At year’s end, we’re celebrating the top 2024 news highlights at Occidental College as well as the most-viewed feature stories from Occidental magazine.
Top Five News Highlights
Occidental Magazine Features
Top Five News Highlights
Tom Stritikus Named 17th President of Occidental College
March 26: The Occidental College Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Tom Stritikus as the College’s 17th president. Stritikus comes to Occidental from his position as president of Fort Lewis College, a public liberal arts college located in Durango, Colorado.
Occidental College Rises in US News & World Report Rankings
September 24: Occidental rose one place in US News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings, landing at No. 34 nationally among liberal arts colleges, a 15-year high.
John Branca ’72 Announces $5 Million Gift to Establish the John Branca Institute for Music
June 4: Legendary attorney John G. Branca ’72, partner and head of the music department at Ziffren Brittenham, one of the most respected entertainment law firms in the world, and Occidental College have announced a $5 million gift from Branca that will establish the John Branca Institute for Music, a music teaching and learning facility at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Nine Students Selected for 2024–25 Obama Scholars Program
April 22: Occidental College has announced its 2024–25 cohort of Barack Obama Scholars, the prestigious leadership training program that seeks to empower exceptional students committed to the public good.
Oxy at the Olympics: Keeping the Flame Alive
July 24: For a small liberal arts college, Occidental’s numbers are impressive: 21 Olympic athletes in eight sports, seven of whom won a total of nine medals.
Occidental Magazine Features
These are the five most-viewed feature stories published by Occidental magazine in 2024.
Introducing Tom Stritikus (Spring 2024)
Occidental’s president-elect is a first-generation college graduate and a firm believer in the transformative power of a liberal arts education.
Neighborhood Watch (Spring 2024)
Eagle Rock and Highland Park have become magnets for new businesses, including the resurrected Eagle Theatre (now home to Vidiots). What’s changed—and what’s still in fashion?
Kicking and Dreaming (Winter 2024)
From its first SCIAC championship to a berth in the Sweet 16, Oxy men’s soccer soared to new heights this season. But Coach Rod Lafaurie and his players are hungry for more.
Changing the Climate (Summer 2024)
Emboldened by a proactive student body, Oxy doubles down on its commitment to a more sustainable campus.
Trivial Pursuits II (Summer 2024)
So you still think you know Oxy? Put your memory to the test (and your guessing cap on) with 30 new Tiger teasers.
