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.

Jason Dworkin '91

Jason Dworkin ’91

Alumni Biochemistry

Astrobiologist Jason Dworkin ’91 has devoted the better part of two decades to a NASA mission to the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

McClaran Shirley '22

McClaran Shirley

Student Biology

Occidental College Science Scholar McClaran Shirley ’22 studies the effect of ocean acidification on marine gastropods, or sea snails.

Ryan Hino '22

Student Biochemistry

Occidental College Science Scholar Ryan Hino ’22 researches sustainable alternatives to combat the drug and antibiotic resistance problem.

Amelia Muscott in front of the library

Student Geology

Occidental College Science Scholar Amelia Muscott ’22 studies glaciers by analyzing lakebed sediments in Wyoming’s Teton Mountain Range.

Kian Shamskhou

Student Biochemistry

Occidental College Science Scholar Kian Shamskhou ’22 studies chemical reactions that form bonds between carbon atoms, seeking to find less toxic alternatives.

Richard Reyes '12

Richard Reyes ’12

Alumni Critical Theory & Social Justice

Richard empowers high school students in his Los Angeles community through storytelling, providing them with the tools to tell their own stories through his nonprofit PLUS ME, which was spotlighted at this year’s Super Bowl.

Prof. Stephanie Nelli

Stephanie Nelli

Faculty Cognitive Science

Meet Stephanie Nelli of Cognitive Science, who studies the computational principles underlying rapid learning and flexible decision-making in novel environments.

Princess Masilungan '13

Princess Masilungan ’13

Alumni Diplomacy & World Affairs

At Oxy, Princess realized that as a lawyer she could support social movements she was passionate about. Now, having graduated from law school, she is making that goal a reality.

Tye Hernandez

Student Politics Urban & Environmental Policy Economics

Tye Hernandez ’23 knew that he wanted a strong sense of community in the undergraduate institution he decided to attend and was surprised to find that at a college with fewer than 2,000 students.

Kendall Kitahara

Kendall Kitahara

Student Sociology

The best piece of advice Kendall Kitahara has received at Occidental College? To trust her instincts. And trusting her instinct is exactly what led her to Oxy.

Collrane Frivold '15

Collrane Frivold ’15

Alumni Biochemistry Public Health

After building a solid foundation at Oxy, Collrane Frivold ’15 completed her Master of Science in Public Health degree, served as a technical officer at PATH, and entered an epidemiology Ph.D. program—all within 5 years.

Gavin Griswold '23

Student Diplomacy & World Affairs

Gavin Griswold ’23 is a third-generation Oxy student who looks forward to working internationally with a purpose after graduation. Oxy is helping him pave that path.