PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE


“I have from my personal experience gained the idea that engineering is like dancing; you don’t learn it in a lecture hall, you learn it by getting out on the dance floor and stepping on people’s toes.”


— Jack L. Alford, professor of engineering emeritus, co-founder of Engineering Clinic


Steps to Success P


rofessor Alford’s eloquent statement illustrates a critically important distinction about the Harvey Mudd College experience: you learn best when you are not afraid to take a chance and try something new. Fear of failure stops so many people from attempting


great things. At Harvey Mudd, our students get many opportunities to fail—and to gain experience from those failures—so they can learn both to ask for help and to give it. But they also learn a great deal more. Through the experiential learning opportunities the College offers—whether


through our Clinic Program, Summer Undergraduate Research Program, individual and small-group study or community engagement activities—our students work with others, ask challenging questions, try different solutions and, in doing so, develop new cognitive capabilities. This year, we are celebrating 50 years of HMC’s Clinic Program. Originally founded


in 1963 by professors Alford and Mack Gilkeson, the Engineering Clinic has continued to flourish, while new Clinic programs have been added in mathematics, computer science, physics and environmental studies. With the addition of the Global Clinic in 2005, the College launched opportunities for international collaboration. Learn more about the past, present and future of Clinic (beginning on Page 18) as well as why teamwork is such an essential component (Page 22). The College’s experiential learning dance card isn’t just about clinics. Through our


year-round undergraduate research program (full-time during the summer), students have invaluable opportunities to work with our amazing faculty, explore topics and sug- gest new approaches to challenging problems. Participation in events such as the Putnam Mathematical Competition (Page 12) and clubs such as the Society of Professional Latinos in STEMS and Science Bus (Page 13) encourage students to have a positive impact while sharing their passion for science, technology, engineering and math. This summer, we moved into the new R. Michael Shanahan Center for Teaching


and Learning—an innovative building that will continue to improve the way we deliver a Harvey Mudd education. With updated spaces for teaching, collaboration and inter- action, the new facility marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of the College. I hope you’ll join the celebration on Sept. 28 when we hold the official opening of the Shanahan Center (Page 5). Through the generosity of alumni and friends, we are continuing to build upon the


excellence that pervades Harvey Mudd College. I’m so proud of our graduates and all those who dare to take those first intimidating steps and strive for success.


Maria Klawe, President, Harvey Mudd College


Summer 2013 Volume 11, No. 3


The HMC Bulletin is produced three times per year by the Office of Communications and Marketing


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Har vey Mudd College SUMMER 2013


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