Lowe Institute 40th Anniversary
Join us to Celebrate the Lowe Institute's 40th Anniversary
Commemorating Four Decades of Research, Ideas, and Impact
For 40 years, the Lowe Institute of Political Economy has challenged students to engage with the world's pressing economic and public policy issues by asking insightful questions and pursuing answers through methodologically rigorous research.
Join faculty, alumni, students, staff, and members of the Board of Governors as we celebrate four decades of scholarship, reconnect with the Lowe community, reflect on decades of research and mentorship, and explore how this model of inquiry should evolve in the decades ahead.
What You'll Experience
- A retrospective of four decades of Lowe Institute research
- Conversations with faculty who shaped the Institute
- Alumni reflections and networking
- Opportunities to reconnect with classmates and faculty
- Discussions about the future of inquiry in the age of AI
- The Lowe Institute's vision for the future
RSVP HERE
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Keynote
How Research Informs Policy: A Conversation with James Anderson
Athenaeum | Claremont McKenna College
5:30 p.m. Reception | 6:00 p.m. Dinner | 6:45 p.m. Conversation
James M. Anderson, director of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice and a senior behavioral scientist at RAND, has spent his career applying rigorous research to complex public policy challenges. His work examines how evidence can inform policy and decision-making across issues ranging from autonomous vehicle technology to the criminal justice system. His research has appeared in leading journals including the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, Stanford Law Review, and Journal of Law and Economics. In conversation with Professor Eric Helland, Anderson will explore the relationship between research and public policy, the challenges of translating evidence into effective policy, and the role rigorous analysis can play in addressing complex societal problems. The discussion reflects the principles that have guided the Lowe Institute for four decades: asking important questions, following the evidence, and applying research to issues of public importance.
40th Anniversary Program Update: Ted Gayer is no longer able to join us. We are delighted that James Anderson of RAND has agreed to join Eric Helland for this special 40th anniversary conversation.
Friday, September 18, 2026
Robert Day Sciences Center | Claremont McKenna College
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast | RDSC - McElwee Forum |
| 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Anniversary Program | RDSC - McElwee Forum |
| 12:00 pm. - 1:00 p.m. | Anniversary Luncheon | RDSC - East Lobby |
| 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Board of Governors Meeting (closed session) | RDSC 127 - Duckworth Family Classroom |
| Optional Activities: | ||
| 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. | Tour of the new Sciences Center and Sports Bowl | RDSC |
| 3:00 p.m. | Sponsored, informal gathering in the Claremont Village | TBD |
Whether you were part of the Lowe Institute decades ago or are discovering it today, we hope you'll join us to celebrate the people, ideas, and research that have shaped the Institute's first 40 years, and help inspire its future.
For any questions, please contact Kelly Alexander at [email protected]