May 18, 2025
Four hundred forty-seven graduates received their diplomas at Pomona College’s 132nd commencement on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Acting President Robert R. Gaines presided over the ceremony on Marston Quadrangle.
Senior Class President Shark Mutulili ’25 and Senior Class Speaker Fares Marzouk ’25 addressed the Class of 2025. W. Benton Boone ’62, Louise Henry Bryson, Halim Dhanidina ’94 and David Oxtoby also spoke along with receiving honorary degrees.
W. Benton Boone ’62
Board certified in ophthalmology, Boone held faculty positions at UCLA and the University of California, Irvine. He has published extensively, and his research has covered topics such as advancements in eye surgery and immunology in ophthalmology. Certified in the supervision of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, he helped to pioneer the use of hyperbaric oxygen in eye disease. At the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine, Boone served as interim president and chair of the board. He is a medical expert for the Social Security Administration.
W. Benton Boone's speech [video]
Louise Henry Bryson
Bryson was a documentary film writer and producer for public television and, after completing an MBA degree, moved into the growing business of cable television. She was senior vice president of FX networks and then president of distribution for Lifetime Networks. In 1998, she became a member of the Board of Trustees of The J. Paul Getty Trust, serving as chair of the board from 2006-2010. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010 and was a member of its board from 2015 to 2023.
Louise Henry Bryson's speech [video]
Halim Dhanidina ’94
Justice Dhanidina (ret.) is an arbitrator and mediator at Signature Resolution in Los Angeles. Previously he was a litigator in criminal investigations and trials, arbitration and commercial cases. Appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, he was the first Muslim judge in California history. When he became an associate justice in the California Second District Court of Appeal, he became the first South Asian American appellate justice in California and the first Muslim appellate level judge in the U.S.
Halim Dhanidina's speech [video]
David W. Oxtoby
Oxtoby served as the ninth president of Pomona College from 2003 to 2017, where he is now president emeritus. After his time at Pomona, he became president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019, transitioning to emeritus president in 2024. Oxtoby is a recognized leader in American higher education, helping to promote academic excellence, college access, environment sustainability and creativity in the liberal arts environment. He served on and chaired the board of the American Association of Colleges and Universities.