Claremont McKenna College: Shaping Leaders Through a Liberal Arts Education - Notable Alumni

In September 1946, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) opened its doors as Claremont Men's College, marking the beginning of an institution dedicated to preparing future leaders through a distinctive liberal arts curriculum. Founded with 86 students and seven faculty members, including many World War II veterans, CMC was the third Claremont College, following Pomona College and Scripps College. The college's mission was clear: to educate students to apply lessons from not only business and government courses, but the study of history, philosophy, literature, the arts, and sciences as well. Over the years, CMC has evolved into a top-tier liberal arts college, maintaining its commitment to a broad general education while adapting to the changing needs of its students and the world. This article explores the college's history, academic focus, and notable alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields.

The Founding and Evolution of Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna College's intellectual framework was developed by President George Benson and his wife, Mabel Benson. Mabel, who held a doctorate in literature, articulated CMC’s approach to the liberal arts for leadership in the college’s first catalog. She emphasized that an education planned for specific types of leadership and an education designed to develop a liberally informed mind are not incompatible. In fact, she explained, real leadership presupposes the latter, and, in turn, a liberally informed mind can find no more satisfying vocation than in such leadership.

Despite operating in modest surroundings initially, the college quickly established a strong sense of purpose and esprit de corps. Many of the first students lived in the basement of Bridges Auditorium, affectionately nicknamed the "Coconut Grove." President Benson, along with staff, faculty, and students, cleared the land for the main, North Mall, creating a simple and open campus.

Initially, CMC did not designate majors, but by 1951, seven majors were established: accounting, business administration, economics, fine arts (with Scripps College), government, humanities, and international affairs. A senior thesis requirement was established and continues today as the capstone of a CMC education.

The college's commitment to preparing liberal arts-educated business and public leaders remained steadfast. The disciplines of economics and government and the field of political economy were the heart of the curriculum. As Claremont Men’s College gained recognition as a top-tier liberal arts college, the College’s leadership acknowledged coeducation as vital to its future development. Women were admitted in 1976, and in 1978 six transfer students composed the first class of women graduates. In 1981, the College was renamed Claremont McKenna College, recognizing the role of founding benefactor and trustee Donald McKenna.

Read also: Exploring Claremont McKenna

Academics and Unique Programs

CMC's curricular emphasis is on its social sciences, particularly economics, government, international relations, and psychology. CMC students may also major in subjects not offered at CMC if another college in the consortium has such a major. A popular example is computer science, which is offered by both Harvey Mudd College and Pomona College.

Since 1970, the Athenaeum hosts distinguished speakers several days a week for luncheon and dinner addresses. The current Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum opened in 1983. Speakers have included a broad array of leading intellectuals and artists, heads of state, and prominent authors.

CMC sponsors 11 on-campus research institutes and centers. They seek to produce new research and publications while involving undergraduate students in rigorous academic work. Nearly 75% of Claremont McKenna students participate in research with faculty. The college also provides opportunities for students to study abroad or participate in domestic programs in Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley.

Athletics and Student Life

Athletics at CMC began with joint Pomona-Claremont teams. In 1957, CMC joined Harvey Mudd College to form CMC-HMC teams with the Stags mascot. With coeducation, the current Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s teams were created, adopting the Scripps Athena mascot. CMS Athletics has become highly competitive in NCAA Division III, with several teams typically in contention for national championships.

Student life centers on campus, with 96% of students living on campus; four years of housing is guaranteed. Claremont's dorms are divided into three regions: North Quad, Mid Quad, and South Quad. The Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) is the official student government of Claremont McKenna College. CMC has numerous identity-based clubs and organizations

Read also: Exploring Claremont McKenna

Notable Alumni

Claremont McKenna College has produced a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Here are some notable individuals:

Arts and Entertainment:

Robin Williams: Enrolled in Claremont McKenna College, studied political science. An American actor and comedian known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of characters. He received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, five Grammy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Caroline Sunshine: An American political aide and former actress, who previously worked as a White House staffer during the Donald Trump administration in 2018. As an actress, she is best known for her co-starring role as flashy, rude European exchange student Tinka Hessenheffern on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up.
Paul Brickman: A film director and screenwriter, known for writing and directing the film Risky Business.

Business and Finance:

Akshata Murty: An Indian heiress, businesswoman, fashion designer, and venture capitalist. She is married to former prime minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak and the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, a founder of the Indian multinational IT company Infosys, and Sudha Murty. She holds a 0.93 percent stake in Infosys, along with shares in several other British businesses.
Heidi Cruz: An American businesswoman, managing director at Goldman Sachs since 2012.
Henry Kravis: A co-founder of KKR & Co., a leading global investment firm.
Julie Sweet: An American business executive and attorney. She is chair and chief executive officer (CEO) of Accenture, a multinational professional services company.
Michael Arrington: The American founder and former co-editor of TechCrunch, a blog covering the Silicon Valley technology start-up communities and the wider technology field in America and elsewhere.
Douglas L. Peterson: The former president and chief executive officer of S&P Global, formerly McGraw Hill Financial.
Peter Weinberg: An American businessman and co-founder of Perella Weinberg Partners, a firm providing M&A advisory and alternative asset management services.
Robert Addison Day: The founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of Trust Company of the West.
Ashwin Navin: An American entrepreneur, who is the CEO and co-founder of Samba TV, a data and analytics service that measures television viewership using opt-in data from Internet-connected devices and set-top boxes.

Politics and Government:

Steve Bullock: An American politician and lawyer who served as the 24th governor of Montana from 2013 to 2021.
David Dreier: An American businessman, philanthropist, and politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from California from 1981 to 2013.
Larry André Jr.: A retired American diplomat and career member of the Senior Foreign Service who had served as the United States ambassador to Somalia from February 2022 to May 2023.
Daniel Yohannes: Served as U.S. Ambassador to the OECD from 2014 to 2017.
Jake Zimmerman: The Democratic St. Louis County Assessor.
Tyler Olson: A former Iowa State Representative from the 38th District.
Simon Salinas: A California politician who was a member of the California State Assembly district 28 from 2000 to 2006.
Rob Hurtt: An American Republican politician who was the California State Senate Republican Leader from August 1995 to March 1998.
C. Steven McGann: An American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu from 2008 to 2011.
David M. Mason: An American politician who served as a member of the Federal Election Commission.

Academia and Research:

Orley Ashenfelter: An American economist and the Joseph Douglas Green 1895 Professor of Economics emeritus at Princeton University.
Tibor R. Machan: A Hungarian-American philosopher and professor emeritus at Auburn University.
Patrick T. Riley: Michael Oakeshott Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Francisco Vázquez: A Mexican-American scholar and public intellectual.

Other Fields:

Gregg Jarrett: An American conservative news commentator, author, and attorney.
Adam Kokesh: An American libertarian political activist, radio host, and author.
Wes Parker: An American former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1964 to 1972.
Robert P. White: A retired United States Army lieutenant general.
Michael D. Shear: An American journalist who is a White House correspondent for The New York Times.
Mark Frazier: An American born artist, painter, body painter and photographer.
Andrew Patrick Gordon: The chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
Ronald F. Lehman: Director of the Center for Global Security Research at the United States Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Sloane Citron: An American publisher based in Menlo Park, California.
Douglas Day Stewart: An American screenwriter and film director.

Recent Accolades

Claremont McKenna College continues to receive recognition for its academic excellence and commitment to student success. In February 2024, the college was recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright recipients. Several students have also received prestigious awards, including the Rhodes Scholarship, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, and the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service.

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