The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its May meeting on May 15-16. I am writing to share updates on several important topics as well as some key decisions from our time together, beginning with one of our most rewarding duties as trustees.

On Friday morning, the Board officially approved the 220 candidates for graduation from 91̽�� Mudd’s Class of 2026. Also upon recommendation of the faculty, the board voted to approve the degree of doctor of science, honoris causa, for our Commencement speaker, space scientist and higher education leader Laurie Leshin.

During our sessions, the Board engaged deeply with the critical issues affecting our campus climate and the experiences of our community members given recent reports of anti-Black racism at the College and on some of our sister campuses in Claremont. We agree with BLAM, the faculty and the administration that these problems are deeply concerning, and the board is fully committed to supporting the to the College community to foster a climate of genuine belonging and respect for all.

HMC President Harriet B. Nembhard updated the board on plans for the College’s comprehensive campaign, joined by Vice President for Advancement Jennifer Eccles and Peter Hayashida, chair of the board of directors, senior consultant and principal for , the College’s campaign consultants. During the presentation, the board reviewed the five pillars for the College’s campaign—Living and Learning Infrastructure, Academic Leadership, Access and Opportunity, Innovation Accelerator, and Experiential Learning—and discussed preparations for the initial leadership phase of the effort. During the first three years of this 7-year initiative, our focus will be on soliciting lead gifts towards these priorities with a goal of raising half of the anticipated $250 million total ahead of the public launch. Alumni and friends can learn more about the campaign and our five fundraising pillars on our .

On Saturday morning, outgoing ASHMC Senate Chair Simone Yang ’26 introduced incoming ASHMC President Henry Allen ’28 and Senate Chair Ria Haapala ’27, who will represent the student body in board meetings next year. We look forward to working with Henry and Ria and are grateful to Simone and outgoing ASHMC President Aditi Bonthu ’26 for their outstanding service to the board on behalf of our students this past year. We wish Aditi and Simone the best in their post-graduation plans.

Also on Saturday morning, the board discussed the College’s goals in interdisciplinary science and engineering (ISE), including early plans for a as well as submissions received through the recent call for proposals for the . With a framework provided by President Nembhard, Associate Dean of the Faculty Kathy Van Heuvelen gave trustees an overview of the seven exciting proposed projects. Thirty-eight of the College’s faculty across each of our seven academic departments submitted ideas. Each of these seven proposals represents a wonderful and interesting potential area of interdisciplinary collaboration. Senior Vice President, COO and CFO Andrew Dorantes gave an update on early planning for a new academic building to serve as our on campus—a key priority in our upcoming campaign. The College has begun stakeholder group meetings across academic departments, offices and College leadership. Additional stakeholder meetings are expected this summer and fall.

Trustee Actions

• The board approved several recommendations for renewal of trustees and appointment of new board members for next academic year. We thank each of them for their willingness to serve on the board and for their dedication to the mission of 91̽��.
• Elected for three-year terms to the board were: Joe Beda ’97, CTO, Stacklok Inc.; David Campbell ’85, founder, president, CEO and director of Janux Therapeutics; Dr. Hayden Hatch ’12, resident physician at Boston Children’s Hospital; Shashank Samant, advisor to the CEO of Hitachi; and Dr. Valerie Thadhani P’27, internist/primary care physician and board member for Mosaic Health Center.
• The board reelected the following trustees for a three-year term: Howard Deshong III ’89 P’22 P’28, Matthew Ferri, Murray Goldberg, Tyler Mingst P’22, Amyn Rajan P’27, Michael Schubmehl ’02, and Bruce Worster ’64.
• Izzy Lee ’16, software engineer for Academia.edu, was elected to the board as a recent graduate trustee.
• Jim Bean ’77 was elected to serve for a final two-year term as chair of the board.
• Trustees voted to grant emeritus trustee status to former Trustee Scott Fraser ’76, Advisory Trustee Laurie Girand, Vice Chair Laura Larson P’20, Allan Leinwand, and Jessica Skon. The board extends its deepest gratitude for their many years of service, and we look forward to their continued friendship, support and wisdom in their new role.
• The board approved the 2026-2027 operating budget and voted to launch the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the College’s 70-year history beginning July 1, with a preliminary goal of raising $250 million over the next seven years.
  

Faculty Actions

• The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) approved the promotion to full professor for Ambereen Dadabhoy (Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts), Matina Donaldson-Matasci (Biology), and Erin Talvitie (Computer Science).
• The AAC also approved the three-year reappointments of Sarah Kavassalis (Climate and Chemistry) and Lynn Kirabo (Climate and Computer Science).
• All faculty actions above are effective July 1. We congratulate these faculty members and thank them for their continued service to the College.

During a very special dinner Friday evening, the trustees honored Vice Chair of the Board Laura Larson P’20, who has served with distinction on the board for many years. Laura was presented with the , which recognizes someone who exemplifies the highest ideals of service to the College. The award was created in 1995 and named in honor of Dr. Norman F. Sprague Jr., who joined the board in 1955 and who donated funds to build the Sprague Library on campus as well as to endow a professorship in the life sciences. Laura is the fifth person to receive this award since its creation and the first female recipient. We are incredibly grateful to her for her leadership and service to 91̽��, and we wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.

In closing, we concluded the weekend by celebrating the with the Class of 2026 and their families. The trustees congratulate our graduates and their families on this tremendous accomplishment. Commencement weekend always reminds us to pause and appreciate the outstanding 91̽�� community and the tremendous care and effort that our faculty and staff dedicate to educating and caring for our students. This College has always had a unique mission in higher education, and our students represent our greatest impact on society. I know that I speak for all the trustees when I say that we can’t wait to see how each of our newest graduates make their unique marks on the world.

Sincerely,

James Bean ’77
Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its January meeting Friday–Saturday, Jan. 30–31. We were delighted to be back on campus engaging with the 91̽�� Mudd community, and we enjoyed our opportunities to attend classes, meet with you and hear what was on your minds. During our board meetings, we discussed several topics and made some key decisions that we’d like to share with the campus community.

On Friday morning during our plenary session, President Nembhard provided an update on planning for the College’s upcoming comprehensive fundraising campaign. Pending board approval in our May meeting this year, we plan to begin the leadership phase at the start of next fiscal year, July 1, 2026, with a goal to complete the campaign in eight years. Work continues on refining goals and fundraising areas for the campaign. We look forward to sharing more details after our May meeting.

Trustees enjoyed our opportunities to hear more about what is going on around the campus through our conversations over lunch with faculty on Friday, our Friday dinner with students and our coffee with staff. These interactions provided valuable insights and demonstrated the tremendous work and dedication you each bring to drive our campus forward toward the ambitious goals outlined in our STEM for a Better World strategic plan.

On Saturday morning, the board heard from Chair of the Faculty and Professor of Mathematics Talithia Williams on several topics including the ad hoc artificial intelligence study group created by the faculty as well as updates on the Core Impact Course. We appreciated Professor Williams’ report and are grateful for her leadership.

We also received updates from our ASHMC Student Body President Aditi Bonthu ’26 and Senate Chair Simone Yang ’26 on their efforts to strengthen policies, preserve the students’ history and traditions and bring more student voices into critical conversations on campus. We applaud their work as well as that of all of our student leaders on campus. We thank you for your enthusiasm and ongoing support of 91̽�� Mudd.

Kathy French ’97 updated trustees on the work of our Alumni Association Board of Governors to support recruitment and fundraising efforts of the College as well as to provide ongoing professional development and mentoring support for our students. We thank our many alumni volunteers for their dedication to ensuring the ongoing success of our students and alumni.

In addition to these important discussions, the board also made some key decisions during our meetings, including:

Campus Improvements

The Physical Plant and Campus Planning Committee (PPCPC) approved several projects to take place beginning this summer as part of the College’s Renewal and Replacement Reserve Program. These include:

• Replacement of the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Commons roof and HVAC system
• Additional HVAC repairs to the Drinkward Residence Hall
• Replacement of three of the six boilers in the Libra Complex Central Plant
• Refurbishment of Atwood Residence Hall
• Building Automation System Repair/Replacement, which serves several buildings including Olin, Jacobs, Keck, Parsons, Sprague, Hoch–Shanahan, Linde Activities Center and Sontag, East, North and South residence halls.

In addition to these repairs, the PPCPC approved and recommended to the full board, and the board approved the following projects for completion this summer:

• Replacement of the South (Marks) Residence Hall HVAC system
• Refurbishment of South (Marks) Residence Hall living spaces
• Replacement of the Jacobs-Keck roof

Faculty Actions

• The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) recommended, and the board approved, granting tenure and promotion to associate professor for Anup Gampa (humanities, social sciences, and the arts), Jamie Haddock (mathematics) and Heather Zinn Brooks (mathematics).
• The AAC approved the first reappointment for assistant professors Dre Helmns (engineering), Maduka Ogba (chemistry), Arthi Padmanabhan (computer science), Calden Wloka (computer science), and Bilin Zhuang (chemistry).
• The above faculty actions are effective July 1. We congratulate these faculty members and thank them for their outstanding service to the College.

Board Leadership

On recommendation of the Board Affairs Committee, the trustees elected as vice chairs of the board Autumn Preskill ’09 and Bruce DePriester ’74 effective immediately.

During our meetings, we also discussed the recent fire at Atwood Residence Hall. We are relieved that no students were injured and very grateful for the community’s quick response. While we expect repairs will take several weeks, we appreciate the staff, faculty and parents who reached out to help our displaced students. We also thank Pomona and Claremont McKenna colleges for providing housing and support. The strength of our community is truly inspiring.

In closing, Saturday the board discussed additional details related to our campaign planning, including a possible Campaign Leadership Summit this fall to officially kick off the leadership phase of the next campaign for 91̽��. This will represent an important milestone in the history of the College as collectively, we unite in sharing our bold aspirations for the future. We will share more details in the months to come. In the meantime, thank you all for your continued support of 91̽��. We are excited about the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead.

Sincerely,

James Bean ’77
Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees joined faculty, students, alumni, staff and College leadership for our annual Saddle Rock Retreat Nov. 7-9. Against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, we spent three inspiring days reflecting on 91̽�� Mudd’s past and envisioning our impactful future, together.

This year’s retreat focused on the theme “STEM for a Better World: 91̽�� Mudd’s Next Horizon” and marked both a milestone and a turning point. As we celebrated the College’s 70th anniversary, we also looked ahead to the next decade of innovation and impact—guided by our strategic plan and energized by our upcoming comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Reflecting on the Power of Purpose

On Friday, President Harriet B. Nembhard reminded us why our mission matters now more than ever by asking participants a key question: “What does the world need from 91̽��?” Her message on how the College’s unique mission, coupled with our community’s ability to reach across disciplines to harness our strengths, inspired us to explore ways to turn possibility into progress.

We also were joined by , chair of the board of directors, senior consultant and principal of , a leading consultancy in helping nonprofit organizations plan effective fundraising campaigns. Peter shared results from the recent testing of potential campaign priorities, messages and themes, and together, we discussed how we can translate the bold aspirations of our STEM for a Better World strategic plan into tangible actions. Many of the potential campaign priorities were explored in more detail during our weekend’s activities, and we are grateful to the faculty, staff and students who shared their insights and feedback with us. There will be more conversations on campus around these ideas, including discussions around the three building projects called for in our campus plan.

Conversations that Inspire Action

Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in rich dialogue on topics central to 91̽�� Mudd’s future:
Student Success: We were joined by several of our current students who participated in a panel discussion about their experiences at 91̽�� Mudd. We appreciate their willingness to share their honest feedback and reflections on what it means to be a Mudder today, and we were inspired by their stories and accomplishments.

College Affordability

As part of the work of the Task Force on College Affordability, we discussed how we can ensure that every talented student has access to a 91̽�� Mudd education without the burden of debt after graduation. We also talked about new potential merit scholarship options focused on student research as well as the importance of increasing giving to the endowment through the upcoming campaign as key to achieving some of the ambitious goals we anticipate will be recommended by the task force.

Innovation Accelerator (IA) and IA Laboratories

Faculty leaders showcased three dynamic labs—Thriving, Data Science and Social Impact, and Emerging Health Technology—and we heard three pitches for potential new projects centered around exploring innovations in artificial intelligence. During Saturday’s working lunch, attendees provided feedback to each of our IA Lab teams, including the three teams pitching new projects on AI. We look forward to hearing more about these projects in the months ahead.

Future Campus Planning

Following a panel discussion from students and faculty about how recent new buildings, spaces and renovations have created greater opportunities for learning and discovery, we brainstormed how the future spaces called for in our strategic plan—a new academic building, residence hall, and a student union—can help foster greater collaboration and discovery.

A Celebration of Community

Saturday evening’s 70th anniversary dinner was a joyful highlight as we honored the past seven decades of innovation, collaboration and leadership at 91̽�� Mudd. Everyone appreciated sharing memories, and we were all touched by President Nembhard’s remarks about the importance of our stewardship in ensuring that our amazing college can continue to thrive and fulfill its mission for generations to come. We were all reminded that 91̽�� Mudd’s legacy is not only about our shared past, but also about the many exciting horizons we have yet to explore together.

Looking Ahead

Throughout our retreat, we were all inspired by the commitment and talent within our community—students pushing the boundaries of learning, faculty advancing important discoveries in teaching and scholarship, staff driving and sustaining ongoing excellence, and alumni and trustees helping us achieve our goals for the future through their commitment and support.

As we move toward launching the leadership phase of our comprehensive campaign in 2026, we do so with renewed confidence that 91̽�� is poised to lead boldly in STEM for a Better World. I want to thank all of you for being part of this extraordinary community and for all that you do to sustain 91̽�� Mudd’s mission every day. Together, we are building the next chapter for a college that continues to explore innovative approaches to solving key societal challenges—one whose impact is felt far beyond Claremont.

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77
Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its September meeting on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26–27. Many trustees also arrived a day early, joining the campus community on Thursday, Sept. 25, to celebrate the College’s 70th Anniversary Symposium and to recognize the accomplishments of our students at the Summer Research and Scholarship Poster Celebration. During our visit, trustees enjoyed engaging with students, faculty and staff and hearing directly about their work and experiences. We concluded our visit to campus with a celebration of life for our friend and devoted board member Michael Blasgen ’63, whose wise council we will deeply miss in our meetings.

On Friday morning, the board welcomed Thyra Briggs, vice president of admission and financial aid, to lead a conversation with trustees on the work of the College’s Task Force on College Affordability. President Harriet B. Nembhard created the task force in January 2024 to make recommendations that will support the College’s strategic plan goal to ensure that access to a quality HMC education is available to all students, regardless of their financial circumstances.

On behalf of the trustees, we thank the members of the task force for their important work on advancing equitable access and affordability at 91̽��. We look forward to continuing the conversation at the annual trustee retreat in November and at our January 2026 meeting.

Karl Haushalter, vice president for academic affairs and R. Michael Shanahan Dean of the Faculty, shared an update from the Innovation Accelerator Laboratories with the trustees. The teams reported on progress in advancing innovative approaches across disciplines and highlighted upcoming initiatives. We are excited to continue exploring these ideas together at the trustee retreat, where we will engage more deeply with their work and hear pitches for the Innovation Accelerator Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence.

Saturday’s plenary session featured an update from President Nembhard on STEM for a Better World: 91̽��’s Next Horizon. She highlighted how 91̽�� Mudd can build on its history of transformative innovations to define its next frontier. Confronting global challenges like climate change, health crises and artificial intelligence, the College’s blend of STEM rigor and humanistic values equips graduates to lead with creativity, mastery and ethical courage. The Innovation Accelerator was spotlighted as a launchpad for advancing key elements of this work.  

The plenary also underscored the importance of investing in people, places and partnerships to realize the vision. Investments in academic and research spaces, along with campus infrastructure, were framed as critical foundations for discovery and collaboration. Partnerships within The Claremont Colleges, with industry, and across global communities were cited as critical to scaling impact and extending 91̽�� Mudd’s influence beyond campus. 

The Advancement Committee and the board heard an update on the pre-leadership phase of campaign planning, designed to position the College for a productive Saddle Rock trustee retreat and to build momentum for the comprehensive campaign. Vice President for Advancement Jennifer Eccles reported on how Advancement is optimizing infrastructure, strengthening systems and setting the pace of work necessary for campaign success. These efforts demonstrate how 91̽�� Mudd is laying the groundwork for a new era of philanthropy in support of the College’s ambitious goals.

In addition to these important conversations, the Board also made some key decisions and received important updates during our meetings, including:

Campus Improvements

• The Physical Plant and Campus Planning Committee (PPCPC) received updates on sustainability efforts as well as plans to improve indoor air quality and explore retrofit options for older buildings. The Committee was briefed on progress with the Solar PV Phase 2 project to increase the College’s solar capacity to nearly 30% of annual usage.
• The PPCPC received its annual update on emergency preparedness and safety, including the College’s new shared leadership structure that aims to strengthen coordination across Human Resources, Facilities and Maintenance, and the Safety Committee. Key topics included lessons learned from the spring 2025 Claremont McKenna College swatting incident, ongoing emergency preparedness skills, enhancements to safety policies and reporting, and recent incident responses. 
• Joseph Vaughan, vice president for computing and information services and chief information officer, shared with members of the PPCPC an update on several Information technology initiatives, including completion of audio visual system upgrades in the R. Michael Shanahan Center for Teaching and Learning, ongoing challenges with Cisco’s new licensing model and a pilot of “networking as a service” to improve user experience and cost predictability. The report also emphasized developments in cybersecurity, expansion of high-performance computing resources through new NSF-funded clusters and planning for anticipated infrastructure needs. The PPCPC was also provided with an update on the campus artificial intelligence efforts and initiatives. 
• The Board saw and recognized the tremendous effort behind recent campus enhancements. From revitalized outdoor spaces and sustainable landscaping to improved infrastructure and signage, the Facilities and Maintenance team’s work reflects 91̽�� Mudd’s deep commitment to sustainability, safety and community wellbeing. These upgrades elevate the daily experience for our on-campus community and advances strategic goals that ensure we remain a thriving, inclusive and forward-looking institution.

Board Actions

• The board voted to approve the replacement of the elevator in the Norman F. Sprague Center, targeted for summer 2026.
• Upon a recommendation from the PPCPC, the board voted to extend the term of the Green Fund by one additional year to provide the administration time to develop a comprehensive list of potential Green Fund projects that would support the case for extending the Green Fund’s term beyond the one-year horizon. The Green Fund was established in 2015 to support campus sustainability initiatives that deliver both measurable environmental benefits and adequate financial returns.

On behalf of the trustees, I extend my deepest gratitude to every member of our staff and faculty for your continued commitment to our students’ success. In a time when higher education faces unprecedented challenges, your commitment continues to be a source of inspiration. The work we do together in support of our students is more critical than ever. As we look ahead, we are excited to deepen our collaboration and continue advancing our shared vision: STEM for a Better World.

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77
Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its May meeting on May 16-17. During our meeting on Friday morning, we were very happy to complete one of our favorite roles as trustees—the approval of 216 candidates for graduation from the Class of 2025. In addition to approving the list of graduates, trustees also received two important updates Friday morning during our plenary session.

The first was an update from the strategic planning Task Force on College Affordability, presented by chair and VP for Admission and Financial Aid Thyra Briggs and HMC President Harriet B. Nembhard. Originally formed in January 2024, the task force has been working the last several months to hold small group discussions and gather data to inform its initial findings. The task force’s first interim report is available on the website. We encourage everyone to review this initial report and to provide feedback and suggestions using the email address provided on the website.

Also on Friday, the board received an update from R. Michael Shanahan Dean of the Faculty Tom Donnelly and President Nembhard on highlights from the College’s first Innovation Showcase. The showcase provided an opportunity for faculty and staff to pitch Innovation Accelerator projects, and three projects have been selected to receive additional funding. The Innovation Accelerator is the key engine for driving educational innovation under the College’s new strategic plan, STEM for a Better World. Through the Innovation Accelerator, the College community has been inspired to explore and highlight our most innovative, ambitious and forward-looking ideas, leading us to wonder what the impact could be if our community had the space and resources to constantly renew, innovate and build for our shared future. We look forward to the opportunity to continue this discussion in the months ahead as we continue planning for our next comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Looking ahead toward that goal, during our meeting Saturday morning, the board heard from HMC’s Vice President for Advancement Jennifer Eccles as well as from Peter Hayashida, senior consultant, principal, and chair of the board of directors for Marts&Lundy, the consulting firm the College has retained to assist with planning our upcoming comprehensive fundraising campaign. The firm is developing a capacity analysis to help determine the goal for our upcoming campaign as well as the initial prospectus outlining the campaign initiatives. We anticipate having a broader conversation focused on our campaign goals and initiatives during this fall’s Saddle Rock board retreat, and we hope to invite more members of the HMC community to join us for these important discussions.

Also on Saturday, the Board Affairs Committee proposed, and the full board approved, a resolution affirming updated priorities for the board of trustees. The board agreed to the following priorities:

1. Invest in programs that advance the College’s mission. The board will advocate for and help secure the strategic financial and human resources necessary to support high-impact academic programs, campus initiatives, and institutional priorities that further the College’s distinctive educational model.
2. Strengthen board composition through broader representation. The board will continue to expand the range of perspectives and experiences among its members by actively recruiting individuals with wide-ranging personal, professional and cultural backgrounds, thereby enhancing the board’s capacity for inclusive and effective governance.
3. Support leadership in national STEM education. The board will champion 91̽��’s national role in advancing innovative, collaborative and socially engaged STEM education that prepares students to address the world’s most complex challenges with skill and purpose.

In addition to these updates and discussions, the board made several key decisions we would like to share.

Trustee Actions

• The board approved several recommendations for renewal of trustees and appointment of new board members for next academic year. We thank each of them for their willingness to serve on the board and for their dedication to the mission of 91̽��.
• The board reelected the following trustees for a three-year term: Jim Bean ’77, Kathleen Fisher, Robert Gould ’87, Shamit Grover ’05, Dylan Hixon, Tony Li ’82 and Michael Wilson ’63.
• Bruce DePriester ’74 was elected to a three-year term as a trustee. DePriester most recently served as an advisory trustee.
• Laurie Girand was elected to serve a one-year term as an advisory trustee.
• Kathy French ’97 was elected to serve as the alumni representative to the board.
• Trustees voted to grant John Benediktsson ’01, Robert Hulse ’96/97, Gregory Rae ’00 and Yvonne Wassenaar emeritus trustee status. The board extends its deepest gratitude for their many years of service, and we look forward to their continued friendship, support and wisdom in their new role as trustees emeriti.
• Terence Wong ’09 was elected to serve as a trustee for a three-year term as his term as a recent graduate trusteeis ending.
• Eun Bin Go ’15, a research scientist at Amazon, and Rebecca Thomas ’14, senior software engineer and tech lead for Google Kids Space, were both elected to the board as recent graduate trustees.
• Ajit Singh, partner with Artiman Ventures, and Robert Shelton, who most recently served as president of the Giant Magellan Telescope, were both elected for three-year terms to the board. We thank them for their willingness to serve, and we look forward to working with them.
• Trustee Laura Larson P’20 was elected to serve one additional year as vice chair of the board.
• The board approved the 2025-2026 operating budget.

Faculty Actions

• The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) approved the promotion to full professor for Albert Dato (Engineering).
• The AAC approved the three-year reappointments of Spencer Brucks (Chemistry), Whitney Fowler (Engineering), and Daniel Tamayo (Physics).
• All faculty actions above are effective July 1. We congratulate these faculty members and thank them for their continued service to the College.

We concluded the weekend by celebrating the College’s 67th Commencement with the members of the Class of 2025 and their families. We congratulate all our graduates and their families on this tremendous accomplishment. As always, the members of the board understand how challenging and busy this weekend is in May, and we are so very grateful to each member of the HMC community for your outstanding work on behalf of our students and for helping to ensure that Commencement and our meetings run so smoothly.

In closing, this weekend always serves to remind us why we each devote so much of our time, talents and resources in support of the College. Despite the challenges the higher education community is facing, it’s important for us to always remember that our students and graduates are the reason we do this important work. They represent our College’s greatest impact on society, and we can’t wait to see how each of them makes their unique mark on the world.

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77
Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its January meeting on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 and 25. During our board meetings, we discussed several topics and made some key decisions that we’d like to share with the campus community.

On Friday morning during our plenary session, co-chairs of the Task Force on Clinic and Corporate Partnerships (TFCCP) Karl Haushalter, Seeley W. Mudd Professor of Chemistry and Biology and chair of the chemistry department, and Talithia Williams, professor of mathematics and mathematics clinic director, discussed the findings and recommendations in the final report of the TFCCP. The task force was charged with assessing the College’s Clinic Program and corporate partnerships and making recommendations for improvements. We are incredibly grateful to the students, faculty, staff and trustees who participated in this important work, and we encourage everyone to  and learn more about their findings and recommendations. Implementation will require further input and work from a variety of constituencies on campus, including students, faculty, staff and trustees. The board asks that HMC President Harriet Nembhard and the Cabinet collaborate with these groups to determine the best path forward in making the recommended changes.  

Friday evening, the board enjoyed a wonderful dinner with faculty leaders to thank them for their outstanding work on behalf of our students and the College. 91̽�� is blessed with an amazing faculty who are dedicated not only to outstanding teaching, but also to important research that advances their fields and helps to educate our students to become leaders and passionate problem-solvers. We are grateful for their amazing work and dedication. 

On Saturday morning, the board discussed adoption of a resolution approving the College’s Strategic Plan, STEM for a Better World. Efforts toward developing this plan began sooner after the arrival of President Nembhard in 2023. She led the HMC community through a planning process that included a SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) analysis and created three working groups tasked with refining these suggestions. Based on their recommendations, the Strategic Plan Steering Committee developed two drafts of the plan, which were shared with the community for input and feedback. 

Following our discussions, the board approved the strategic plan and charged the administration with beginning its implementation. As President Nembhard has said, STEM for a Better World represents a living document that may change and adapt from time to time as the needs and priorities of the College change. We encourage you to review the plan as well as learn more about the process to create it, on the College’s website. 

Saturday, the board also received an update from trustee Albert Lee, chair of the Budget and Financial Planning Committee (BFPC), on the College’s budget projections for the upcoming two fiscal years. Inflation has driven up costs, including property and health insurance premiums, faster than revenue, leading to a number of budgetary challenges. The BFPC continues to work with College leadership to address these challenges and will have further discussions during our May meeting when the board reviews and approves next fiscal year’s budget. 

In addition to these important discussions and actions, the Board also made some key decisions during our meetings, including: 

Campus Improvements

• The Physical Plant and Campus Planning Committee (PPCPC) approved several projects to take place beginning this summer as part of the College’s Renewal and Replacement Reserve Program (RRR). These include:
  • Modernization of the Atwood Residence Hall Elevator
  • Replacement of the Case Residence Hall Cooling Tower
  • Replacement of the Olin Science Center Roof
  • Refurbishment of the Galileo Hall Air Handling Unit
  • Replacement of the Libra Complex Central Boiler
• In addition to these repairs, the PPCPC approved, recommended to the full board, and the board approved the following projects for completion this summer:
  • Major Systems Maintenance for Drinkward Residence Hall
  • Exterior Walkway repairs and waterproofing for Atwood Residence Hall
  • Replacement of the Case Residence Hall roof
  • Mechanical equipment replacement and refurbishment for the Sprague Center

Faculty Actions

• The AAC recommended, and the board approved, granting tenure and promotion to associate professor for Joshua Brake (Engineering), Steven Santana ’06 (Engineering) and Alexandra (Xanda) Schofield ’13 (Computer Science).
• The AAC approved the first reappointment for assistant professor Dede Long (Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts).
• The above faculty actions are effective July 1, 2025. We congratulate these faculty members and thank them for their outstanding service to the College.

In closing, with the approval of the College’s new strategic plan, STEM for a Better World, our community has united to chart the College’s course for the next 10 years. The plan sets ambitious goals for the future, and we are excited to help bring our shared vision to life. Plan implementation is already underway, and we are excited to learn more about the six proposals selected to advance through our Innovation Accelerator process, outlined in Goal 1: Innovative Education. I hope you will make plans to join us on campus April 4 for 91̽�� Mudd’s first Innovation Showcase. 

Together we can advance our mission and vision and ensure that through our community’s creativity and agility, we continue to innovate and share our discoveries to the benefit of others. 

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77

Chair, Board of Trustees

From Nov. 1-2, the 91̽�� community gathered in Palm Springs for the 64th annual Saddle Rock board retreat. Trustees, students, faculty, staff and members of the Alumni Association Board of Governors came together to connect and explore some exciting topics, including the draft Strategic Plan, the Innovation Accelerator, and preparations for a future comprehensive fundraising campaign. It was a great opportunity for everyone to share ideas and brainstorm on these important areas. 

On Friday, Peter Hayashida, Senior Consultant and Principal of , the College’s counsel for planning our fundraising campaign, and Assistant Vice President for Development Kimberly Stafford framed strategic planning within the context of campaign fundraising, especially as it relates to how fundraising can help provide a pathway to “big ideas.” Following their presentation, President Harriet Nembhard, Assistant Vice President for the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Laura Palucki Blake and Vice President for Communications and Marketing Tim Hussey led a discussion with attendees about how we might evaluate our effectiveness in achieving our strategic goals as well as how we might begin to craft a compelling story about 91̽��’s impact on the world as the College approaches its 75th anniversary in 2030. 

Our discussions and work on Saturday centered around the recent call for proposals for the College’s first Innovation Accelerator, a key component of the College’s strategic plan and one designed to help foster innovative ideas that will have an impact on the College and the world. Trustees were excited to hear that 21 proposals were received as part of the Innovation Accelerator call for proposals process. We heard “mini-pitches” from each of the proposals and then broke into smaller groups of trustees, students, faculty, staff and alumni to discuss the ideas, provide suggestions for potential improvements and ultimately. While we realize the proposals will continue to be refined further and the list of ideas moving forward will be narrowed, we were all extremely impressed with the variety and quality of the proposals. 

Our table discussions and suggestions were one of the main highlights of the weekend, and everyone came away from Saturday looking forward to hearing more about the various ideas and to seeing which ones are selected to move forward. 

Sunday, Peter Hayashida joined our new Vice President for Advancement Jennifer Eccles in discussing how we are building our campaign plan, including highlighting the assessment and campaign readiness work that Marts&Lundy is conducting in partnership with the Office of College Advancement. Following their presentation, President Nembhard led us in another set of group discussions on the Innovation Accelerator Summit to be held next year, where the ideas selected to move forward in the IA process will be pitched to stakeholders. It promises to be an exciting time as our community comes together to continue to find ways to innovate and advance 91̽�� Mudd’s mission. 

In closing, this has been a particularly challenging year—both in higher education, on our fellow campuses in the consortium, and at 91̽�� Mudd. The trustees have been heartened to see the care and support our students, faculty and staff have shown for each other as well as your dedication to our continued strategic planning efforts. We want you all to know how deeply committed we are to continuing to support this community in our role as trustees and how grateful we are for your ongoing efforts to support each other in our work together. 
 

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77

Chair, 91̽�� Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its September meeting on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27–28. Several trustees also were on campus Thursday, Sept. 26, to celebrate the accomplishments of our students during the Summer Research and Scholarship Poster Celebration. We enjoyed opportunities to meet with students, faculty and staff throughout our time on campus.

On Friday morning, the board welcomed representatives from the College’s Task Force on Clinic and Corporate Partnerships. Co-chairs of the task force Karl Haushalter, Seeley Wintersmith Mudd Professor of Chemistry and Biology and chemistry department chair, and Talithia Williams, professor of mathematics and mathematics clinic director were joined by Erika Dyson, associate professor of religious studies and Willard W. Keith Jr. Fellow in the Humanities, to lead a conversation with trustees about the . 

The task force has been meeting with various constituent groups of the College to share details of their findings thus far and gather input and feedback through a series of events and office hours for students, alumni, faculty and staff. If you have additional thoughts to share, we encourage you to reach out to the task force via their . On behalf of the trustees, we thank the members of the task force for their important work in envisioning the future for these critical partnership programs, and we look forward to receiving their final report and recommendations during our meeting next January. 

Saturday’s plenary session featured an update from President Harriet Nembhard and Dean of the Faculty Tom Donnelly on the strategic plan as well as exciting details surrounding the launch of the College’s first Innovation Accelerator. The Innovation Accelerator will provide up to $1,080,000 in internal grant funding for bold, forward-thinking initiatives by faculty and staff that drive innovation and excellence as part of our strategic plan. Details on the Innovation Accelerator, along with the most recent draft of the strategic plan, are available on the College’s website. 

During the board’s discussions Saturday morning, we heard updates from President Nembhard and Vice Chair of the Board Laura Larson on the College’s efforts to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and access this year. As a reminder, in December 2020 the board shared four goals around DEI. Those included:

• diversifying the board by actively recruiting people of color;
• continuing to support the College’s efforts to lead the national discussion regarding DEI in STEM;
• ensuring the College has the resources to accomplish priority programming identified to further its goals for DEI; and
• discussing a summary of the DEI programs and progress each September.

Vice-chair Laura Larson shared that board diversity continues to be a challenge, particularly due to the natural rotation of board members in recent years during the presidential transition. Laura shared that the Board Affairs Committee planned to revisit issues around board recruitment as part of a broader approach to developing more diverse representation moving forward. She called on all board members to redouble efforts to recommend potential board candidates and to assist in helping build and strengthen the pipeline for new members. 

President Nembhard acknowledged that 91̽�� has been a national leader for several years, making remarkable progress in diversifying its students, faculty and staff. She shared that the President’s Cabinet recently received an update on campus efforts from the College’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Committee and that she had discussed with the group some of the work she and her colleagues had done through the  to advance the conversation around . President Nembhard has encouraged HMC’s IDEA Committee to extend their thinking to broader themes around inclusion, belonging and support for all students as part of their ongoing efforts. 

In addition to these important conversations, the Board also made some key decisions and received important updates during our meetings, including:

Campus Improvements

• The Physical Plant and Campus Planning Committee (PPCPC) discussed efforts to further improve safety on campus, in particular, work by the College’s Faculty Safety Committee to solicit faculty and community requests for assistance and conduct laboratory safety walkthroughs. Trustees also discussed recent efforts to provide support to students, faculty and staff during times of poor air quality on campus caused by local wildfires. 
• The PPCPC learned about the completion of several projects this summer, including the completion of installation for the backup power generator to support ventilation and exhaust systems as well as critical equipment in the academic spaces in the Libra Complex; ongoing work to bring The Claremont Colleges Services’ power substation into compliance with requirements for Southern California Edison’s Base-Interruptible Program (BIP) to again lower the College’s cost per kWh; completion of the exterior walkways waterproofing at Drinkward Residence Hall; duct cleaning in the Jacobs/Keck buildings; cleaning of air ducts in Sprague; and the first phase of the renovations to the Green Room located in the  Platt Campus Center. 
• The PPCPC received updates on several projects scheduled to be completed during winter break 2025. These include replacement of the Case Residence Hall power transformer and the two rooftop air conditioning units (pending timely receipt of the necessary equipment) that serve the Linde Activities Center, as well as the Central Plant Building automation controls.  
• Joseph Vaughan, vice president of computing and information services and chief information officer, updated members of the PPCPC on the completion of AV projects in the R. Michael Shanahan Center for Teaching and Learning, rewiring and upgrades to WiFi in Case Residence Hall, the outcomes of a TCC-wide cybersecurity assessment and developments in high performance computing at The Claremont Colleges.

Trustee Actions

• The board voted to approve the nomination of Christopher F. Lee, senior partner with Farron, Augustine & Alexander (FAA Investments), which specializes in real estate, hedge funds and private equity managers. He completed the Advancement Management Program at Harvard University and earned his MBA and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley. We thank him for his willingness to join the board and look forward to welcoming him to our next meeting. 

In closing, on behalf of the trustees, I want to thank each of our staff and faculty members for their ongoing work and dedication to ensuring our students’ success. We realize that these are challenging times to work in higher education. Please know that the work we are doing together as a community on behalf of our students has never been more important. We look forward to continuing to explore how, together, we can achieve our shared vision of “STEM for A Better World.”   

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77

Chair, 91̽�� Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its May meeting on May 10-11. During our meetings, we were excited to perform one of our favorite duties—approval of the Class of 2024 candidates for graduation. Saturday morning, during our plenary session, we heard an update on the College’s strategic planning efforts from President Harriet Nembhard. The board was delighted to see the progress made by the community thus far, and we look forward to learning more in the coming months.

Also on Saturday, we heard from four graduating seniors who shared stories of their experiences at Mudd as well as their plans for the future. Thank you to seniors Tanvi Krishnan (Physics/Computer Science), Nile Phillips (Mathematics/Computer Science), Matea Zelich (Chemistry/Biology) and Emma Zhang (Mathematics/Physics) for sharing your thoughts. We congratulate you and your classmates for your wonderful accomplishments and look forward to hearing great things from you in the future. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to this year’s ASHMC President and Senate Chair, seniors Kayleah Tsai and Henry Hammer, for their work this past year and for sharing updates from the student body with the board during our meetings. We look forward to working with their successors Serena Mao ’25 and Shivani Manivasagan ’25 beginning in Fall 2024.

The board was also apprised of the campus climate and discussions surrounding HMC’s ties with defense companies. We look forward to working with students, faculty, and staff representing the views of the whole community as the Strategic Planning Task Force on Clinic and Corporate Partnerships charts a path forward on this important question. Like at many college and university campuses around the country, this has been a challenging time for the 91̽�� Mudd community. On behalf of the board, we thank the students, faculty and staff for their ongoing efforts to extend grace to one another and to make space for crucial conversations around these important issues. We are confident that by working together through the strategic planning process, we can ensure that 91̽�� Mudd continues to improve and meet the challenge of its mission now and in the years to come.

In addition, the board made several key decisions we would like to share.

Campus Improvements

• The Physical Plant and Campus Planning Committee (PPCPC) approved replacement of the College’s Central Plant building automation system from the College’s Renewal and Replacement Reserve (RRR) program budget. The change is expected to save the College approximately $39,000 per year.
• The PPCPC approved replacing the exterior walkway waterproofing and conducting some regrading to prevent water intrusion at Drinkward Residence Hall. Work is expected to be completed this summer.  
• The PPCPC recommended and the full board approved expanding the College’s solar power footprint by moving forward with the installation of the Phase 2 Solar Photovoltaic Array Project. This project, partially funded from the College’s Green Fund, will add solar to the roofs of South Residence Hall, Linde Activities Center, Linde Residence Hall and to the perimeter of Linde Field. This is expected to increase the College’s solar energy production to almost 30% of the annual energy use campus wide.
• The BFPC and Advancement Committee recommended, and the board approved, allocating residual funds received from bequests made by John and Florence Rae to the College for use in renovating the Green Room in the Joseph B. Platt Campus Center. Trustees also agreed with the administration that upon completion of the Green Room upgrades and after consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances, the administration should consider renaming the room in honor of the Rae family.
  
   was founder and past president of the  and the recipient of that society’s highest honor, the, in 1980. After teaching at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined 91̽�� in 1959 where he taught courses in the history of technology and industry. Although he retired from 91̽�� Mudd in 1976, he continued to teach in the Executive Management Program of the Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University) as a colleague of Peter Drucker. We greatly appreciate John and Florence’s service to the College as well as their generosity.

Trustee Actions

• The board approved several recommendations for renewal of trustees and appointment of new board members. Unless otherwise noted, these actions are effective July 1, 2024.
• The board reelected Jim Bean ’77 as chair of the board for a two-year term.
• Trustees Albert Lee, Justin Peterson ’85, Autumn Preskill ’09 and Jessica Skon were reelected for three-year terms.
• Obosa Obazuaye ’14 was elected to serve as a recent graduate trustee. Obosa graduated with a degree in computer science from HMC and earned a Master of Advanced Studies in Wireless Embedded Systems from UC San Diego. He currently serves as a software engineer for Viasat.
• Bruce DePriester ’74 was elected to serve as an advisory trustee. He most recently served the board as chair of the Budget and Financial Planning Committee.
• We say goodbye to the following trustees and thank them for their service to the College: Justin Christian P’25, Mike Curtis, Jason Fennell ’08, Scott Fraser ’76, Curtis Mewbourne P’25, Sunil Rajasekar P’26, and Lindsay Wray ’08.
• Trustees voted to grant Mike Curtis and Jason Fennell ’08 emeritus trustee status.
• Karen Morrison ’08 was elected to serve as a trustee for a three-year term as her term as a recent graduate trustee is ending.
• The board approved the 2024-2025 operating budget.

Faculty Actions

• The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) approved the promotion to full professor for Jim Boerkoel (Computer Science), Sharon Gerbode (Physics), Vivien Hamilton (Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts) and Talithia Williams (Mathematics).
• The AAC approved the renewals for two-year appointments for assistant professors Heather Zinn-Brooks (Mathematics) and Anup Gampa (Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts).
• The AAC approved the three-year reappointment for assistant professor Jamie Haddock (Mathematics).
  
  All faculty actions above are effective July 1. We congratulate these faculty members and thank them for their continued service to the College.
  
  In closing, we concluded the weekend by celebrating the College’s 66th Commencement and all the wonderful accomplishments of the 91̽�� Class of 2024. On behalf of the board, we would like to congratulate our graduates and their families on this tremendous milestone.  We also are grateful to the many members of the HMC community who worked tirelessly to ensure that our meetings over the weekend and Commencement activities were successful. This weekend always serves to remind us why the faculty, staff and trustees of the College devote our time, energy and talents in service to the College. Our students and graduates are the College’s greatest impact on society, and we look forward to seeing how each of them makes their mark on the world.

Sincerely,

Jim Bean ’77
Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

Laura Larson P’20
Vice Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

Michael Schubmehl ’02
Vice Chair, HMC Board of Trustees

The 91̽�� Board of Trustees held its January meeting via Zoom on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26 and 27. During our board meetings, we discussed several topics and made important decisions that we’d like to share with the campus community.

On Friday morning during the plenary session, President Harriet Nembhard led a discussion about the liberal arts STEM education at 91̽�� and beyond and what the next 10 years might bring. Trustees, including 91̽�� Mudd alums, shared their undergraduate experiences and discussed how the humanities, social sciences and the arts have impacted their lives. Their thoughtful comments provided insight about what should be on our radar as we work to make 91̽�� Mudd a better, stronger liberal arts college. 

The Board enjoyed a special plenary session on Saturday focused on gearing up for a campaign. We were pleased to hear from Claremont McKenna College (CMC) President Hiram Chodosh, CMC Board Chair David Mgrublian CMC ’82, and VP for Advancement and Student Opportunities Michelle Chamberlain. As you may know, CMC just completed its “Campaign for CMC: Responsible Leadership” and secured nearly $1.1 billion, a record for liberal arts colleges in a single comprehensive campaign. Their insights about campaign vision, board roles, securing appropriate resources and team dynamics were invaluable. We enjoyed a rich and productive conversation that will continue as 91̽�� Mudd moves toward its next major campaign. 

Upon discussion and the recommendation of the Academic Affairs Committee, the board unanimously approved these seven faculty members for tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor: Lucas Bang (CS), Katherine Breeden (CS), Nicholas Breznay ’02 (physics), Alfred Flores (HSA), Mark Ilton (physics), Haydee Lindo (math) and George Montañez (CS). We congratulate these faculty members and thank them for their service and dedication to our students. 

The joint Committee of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs discussed improving resources for students needing more academic assistance. Faculty and staff are working hard to create and provide resources to bolster student success. The Student Affairs Committee was pleased to hear from student entrepreneurs  Aymen Abdellatif ’24 (Athena), Ryan O’Hara ’24 () and Alspencer Omondi ’26 () as they described their projects, shared their challenges and successes, and suggested ways the College could improve the entrepreneurship program. 

Reports from the Advancement Committee included news of 91̽�� Mudd’s fundraising progress. As of Dec. 31 there have been $16.1 million in new pledges and outright gifts of which $8.2 million is year-to-date cash flow. The annual fund is at $1.9 million toward a $4.6 million goal. The board learned about efforts to fundraise for and promote the Hixon Center for Climate and the Environment, and the Entrepreneurship program, which includes the student-driven Entrepreneurship Studio pilot program beginning this summer. In an effort to encourage more participation, the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations is working with CMC and Scripps as all three colleges consider moving their Alumni Weekends to June. The Alumni Board of Governors is looking forward to encouraging participation and partnering with advancement staff as they ramp up for the Pi Day Campaign, spanning March 1–14. 

The board learned more about the Task Force on College Affordability, appointed by President Nembhard, which stems from the September board meeting and discussions about the expense of delivering a top-notch STEM education. This task force will be led by Thyra Briggs, VP for admission and financial aid. Its members will include Bruce DePriester ’74, trustee; Andrew Dorantes, VP/CFO/COO; Albert Lee, trustee; Mar Hershenson P24, trustee; Kim Stafford, AVP for development; and Darryl Yong ’96, professor of mathematics. It will present its progress at the May 2024 and September 2024 board meetings, with a final report anticipated in November 2024. 

The College obtained an excellent report from auditors on all audited financial statements and received a 3.0 financial responsibility ratio, the highest an institution can receive. Kudos to Office of Business Affairs Vice President Andrew Dorantes and his team. 

In addition to these important discussions, the Board also made some key decisions during our meetings, including: 

Campus Improvements

• The Physical Plant and Campus Planning Committee (PPCPC) received an update on the status of the project to install a 500-kilowatt backup power generator to support the ventilation and exhaust systems and critical equipment of all academic spaces in the Libra Complex. Our new generator was installed in late December 2023, and we were able to use it in January 2024 during a scheduled power outage at the TCCS substation.
• The PPCPC received an update on the duct cleaning project for the Jacobs and Keck sub-basement. Additionally, F&M is exploring the possibility of performing a cleaning and replacement of the duct liner at the rooftop air handlers and all rooftop main ducting.
• The PPCPC approved spending Renewal and Replacement Reserve funds to install new card readers that will work with updated, standardized cards issued by TCCS. The new card readers are compatible with mobile credentials, which the College intends to eventually adopt. 
• Both the PPCPC and the Board approved spending from the Audio-Visual Fund for the replacement of the Shanahan Center Audio-Visual control system, which manages the AV setup in the classrooms and lecture halls.
• The PPCPC and the Board approved spending from RRR funds for the replacement of the Linde Activities Center air conditioning units. The current units are past their life span and run on a refrigerant that is no longer produced in the U.S.

Other Trustee Actions

• The Board Affairs Committee recommended, and the board approved, Michael Schubmehl ’02 as vice chair of the board. A board member since 2014, Michael is an enthusiastic contributor and leader, and we appreciate his ongoing service.
• Trustees unanimously approved six candidates for graduation from the College. We welcome them to the HMC alumni family and wish them much success as they progress in their careers.
  

In closing, I encourage you to join members of the board as we celebrate the College and President Nembhard during inauguration festivities Feb. 29 and March 1. There will be many opportunities to engage with each other as we mark this momentous occasion.  for events you can attend, and feel free to extend your best wishes via the guestbook (or in-person). The board continues to be impressed with the commitment and accomplishments of faculty, staff and students, and we appreciate your efforts on behalf of the College that we all love.

Sincerely

Jim Bean ‘77