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List of Pomona College people

Notable alumni and staff of Pomona College From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pomona College (/pəˈmoʊnə/ ⓘ pə-MOH-nə[2]) is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California, and the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium.[3] Many notable individuals have been affiliated with the college as graduates, non-graduating attendees, faculty, staff, or administrators.

The Pomona class of 1894 gathered outdoors
The class of 1894, Pomona's first graduating class, had 11 members.[1]

Since its founding in 1887, Pomona has graduated 133 classes of students. The college enrolls approximately 1,690 students as of the fall 2025 semester[4] and has roughly 25,000 living alumni.[5] The top industries for graduates include technology; education; consulting and professional services; finance; government, law, and politics; arts, entertainment, and media; healthcare and social services; nonprofits; and research.[6][7]

Pomona employs 276 faculty members as of the fall 2024 semester.[8] The college has had 10 presidents, the first four of whom were Congregational ministers. The current president, G. Gabrielle Starr, took office in July 2017.[9]

Notable alumni

Main category: Pomona College alumni

Arts and letters

Visual art

The Dividing the Light installation, consisting of an illuminated canopy with a cutout framing the sky above
Dividing the Light, a 2007 skyspace on Pomona's campus by James Turrell, class of 1965
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Milford Zornes 1934 California Scene Painting watercolor artist [10]
John Coleman Burroughs 1934 Illustrator [11][failed verification]
Roger Edward Kuntz 1948 Landscape painter [12]
Marcia Hafif 1951 Artist, known for minimalist and process art works [13]
Barbara T. Smith 1953 Performance artist [14]
Gretta Bader 1956 Sculptor [15]
Helen Pashgian 1956 Light and Space artist [16]
Joan Brigham 1956 Artist, art historian, fellow of the Center for Advanced Visual Studies, known for steam sculpture [17]
James Strombotne 1956 Painter [18]
Mowry Baden 1958 Sculptor, known for kinaesthetic sculptures, Governor General's Award in Visual Art recipient, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient [19]
Michael Spafford 1959 Artist, professor emeritus at the School of Art, Art History, and Design University of Washington [20]
Mary GrandPré 1960s[a] Illustrator, best known for her work on the U.S. editions of the Harry Potter books [21]
James Turrell 1965 Light and Space artist, known for skyspaces and Roden Crater land art project [22][23]
Judy Fiskin 1966 Photographer and video artist [24]
Chris Burden 1969 Performance, sculpture, and installation artist [25][26][27]
Bret Price 1972 Sculptor, educator [citation needed]
Peter Shelton 1973 Sculptor [28]
Barry X Ball 1977 Sculptor [29]
Weston Teruya 1999 Asian-American visual artist and arts administrator, artist-in-residence at Recology, Asian Cultural Council Individual Fellowship, artist-in-residence at de Young Museum, Artadia Awards recipient [citation needed]
Miko Lim 2002 Director and photographer [30]
Kameelah Janan Rasheed 2006 Writer, educator, and artist, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, Creative Capital recipient [citation needed]
Kim Ye 2007 Chinese-American multidisciplinary artist [citation needed]
Gray Wielebinski 2014 Multidisciplinary artist [citation needed]
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Film and television

Joel McCrea, with his face partially in shadow
Joel McCrea, class of 1928, appeared in more than 100 films, including many Westerns.[31]
Robert Taylor, looking off-camera with his hand near his chin
Robert Taylor, class of 1933, was one of the leading men of the Hollywood Golden Age.[32]
Richard Chamberlain sitting on a film set
Richard Chamberlain, class of 1956, became a teen idol for his starring role in Dr. Kildare.[33]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Joel McCrea 1928 Film actor (Sullivan's Travels, Foreign Correspondent) [34][35]
John Whitney 1930s[a] Early computer animation filmmaker [36][37]
Robert Taylor 1933 Film actor (Quo Vadis, Ivanhoe) [38][39]
Art Clokey Attended 1939–1943 Stop-motion clay animator and creator of Gumby [40][41][42]
Amanda Blake Attended c. 1950[a] Actress (Gunsmoke) [43]
Richard Chamberlain 1956 Film and theatre actor (Dr. Kildare, Shōgun, The Thorn Birds), three-time Golden Globe winner [44]
Robert Towne 1956 Academy Award–winning screenwriter (Chinatown; nominated for The Last Detail and Shampoo) [44]
Anthony Zerbe 1958 Emmy-winning character actor (Will Penny, The Omega Man, Licence to Kill) [45]
David S. Ward 1967 Film director (Major League) and Academy Award–winning screenwriter (The Sting) [46]
Robert Blalack 1970 Visual effects artist (won Academy Award for Star Wars and an Emmy for The Day After) [47][48]
Scott Paulin 1971 Actor (The Right Stuff), husband of actress Wendy Phillips [49]
Lynda Obst 1972 Film and television producer [50]
George C. Wolfe 1976 Two-time Tony Award–winning play director, playwright and film director (Nights in Rodanthe) [51]
Allison Jones 1977 Emmy Award–winning casting director [52][53]
Rosalind Chao 1978 Actress (The Joy Luck Club, Star Trek: The Next Generation) [54]
Ted Field 1979 Media mogul and film producer [55]
Joe Menosky 1979 Television writer (Star Trek franchise) [56]
Melissa Jo Peltier 1983 Television writer and producer (Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan) [57]
Jim Taylor 1984 Academy Award–winning screenwriter (Sideways); frequent writing partner of Alexander Payne [58]
Viveca Paulin 1991 Actor, wife of comedian Will Ferrell [59]
Kelly Perine 1991 Television actor [60]
John Stephens 1996 Television producer, director, screenwriter, author of Emerald Atlas and The Books of Beginning children's novel series [61]
Jennifer Phang 1996 Filmmaker [62]
Sylvain White 1998 Film director (Stomp the Yard) [63]
Nava Mau 2014 Emmy-nominated actress (Baby Reindeer) [64][65]
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Music

Kris Kristofferson giving a thumbs up
Actor and musician Kris Kristofferson, class of 1958
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
John Cage Attended 1928–1930 Avant-garde composer, musician, and poet [66][67][68]
Vladimir Ussachevsky 1935 Composer of electronic music [69]
Robert Shaw 1938 Fourteen-time Grammy-winning conductor [70]
Chris Strachwitz Transferred 1952 Grammy-winning record label executive and producer [71]
Tinius Nagell-Erichsen 1955 Norwegian publisher and chairman of Schibsted [72]
Kris Kristofferson 1958 Writer, singer-songwriter, actor, and musician [45][73]
Douglas Leedy 1959 Composer and music scholar [74]
Frank Zappa Auditor, c. 1959 Prolific musician, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [75]
Lucy Shelton 1965 Soprano [76]
David Noon 1968 Composer [77]
David Murray 1977 Jazz musician [78]
Frank Albinder 1980 Conductor, former director of Chanticleer [79]
Eric Friedl 1988 Musician, The Oblivians; owner of Goner Records [80]
Christine Fan Attended 1990s[a] American-born Taiwanese singer and actress [81]
Chris Cain 1999 Musician, We Are Scientists [82]
Keith Murray 2000 Musician, We Are Scientists [82]
Tunji Balogun 2004 Record label executive, CEO of Def Jam Recordings and co-founder of Keep Cool Records [83]
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Journalism and non-fiction writing

Bill Keller
Bill Keller, class of 1970, won a Pulitzer for his reporting from the Soviet Union in the final years of the Cold War and served as executive editor of The New York Times from 2003 to 2011.[84]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Relman Morin 1929 Two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist for the Associated Press [85][45][86]
Mark Gayn 1933 Foreign affairs correspondent for the Toronto Star [87][88]
Paul Fussell 1947 Cultural and literary historian, known for criticism of the romanticization of war [89][51]
H. Arnold Barton 1953 Historian of Scandinavian history [90][91]
Terry Drinkwater 1958 CBS News correspondent [92]
Doug McConnell 1967 Television journalist [93][94]
Bill Keller 1970 Executive editor of The New York Times and winner of the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting [95][84][96]
Verlyn Klinkenborg 1974 Author, editor, and academic, known for his writings on rural America [97][98]
Joe Palca 1974 NPR science correspondent [99]
Mary Schmich 1975 Columnist for the Chicago Tribune and winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary [100][101][102]
Lynn Walford 1979 Automotive technology writer [103]
Richard Pérez‑Peña 1984 Reporter for The New York Times [104]
Zafar Sobhan 1992 Bangladeshi journalist and editor of the Dhaka Tribune [105]
Judd Legum 2000 Journalist, lawyer, and political staffer; founder of ThinkProgress [106][107]
Ashlee Vance 2000 Technology and business journalist, author [108]
Conor Friedersdorf 2002 Staff writer for The Atlantic, known for civil libertarian perspectives [109]
Joel Fagliano 2014 Mini crossword creator and editor for The New York Times [110]
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Writing

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Richard Armour 1927 Author, humorist, professor [111]
Mary Custis Vezey 1927 Poet and translator [112]
Betty Fussell 1949 Writer, critic, educator [113]
Ifeanyi Menkiti 1964 Nigerian poet, professor of philosophy at Wellesley College, owner of the Grolier Poetry Book Shop [citation needed]
Robert Daseler 1967 Playwright and poet, recipient of the Richard Wilbur Award [citation needed]
Ved Mehta 1956 Indian writer [114]
William Irwin Thompson 1962 Poet, cultural historian, cultural critic [115][116]
Blanche McCrary Boyd 1967 Author, professor of English and writer-in-residence at Connecticut College, recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and Lambda Literary Award [117]
Ray Young Bear Attended 1969–1972 Poet and novelist, known for work on contemporary Native American identity [118]
Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei 1970 Playwright and professor emerita at University of California, Los Angeles [119]
Garrett Hongo 1973 Japanese-American poet [120]
Louis Menand 1973 Writer, The Metaphysical Club (which won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for History) [121][122]
Brenda Hillman 1973 Poet, National Endowment for the Arts fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, Pushcart Prize winner, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner [123]
Bruce Bond 1975 Poet, Regents Professor Emeritus at the University of North Texas [124]
Richard Preston 1976 Writer for The New Yorker and bestselling author of The Hot Zone [51]
Douglas Preston 1978 Writer for The New Yorker and Smithsonian, bestselling thriller author [125]
Vikram Chandra 1984 Indian-American writer [58][126]
Aaron Becker 1996 Children's book writer and illustrator, Caldecott Honor recipient [127][128]
Ann Fisher-Wirth 1968 Poet, president of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, professor of English at the University of Mississippi [129]
Rebecca Curtis 1996 Writer, lecturer in creative writing at Columbia University, Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award recipient [130]
Michelle Moran 2002 Historical fiction novelist [131]
Mac Barnett 2004 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Caldecott Honor recipient [132]
Jonathan Singer 2006 Progressive blogger [133]
Bennett Sims 2008 Fiction writer, Truman Capote Literary Trust fellow, associate professor at the University of Iowa [134]
Liz Fosslien 2009 Author, illustrator, and expert in workplace culture and emotions [135]
Julius Taranto 2012 Writer and lawyer [136]
Tom Lin 2018 Carnegie Medal–winning author [137]
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Other

Marianne Williamson
Self-help author Marianne Williamson, attended 1970 to 1972[50]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Fong Foo Sec Preparatory school,[b] transferred 1901 Chinese educator and publicist, Pomona's first Asian student, English department editor of The Commercial Press [138][139]
Essae Martha Culver 1905 First state librarian of Louisiana and president of the American Library Association [140]
Clara Breed 1927 Librarian who opposed Japanese internment during World War II and supported children sent to camps [141][142]
Edwin B. Crittenden 1938 Alaskan architect [143]
David Ossman Transferred in 1956 Writer and comedian best known as a member of the Firesign Theatre [144][44]
Twyla Tharp Transferred in 1960 Emmy and Tony award-winning dancer and choreographer [145][146]
Marianne Williamson Attended 1970–1972 Author, spiritual leader, activist, and 2020 presidential candidate [147][50]
Don Daglow 1974 Video game designer and producer [148]
Eddie Dombrower 1980 Video game designer and producer [148]
Alex Linder 1988 Owner and operator of the Vanguard News Network, an antisemitic, white supremacist website [149]
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Government and law

U.S. senators and congresspeople

Brian Schatz
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D‑HI), class of 1994
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Alan Cranston Transferred 1933 Democratic U.S. senator for California (1969–1993) [150][151][152]
Frank Evans Attended 1941–1943 Democratic U.S. representative for Colorado's 3rd district (1965–1979) [153][154]
Chip Pashayan 1963 Republican U.S. representative for California's 17th district (1979–1991) [153][155]
Brian Schatz 1994 Democratic U.S. senator for Hawaii (2012–present) [156][157][153][158]
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Federal officials

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Leslie A. Wheeler 1921 U.S. government official and diplomat who helped liberalize international agricultural trade [159][160]
William B. Bader 1953 U.S. assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs [161]
Phyllis Fong 1975 Inspector general of the United States Department of Agriculture [162]
Colleen Hartman 1986 Director of the Space Studies Board, director of the Science and Exploration Directorate at NASA Goddard [163]
Esther Brimmer 1983 U.S. foreign policy expert and assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs [164]
Michael J. Adler 1986 U.S. ambassador to South Sudan, former director of the Office of Afghanistan Affairs [165]
Eric Kneedler 1995 Diplomat, U.S. ambassador to Rwanda, deputy chief of mission to Kenya [166]
David Holmes 1997 Diplomat and counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine [167]
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State and city officials

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Silsby Spalding Preparatory school,[b] c. 1904 First mayor of Beverly Hills, California [169][170]
Mark Wyland 1968 Republican California senator [171]
Ellen Bard 1971 Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives [172]
Tick Segerblom 1971 Democratic Nevada senator [173][174]
Lorig Charkoudian 1995 Member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 20, executive director of Community Mediation Maryland [175]
Cristina Garcia 1999 Democratic California Assemblyperson [176]
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Judges

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
James Marshall Carter 1924 Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [177][178]
Harry L. Hupp Attended 1947–1950 Judge, United States District Court for the Central District of California, known for reforming treatment of alcoholism [179][180][181]
Stephen Reinhardt 1951 Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [182]
Cruz Reynoso 1953 First Latino on the California Supreme Court, advocate for civil rights of farm workers; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 [183]
George H. Wu 1969 Judge, United States District Court for the Central District of California [184]
Christina A. Snyder 1972 Judge, United States District Court for the Central District of California [185]
Richard G. Taranto 1977 Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit [186][187]
Kimberly J. Mueller 1981 Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of California [188]
Michelle Williams Court 1988 Judge, United States District Court for the Central District of California [189]
Halim Dhanidina 1994 Judge, California Court of Appeal for the Second District; first Muslim judge in the state of California [190]
Eumi K. Lee 1994 Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of California; first Korean-American judge appointed to Alameda County Superior Court [191]
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Diplomats

More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Hugh S. Gibson Attended c. 1900 U.S. interwar diplomat, ambassador, proponent of the professionalization of the Foreign Service [192][193]
Julian Nava 1951 First Mexican-American to become U.S. ambassador to Mexico [194]
Kenneth L. Brown 1959 U.S. ambassador to Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Congo-Brazzaville [195]
Esther Brimmer 1983 U.S. assistant secretary of state, foreign policy expert [196]
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Activists

Myrlie Evers-Williams giving a speech
Civil rights activist Myrlie Evers-Williams, class of 1968
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Virginia Prince 1935 Transgender rights activist and founder of Transvestia magazine [197][198][199]
Henry Pope Anderson 1949 Farm labor union organizer, director of research at Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee [200]
Joan Dye Gussow 1950 Food policy activist and environmentalist, Mary Swartz Rose Professor emerita at the Teachers College, Columbia University [201]
Candie Carawan 1965 Civil rights activist, popularized "We Shall Overcome" [202]
Sharon Camp 1965 Activist, policy expert and founder of the Guttmacher Institute, brought Plan B to market [203]
Myrlie Evers‑Williams 1968 Activist, first full-time chairperson of the NAACP [204][205]
John Payton 1973 Civil rights attorney and president of NAACP Legal Defense Fund (co-founded Black Student Union at Pomona) [206][207]
Susan Morton Blaustein 1975 Founder and director of WomenStrong International, lecturer at Columbia University, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient [208]
Denise Moreno Ducheny 1976 Lawyer, former California state senator serving District 40, senior policy advisor at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies [209]
Jamie Court 1999 Author, political activist, consumer advocate, president of Consumer Watchdog [210]
Martina Vandenberg 1990 Activist, Rhodes Scholar, Truman Scholar, founder and president of the Human Trafficking Legal Center [211]
Kafi D. Blumenfield 1993 Nonprofit executive, activist, and civic leader [212][213]
Debra Cleaver 1999 Activist, nonprofit executive, and founder of Vote.org [214]
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Military

James Howard sitting in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang fighter plane
James Howard, class of 1937, was the only fighter pilot in the European Theater to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II.[215]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
James H. Howard 1937 Brigadier general, member of the Flying Tigers during World War II and Medal of Honor recipient [216][217][215]
Verne Orr 1937 U.S. secretary of the Air Force, 1981–1985 [218]
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Business

Roy E. Disney sitting in a suit and grinning
Senior Disney executive Roy E. Disney, class of 1951
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Russell K. Pitzer 1900 Citrus farmer, founder of Pitzer College [219][220]
Frank R. Seaver 1905 Lawyer, naval officer, oil drilling executive, and philanthropist; first president of the Associated Students of Pomona College [221][222]
Donald McKenna 1929 Businessperson and philanthropist, known for donations to Claremont McKenna College [223]
R. Stanton Avery 1932 Inventor of modern stickers, founder of Avery Adhesives [224]
Elmer P. Wheaton 1933 Aerospace and marine engineer and executive at the Douglas Aircraft Company and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company [225]
Charles Scripps 1943 Chair of the board of the E. W. Scripps Company [226][227]
Richard C. Seaver 1946 Oil drilling executive and philanthropist [228][229]
Roy E. Disney 1951 Executive at The Walt Disney Company; nephew of Walt Disney [85][230]
Frank Wells 1952 President of The Walt Disney Company and mountaineer [231][183]
Burton Smith Transferred 1959 Computer architect, co-founder of Cray, and Microsoft Fellow [232][233]
Linda G. Alvarado 1973 CEO of Alvarado Construction; co-owner of the Colorado Rockies [234]
Cathy Corison 1975 Winemaker [235]
Hashim Djojohadikusumo 1976 Indonesian entrepreneur and brother of former Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto [236]
Lynn Forester de Rothschild 1976 CEO of E.L. Rothschild [237][238]
Kiki Ramos Gindler 1983 Philanthropist, president and on board of directors of the Center Theatre Group [239]
Adam Bronfman 1985 Philanthropist, president of the Samuel Bronfman Foundation [240]
Bernard C. Chan 1988 Convenor of the Hong Kong Executive Council and president of Asia Financial Holdings [241]
Adam Zbar 1991 Venture capitalist, CEO and founder of Hamsa [242]
Osman Kibar 1992 Billionaire founder of biotech firm Samumed [243][244]
Laszlo Bock 1993 Former senior vice president, People Operations, Google, and co-founder and CEO of Humu [245][246][247]
Adam Bowen 1998 Billionaire co-founder and chief technology officer of Juul [248][249][250]
Jane Chen 2000 Taiwanese American co-founder and CEO of Embrace Global [251]
Nick Friedman 2005 President and co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk [252][253]
Maya Horgan Famodu 2012 Founder of Ingressive, named on Forbes Africa's "30 Under 30" list in 2018 [254]
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Science

Jennifer Doudna
Jennifer Doudna, class of 1985, won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work on CRISPR-based gene engineering, one of the most significant discoveries in the history of biology.[255][256]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Edmund Jaeger Attended 1900s Desert ecologist [257]
Wilson Popenoe Attended 1910–1911 Agricultural explorer, influential in bringing the avocado to North America [258][259]
Hugo Benioff 1921 Seismologist, known for work charting deep ocean earthquakes [260]
M. Stanley Livingston 1926 Physicist, co-inventor of the cyclotron [261]
Norris Bradbury 1929 Physicist, director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory 1945–1970 [262]
Roger Revelle 1929 Oceanographer, one of the first scientists to study global warming, and primary founder of the University of California, San Diego [263][264][265]
Xiao Guangyan 1942 Chinese petrochemist who researched catalysts used in petroleum processing [266]
Robert Gomer 1944 Physical chemist, known for work in surface science and nuclear non-proliferation advocacy [267]
Jean Mill 1948 Conservationist and creator of the Bengal cat breed [268][269]
M. Frederick Hawthorne 1949 Inorganic chemist, known for work on clusters of boron hydrides; National Medal of Science recipient [270][271]
Edward A. Knapp 1954 Physicist, director of the National Science Foundation [272]
Ann Hardy 1955 Computer scientist, known for pioneering work on time-sharing [273]
Ed Krupp 1961 Archeoastronomer, science educator, and director of the Griffith Observatory [274][275]
Thomas D. Pollard 1964 Cell biologist and biophysicist [99][276]
Sarah Elgin 1967 Biochemist, geneticist, and science educator [99]
J. Andrew McCammon 1969 Physical chemist [99]
Steven Clarke 1970 Biochemist [277]
Julie Buring 1971 Epidemiologist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School [278]
Moses Chao 1972 Biochemist, known for work on nerve growth factor [279]
Sharon K. Inouye 1977 Geriatrician, known for work on delirium [280]
Keith Horne 1977 Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, American Astronomer, emeritus professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews, known for discovery of Qatar-1b, recipient of the Herschel Medal [281]
Anna María Nápoles 1980 Behavioral epidemiologist and science administrator [282]
Emil Kakkis 1982 Medical geneticist; founder and CEO of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. [283][284]
Jennifer Doudna 1985 Biochemist, known for pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing; won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry [255][285][256][286]
Allison Sekuler 1986 Neuroscientist, president of Baycrest Academy for Research and Education [287]
Thomas McDade 1991 Biological anthropologist [288]
Amalie Frischknecht 1992 Polymer physicist [289]
Katherine Pollard 1995 Director of the Gladstone Institute, professor of Epidemiology and Biostatisics at the University of California, San Francisco, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub investigator, fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology, fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science [290]
Amie Boal 2002 Chemist, Nicholas and Gelsa Pelick Family Chair in Science at Pennsylvania State University [291]
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Religion

Painting of Seraphim Rose sitting at a desk in a cabin with an open book
Russian Orthodox hieromonk Seraphim Rose, class of 1956 (oil portrait by Andrey Mironov)
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Charles E. Fuller 1910 Clergyman and radio evangelist who founded the Fuller Theological Seminary [292]
Gladwyn M. Childs 1919 Minister, missionary, and anthropologist [293]
Seraphim (Eugene) Rose 1956 Russian Orthodox hieromonk [294]
Nancy Raabe 1977 Lutheran pastor and composer [295]
Megan Traquair 1985 Eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California [296][297]
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Academia

College presidents

David Prescott Barrows
Anthropologist David P. Barrows, class of 1894, conducted extensive ethnographic research on Native Americans.[298]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
David Prescott Barrows 1894 Ninth president of the University of California, anthropologist, major general in the California National Guard, and first editor of The Student Life [299][300][298]

c

John V. Lombardi 1963 Fifth president of the Louisiana State University System [301]
R. Stanton Hales 1964 10th president of the College of Wooster and two-time U.S. badminton men's singles champion [302][27]
Eileen Wilson‑Oyelaran 1969 17th president of Kalamazoo College [303]
Thomas E. Crow 1969 Rosalie Solow Professor of Modern Art at the New York University Institute of Fine Arts [citation needed]
Alexander Gonzalez 1956 President of California State University, Sacramento; recipient of the Ohtli Award, administered by the Mexican Government [304]
Anne M. Houtman 1983 20th president of Earlham College [305][306][307]
Thomas J. Minar 1985 16th president of Franklin College in Indiana [308]
Erika H. James 1991 Dean of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania [245][309]
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Professors and academics

Model of a Chinese dwelling with clay models of two men sitting at a table in conversation
A statue depicting Chinese sociologist Chen Hansheng, class of 1920, conducting a field interview with a peasant farmer in Baoding
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Carl Irving Wheat 1915 Lawyer, historian, and cartographer of the American West [310]
Chen Hansheng 1920 Chinese sociologist considered a father of Chinese modern social science [311]
Edwin Sill Fussell 1943 Professor of English at University of California, Berkeley, Pomona College, and University of California, San Diego [312]
Robert Lawson Vaught 1945 Mathematician, founder of model theory [313]
David Keirsey 1947 Psychologist who developed the Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality questionnaire [314]
Ellis Batten Page 1947 Professor and scientist, widely acknowledged as the father of automated essay scoring [315]
John K. Roth 1962 Holocaust studies scholar, Claremont McKenna College [316]
Lawrence G. Sager 1963 Alice Jane Drysdale Sheffield Regents Chair and Former Dean, University of Texas School of Law [317]
Marcia J. Bates 1963 Professor emerita of information studies at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science [318]
Mary Lindenstein Walshok 1964 Educational sociologist, associate vice chancellor for Extended Studies and Public Programs and professor of sociology at University of California, San Diego [319]
Ifeanyi Menkiti 1964 Philosopher, professor of philosophy at Wellesley College, owner of Grolier Poetry Book Shop [320]
Charles E. Phelps 1965 Economist, university professor and provost emeritus at the University of Rochester [321]
Adela Collins 1967 New Testament scholar, Buckingham Professor Emeritus of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School [322]
Laurel Beckett 1968 Biostatistician in Alzheimer's disease, professor emerita at University of California, Davis [323]
James Miller 1969 Professor of Liberal Studies and Politics; faculty director of Creative Publishing & Critical Journalism at The New School; Guggenheim Fellow; editor of Daedalus; NEH fellow [324]
Roger Maddux 1969 Mathematics and Computer Science professor, Iowa State University [325]
Marianne Mithun 1969 Linguist specializing in Native American Languages, founding president of the Society for Linguistic Anthropology, member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, fellow and 95th president of the Linguistic Society of America, recipient of the Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics, professor of linguistics at University of California, Santa Barbara [326]
Michael Starbird 1970 Mathematics professor, University of Texas at Austin [327]
Ingrid D. Rowland 1974 Historian of European architecture at the University of Notre Dame [99][328]
James A. Secord 1975 Historian of science, emeritus professor at the University of Cambridge, director of the Darwin Correspondence Project [329]
Robyn R. Warhol 1977 Chair of the Department of English at Ohio State University and literary critic who helped develop feminist narrative theory [330]
Michael Paradiso 1978 Chairman of the National Eye Institute's Central Visual Processing Study Section, professor of neuroscience, Ophthalmology at Brown University [331]
R. Michael Rich 1979 Astrophysicist, doctoral advisor of Neil deGrasse Tyson, professor at the University of California, Los Angeles [332]
Alison Brysk 1981 International human rights scholar at University of California, Santa Barbara, fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars [333]
Renee Marlin-Bennett 1981 Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University, editor-in-chief of the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies [334]
Marla Stone 1982 Historian of fascism at Occidental College, Andrew W. Mellon Humanities professor at the American Academy in Rome [335]
Matthew K. Franklin 1983 Cryptographer and professor of computer science at the University of California, Davis [336]
Joanne B. Freeman 1984 Historian of early American history at Yale University [337][338]
Sharon Inkelas 1984 Distinguished Professor of Linguistics and former chair at the University of California, Berkeley, fellow of the Linguistic Society of America [339]
Caroline Winterer 1988 Historian of pre-20th-century American history at Stanford University [340]
Madeline Y. Hsu 1989 Historian at the University of Texas at Austin, director of the Center for Global Migration Studies at University of Maryland and fellow of the Society of American Historians [341]
Vijay Prashad 1989 History professor at Trinity College in Connecticut [342]
Catherine Ceniza Choy 1991 Professor of ethnic studies at University of California, Berkeley [343]
Tamily Weissman‑Unni 1992 Neurobiology professor at Lewis & Clark College [344]
Catherine Sugar 1992 Biostatistician at University of California, Los Angeles, fellow of the American Statistical Association [345]
Tara Nummedal 1992 John Nickoll Provost's Professor of History, Chair of History Department at Brown University [346]
Amy Lyford 1993 Art historian at Occidental College [347]
Roberta Hamme 1993 Chemical Oceanographer, professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria, Canada Research Chair in Ocean Carbon Dynamics [348]
Daniel Ziblatt 1995 Director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies; Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University [349]
Cynthia Wyels 1996 Mathematician, co-director of the Alliance for Minority Participation [350]
Omayra Ortega 2001 Mathematician, president of the National Association of Mathematicians [351]
Alexandra Hui 2001 Professor of the History of Science and Technology at Mississippi State University, sound studies Academic [352]
Hilary Parker 2008 Biostatistician, senior data analyst at Stitch Fix, co-host of Not So Standard Deviations, data scientist for the 2020 Biden campaign [353]
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Athletics

Greg Popovich with his arms crossed and a stern expression
NBA Championship head coach of the San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich coached the Pomona men's basketball team from 1979 to 1987.[354][355]
More information Name, Class year ...
Name Class year Notability Ref.
Harry Kingman 1913 Pitcher for the New York Yankees [356]
Charles Daggs 1923 Olympic track and field athlete [357]
Robert Maxwell 1925 Olympic hurdler and two-time national champion [358]
Earl J. Merritt 1925 Head football coach of the Sagehens from 1935 to 1958 [359][69]
David G. Freeman 1942 Seven-time U.S. national badminton champion [360][361]
Betty Hicks 1947 Golfer, 1941 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year [362]
Darlene Hard 1961 Grand Slam–winning tennis player [146]
Marilyn Ramenofsky 1969 Olympic silver medalist swimmer, and former women's 400-meter freestyle world record holder [23]
Penny Lee Dean 1977 Long-distance swimmer and world record-holder for the fastest swim across the English Channel in 1978; later coached the Pomona women's swimming and diving team for more than 25 years [186][51][53]
Mike Budenholzer 1992 Head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns [363][364]
Will Leer 2007 Professional track and field athlete specializing in the 1500 meters [365]
Andrew Palmer 2014 Racing driver [366]
Daniel Rosenbaum 2019 Professional basketball player in the Israeli National League [367]
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Notable faculty

Main category: Pomona College faculty
Frank Brackett
Astronomer Frank Brackett, Pomona professor 1888–1933
David Foster Wallace speaking at a podium
Author David Foster Wallace, Pomona professor 2002–2008
Jonathan Lethem sitting on steps in Brooklyn in a turtleneck
Novelist Jonathan Lethem, Pomona professor 2011–present
Claudia Rankine wearing a fuchsia scarf
Poet Claudia Rankine, Pomona professor 2006–2015
More information Name, Active tenure ...
Name Active tenure Notability Ref.
Edwin C. Norton 1888–1926 First dean of Pomona [368]
Frank Brackett 1888–1933 Mathematics and astronomy professor [369][370][371]
Phebe Estelle Spalding 1889–1927 English professor, author, first female Pomona faculty member [372][299]
Albert John Cook 1894–1911 Entomologist [373]
Alice Mary Dowd 1904–1905 Educator, author [374]
Hannah Tempest Jenkins 1905–1926 Painter, helped establish Pomona's art department and founded the Rembrandt Club [375]
Fannie Charles Dillon† 1910–1913 Composer [376]
Alfred Woodford† 1915–1955 Founder of Pomona's geology department [377][378][379]
Philip A. Munz 1917–1944 Botanist who began the Pomona College Herbarium and was director of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden [380]
Ralph Lyman 1917–1948 Longtime head of Pomona's music department [381][382]
Jerry Voorhis 1930–1935 Democratic U.S. representative for California's 12th district (1937–1947) [383]
John H. Kemble 1936–1977 Maritime historian [384]
Henry Cord Meyer 1945 c. 1945–1964 Historian of central Europe [385]
W. Conway Pierce 1945–1953 Chemist [386]
Corwin Hansch 1946–1988 Chemist [387]
Jean Walton 1949–1979 Dean of women who reformed Pomona's residential life and co-founded its women's studies program [388]
James Grant 1950–1959 Painter, sculptor [389]
Karl Kohn 1950–1994 Composer [390][391][392]
Frederick Sontag 1952–2009 Philosopher and theologian [114]
Leonard Pronko 1957–2014 Leading Western expert on Japanese dance-drama kabuki, awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1986 [393][394]
Lewis Baltz 1960 c. 1960s Photographer [395]
Michael Armacost 1960s Diplomat, ambassador to Japan and the Philippines, and president of the Brookings Institution [396]
Stanley Crouch 1969 c. 1969–c. 1975 Cultural critic known for coverage of jazz, novelist, and English professor [397][398]
Gerald M. Ackerman 1971–1989 Art history professor [399]
George Gorse 1980–present Art history professor [400]
Steven Koblik 1972–1992 President of Reed College, president of the Huntington Library [401]
Martha Andresen Wilder 1972–2006 Scholar of Renaissance literature [402][403]
Bobby Bradford 1974–2021 Jazz musician [404][405]
Robert Mezey 1976–2000 Poet and translator [406][407]
Frank Gibney 1979 c. 1979–c. 2006 Journalist known for humane postwar portraits of Japan and founder of the Pacific Basin Institute; awarded the Order of the Rising Sun in 1976 [408][409]
Gregg Popovich 1979–1988 Head basketball coach of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs [354][355]
Karl Benjamin 1979–1994 Abstract painter [410]
Everett L. Bull† 1981–2020 c. 2020 Computer scientist [411]
Thomas Leabhart 1982–present Corporeal mime [412][413]
Samuel H. Yamashita 1983–present Historian and Asian studies scholar [414]
Kenneth B. Wolf 1985–present Scholar of medieval studies [415][416]
Eleanor P. Brown† 1986–present Economist, co-editor of the Review of Economics of the Household [417]
Susana Chavez‑Silverman 1989–present Creative nonfiction writer on Latin American culture [418]
Dorinne Kondo 1989–1997 Anthropologist and cultural theorist, playwright, and director of Asian American Studies at the University of Southern California [419]
Shahriar Shahriari 1989–present Mathematician [420]
Pamela H. Smith 1990–2005 Historian of Science, Founding Director of the Making and Knowing Project [421]
Larissa Rudova 1991–present Yale B. and Lucille D. Griffith Professor of Modern Languages [422]
Katherine Hagedorn 1993–2013 Ethnomusicologist and Santería priestess [423][424]
Ami Radunskaya 1994–present Mathematician, president of the Association for Women in Mathematics [425]
Cecilia Conrad 1995–2012 Economist, managing director of the MacArthur Fellows Program [426][427][428]
Hilary Bok 1997–2000 Bio-ethicist and Henry R. Luce Professor of Bioethics and Moral & Political Theory at Johns Hopkins University [429]
Peter Thielke 2001–present Historian of modern philosophy [430]
David Foster Wallace 2002–2008 Essayist and novelist, author of Infinite Jest [431][432]
Jo Hardin† 2002–present Statistician and Fellow of the American Statistical Association [433]
Robert R. Gaines 2003–present Geologist, acting president, dean of the college [434]
Oona Eisenstadt 2004–present Canadian-American religious studies scholar, Fred Krinsky Professor of Jewish Studies and professor of Religious Studies [435]
Kim Bruce† 2005–2021 Computer scientist [436]
Erin M. Runions 2005–present Canadian-American, religious studies Scholar, Nancy J. Lyon Professor of Biblical History and Literature [437]
Claudia Rankine 2006–2015 Poet [438][439]
Susan McWilliams Barndt 2006–2026 Political theorist, co-editor of American Political Thought [440]
Sandeep Mukherjee 2006–2021 Indian-American artist [441]
Meredith Landman 2010 c. 2010–2018 Linguist [442]
Jonathan Lethem 2011–present Novelist, author of Fortress of Solitude [443][432][444]
Amanda Hollis-Brusky 2011–present Constitutional law scholar, editor of The Monkey Cage [445]
Cameron Munter 2013–2015 Diplomat, ambassador to Serbia and Pakistan [446][447]
Edray Goins 2018–present Mathematician, president of the National Association of Mathematicians, preserver of the Mathematicians of the African Diaspora [448]
Lise Abrams 2018–present Cognitive psychologist [449]
Arlen F. Chase 2019–2023 Mesoamerican archaeologist, Comparative Cultural Studies Professor [450]
† Also an alumnus of the college
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Presidents of Pomona College

From 1888 to 1890, trustee Charles B. Sumner was the college's "financial agent with supervisory authority", and assumed many of the duties of a president.[370][451][452] The subsequent presidents are:

More information #, Image ...
# Image Name Term start Term end Academic expertise Ref.
1 Cyrus G. Baldwin 1890 1897 Congregational minister [453][454]
2 Franklin La Du Ferguson 1897 1901 Congregational minister [453][455]
3 George A. Gates 1902 1909 Congregational minister [453][456]
4 James A. Blaisdell July 1, 1910 June 30, 1927 Congregational minister [453][457]
5 Charles K. Edmunds July 1, 1928 June 30, 1941 Physics [453][34][458]
6 E. Wilson Lyon July 1, 1941 June 30, 1969 History [453][459][460]
7 David Alexander July 1, 1969 June 30, 1991 Theology [453][27][461]
8 Peter W. Stanley July 1, 1991 June 30, 2003 History [453][462][463]
9 David W. Oxtoby July 1, 2003 June 30, 2017 Chemistry [464][465]
10 G. Gabrielle Starr July 1, 2017 present Literature, neuroscience [466][467]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The specific year is not known.
  2. [b]
    Pomona operated a preparatory department, which taught pre-college level courses, from its founding until 1911.[168]

References

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