CMC’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum is poised to launch its 2025-26 season, welcoming a diverse slate of scholars, artists, newsmakers, and thought leaders who will bring deep knowledge and expertise to the coming year’s evening and lunchtime programming. First to the podium this semester will be Karen Hao, speaking about her New York Times bestselling book, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI, on September 8.
Katie Hodge ’27, Lauren Lambrecht ’27, Violet Ramanathan ’27, and Scott Sloop ’26 will be familiar faces as Woolley Athenaeum Fellows this year, introducing and engaging with speakers, leading Q&A sessions, and making sure guests feel a sense of belonging and connection. Each Fellow expressed a personal desire to grow as campus leaders through their Ath roles, in particular, drawing inspiration and ideas from CMC’s commitments to freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and constructive dialogue through the College’s Open Academy.
In the short bios below—and certainly in person at the Athenaeum—we invite you to get to know the 2025-26 Fellows: what motivated them to pursue this role, how they hope to contribute, and a few thoughts on fun and the future.
Katie Hodge ’27
Hodge ’27 has seen her relationship to the Ath evolve, at first reluctant to attend without a friend to now becoming 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.”
Hodge relies on “pulling out all the tricks I’ve learned everywhere at CMC” to spark constructive, interesting conversations with tablemates and speakers. She is eager to build on these skills and help others do so as well—a motivating force “to give back and go deeper” as an Ath Fellow.
Hodge is also excited to serve as a liaison to the student community, identifying Ath talks that complement class topics. She especially values speakers who bring the unexpected, appreciating their ability to pierce her assumptions about how much she knows and what she believes. Reflecting on a past talk, she said, “It wasn’t one that I came in being prepared to be surprised, but then, I realized, this is going to happen. Those are the ones that really stick with you.”
- 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: A Reporter’s Notebook”
- 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: dark chocolate-covered strawberries!)
- Head-table reflections: “I’m excited to be there constantly (as an Ath Fellow) because once a week wasn’t enough.”
- Go-to leisure activity: Reading
Lauren Lambrecht ’27
Raised in a family deeply committed to free speech and having organized a speaker series in high school, Lambrecht ’27 found a natural affinity for the Ath. Having previously worked at the Ath as a student server—a role she thoroughly enjoyed—the venue also holds a special place in her heart.
As a Fellow, Lambrecht wants to help shape an even more diverse slate of speakers, hoping to draw in students who, thus far, haven’t been inclined to attend (“except for a chance to have a fantastic dinner!”). Her favorite Ath speakers have been those who made her laugh, brought the unexpected (“He had physical bananas on him,” she said of one presenter), and most importantly, delivered unique and challenging perspectives. “This is super important,” added Lambrecht, “because 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: Black Forest chocolate cake!)
- Head table reflections: “I’m expecting my level of responsibility to definitely be amped up!”
- Go-to leisure activities: Skiing, playing guitar
Violet Ramanathan ’27
Ramanathan ’27 was drawn to the Ath as a prospective student, captivated by the College’s pride in this distinctive feature of campus life and sensing an alignment with her own values. What followed were dozens of Ath talks and an inclination to lead. “What better way to express my love for CMC, its communities, and our values than to take on the role of an Ath Fellow.”
Ramanathan highlighted the importance—“now more than ever”—of fostering open conversations around difficult subjects, pointing to contentious debates in our country and world, many centered around higher education. She recalled a particularly influential panel of speakers who expressed markedly divergent views on affirmative action while remaining respectful toward each other and firm in their position. “Since then, I have tried to incorporate a balance of respect and compassion for anyone I talk to while standing on the principles of what I believe in.”
“There are so many controversies about viewpoint diversity in schools, and I see CMC at the table as a leader among higher education institutions, and I want to keep that momentum going,” Ramanathan added. “I want to take my role as an Ath Fellow seriously to help students have difficult conversations and find the confidence to voice their views in a way that feels respectful and articulate and productive.”
- 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 her first Ath experience.
- I love Ath Tea because “on a hot California day, it’s nice to grab a cold cup of tea.” (Best treat: lemon bars!)
- Head table reflections: “Now being there as a Fellow, that might be the part of the job I’m most excited about!”
- Go-to leisure activities: Talking with friends, snowboarding
Scott Sloop ’26
Since his first year at CMC, Sloop ’26 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. His high regard for the Ath—and his drive for personal and professional growth—made stepping into leadership a compelling next step.
“I love CMC, and I’m very passionate about the Ath. I also recognize that it’s something the school takes great pride in, so I feel honored to be the face of something that is so important to CMC. I’m excited to take this on, hopefully do it well, and learn a lot in the process.”
The hours Sloop has spent talking with peers about politics and social issues serve as a natural on-ramp to being a Fellow. “Those conversations have been an important part of student life for me and, as a Fellow, I’ll get to play a key role in facilitating them at the Ath,” he said. As a senior and an ROTC student with a strong social network, Sloop said he expects to be in a good position to provide tailored Ath recommendations to his peers. “I’m especially excited 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: cake pops!)
- Head table reflections: “It’s always fun to be around people who want to learn, ask good questions, and have good conversations.”
- Go-to leisure activities: Road-tripping, hiking, camping