Occidental Magazine

Cool Change

August 14, 2025

After years of sleepless nights and hot-weather hacks, every residence hall finally has air conditioning—much to the relief of current and future Tigers

Occidental Magazine

Occidental magazine brings you campus news, in-depth features, and profiles of exceptional alumni. For the 2025-26 academic year, the magazine will publish one digital-only issue (Summer 2025) and two print and digital issues (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026).

Features

Gibby Professor of Science Margi Rusmore

Faculty

Margi Rusmore Reaches the Apex

Oxy's inaugural Gibby Professor of Science may be exiting the classroom, but there are still mountains to climb—as well as prepping her data (and her extensive rock collection) for future...

Professor Ron Buckmire in the classroom in 2015.

Faculty

Ron Buckmire Tackles Life’s Equations

After a 30-year career at Occidental, the mathematician, researcher, administrator, and chess master applies his problem-solving skills to a new role as dean

Warren Montag, the Louis M. Brown Family Professor of English

Profiles

Warren Montag: Activist and Ally

Whether it was 18th-century British literature or 20th-century European critical theory, Montag approached the syllabus with rigor, grace, warmth, and plenty of deadpan humor—and he...

President Tom Stritikus and Professor of Kinesiology Stuart Rugg at Commencement in May 2025.

Faculty

Stuart Rugg Stays Fired Up

With seemingly boundless energy, a passion for teaching, and his signature catchphrase, Rugg helped build kinesiology into a signature program at Oxy

Professor Peter Dreier at Anderson Field

Faculty

Peter Dreier Comes Full Circle

After 32 years as a professor at Oxy, Dreier will return in 2026 as an adjunct—to teach his first-ever class on poverty and inequality and take one more swing at Campaign Semester

A first-year member of the Class of 2018 talks with Puerto during Orientation activities on Aug. 25, 2014, in the Academic Quad.

Faculty

Alexandra Puerto Begins a New Chapter

As an associate professor of history and Latinx and Latin American studies, Puerto built a life and a curriculum deeply rooted in the Highland Park community

Strategic Planning

Board of Trustees Welcomes Nine

As Art Peck ’77 succeeds Lisa Link P’18 as chair, seven new trustees join the Board of Trustees—and two long-serving members return for new terms

Obituaries

A Voice for “The Invisible Majority”

Emerita Adjunct Professor Betsy Perry, who taught at �鶹��Ƶfor 19 years, published extensively on Early Modern Spain and advocated for the equal treatment of all academics

Obituaries

Remembering the "Dean of NFL Referees"

With three Super Bowls on his resume, Jim Tunney '51 (1929-2024) became the face of football officiating

First Word

President Stritikus

A Uniquely �鶹��ƵSummer

Occidental's singular summer programs strengthen the College's institutional identity, contributing to a vibrant research culture as well as our shared communities

From the Quad

Claire Wilson-Black ’26, Talia Goddard ’27, and Brandon Kim ’27

Student Life

Carrying the Torch

As planning heats up for the 2028 Summer Olympics, �鶹��Ƶstudents are doing their part to ensure a just and sustainable Games

Mariah Rutiaga Amaya ’22 outside the Hameetman Career Center.

Academics

Vital Signs

Recent �鶹��Ƶgrads from a variety of disciplines are enrolling in top-tier medical schools in unprecedented numbers, applying their own life experiences to the future of healthcare

�鶹��Ƶprofessors and students engaged in summer research and internships

Academics

How I Spent My Summer Vocation

From artificial intelligence in the classroom to immigrant rights in the city, the Occidental landscape has been abuzz with activity for faculty and students alike

Ruth Berkey and members of the 1978 women's volleyball team

Obituaries

Remembering Ruth Berkey: A Pioneer in Women's Athletics

Ruth M. Berkey, Occidental’s director of athletics from 1977 to 1980 and a pioneering advocate for women’s sports, died May 18, 2025, in Grants Pass, Ore. She was 89.

�鶹��ƵLive! welcomed visual artist Ed Ruscha to Thorne Hall on February 4.

Los Angeles

Spring-loaded With Speakers

Ed Ruscha, Deirdre Cooper Owens, and Tom Nichols lead the discourse at �鶹��Ƶthis semester

Assistant Professor Natasha Sekhon studies broken stalagmites to decide whether they should be brought back to the U.S. for further research.

Undergraduate Research

An Underground History of Climate Change

Assistant Professor Natasha Sekhon and junior geology major Mira Hart take their research abroad, looking for clues inside Philippine caves

Mixed Media

More Mixed Media

Arts

Much Ado About Turtles (and Keanu)

From John Wick to Wittgenstein, and a sea turtle mystery to an underwater thriller, there's something for everyone in our summer reading (and viewing) roundup

Terry Kitchen '81 performs "We All Dream."

Arts

Mixed Media

A host of new works by �鶹��Ƶalumni explore explore themes of democracy, resilience, and human connection—as well as our fascination with horses, dragons, and ocean life

�鶹��ƵTalk

More �鶹��ƵTalk

Retiring professors Elmer Griffin, Margi Rusmore, Stuart Rugg, Peter Dreier, Alexandra Puerto, Stuart Rugg, and Ron Buckmire

Faculty

Exit Interviews With Retiring Faculty

Occidental says goodbye to seven retiring professors—and some of their brightest pupils express their appreciation for a combined 233 years of service to the College

Occidental Board of Trustees Chair Art Peck '77

Profiles

The Occidental Imperative

Business veteran Art Peck ’77 brings his leadership acumen to the Board of Trustees at a critical juncture in higher education when the College’s mission—and messaging—are more important...

Last Page

Obituaries

A Word or Two About Ann La Rue Matlow

Caring, inquisitive, and adventurous, Ann was a friend to all her 1968 classmates—and an estate gift will support future generations of Tigers globally