Vice President for Advancement Maria Watson and Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jonathan Williams discuss college affordability, Pomona's commitment to ensuring every talented student can see themselves here, and the role philanthropy plays in expanding opportunity.
Maria Watson: One of the conversations I'm having most often with alumni is about access. People who care deeply about Pomona want to know that the opportunities they benefited from remain available to today's students. From your perspective, what does access mean at Pomona today?
Jonathan B. Williams: It begins with making sure that financial circumstances never prevent an extraordinary student from imagining themselves here. Families are asking thoughtful questions about affordability, and they should. A college education is one of the most significant investments they'll ever make.
Our responsibility is to ensure that talented students understand that if they belong at Pomona, we're committed to making a Pomona education possible.
Watson: That's one of the things that has always distinguished Pomona. Access isn't separate from excellence—it's fundamental to it. How is the College building on that commitment today?
Williams: Yes, that foundational idea is one of the things that drew me to Pomona. The College has long believed that talent exists in every community and that financial circumstances should never determine who has the opportunity to learn here.
Today, the College is broadening its outreach, communicating more clearly about affordability, and building stronger relationships with students and families who may never have imagined Pomona was within reach.
One area where we see tremendous opportunity is supporting middle-income families. Too often, students assume a college like Pomona is financially out of reach when, in reality, our financial aid may make it one of their most affordable options. Sometimes they decide not to apply before they've had the chance to discover what's possible.
That's where the partnership between Admissions and Advancement is so important. The work your team does helps make these ambitions real—not only by securing the resources that sustain financial aid, but by helping alumni and friends understand the profound difference their philanthropy makes in opening doors for future Sagehens.
Watson: We often say that philanthropy opens the door to Pomona, but our donors also hope students can fully embrace everything the College has to offer once they're here.
Williams: Exactly. Financial aid isn't only about enrollment—it's about experience. It gives students the freedom to pursue research, internships, study abroad, leadership opportunities, and independent scholarship without financial concerns limiting their choices. Those experiences are central to a Pomona education.
Just as important: when financial circumstances don't determine who gets to participate, everyone benefits. Our classrooms become richer, our community becomes stronger, and our graduates leave better prepared to engage an increasingly interconnected world.
Watson: That vision inspired Sam ’04 and Emily ’04 Glick's recent investment in middle-income access. Their gift speaks to something we hear from alumni again and again: they want today's students to experience the same sense of possibility that shaped their own lives.
Williams: I think Sam and Emily understood something profound. They recognized that many talented students and families simply don't realize Pomona may be within financial reach.
Their gift establishing the President's Fund for Middle-Class Access helps change that. It expands outreach to students who might never have considered Pomona, strengthens financial aid for middle-income families, and provides resources that help students thrive throughout their time here. It supports the entire student journey.
More broadly, it reflects how philanthropy and admissions work hand in hand. One creates opportunity; the other ensures that opportunity reaches the students whose lives can be transformed by it.
Watson: That's what makes Pomona's culture of philanthropy so distinctive. Every generation helps open doors for the next, ensuring that talented students from every background can find their place here, contribute to this remarkable community, and leave prepared to make a meaningful difference in the world. I am proud to be a part of that.