It was a special moment for The Claremont Colleges—and an extra special one for Claremont McKenna—as Harriet Nembhard ’91 was inaugurated as the sixth president of Harvey Mudd College.
The two-day celebration included a formal investiture ceremony, featuring welcome remarks on behalf of The Claremont Colleges from CMC President Hiram Chodosh, as well as words of encouragement from friend Jil Stark ’58 GP’11 and husband David Nembhard, Director of Applied Science Programs with CMC’s Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences.
“This is a proud moment for each of us, all of us. Not just in a destination reached, more for the road not yet mapped. This is not only because Harriet’s leadership emerged from within our own house. It is what she now brings to our table; her special capabilities that will lead us forward,” President Chodosh said.
"This is why we are so excited, honored, moved, hopeful, energized, purposeful today. Please join me in welcoming Harriet home."
Nembhard began her CMC career at the age of 16, majoring in management-engineering. A nationally respected leader in the field of industrial and operations engineering, she has also served as an Alumna Trustee of the College and was a member of CMC’s inaugural Integrated Sciences Advisory Council.
“We are committed to continuously generating and sharing solutions that ignite positive change, drawing inspiration not only from the legacy of our past—but also from the limitless potential of our future endeavors,” Nembhard said in her inaugural address.
“Together, let us embrace this journey with optimism, courage, determination, and a shared dedication to excellence. Together, let us continue propelling innovation as we push the frontiers of knowledge and inspire future generations of thinkers and leaders. Together, let’s soar to even greater heights!”
Read a full recap of Nembhard’s investiture ceremony from Harvey Mudd College.