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.

Manjun Hao '19

Student Diplomacy & World Affairs Urban & Environmental Policy

A Diplomacy & World Affairs major from China, Manjun Hao is motivated to support and celebrate international identities on campus.

Anna Palmer '19

Student Sociology Critical Theory & Social Justice

Anna Palmer has devoted her college career to mentorship, supporting social justice and her research on Afro-Carribbean motherhood.

Rahsaan Middleton '19

Rahsaan Middleton

Student Biology

Rahsaan Middleton has worked to build community on campus through his involvement with the Muslim Student Association.

Besher Ashouri

Besher Ashouri ’18

Alumni Cognitive Science

A cognitive science major at Oxy, Besher Ashouri is a now a student at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Alumna Sara Packer

Sara Packer ’18

Alumni Mathematics

A mathematics major with a sociology minor, Sara Packer is fascinated by customer buying behavior in her work as an Inventory Planning Analyst for Banana Republic.

Alumna Vivian Vuong

Vivian Vuong ’18

Alumni Diplomacy & World Affairs

Vivian Vuong majored in Diplomacy & World Affairs with an economics minor, which helped lead her to her current job as a Tax Trainee in the Business Process Solutions division at Deloitte Vietnam.

Carson Malbrough

Carson Malbrough ’18

Alumni Politics

A passionate politics major, Carson Malbrough fuses personal ethics, his Oxy education and experience with political organizing in his role as a political leadership fellow with DigiDems.

Alumnus Tor Myhren

Tor Myhren ’94

Apple vice president of marketing communications Tor Myhren thinks he has “the best job in the world.”

Alumnus Ken Lowney

Ken Lowney ’87

Alumni Philosophy

Ken Lowney is president of Oakland-based Lowney Architecture. His approach is rooted in his belief that architecture is more than simply buildings, and—if thoughtfully and responsibly done—it can positively contribute to society and advance a community.

Alumna Morgan Winston deep sea diving

Morgan Winston ’14

Alumni Marine Biology

Morgan Winston built on her undergraduate experience working with the Vantuna Research Group to pursue a master’s in marine biology and a career in coral reef preservation. She even has a marine species named after her.

Sophia Brown '20

Student Theater & Performance Studies Public Health

A seasoned performer, Sophia Brown has nurtured a musical career as a singer, guitarist and flutist. But her experiences at Oxy have helped ignite a twin passion for theater.

Oxy alumni Lindy West

Lindy West ’04

Lindy West is executive producer of the Hulu TV series "Shrill," which is based on her bestselling memoir. She speaks out with her pointed and frequently funny observations on feminism, social justice and self-image.