Laurie Leshin, a space scientist and higher education leader, will deliver the keynote address at Harvey Mudd’s 68th Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17. Senior class presidents Maya Jenkins and McKenna McMurray said the Class of 2026 selected Leshin as keynote speaker to honor her pioneering role as the first female director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They note that Leshin’s recent talk on campus about sustainable development and its connection to technology and education aligns with Mudd’s core values.
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Family Weekend is Almost Here |
Register now to join us on campus Feb. 6–7 for Family Weekend. Visit the Family Weekend website for the current schedule, hotel recommendations and more information. We have added programming with faculty, parent leaders and our alumni, so come hear about their HMC experience and lives post-Mudd. We hope to see you in February!
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Three projects have been selected to receive seed funding through the College’s recent Innovation Accelerator Lab for Artificial Intelligence (IAL-AI) call for proposals. These projects reflect the creativity, rigor and ethical responsibility that define Harvey Mudd’s commitment to its mission, and they exemplify the HMC community’s thoughtful engagement with this critical topic.
AI Experimentation Lab (AXL)
Led by an interdisciplinary team of faculty that includes professors Josh Brake (CS), Ken Fandell (HSA), Nancy Lape (Engineering), and Julie Medero (CS), the AI Experimentation Lab (AXL) helps re-imagine undergraduate education in the age of generative AI. By intentionally bridging STEM fields with the humanities, social sciences, and the arts, AXL will create communities of practice that explore how we teach about AI, how we teach with AI tools, and how we help students critically examine AI’s broader ethical, societal, and environmental implications. Through workshops, guest speakers, shared resources, and creative experimentation, AXL positions Harvey Mudd as a national leader in shaping thoughtful, human-centered approaches to AI in education. The AXL team, in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of the Faculty, has already issued 10 microgrants to faculty who will pilot changes in their courses in response to AI during the spring semester.
Prototype-First Programming Laboratory
Led by Benson Tsai ’06 and Josh Jones ’98, HMC entrepreneurship faculty, along with Angie Covarrubias Aguilar (HMC Upward Bound) and computer science professor Zachary Dodds, this project introduces a bold rethinking of how computer programming is taught. Rather than emphasizing code writing alone, the Prototype-First Programming Laboratory centers on authorial accountability—helping students learn to steward, evaluate, and take responsibility for AI-generated systems. With new prototype-first proposed courses such as the Software MVPs sidecar course and the Web Presents summer seminar, as well as a two-week Invitation to AI embedded module within Core CS coupled with co-curricular experiences, this IA Lab helps students gain deep understanding and ethical judgment on the use of AI and AI tools in programming. This work will extend beyond HMC’s campus through partnerships with programs such as Upward Bound, broadening access to AI literacy and entrepreneurial skills not just for our students, but also for our partners in the community. The Prototype-First Programming Laboratory is in the process of recruiting student participants.
Imaginative Prototyping with Artificial Intelligence
The Imaginative Prototyping initiative, led by engineering professor Josh Brake, uses the hands-on building of concrete AI prototypes to explore both the creative promise and the potential perils of AI. Drawing on methods from art studios, peer critique, and entrepreneurial design, students and faculty will work in small teams to build, share, and critique AI-powered applications both within and beyond education. Reviewers noted the strong student appeal of this experiential approach and its potential to serve as an “experimentation engine” that can inform and support other Innovation Accelerator efforts across campus.
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President Harriet Nembhard welcomes the HMC community back to campus and highlights the many exciting events and opportunities ahead in the January episode of the Mudd Minute.
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A three-year grant from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation will allow the College to implement the Beckman Scholars Program (BSP), supporting six exceptional undergraduate researchers from 2026 through 2029. The BSP will provide a distinct 15-month mentored research experience in chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or interdisciplinary combinations of these fields.
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When she entered Harvey Mudd College, Jennie Rhine ’61 was the first and only woman in the Class of 1961. We remember Rhine as one of the pioneers who paved the way for women at Harvey Mudd, where women now represent 51% of the student body. Rhine, who went on to become a judge and passed away in 2014, wrote about her experiences in the 1958 Claremont Quarterly article “The Girl,” reprinted in the Mudd Magazine.
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The College has moved closer to its goal of embedding sustainability into the fabric of campus operations. Thanks to a generous $500,000 grant from a private foundation, the College is launching the second phase of its solar panel installation project, which will nearly double its renewable energy capacity.
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Physics professor Brian Shuve has received an RCSA Bridge Award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The award is a prestigious follow-on grant designed to catalyze the continued research and leadership of outstanding teacher-scholars.
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The Annenberg Leadership Forum includes a Lunch & Learn workshop presented by President's Scholars, an evening reception featuring entrepreneurs and VCs within the Harvey Mudd network, followed by a panel discussion with Josh Jones ’98, Nihal Mehta and Aileen Lee P’28 moderated by President Harriet Nembhard.
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Zaara Bhatia ’27 and Lucas Sullivan ’27 earned second place overall at the 11th annual Climate and Energy Hackathon, hosted by the MIT Energy and Climate Club. The competition brought together more than 200 students from leading institutions to develop innovative solutions to global climate and energy challenges.
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ACS Omega published research by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Clinic team (Bryce Tu Chi ’25, Stephanie Fulcar ’25, Jonathan Ipe ’25, Olivia Schleifer ’25, Rohan Subramanian ’25, Claire Vlases CMC ’25 and advisor, CS professor Naim Matasci). The publication stems from the team’s 2024–2025 Clinic project focused on improving the accessibility of advanced molecular-scale cancer simulations.
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The Ken Stevens ’61 Founding Class Concert Series organized by the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, continues this spring. Performers include Brightwork Ensemble, Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble and mezzo-soprano Sarah-Nicole Carter (pictured). Select the headline link for more information.
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Pi Day of Giving: March 14 |
Join the Mudd community in expanding access and opportunity through STEM education. The annual fund fuels financial aid and scholarships, hands-on learning experiences, innovative academic programs and collaborative spaces. These opportunities empower students to learn boldly, lead with purpose and apply STEM to solve the world’s toughest challenges. Save the date and be part of Pi Day, when generosity, community and impact come full circle.
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The College will offer a diverse mix of courses that serve current students, visiting college students, advanced high school students and others. The session runs May 26–July 24. Select the headline link to add your name to the interest list.
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Building Community, Curiosity and Impact — Inside the New Mudd Magazine |
Astronomer Meredith Rawls ’08 is working to explore and protect the universe. A research scientist at the University of Washington, Rawls works on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, equipped with the largest digital camera ever built. Rubin will repeatedly scan the sky for 10 years and create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our universe. Read Rawls’ story in the fall/winter issue of Mudd Magazine.
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 Mudd in the Media
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 Alums in the Media
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 Selected Events
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No. 10 Best National Liberal Arts College –U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2026 | No. 2 Best Undergraduate Engineering Program –U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2026 | No. 13 Most Innovative Schools –U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2026 | No. 20 Best Liberal Arts College –Washington Monthly College Guide and Rankings 2025 | No. 4 Highest Mid-Career Salaries –PayScale’s College Salary Report | No. 1 Best Schools for Return on Investment –PayScale’s College ROI Report
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