For decades, the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum has stood as one of Claremont McKenna College’s most distinctive intellectual traditions. Known affectionately on campus as “the Ath,” this celebrated speaker series has long served as a gathering place where ideas are exchanged freely over shared meals, thoughtful conversation, and rigorous questioning. Today, A New Chapter Begins for Claremont McKenna’s Iconic Athenaeum Speaker Series, as it prepares for a leadership transition while staying true to its founding mission.
Throughout the academic year, multiple evenings each week are devoted to Athenaeum dinners that bring together scholars, artists, policymakers, writers, and other influential voices. These events are open not only to CMC students and faculty but also to the broader Claremont Colleges community. The format is simple yet powerful: a communal dinner followed by a wide-ranging talk and an extended dialogue that encourages curiosity, debate, and respectful disagreement.
This prestigious tradition, launched in the 1980s through a gift from trustee Marian Miner Cook, has grown into a hallmark of campus life. More than a hundred dinners are hosted annually in the Athenaeum’s dedicated building, each overseen by elected student fellows who introduce the speakers and guide the discussion. A formal dress code underscores the seriousness of the occasion, while carefully curated menus—often rivaling fine dining establishments—add to the experience. Recent offerings have included dishes such as seared salmon with citrus-infused sauce and Greek yogurt cheesecake for dessert.
As the Athenaeum looks ahead, it also marks the close of an era. Priya Junnar, who has led the Ath since 2014, is entering her final term as director and will step down at the end of the semester. Her departure coincides with the planned retirement of her husband, Hiram Chodosh, who previously announced he would conclude his service as CMC president at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year. Reflecting on that decision, Chodosh emphasized the importance of knowing when to complete a chapter, even when it has been deeply fulfilling.
Leadership of the Athenaeum will continue under new stewardship. Dr. Ken Walden will assume the role of interim director following Junnar’s departure. Walden brings a diverse background that spans higher education, theology, and public service. His academic credentials include degrees from The Citadel, Duke University, and the Claremont School of Theology, and he also serves as a Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His previous experience includes serving as president of Gammon Theological Seminary, positioning him well to guide the Ath through its next phase.
Over the years, the Athenaeum has hosted an extraordinary range of speakers representing diverse disciplines and viewpoints. Past guests have included former President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Salman Rushdie, Spike Lee, Justice Antonin Scalia, Bono, Condoleezza Rice, Cornel West, Jonathan Haidt, David Sedaris, George Will, Louise Glück, and Samantha Power, among many others. This tradition of intellectual diversity continues, with recent speakers featuring figures such as David Dreier, John Dean, Bill Kristol, and Daniel Pollack-Pelzner.
At its core, the Athenaeum offers an educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom. The pre-talk receptions and shared meals help establish an atmosphere of trust and openness, encouraging students to listen carefully and ask incisive questions. Visiting speakers frequently remark on the depth and thoughtfulness of student engagement, noting that the quality of questions rivals—or surpasses—that found at many peer institutions.
Junnar has often described the speaker selection process as collaborative and evolving, shaped by suggestions from students, faculty, alumni, parents, and community members. Her guiding philosophy has been to balance relevance and timeliness with historical perspective and future-oriented thinking. Innovation, she has said, is essential to keeping the Athenaeum vibrant and meaningful.
Beyond evening dinners, the Ath also hosts luncheons, faculty-led teas, and collaborative events with other student programs. Together, these offerings help cultivate what observers have called a new model of academic community—one that welcomes diverse voices, embraces difficult conversations, and equips students to lead thoughtfully in a complex and divided world.
Looking back, Junnar has said what she will miss most are the students themselves. Their questions, she notes, are masterclasses in critical thinking and attentive listening. From renowned legal scholars to celebrated artists, many speakers have shared the same sentiment: few places foster such consistently insightful dialogue. As A New Chapter Begins for Claremont McKenna’s Iconic Athenaeum Speaker Series, that spirit of inquiry remains its strongest legacy—and its greatest promise for the future.
