Meet the Ath Fellows

Katie Hodge ’27, Lauren Lambrecht ’27, Violet Ramanathan ’27, and Scott Sloop ’26 have become familiar faces as this year’s Woolley Athenaeum Fellows, introducing and engaging with speakers, leading Q&A sessions, and making sure guests feel a sense of belonging and connection. In their own unique style, each Fellow has pursued their personal desire to grow as a campus leader through the Ath, drawing inspiration and ideas from CMC’s Open Academy commitments to freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and constructive dialogue.

Get to know a little more about each Fellow in the following snapshots.

Katie Hodge ’27

Hodge has seen her relationship to the Ath evolve, at first reluctant to attend without a friend to now thriving as a front-and-center Ath Fellow. “I love meeting new people and learning about what someone else thinks, knowing it might not be someone who agrees with my values or opinions.” She also values the opportunity to build on these skills and help others do so as well, fulfilling her goal “to give back and go deeper” as an Ath Fellow. Hometown: Libertyville, Ill. Major: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) with a Data Science sequence Favorite/most influential speaker: Helena Bottemiller Evich ’09, “The Politics of Food and Climate Change” Standout memory: Her parents joining an Ath event during Family Weekend. I love Ath Tea because “it is always fun to bring conversations from the classroom into a more casual area.” Best treat bonus: Dark chocolate-covered strawberries

Hometown: Libertyville, Ill.
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) with a Data Science sequence
Favorite/most influential speaker: Helena Bottemiller Evich ’09, “The Politics of Food and Climate Change”
Standout memory: Her parents joining an Ath event during Family Weekend.
I love Ath Tea because “it is always fun to bring conversations from the classroom into a more casual area.”
Best treat bonus: Dark chocolate-covered strawberries

Lauren Lambrecht ’27

Raised in a family deeply committed to free speech and having organized a speaker series in high school, Lambrecht found a natural affinity for the Ath. Her favorite speakers have been those who made her laugh, brought the unexpected, and delivered unique and challenging perspectives. “How do you understand your own opinions if you don’t see why other people think the way they do? I don’t think your opinion is complete without that.”

Hometown: Boston, Mass
Major: International Relations with a Data Science sequence
Favorite/most influential speaker: Dan Koeppel, “Why the Banana is Absolutely Everything”
Standout memory: The camaraderie and fun of working as an Ath server.
I love Ath Tea because “everybody comes by for a friendly, light- hearted talk.”
Best treat bonus: Black Forest chocolate cake

Violet Ramanathan ’27

Ramanathan was drawn to the Ath as a prospective student, captivated by the College’s pride in this distinctive feature of campus life. The importance of fostering open conversations around difficult subjects, especially those within higher education, is key to the Ath's momentum. “There are so many controversies about viewpoint diversity in schools, and I see CMC at the table as a leader among higher education institutions."

Hometown: Wayland, Mass.
Major: PPE and Government
Favorite/most influential speaker: Mike Murphy, “Campaign 2024: The Future or Demise of the GOP”
Standout memory: The wonder and excitement of being at the Ath for the first time.
I love Ath Tea because “on a hot California day, it’s nice to grab a cold cup of tea.”
Best treat bonus: Lemon bars

Scott Sloop ’26

Since his first year at CMC, Sloop has worked as a student server at the Ath, developing an appreciation for its intellectual spark, social vibrancy, and the central role it plays on campus and beyond. As a senior and an ROTC student with a strong social network, he has been in position to provide tailored Ath recommendations to his peers. “It’s been exciting to connect people to speakers and subjects relevant to their majors or career paths.”

Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Major: Government
Favorite/most influential speaker: Panel discussion, “Covering January 6: Journalists’ Reflection
Standout memory: Witnessing The Open Academy commitments on display in response to “Coleman Hughes at the Ath: Arguments for a Colorblind America.”
I love Ath Tea because “every time I go, it reminds me why I chose a small school.”
Best treat bonus: Cake pops

A capacity crowd left buzzing after author and opening night Ath speaker Karen Hao delivered valuable insights as part of her talk, “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares of Sam Altman’s OpenAI.”

(Bottom) CMC's Dreier Roundtable in action at the Ath.

Photos by Isaiah Tulanda ’20 and
Chad McElroy ’26

Karen Hao (left) during her Athenaeum lecture; (right) David Dreier ’75 and John W. Dean III

Timely Topics

Here’s a small sample of some of the incredible Ath speakers (and what they’ve discussed) while visiting campus in the fall semester.

Fostering Intimacy with Intelligent Machines—Robert Twomey, UC San Diego Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination Professor of Computing in the Arts

From CMC to Cancer Care: A Physicist’s Journey at the Intersection of Science and Medicine—Jessica Fagerstrom ’06, medical physicist and educator, University of Washington, Department of Radiation Oncology

Public Service Then & Now: From Nixon to Trump—David Dreier ’75, CMC Trustee and former U.S. Representative, and John W. Dean III, former White House Counsel

2025-26 Music Series: Devotional and Spiritual World Music—Music of Ghana, India, and Pakistan

The Unspoken Truths from the Entrepreneurial Trenches—Ashwin Gulati ’90, entrepreneur and start-up advisor

The Campus and the Capitol: Higher Education and Federal Power—Susan McWilliams Barndt, CMC Podlich Distinguished Fellow, Pomona College Professor of Politics

Got Milk? The Past, Present, and Future of Human-Animal Relations—Hannah Chazin, Columbia University Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Immigration: The Latest Battle for Civil Rights in America—William Menard ’09, immigration lawyer

Dreaming of Dark Times: How to See the World with Eyes Closed—Sharon Sliwinski, Museum of Dreams Director, Western University in Canada Professor of Information and Media Studies

—Brenda Bolinger