In spring 2021, Colleen Robertson ’05 had recently left her travel marketing job in Seattle when she received a casual job offer from Angelo Carotenuto ’06: How would she like to move to Europe to join his Italy-based tourism company, LivTours? At first, Robertson declined. Between navigating the pandemic and expecting her second child, she already had enough on her plate without an international relocation. But when she was laid off last year, the timing felt right.

For Lori Howard ’81, a typical summer week may outwardly resemble a dream vacation: ambling through lavender fields, picnicking near an ancient Roman bridge, or shopping at a quaint village market. In her line of work, however, knowledge of these places is important. As founder and sole proprietor of the tour company Pinch Me Provence, her goal is to provide clients with their ideal holiday in the French countryside, from plein air painting classes to touring vineyards and tasting Provençal wines.

Lake Superior isn’t likely to conjure images of a surfer’s paradise. But nearly 4,000 miles away from Kawaiku‘i Beach Park in his native Hawai‘i, Keala Ede ’00 isn’t quibbling about the chilly breakers, which can exceed 20 feet in stormy conditions. 

After a routine colonoscopy in November 2021 led to a diagnosis of late-stage colon cancer, Dr. Roland Griffiths ’68—a pioneer in the study of psychedelic and mood-altering drugs—channeled his energies toward the creation of an endowed professorship at Johns Hopkins University to continue his research with psychedelic substances “to advance understanding of well-being and spirituality in the service of human flourishing for generations to come,” as he put it.

Queenie Ngo ’24 developed an interest in philosophy as a member of the Human Rights Club at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Wash., where students gathered each Monday to discuss current events. “In this horrible, treacherous, beautiful, cruel, amazing thing called life, I was looking for an instruction manual,” she says.

Since Raja Bella Hicks ’25 transferred to Occidental as a sophomore, she’s wasted no time immersing herself in the community. She has worked with local high school students as an Upward Bound mentor; she volunteered on the campaign of Los Angeles’ first female mayor, Karen Bass; and she has taught community dance classes to fourth and fifth graders through Oxy Arts.

Each year, Occidental’s enrollment team sets out to fulfill the needs of over 40 academic programs and 20 athletic teams, admitting a diverse and talented set of students who are going to enrich the Oxy community.

When Sohaib Khan was looking at tenure-track teaching opportunities, “Two things about Occidental stood out to me: its urban campus in the middle of a bustling metropolis and the Equity and Justice Agenda,” he says. “Los Angeles is a mini-mosaic of the Islamic world and home to a rich variety of Muslim communities. As a first-generation immigrant and a Muslim faculty of color, it was really important for me to live and work in a diverse environment.”

As a sophomore at Occidental, Bill Griswold ’50 was active in the College’s Student Church and aspired to a leadership role in the organization. He heard about a new student named Jean Stiver ’51 “who was going to do great things” for the group, “and I was not at all sure that we needed that change,” he recalls with a laugh.

On August 22, days before the start of the new academic year, President Harry J. Elam, Jr. shared some unexpected news with the Occidental community: “I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neuro-degenerative movement disorder. Please know that I am doing well, with excellent medical care and a strong support system. But in order to prioritize my health and time with family, I have made the difficult decision not to serve the final year of my five-year term as president. June 30, 2024, will be my last day.”