CMC’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum has long been a beacon for curious minds and eager conversationalists. For decades, students, faculty, staff, and local community members have gathered together in the iconic space to learn something new, exchange ideas, ask tough questions, and connect with each other in engaging, open dialogue.
With the Ath’s Fall 2026 season officially underway, it comes as no surprise that the semester’s programming is rich with opportunities to investigate a wide range of subjects. We asked a few members of the CMC community what program they are most looking forward to and what they hope to learn.
Ally Venezia ’28
I am really looking forward to the variety of events this semester that are tailored to the upcoming midterm elections. Programs such as Ken Miller’s “California’s Choices: 2026 Ballot Measures” (Oct. 7), as well as Henry Olsen’s overview on the national midterm elections, “A Conversation with Henry Olsen ’83” (Sept. 18), will be really informative on topics that students might not otherwise have the opportunity to pay much attention to.
I am hoping to learn more about the political and social issues that are shaping our communities, which is especially important the closer we get to the November 2026 elections. It’s crucial to have a better understanding of the perspectives that influence our political and social environments, rather than only experiencing them through headlines or social media. I also hope to learn more about the ways in which humanities can contribute to these discussions and hear from people who have built meaningful careers through their interests in literature, politics, and the humanities.
Susan McWilliams Barndt
Professor of Government
I wish I could attend all the Ath events, but this semester I am most excited about seeing Shelby Van Pelt’s talk, “Misanthropic Octopus Takes Hollywood: How a Debut Novelist Transformed a Spark of Imagination into a Netflix Hit” (Sept. 28). I read her book, Remarkably Bright Creatures, when it came out and loved it—and I had no idea that its author was a CMC alum (Class of 2002). Now I love the book all over again, in a new way!
I don’t think you can ever plan what you’re going to learn at an Ath event. The conversations are always surprising, and I always come away knowing something I hadn’t known before (and hadn't known that I wanted to know)!
Byron Figueroa
Athenaeum Assistant Director
I’m going through our lineup and, wow, what a tough question to answer! But the talk I’m most looking forward to is Javier Zamora’s “Solito: Home, Identity, and the Immigrant Experience” (Nov 10).
I’m excited to hear Javier speak on his personal experience coming to the United States from El Salvador, alone, at just nine years old, to reunite with his parents who had come here years before. Both of my parents were immigrants from Guatemala, and it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences in their journeys. I’m not sure exactly what I hope to learn from his talk, but I’m coming into it with an open mind, ready to hear his story and take away whatever lessons I can.
Fred Coddon ’30
The events that I am most excited for are “How Research Informs Policy: A Conversation with James Anderson” (Sept. 17) and “The Changing Nature and Enduring Value of American Diplomacy” with Kate Marie Brynes (Nov. 4). But if I had to pick only one, I would say that I look forward to “How Research Informs Policy” the most.
I’m looking forward to this Ath program because I’m eager to explore the world of policy and effective policy implementation. Particularly why, in practice, policy solutions often diverge from what the research suggests we should pursue, and how decision-makers and leaders should navigate situations that demand immediate action when reliable data simply isn’t available.
Terril Jones
International Journalism Instructor, Government Lecturer
The talk by Princeton Professor Bernard Haykel, “The Realm: Muhammad bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia” (Nov. 19), on the modern political history of Saudi Arabia, is a great fit for my “International Journalism” class.
For a writing assignment on the Middle East, my students are supposed to seek out experts for comment, or for ideas or background, so this represents an ideal chance to do so, just as I did many times in my 18 years as a foreign correspondent. Originally, we were going to write our Middle East story earlier in the semester, but I rearranged my syllabus to take advantage of this Ath opportunity so students could engage with Professor Haykel’s compelling and relevant commentary on the news. I hope they can incorporate this material and/or a quote into their stories.
Vanessa Arias Casillas
Program Coordinator, Murty Sunak Quantitative and Computing Lab
I’m looking forward to the “Does AI Enhance or Hinder the Claremont Colleges’ Learning Environment?” debate between faculty from across the 7Cs (Oct. 14).
I hope to learn more about how AI affects student learning and learning in general. I would like to know if it is positive or negative for learning new concepts and reinforcing learned skills. It is important to me because of my background in IS&T, as well as my roles as a CMC staff member who works with students, an adjunct professor, a mother of elementary and middle schoolers, and a post-doc researcher. This makes the question relevant in my daily life.
I also look forward to this time to connect with the CMC and 7C community. I have often made wonderful connections with colleagues and students who share the same interests (e.g., the Ath topic), and it is a great chance to talk with individuals who work at another Claremont College. It gives me an opportunity to be part of a community that supports learning outside the classroom and provides amazing community bonding. I really enjoy being able to sit and have a meal and listen to experts in their fields or professions—and the food at the Ath is amazing!