Dear Sagehens:
Welcome back to campus. I trust your spring break was restful and invigorating.
While some of you were away, we shared exciting news on March 15: the College offered admission to 811 new students who will form the class of 2028. Selected from the largest applicant pool in Pomona’s history, the newest members of our Sagehen family bring a diverse range of talents, interests and perspectives. My deepest gratitude to our admissions team in their remarkable efforts recruiting talented students from across the country and the globe. More details about the profile of the Class of 2028 are on the College’s website.
Last fall we welcomed six students to our campus through the Global Student Haven Initiative. Today, it gives me joy to share an update on two of those students, Stanislav Vakulenko ’27 and Prince Bashangezi ’27. The Global Student Haven Initiative is multi-college effort launched in 2022 that provides financial aid, housing and support for students who were displaced from their home country due to war and global crises. Critical funding for this initiative began with two generous gifts, a $1.2 million gift from Florence and Paul Eckstein ’62 and a $1 million gift from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, to establish permanently endowed scholarship funds for refugee students. Pomona is a founding member of the initiative, and the entire Sagehen community is committed to the success of this tremendous endeavor.
Also in the realm of funding, congratulations to Dean Gerstein, director of sponsored research for securing a $1,884,361 research grant from the National Science Foundation. His work along with colleagues from other colleges and universities will make important strides in the way research development and research administration is conducted throughout the country.
A programming note to highlight this week, the English Department’s event featuring four “First Novelists” from the 5Cs is set for 7 p.m. on March 20 at Rose Hills Theatre. Pomona alumni Francesca Capossela ’18, David Connor ’15, Julius Taranto ’12 and Pitzer alum Tyriek White ’13 will return to Claremont to discuss each of their first novels. The event is free.
Best wishes,
Gabi