrett to discuss her time with the Obama Administration, her own commitment to service, and her advice to students on how to create meaningful change.

The Barack Obama Scholars Program Speaker Series Presents: U.S. Education System & the Impact of the Pandemic

On May 4, 2021, The Obama Scholars Speaker Series presented "U.S. Education System & the Impact of the Pandemic" featuring a distinguished panel of education experts discussing the challenges facing our education system, the impact of the pandemic and how we move forward. Panelists included Dr. Lande Ajose (Senior Policy Advisor for Higher Education for Governor Gavin Newsom), Arne Duncan (Managing Partner, Chicago CRED), and Ted Mitchell (President of the American Council on Education and President Emeritus, Occidental College 1999-2005). The event was moderated by President Harry J. Elam, Jr.