ENGAGE WITH CMC!

As CMC alumni, parents, and families, you are the greatest ambassadors of our unique liberal arts mission—the foundation for robust student support through community outreach, recruitment, career development, special programs, and philanthropy. Each individual contribution is invaluable and makes a tremendous difference in the lives and experiences of our students. Whether it’s volunteering for a committee; engaging through vital programs in Admission, the Soll Center for Student Opportunity, Institutes and Centers; or making generous financial contributions for scholarships, summer internships and experiences, and academic research; CMC is proud to have one of the most active, committed, and supportive communities in the country.

Please select your volunteer interest below to learn about opportunities to engage with CMC!

Alumni Volunteer Form             Parent Volunteer Form             Staff Directory


Volunteer Opportunities
CMCAA Alumni Interviewer Career Services
     
Chapter Leader Agent Class Liaisons
     
Athletics Parent Network Board Research Institute Boards
     
Reunion Committee


CMC Alumni Association

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Founded by the first CMC students in 1948, the Claremont McKenna College Alumni Association was incorporated formally in 1956 by the College's earliest alumni. All alumni are members of the CMC Alumni Association. The governing Board collaborates with College leadership and sponsors activities that provide valuable opportunities to become more familiar with CMC’s educational mission; support the institution and its students; and engage with administrators, faculty, students, and alumni. The Board also provides an ideal forum for sharing experiences, volunteer opportunities, alumni accomplishments, and general fellowship with one another. The Board supports many volunteer opportunities and efforts, including Class Agents, Class Notes, Reunion Committees and Programming, Chapters, and assisting the Soll Center for Student Opportunity. One does not need to be on the Board to volunteer. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please reach out to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at alumni@cmc.edu or fill out the online form at the top and bottom of this page.

Communications Committee

Assist the Association and the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement with Communication strategy, including social media, website, and the CMC Magazine. Class Liaisons and Class Notes are coordinated through this committee.

Off-Campus Engagement

Chapters and regional programming are at the center of the Association’s activities, and the College prioritizes engaging our community members across the globe. This committee supports the work of our chapters through regional and virtual programming.

On-Campus Engagement Committee

Support the great work of our on-campus programming and on-campus partners, including Alumni and Reunion Weekends, ImpactCMC Volunteer Weekend, and student engagement through the Soll Center for Student Opportunity and other in-person opportunities.

Philanthropic Engagement Committee

Co-managed by the Office of Annual Giving and Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, this committee functions as the Association’s primary fundraising committee. The main mission of the committee is to assist the College in its efforts to raise the vital funds that bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a CMC education. Engage your peers and ask for their support, and reach out to offer thanks to donors.


Alumni Interviewer Program

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Alumni Interviewer

Recruit for CMC! Work with the Office of Admission by attending college fairs in your area and interviewing prospective applicants.

Each year, thousands of students inquire about a CMC education, and who better to talk with them than CMC alumni? Your efforts to recruit and help, is vital, and allows us to select and yield the best applicants to CMC. If you are interested in serving as an Alumni Interviewer, please reach out to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at alumni@cmc.edu or fill out the online form at the top and bottom of this page.


Career Support

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Students are always eager to connect with CMC alumni to discuss careers, employment, and internships. The Soll Center for Student Opportunity aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to find meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth—both while at CMC and after graduation. They strive to do this through individual coaching, customized programming, networking, and expanding opportunities for experiential learning. Get involved by:

  • Posting a Job or Internship for Students and Alumni – Find CMC students and alumni to work for your organization! CMC is a member of the 7-C College Recruiting Program, which allows you to post a position and pull from our talented applicant pool. To post a job, you have two options: (1) You can either post the job on Handshake as an employer or (2) you can fill out the brief Alumni & Family Job and Internship Posting Form. You can also use this form if you would like to let CMCers know about opportunities at another organization you are affiliated with. Please note that we are able to offer Summer Internships and Experiences funding to CMC students who apply by March 1, so unpaid and low paid internship opportunities are also welcome!
  • Recruiting (both on and off-campus)
    • On-Campus Interviews: Set up times to interview and learn more about why students are interested in your organization or career field.
    • Information Sessions: We offer employers the opportunity to come to our office and speak with students. Help them discover new career options and build a professional relationship.
    • Coffee Chats: Get to know students in small groups. Meet with 2-3 students at a time and discuss your company, role, and recruiting process. Career Services can handle all of the scheduling logistics for this event.
    • Attend a Meet-Up or Panel Discussion: We have a number of events over the course of the year in which you can network and engage with students who are interested in employment opportunities.

    For additional information on any of these programs and to schedule a date for your visit, please contact Charlene Kile.

  • Share your Career Insights - Experts-in-Residence - Career Services invites our CMC parents to share their expertise and experiences in a particular interest cluster with our students. We seek experts at two levels: generalists and specialists.
    • Generalists talk with students who are new to an industry and are looking for some basic tenets, or a primer, that will help them further investigate the industry. The best information comes from industry professionals who can provide a fuller picture of different lines of work, major players, and current resources. Conversations may include information about first jobs, good and bad decisions, favorite elements, who and what prepared you the most for your profession, and what you know now that you wish you knew then!
    • Specialists talk with students who have narrowed their interests and know the basics about the industry. These questions tend to focus on answers to interview questions, how to differentiate between company cultures, and other information specific to a particular role. If you are interested in participating in our Experts-in-Residence Program, please complete the following survey, and a career coach will provide your contact information to relevant students. On average, our Experts receive 1-3 emails per month.
  • Conduct a Mock Interview - Mock interviewing is an invaluable opportunity for students to practice their interview skills and receive honest feedback on their interview performance. Typically conducted via phone or Skype, students learn how to answer challenging questions, develop interview strategies, improve their communication skills, and reduce their stress before an actual job interview. We are looking for alumni who can offer all types of interview experience, including screening interviews, behavioral interviews, case interviews, and technical interviews. If you are interested in participating as a Mock Interviewer, please complete the following survey, and a career coach will be in contact with further details.
  • Host a CMC Student at Your Organization - Job Shadowing - A job shadow experience entails hosting one or more CMC students, in your office, for a partial or full day of shadowing. We are seeking parents who would be willing to host students for a 4-8 hour office visit over winter and summer breaks. The goal is to provide CMC students with more information about career options and to personally experience a day in the life in various professions. If you are interested in learning more, please complete the following survey, and our program coordinator will be in touch with more details.
  • Networking Treks - Each year, we organize student-networking trips to cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles (and surrounding Orange County), New York City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Each trip has a specific industry focus. If would like to host a visit, please reach out to Ursula Diamond.

Regional Chapter Leaders

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Have an idea for regional programming? Looking to join your city or region’s leadership team to plan dynamic activities for the CMC community? Connecting off campus is just as important as connecting on campus. CMC has 19 regional chapters for local engagement, and the College is always in need of hosts for programs, and volunteers to welcome new students and recent graduates to their communities. Alumni enjoy meeting fellow alumni from their area and engaging with faculty, staff, and students when they come to town. Network with members of the CMC community in your region and learn about ways to support each other and the College. If you are interested in serving as a Regional Chapter Leader, please reach out to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at alumni@cmc.edu or fill out the online form at the top and bottom of this page.

Bay Area Chapter

Chicago Chapter

Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter

Denver Chapter

Europe Chapter

Greater Asia Chapter

Hawaii Chapter

Inland Empire Chapter

Los Angeles Chapter

New York Chapter

Orange County Chapter

Phoenix Chapter

Portland Chapter

Sacramento Chapter

San Diego Chapter

Santa Barbara Chapter

Seattle Chapter

Silicon Valley Chapter
 

Washington D.C. Chapter

  

Class Agents

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Class Liaisons  

The CMC Alumni Association founded the Alumni Fund is in need of volunteers to help with peer-to-peer fundraising outreach. Class Agents support the Alumni Fund and inspire their classmates to do the same. If you have a passion for helping CMC students and you want to have a meaningful impact on their success, visit the Annual Giving Volunteers site to learn more about how you can help or fill out the online form at the top and bottom of this page.


Class Liaisons

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Class Liaisons  

Class Liaisons act as helpful intermediaries between the Alumni Association, the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, the College, and each class. In addition to disseminating useful College-related information to their fellow alumni, Class Liaisons also help the alumni community stay connected to each other and to CMC by collecting newsworthy information from their classmates for publication in CMC Magazine’s Class Notes section. The Class Liaison community enjoys networking with different class years, early access to the latest College news, and a great excuse to keep up with old friends. Email alumni@cmc.edu for more information, or to submit a Class Note by connecting with your class liaison. 


CMS Athletics Friends Group

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CMS Athletics Outreach  

Friends of CMS sport groups are intended to connect (and reconnect) alumni, parents, and friends from each of the 21 teams with each other and the athletics program. The goal is to assist in providing the best possible experiences for Athena and Stag student-athletes during their collegiate careers, while continuing the strong connections developed by our alumni during their years on campus. Friends of CMS volunteers for each sport assist in four key areas: event hosting/organization, communication, networking and mentorship, and program support.

  • Events Hosting/Organizing: Team up with CMS to host a Stag or Athena team meal when they are traveling out of state, or help organize an alumni game, team reunion, or pre/post-game event.
  • Networking and Mentorship: Connect current Athena and Stag student-athletes with alumni and parents for informational interviews, networking events, internships or jobs.
  • Volunteer Outreach, Communication and Program Support: Help us reach a wider audience through your network and share info about team news, alumni events, and fundraising priorities.

For more information, please contact Chris Watts, athletics advancement officer, or fill out the form at the top or bottom of this page.


Parent Network Board and Committees

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All parents are a part of The Parent Network. The governing Board collaborates with College leadership and sponsors activities that provide valuable opportunities to become more familiar with CMC’s educational mission through its administrators, faculty, students, alumni, and other parents. The Board also provides an ideal forum for sharing experiences, activities, accomplishments, and overall campus life concerns, as well as general fellowship with one another. Many volunteer opportunities and efforts are led by the Board, including Admission, Career Development, Communications, Parents Fund, and Programs; however, one does not need to be on the Board to volunteer. If you are interested in serving on the Board or simply volunteering on a committee listed below, please reach out to Jeannie Scalmanini, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement or fill out the form at the top and bottom of this page.

Admission Liaison Committee

Recruit for CMC! You can assist the PNB in working with the CMC Office of Admission by attending college fairs and/or visiting high school college counselors in your area to share information about CMC. You can also serve as a resource for prospective families, and reach out to welcome parents of incoming CMCers.

Career Development Committee

Students are always eager to connect with CMC parents to discuss careers, employment, and internships. You can assist The Soll Center for Student Opportunity through monthly calls with the director to guide the entire Parent Network in offering opportunities for CMC students.

Communications Committee

Support the Parent Network communications efforts by researching and writing articles for the CMC Parent E-Newsletter and providing ideas and content for CMC’s Parent Network social media.

Parents Fund Committee

The Parents Fund Committee, managed by the Office of Annual Giving, functions in cooperation with the Parent Network Board as its primary fundraising committee. The main mission of the committee is to assist the College in its efforts to raise the vital funds that bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a CMC education. Engage your peers and ask for their support, and reach out to offer thanks to donors.

Programs Committee

Assist with brainstorming ideas and driving attendance for events such as Parent and Family Orientation, Family Weekend, and Inside CMC Day. Provide input for the programs and activities offered during these events while serving as a resource for other families.


Research Institutes & Centers

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Research Institute  

Do you have expertise that you can share with one of CMC’s eleven research institutes and centers? Looking to support the high-level academic work of our faculty and students? Consider joining one of the many Boards that help shape the path of our research program. If you are interested in serving for a research institute, contact Associate Director of Development, Institute Advancement
College Advancement, Carter Stripp or fill out the form at the top and bottom of this page.


Reunion Committee

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Reunion Committee

Every five years your class is honored at Alumni Weekend. The weekend, and each successful class gathering, would not be possible without the work of reunion committee members. Each class aims to recruit a team of 10 volunteers to plan programming and encourage classmates to attend. It is a great way to connect with classmates and ensure a successful weekend. If you would like to join your committee and the Alumni Weekend planning process, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement or fill out the form at the top and bottom of this page.


Volunteer Opportunity Staff  Contact      

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Alumni Association Board - Evan Rutter '06
Alumni Interviewers - Edna Elnar Wicker
Career Support - Ursula Diamond
Regional Chapters - Cambria Teter-Kolter
Class Agents - Evan Rutter '06

Class Liaisons - Rebecca Pelén
CMS Athletics - Chris Watts
Parent Network Board and Committees - Jeannie Scalmanini
Research Institutes - Carter Stripp
Reunion Committees - Nika Clark

Alumni Volunteer Form             Parent Volunteer Form