Occidental Magazine

August 14, 2026

From Tel Aviv and Beirut to Minneapolis and Washington, NPR reporter Kat Lonsdorf ’09 follows the news wherever it leads, covering some of the defining stories of our time

Features

Professor of Art and Art History Amy Lyford in October 2021.

Faculty

Postcards From Amy Lyford

After the Eaton Fire upended her life, the longtime Occidental professor reflects on finding a new home, returning to her research, and reconnecting with her community through art

Professor of Politics Emeritus Tsung Chi, photographed in June 2026.

Faculty

A Round of Applause for Tsung Chi

After 35 years at Oxy, the politics professor looks back on a career shaped by remarkable mentors, devoted students, and a deep belief in a liberal arts education

National Public Radio correspondent Kat Lonsdorf ’09 at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Profiles

Kat Meets World

From Tel Aviv and Beirut to Minneapolis and Washington, NPR reporter Kat Lonsdorf ’09 follows the news wherever it leads, covering some of the defining stories of our time

Alicia González retired this spring as resident senior instructor of Spanish at Occidental.

Faculty

Alicia González Is Always Learning

Oxy's longtime resident senior instructor of Spanish welcomed every new generation of students—and found that teaching itself is a lifelong education

Professor of Sociology Emeritus Jan Lin, photographed in June 2026.

Faculty

Jan Lin’s Street Stories

For 28 years, Occidental’s renowned urban and community sociologist has connected the College with its surrounding neighborhoods through research, teaching, and thoughtful partnerships

Joy Shigaki ’94, president and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park in Seattle.

Profiles

Bringing Joy to Her Community

Joy Shigaki ’94 turned her lifelong commitment to social justice and community building into a career dedicated to creating inclusive public spaces—and Seattle’s Waterfront Park is her most...

Alumni Engagement

From the Readers

Reflections on unlikely Oxy connections, the legacy of Delta sorority, and an overlooked magazine milestone

Obituaries

Remembering Steve Hinchliffe ’55, Devoted Steward of Occidental

Throughout his 47 years as an Oxy trustee, Hinchliffe held an unwavering belief in the power of a liberal arts education

Obituaries

The Soft-spoken Wisdom of Wellington Chan

Wellington K.K. Chan, National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Professor of the Humanities and Professor of History Emeritus at Occidental, died November 5 at Huntington Memorial...

First Word

Occidental students relax near Lucille Gilman Fountain on an idyllic fall afternoon.

President Stritikus

Why Oxy's Work Matters

President Stritikus on the power of community partners and shared purpose in preparing Oxy students to lead impactful lives beyond campus

From the Quad

Athletics

Brewing Up a Comeback

A $1 million gift from Doug Odell ’75 is giving Occidental track and field a boost as it improves its facilities, strengthens its roster, and aims to compete at a higher level

Zachary Lipsett ’27 spent the summer as a program assistant at The Ford

Student Life

10 Weeks, Infinite Possibilities

A new donor-funded summer internship program with the LA Phil provides a backstage pass to new career opportunities

Curb Visiting Fellow Michael Lloyd, far right, and Resident Assistant Professor Max Foreman with Oxy students in the Choi Family Music Production Center.

Academics

Accelerating the Tempo

New industry partnerships, expanded course offerings, and a reimagined Booth Hall are positioning the Music Department for its second century

From left, Lizzie Friedrich ’25, Lily Calvert ’25, and Hayden Jennings ’25 share a red-carpet moment during the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival.

Student Life

A Ticket to Slamdance

Oxy students and alumni find pathways into the Slamdance Film Festival, gaining industry exposure and experience following its move to Los Angeles

Chief Judge Murguia, Justice Sotomayor, and Chief Justice Guerrero

Los Angeles

Three Judicial Trailblazers

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and California legal powerhouses Patricia Guerrero and Mary Murguia reflect on their heritage and resilience

Steve Carell in Rooster on HBO, filmed in Choi Auditorium

Los Angeles

Hey, Isn't That Steve Carell?

Hollywood and advertisers flock to campus as production booms at Oxy

Mixed Media

More Mixed Media

Blue Film director Elliot Tuttle '22, second from left, with the film's stars.

Arts

Rhapsody in Blue

Elliot Tuttle ’22’s microbudget debut feature is one of the year’s breakout indie films—but getting there was its own odyssey

Laura Paxson, Ken Bryant and Steve Wayland in Androcles and the Lion (1977)

Arts

Hey Kids, Let’s Put on a Book!

Behind the curtain with Theatre Brats authors Laura Paxson and Escott Norton

Oxy Talk

More Oxy Talk

From left, fall 2025 U.N. interns Erica Greenberg, Ruby Gower, Tejas Varma, Arden Courtney Collins, and Chloe Peyton.

Student Life

Oxy at the UN: 40 Years at the Table

A signature Occidental program places students inside the United Nations—and gives them a real role in its work

2025-26 Kemp Lecturer Tim Miller with Occidental Professor Caroline Heldman.

Alumni Engagement

Miller’s Crossing

Former GOP operative Tim Miller recounts his own political reckoning—and offers pearls of hope in the face of despair—as the 2025-26 Jack Kemp '57 Distinguished Lecturer