Harvey Mudd College Hires Staff to Enhance Student Experience

Ethics. Care. Leadership. These three concepts are incorporated into the work of the staff in Harvey Mudd College’s Division of Student Affairs, which has announced several appointments. New staff members will augment the existing team to help coordinate programs, facilities, resources and support to enhance students’ learning and growth.

Danny Ledezma is associate director of community engagement. He will help organize, develop and support community engagement programming, including student-led and community-led programs. He will also manage and supervise the Homework Hotline Program by recruiting and developing HMC student tutors, conducting program assessments and working collaboratively with school districts, educators and other members of the campus and external community. Ledezma earned his M.S. in college counseling and student development from Azusa Pacific University and his B.A. in psychology from Cal Poly Pomona. He most recently served as assistant residence director and orientation coordinator at Pitzer College and was the Los Angeles 101, City Links and Azusa Scholars coordinator at Azusa Pacific University.

Evetth Gonzalez is assistant dean of campus life. She served most recently as the student activities coordinator at Scripps College and was the multi-ethnic leadership coordinator at Azusa Pacific University. Gonzalez received her B.A. in communication studies at Biola University and her M.S. in college counseling and student development from Azusa Pacific University. She will assist with the coordination of new student Orientation, Orientation Adventure programs, student activities and the management of the Linde Activities Center. Gonzalez also will work with several student groups, including the DSA Muchachos, mentors, proctors and various ASHMC student leaders and committees.

Ledezma and Gonzalez will serve as live-in staff members, bringing the number of professional staff living on campus 24/7 to five. Live-in staff members focus on building community, supporting students, offering evening and weekend programs and responding to emergencies on campus.

Deborah Kahn, affiliated with the Office of the Dean of the Faculty, is the College’s coordinator of Title IX and Student Disability Support. Prior to HMC, Kahn served as the interim Title IX coordinator at Claremont McKenna College, and as the deputy director of Title IX at Cal Poly Pomona. She earned her B.A. in psychology and social behavior at University of California, Irvine, a J.D. at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and an MBA at the Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University. Kahn brings both her legal training and her substantial experience to lead the College in its Title IX and student accommodations efforts. Located on the first floor of the Sprague Center, Kahn works closely with the Division of Student Affairs to support HMC students.

The HMC Division of Student Affairs includes the offices of Institutional Diversity, Community Engagement, Health and Wellness, Residential Life, Career Services, and Campus Life. Its staff maintain close collaboration with other student services of The Claremont Colleges and oversee the College’s recreation and fitness facilities, career services, student support and referrals, emergency response, educational programs and services, leaves of absence, new student orientation and commencement.