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My favorite part of summer at Occidental is the opportunity to hear from students who’ve chosen to spend it here on campus, pursuing their academic and career passions. The Summer Research Program, InternLA, and Justice Summer Internship program are all in full swing through June and July, and the work accomplished is always impressive.

This year, ɫ����Ƶ students have continued their research into crucial areas of study, including fire-resistant landscape design, renewable energy, media literacy, and inclusive AI tools. They’ve also interned in CHIRLA’s legal department, advancing the rights of immigrants and refugees, and engaged with community groups in preparation for the Los Angeles-hosted Summer Olympics in 2028.

These programs strengthen our identity as an institution, highlighting how Occidental students and faculty contribute not only to a vibrant research culture but also to our shared communities. Through accessible expert faculty, dedicated staff, and vibrant regional partnerships, we provide our students with enriching, immersive, and individualized academic experiences—an education that’s uniquely ɫ����Ƶ.

As alumni, you know this from your own time on campus: Whatever your major or interest, you can explore it, in depth, right here in Los Angeles. Our politics and diplomacy and world affairs students engage in robust, discussion-based courses taught by former elected officials and public servants and intern at L.A. City Hall as part of our long partnership with the mayor’s office. Thanks to the John Branca Institute for Music, students have increased access to industry professionals through our fast-growing Music Department, which has been named one of Billboard’s top music business schools for five consecutive years. And students interested in sustainability and the natural environment need look no further than our California caves and coasts, where our science faculty guide groundbreaking fieldwork and research—such as the discovery of three new species of sea spider by Professor of Biology Shana Goffredi and recent graduate Bianca Dal Bó ’24, a finding that’s been highlighted nationwide on CNN and in The New Scientist, USA Today, Popular Mechanics, and elsewhere.

It’s an education that prepares our students to thrive in an increasingly competitive post-college landscape: to launch their careers with valuable skills and confidence, excel in graduate school, and approach emerging global challenges with an interdisciplinary, problem-solving spirit. It’s a critical engine of democracy, innovation, and understanding—an education that meets the moment, whatever that moment may be. And it’s an experience we want to offer to an even greater number of high-achieving students from around the world who are looking for a small community where they can make a big impact.

Further Reading

Academics

How I Spent My Summer Vocation

From artificial intelligence in the classroom to immigrant rights in the city, the Occidental landscape has been abuzz with activity for faculty and students alike

In the face of ongoing opposition to higher education’s goals, the outcomes of an ɫ����Ƶ education are worth supporting—and our community is rising to the occasion. In April, we held our most successful Day For ɫ����Ƶ to date, with significant gifts to financial aid through the ɫ����Ƶ Fund. We’ve added 40 new internships through a $2 million anonymous gift to the UEPI Summer Justice Program, which also funded increased work and transportation stipends as well as an international internship experience. And thanks to Linda and Tod White ’59’s gift to the Center for Teaching Excellence Academic Innovation Institutes, our faculty are hosting a series of peer-driven workshops on engaging innovatively, ethically, and pragmatically with AI in the classroom.

As we plan for the new academic year and our dedicated admission team prepares for the next application cycle, I’m encouraged by the alumni support I’ve already witnessed for current and future students. I hope you’ll consider contributing—whether through  to financial aid, volunteering your career expertise, or sharing your own Occidental experiences with prospective students as only our alumni can. Together, we can continue to provide the next generation of ɫ����Ƶ students with an education they can’t get anywhere else.

Above photo: From left, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Raul Navarro and President Stritikus discuss cognitive science major Stephen Sekyere '28's research at Occidental's Summer Research Program Conference on July 30. Sekyere examined the emotional stress on young people discussing safe sex on social media.