Stories of Sagehen Impact

Pomona College’s cookbook project invites recipes tied to campus memories. From Beach Fire S’mores to Grandma Joan’s Pasta Sauce, alumni and students share dishes that evoke community, nostalgia and adventure — celebrating food as a Pomona tradition.

An internship after her second year at Pomona College led Elena Shih ’04 to a career research focus on human trafficking. This fall, she shared insights from her research for Pomona’s Asian Studies Distinguished Alumni Lectureship. 

James Solomon ’06 will be the next mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, after receiving 68% of the vote in Tuesday’s runoff election against the state’s former governor. The Pomona alumnus will lead New Jersey’s second-largest city.

Kristine Cho ’21 is interested in judgment and decision making, and her research at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley focuses on questions such as when and why people infer more than the literal meaning of a statement.

Cynthia Chan Hull ’65 discovered community and a strong foundation for her career at Pomona. To celebrate her 60th reunion, she pledged a $1M endowed gift to advance academic excellence and create future opportunities for Sagehens.

Alumna Sharon Camp ’65 founded the start-up behind the development and commercialization of the Plan B emergency contraceptive pill. She received an honorary Ph.D. from Pomona in 2013 and wrote a Commencement speech for that year’s senior class.

Pomona College launched the Andy McWethy ’63 Distinguished Lecture Series to explore capitalism, markets and global development. The inaugural lecture by Asim Ijaz Khwaja urged shifting from poverty alleviation to unlocking human potential.

Barbara Neukom Bohn ’61 embodied global citizenship, dedicating her life to cross-cultural understanding. From Pomona College to Asia and beyond, she championed diplomacy, education and humanitarian efforts, leaving a legacy of grace and purpose.

Her Sagehen career complete, Hannah Gough ’25 has her sight set on making the Australian national team bound for the 2026 World Cup in Tokyo and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

More than 90 Sagehens explored career paths through PCIP internships this summer — from film sets to research labs and nonprofits. With financial barriers removed, students gained hands-on experience, built networks and deepened their learning.