CMC Parent Newsletter

In this issue:

By Francesca Romana Puggelli P'29

Imagine walking into a room filled with the people who shape our world. Some are making discoveries in laboratories. Some are teaching in classrooms. Some are leading organizations, writing laws, creating art, launching businesses, reporting the news, caring for patients, or serving their communities. And then imagine realizing that every one of them is a man. The room might still be impressive, but it would be incomplete. Missing would be not only the voices of women, but also the perspectives, and ways of thinking that come from a different experience. Innovation rarely emerges from uniformity. It thrives when people with different viewpoints are part of the conversation. For much of history, many of those voices had fewer opportunities to contribute to shape society.

Beginning in the 1970s, however, colleges and universities across the United States began opening new pathways for women. At a college known for preparing future leaders and fostering the exchange of ideas, CMC joined that movement by becoming a coeducational institution. Half a century later, the College is celebrating a decision that changed not only the campus itself, but also the lives of generations of women who would go on to influence the world around them.

To learn more about the upcoming celebration, I spoke with Lia Theologides Mukhar P’28, a CMC parent and volunteer member of the 50 Years of Co-Education Programming Committee. She said that: “The anniversary is an opportunity to look at the past, the present, and the future simultaneously: to reflect on the decision that opened CMC's doors to women, to recognize the accomplishments of the alumnae who have shaped the last five decades, and to inspire future generations to pursue the same opportunities.” The results of that decision are visible today across virtually every field. The accomplishments of CMC alumnae demonstrate how expanding opportunity can create ripple effects far beyond a college campus, influencing organizations, communities, and society in ways that continue to unfold today.

The anniversary celebration will officially begin in September 25-26 during ImpactCMC. The entire community is invited to join a weekend of thoughtful sessions, celebratory get together, and connection. To sign up, please visit the ImpactCMC/50 Years of Co-Education Celebration website here.

The celebration continues throughout the year with a variety of programs, regional chapter events, and virtual gatherings. Together, these opportunities will allow alumni, students, parents to connect, reflect, and learn more about the history and impact of coeducation at CMC. A central theme of the anniversary is dialogue across generations. CMC has placed particular emphasis on alumnae participation, recognizing that the story of coeducation is best understood through the experiences of the women who lived it. Many alumnae have embraced the opportunity to reconnect with CMC and share their experiences and stories. Family Weekend 2027 will feature conversations bringing together alumnae, students, and families to explore leadership, ambition, resilience, and the challenges women continue to navigate as they pursue positions of influence. Other discussions will invite mothers and daughters, as well as fathers and daughters, to reflect on how the CMC experience has evolved over time, what attracted students to the College in different eras, and what continues to attract them today. These sessions are built around a common idea: people learn through exposure to different viewpoints. Role models and shared experiences help individuals expand their sense of what is possible for themselves. Bringing together women from different generations creates opportunities to see how leadership develops over time, how barriers evolve, and how social change is experienced across different eras.

Now imagine that same room again. Some are making discoveries in laboratories. Some are teaching in classrooms. Some are leading organizations, writing laws, creating art, launching businesses, reporting the news, caring for patients, or serving their communities. This time, the room looks different. The voices and perspectives, in it are broader, richer, and more representative of the world itself. Fifty years ago, many of those voices might never have been heard. Today, they can be found in every field and every corner of society. The anniversary is also a reminder that progress is never finished. Every generation inherits opportunities created by those who came before it and has a responsibility to expand them for those who come next.

The Specificity of Unique Talent: Gifts, Opportunities, and Fellowship

By Dr. Melanie J. Malinowski P'27

The word fellowship connotes austerity: my spine stiffens slightly, my eyes widen, and my head tilts oh-so slightly, leaning in to learn what the fellow or scholar may seek, earn, study. Yet Brian Davidson '08, Director of Fellowships Advising at Claremont McKenna College, reminds me of the true meaning of the word fellowship: “a community of other remarkable people all going through similar highs and lows,” for a fellowship is not simply an abstract term umbrellaing prestige, but a tangible community made up of fellows or scholars all sharing similar gifts and goals.

As Director of Fellowships Advising at CMC, Davidson defines his role as helping to “connect CMC students and alumni with nationally and internationally-competitive fellowship opportunities.” He notes that, though the idea of a “fellowship” may be difficult to define, “a few commonalities between the programs” unite them: “they are all external to CMC, all provide some sort of funding or experience geared towards academic and/or professional development, and they are all extremely competitive.” Further, the acceptance rates for the programs Davidson works with “vary from a high of around 20% to a low of <1%.” The fellowships mostly benefit juniors, graduating seniors, or recent alumni, and “they can provide everything from funding for graduate school to international research experience to intensive language study and more.”

This past year yielded several Barry Goldwater Scholarship Recipients and one Rhodes Scholar. Three CMC juniors received the Goldwater: Chisato Kamakura '27, Marilyn Ma '27, and Daniel Wu '27. Davidson states that, “Chisato works on diagnostic and regenerative treatment measures for conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Marilyn is exploring how computers analyze images to develop ‘depth perception,’ and Daniel is developing advanced statistical techniques to replicate and validate psychological studies without costly data collection.” Samuel Johnson-Saeger '26 was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. A dual major in Economics and International Relations, he will study international development programs at the University of Oxford. Johnson-Saeger joins two other students who have won Rhodes Scholarships over the past five years: Sarah Chen '22, and Bertha Tobias '23.

So how do students go about applying for these honors? Brian Davidson considers himself the "one-person office,” working with and helping to focus students who are interested in these opportunities. He notes, that “besides promoting the opportunities and coordinating the nomination processes for those that require them, most of my work takes place in one-on-one meetings with students. Often when I first meet a student, I set aside their specific career ambitions and simply try to get to know them. What big questions do they grapple with? What excites them? That helps me orient them and point them towards the fellowships that are most relevant to them.” The Office of Fellowships Advising commits to supporting interested students utterly.

Since most fellowship applications involve some sort of personal statement and require letters of recommendation, Davidson assists them with brainstorming ideas and choosing the most appropriate recommenders. “Often, the writing and editing process for these applications will involve several meetings. Some fellowships like Rhodes prohibit applicants from receiving direct editorial assistance on their essays, so rather than edit them directly, I try to challenge students' assumptions, to ask them probing Socratic questions, and to force them to interrogate their own values and ambitions,” Davidson continues. For fellowships involving interviews, Davidson coaches finalists on “what to expect.” He also devises “challenging mock interviews for them with panels of faculty and staff.”

Davidson strives to make the process of applying itself meaningful for students, because, ultimately, “the outcome of a fellowship application can be out of our control entirely.” The application process allows students to assess both their achievements and their “trajectory so far, to engage in some deep introspection, and to establish their own definition of ‘success.’”

Known for its intense selectivity, Rhodes is the oldest and the most prestigious graduate scholarship in the world and fully pays for a graduate program at Oxford University. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is the nation's most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) and recognizes the most skilled and promising young STEM researchers across America, focusing on those who plan careers in STEM research. Goldwater Scholars receive up to $7,500 each academic year towards their undergraduate education, and the recognition helps them secure spots in the best possible doctoral programs.

The benefits of these esteemed fellowships seem obvious, jettisoning the academic careers of the recipients. Davidson says, that “besides the tangible benefits of the fellowship,” he often emphasizes “that these fellowships all provide a measure of fellowship,” community, commonality. Fellowships foster networking and announce to others that the recipients are rigorous thinkers, learners, researchers, and comrades. Brian Davidson’s generous spirit, enthusiasm, and investment in the success of CMC scholars invites CMC students to join him for coffee and a chat. Brian is easily reached: https://cmcfellowships.youcanbook.me/

Making a Difference Through the CMC Parents Fund

By Arti Kumar P'27

The CMC Parents Fund plays an important role in enhancing the student experience, providing immediate and flexible funding for opportunities that extend beyond what tuition covers. Through the collective generosity of CMC families, the Parents Fund helps sustain the close-knit, student-centered environment that makes a CMC education distinctive.

“By supporting the fund, you help to foster the close-knit, student-centered environment that makes CMC special,” says Danielle Eason P’27, co-chair of the Parents Fund Committee. The collective nature of parent philanthropy also creates a meaningful way for families to connect with one another while investing in the College and its students.

Contributions to the Parents Fund support a wide range of opportunities throughout the academic year, including hands-on learning initiatives, career accelerators, guest speakers, cultural events, sponsored internships, study abroad opportunities, and programs such as the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum. These experiences enrich students’ academic journeys, encourage exploration beyond the classroom, and foster connections that help define the CMC experience.

One of the Parents Fund’s most distinctive features is its ability to put gifts to work in the same year they are received. This allows families to see the impact of their generosity through the programs, resources, and experiences available to students today. As Danielle reflects, “Each time I hear about a program that my daughter Julia ’27 attended or participated in, I know that the collective donations from families who gave to the Parents Fund helped make it happen.”

Every contribution to the Parents Fund helps create opportunities for students to learn, grow, explore their interests, and build lasting connections. Together, CMC families make a meaningful investment in the experiences that shape a student’s time at the College and help make CMC such a special community. To learn more about how your family can make a difference, visit the CMC Parents Fund website.

How Three Seniors Spent Their Summers

By AJ Yates P'27

Three CMC seniors spent their summers gaining hands-on experience in fields ranging from scientific research to entertainment and creative media. Internships give students an opportunity to take their classroom learning into the real world, explore potential career paths, develop professional skills, and learn from mentors working in areas that interest them. These experiences can help students build confidence, make meaningful connections, and gain valuable insight as they consider their next steps after CMC.

Biology major Echo Malinowski-Cunningham P’27 spent the summer in Riverside, Calif. as a Research Assistant in the CMC/UC Riverside RISE Program, working with Dr. Crystal Reynaga. After discovering the opportunity through CMC internship newsletters and applying through Handshake, Echo landed the role following a competitive search process that included more than 50 applications. During her time there, Echo was able to deepen research experience while continuing to explore long-term interests in science and healthcare.

Jordan Yates ’27 was in Los Angeles as an Optimist Creative Fellow with Optimist in Atwater Village, gaining firsthand experience in the entertainment industry. Jordan credits conversations with Grace Park at the Soll Center for Student Opportunity, the entertainment networking trek, and connections with past fellows for helping open the door to the opportunity. Jordan was happy to gain hands-on industry experience and learn directly from creative professionals.

Cooper Danielson ’27, a dual major in PPE and Biology, spent the summer focused on experiential learning and professional growth. Cooper’s academic interests reflect the interdisciplinary paths many CMC students pursue, combining politics, philosophy, economics, and biology in ways that connect to future work in healthcare, policy, and beyond. Together, these students’ experiences highlight the many ways CMC students make the most of their summers to pursue their interests, gain real-world experience, and prepare for what comes next.

Whether exploring a potential career, deepening an academic interest, or discovering a new field, these opportunities help students translate their CMC education into meaningful experiences that shape their goals and aspirations beyond college. Students are always encouraged to visit the Soll Center for Student Opportunity, where career counselors can help them explore their interests, identify opportunities, and determine what experiences are the best fit for their individual goals.

Save the Date for Family Weekend 2027!

Together at CMC!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 13–Monday, February 15, 2027, and join us for Family Weekend at Claremont McKenna College! We look forward to welcoming families to campus for a memorable weekend celebrating the CMC experience and the incredible community that makes it so special.

This year’s theme, Together at CMC, celebrates the connections that bring our community together and the many ways families can experience CMC through their students’ eyes. From engaging conversations with our esteemed faculty to opportunities to explore the ideas and issues shaping today’s world, Family Weekend will offer a meaningful look into the academic and extracurricular experiences that define life at CMC.

Families will have the opportunity to hear from faculty on timely topics, learn about student organizations tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges, and connect with fellow CMC families. You’ll also have the chance to visit the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum for Ath Tea, a beloved student tradition and a favorite gathering spot on campus.

Whether you’re reconnecting with familiar faces, discovering something new about your student’s college experience, or making new connections with fellow families, Family Weekend is an opportunity to celebrate all that makes CMC unique.

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus for Family Weekend 2027: Together at CMC! Stay tuned for additional details and the full schedule of events

Parent Network Board Meetings

The Parent Network Board meets quarterly to discuss ways to enhance the College experience and to hear from College leadership. Read the September 2025 Board meeting minutes here.

Read the Meeting Minutes