Oxy Stories | Occidental College

From academics to real-world impact, explore stories from our community that highlight the people and experiences making Occidental College a place of opportunity, discovery, and success.

Professor Jorgen Harris

Faculty Economics

Meet Jorgen Harris of economics, a labor economist whose work focuses on the relationships between human capital, labor markets and social norms.

Professor Sabrina Stierwalt

Sabrina Stierwalt

Faculty Physics

Meet extragalactic astrophysicist Sabrina Stierwalt of physics, who observes galaxies beyond our own to understand how they form and evolve—and ultimately understand our own cosmic origins.

Natalia Guerra '20

Student Critical Theory & Social Justice

Critical Theory & Social Justice major Natalia Guerra has explored social justice dimensions in the Netherlands and Chiapas, Mexico, making the most of Oxy’s opportunities to learn about the world in an active, global context.

Professor Hanan Elsayed

Faculty Spanish & French Studies

Meet Hanan Elsayed of Spanish & French Studies, who teaches French and Arabic languages and literatures. Areas of interest include Francophone writers from the Arab world, Arabic short fiction and the legacies of French colonialism.

Professor Chris Kim

Director of Instrumental Activities Chris Kim brings a love of teaching and a wealth of experience in innovative programming, community engagement, and international collaborations.

Professor Amy-Holmes-Tagchungdarpa

Amy Holmes-Tagchungdarpa

Faculty Religious Studies

Meet Amy Holmes-Tagchungdarpa of religious studies, who teaches courses on Asian religions, especially Buddhism, and thematic topics related to sexuality and gender, cultural history, material religion and media, empire and politics.

Student Alejo Maggini '22

Student Economics Diplomacy & World Affairs Education

Alejo Maggini learned early on in his academic career that education can be a force for change. This has inspired the international student from Argentina to make the most of his time at Oxy, where education is at the center of his studies.

Professor Treena Basu

Faculty Mathematics

Meet Treena Basu of mathematics, who is researching applications of data science in the field of educational data mining and medical data.

Student Hannah Hoefs '20

Student Marine Biology

Hannah Hoefs has discovered a love of scientific diving and a home in the marine biology program at Oxy. This summer she spent three weeks in Jamaica with one of her professors, surveying coral reef growth and recovery.

Professor Alexander Day

Faculty Asian Studies History

Meet Alexander Day of history and East Asian Studies, who studies the intellectual, social, and cultural history of peasants, food and agrarian change in China. He teaches Chinese as well as East Asian and world history.

Professor Yurika Wakamatsu

Yurika Wakamatsu

Faculty Art & Art History

Meet Yurika Wakamatsu of Art & Art History, who teaches courses on gender and visual culture in East Asia, East Asian art, Japanese woodblock prints and more.

Alumna Chandrika Francis '10

Chandrika Francis ’10

Alumni Urban & Environmental Policy

Environmental educator Chandrika Francis makes the swimming pool a safer place for marginalized groups and remakes a 30-foot bus into her dream home on wheels.