The Participant – Fall 2025

Volume 58 | Issue 2

A man wearing a blue blazer poses in a room with several television show posters on the wall

Thinking Outside the Box (Office)

How does an anthropology major end up running a thriving entertainment network? FX Chair John Landgraf ’84 describes his journey.

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40+ Number of majors in the liberal arts offered at Pitzer
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Tools for Living

The liberal arts matter, right? We asked our Pitzer faculty to weigh in and offer their insights on the power and value of a liberal arts education.

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Maia Stern stands at a camera focused on a band at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert set

Not Your Typical Desk Job

Maia Stern ’07 parlayed her media studies degree into a career filming Phish, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, and other top musicians and bands for NPR’s “Tiny Desk” concert series.

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James Kang wears a blue blazer and white shirt while standing in front of stadium blueprints on a white wall

Around the World in Nine Innings

James Kang ’10 played baseball and studied economics as an undergrad; today he travels the world as an international scout for the New York Mets.

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illustration of a world under the ocean with the deep water alchemy book cover superimposed on top

Reimagining the Last Frontier

Media Studies Assistant Professor Lisa Yin Han explores visions and interpretations of the ocean in her award-winning book Deepwater Alchemy.

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News & Updates

Faculty Distinctions: Intersecting Worlds

The latest faculty research and awards involve studies of work-life balances, famous poets, conspiracy thinking and much more

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claudia strauss poses with an award while standing next to a colleague

Robert Redford’s Legacy at Pitzer

A closer look at how the late actor became involved with the College’s Conservancy and other environmental initiatives

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robert redford speaks at a podium

Around the Mounds

Michele Siqueiros ’95 selected as chair of Pitzer’s Board of Trustees; meet the makers of The Outback, Pitzer’s student magazine; Professor Linus Yamane takes students on an immersive, cross-cultural journey to Japan; and more

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Students in the Trans-Pacific Japan class sit at a long wood table in a classroom while they look at something off-screen.

Ready for the World

A look back at Commencement 2025, which was a time for Pitzer’s newest grads to celebrate, reflect, and think about their next steps

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Pitzer students give a standing ovation during commencement
awake in the floating city and before gender book covers on a teal background

Community Bookshelf

The latest reads from our community offer theories, hidden histories, and futuristic visions about the world around—and within—us

Commentary

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the pitzer clock tower peaks out above the orange trees at the grove house

Letter from the President

Strom C. Thacker describes the moment when, as a college undergrad, he realized that the liberal arts experience not only prepared him for any career, it gave him a sense of self.

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silhouette of a human with a white bird in the center with yellow rays emanating from it.

Being the Change the World Needs

Professor Suyapa Portillo Villeda ’96 describes the message she tells her first-year students about how the liberal arts can change their lives

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cover of the Fall 2025 issue of the Participant featuring FX Chief John Landgraf

Read it in Print

Volume 58 | Issue 2

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