Oxy students and alumni use their lifelong affinity for learning to answer important questions—beginning with a research-driven liberal arts education
Higher education has a unique capacity to address national priorities, confront global challenges, and improve outcomes for humanity. Many of our most important medical, technological, and social advancements have been driven by academic researchers who dedicate their careers to furthering our collective knowledge.
Our society benefits from the rigorous work accomplished at U.S. colleges and universities—not just at large research institutions but at small liberal arts colleges such as Occidental.
We benefit from the passion, knowledge, and ingenuity of Oxy students and alumni, who use their lifelong affinity for learning to answer important questions. Over the College’s 138-year history, our students have received 10 Rhodes Scholarships, more than 50 National Science Foundation (NSF) grants, and more than 40 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, all of which support in-depth inquiry into vital scientific areas. Oxy alumni have earned master’s and doctorate degrees from prestigious graduate programs, led academic departments, and conducted groundbreaking research at various institutions, from the Food and Drug Administration to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Thanks to our students and alumni, the world now has a better understanding of infectious diseases, sustainable farming methods, asteroid components, and so much more.
We also benefit from the excellent research done by our faculty, which is frequently recognized on a national level. Over the last year, Occidental faculty have earned honors from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Cottrell Scholar Award program, and the NSF—awards that recognize not only academic research but also engagement and partnership with surrounding communities. Moreover, in February, our research activity was officially recognized in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. Occidental’s classification as a Research College is a testament to the caliber and impact of our faculty’s curiosity, creativity, and dedication.
In true liberal arts fashion, the impact of our inquiry-based, research-driven education is interdisciplinary. In all areas of study, our students develop the skills needed to tackle global issues from a critical perspective that is grounded in facts. As our students collaborate to examine their hypotheses in classrooms and in their communities, they learn how to conduct quality research as well as how to assess their findings critically, communicate them clearly, and understand how they intersect with and support research across disciplines.
I witness the power of an Oxy education every day—especially with Commencement drawing near, as I attend an impressive range of senior comps presentations and speak with members of our graduating class. I’m proud that Occidental provides students and faculty with opportunities to explore creative problem-solving through initiatives such as the Undergraduate Research Center and the Humanities for Just Communities program, which introduces incoming students to the ways in which the humanities can advance social justice.
As we continue to assess the impacts of federal research funding decisions on the College, we remain, as always, committed to our academic mission: educating students through our support of exceptional teaching, experiential learning opportunities, and innovative research.
Top photo: President Stritikus listens as Media Arts and Culture Assistant Professor Vivian Lin, left, and MAC students Truman Urness ’25 and Reyan Nguy ’27 discuss their Faculty-Led Richter Research project, which took them to Nepal last summer at Oxy’s annual Access and Opportunity Luncheon on April 6.
