Claremont Consortium Chapter of the Fulbright Association

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YouTube Premiere: The Future Is Personal: Inside The Science Of Precision Medicine

A dynamic dialogue on how data, genes, and discovery are personalizing the future of medicine was held at the newly dedicated Robert Day Science Center at Claremont McKenna College. The President of the Fulbright Claremont Consortium Chapter, Dr. Edel Jose and Dr. Emily Wiley of the Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences welcomed the Claremont Consortium, Fulbright Alumni, and City Council Members to the Fulbright symposium. The panel featured, Dr. Barbara Kraatz Fortini Program Director of the Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomic Data Analytics Program at Keck Graduate Institute; Kurt Jose CEO of IndiviDx; and Dr. Patrick Fueger Director of the Comprehensive Metabolic Phenotyping Core Facility at City of Hope.
Subscribe to the Fulbright Claremont Consortium Chapter YouTube Channel to see previous topics and speakers!

Mental Health Matters: A Collective Effort

The Speaker Forum on Mental Health Matters: A Collective Effort brought together parents, faculty, and students of the Claremont Colleges and Fulbright Alumni for a collaborative effort to highlight the discussion of mental health during World Mental Health Day! The speakers explored a broad range of topics from genetics for the betterment of mental health, crisis management, youth mental health, and the dynamics of the parent-student relationship. Dr. Lawrence Palinkas discussed youth mental health in our evolving world and how factors such as COVID, climate change, technology, school violence, social deprivation, and limited access to services have greatly affected mental health. Kurt Jose, Founder & CEO of IndiviDx, a biotech laboratory specializing in personalized medicine, discussed how mental health management can benefit from being personalized and precise. He believes mental health care should be guided by the individual’s data. William Johnson, a clinician from Kaiser Permanente, elaborated on how parents can properly prepare students for crises, disasters, and unknowns, as well as preparing them for the transition to adulthood. Christian Santana, a student case manager, highlighted the Strive2Thrive program at Pitzer College and its mental health services. Overall the event opened several new discussions and informed the families with the tools needed! 

 

Kenneth Butler (Treasurer), William Johnson, Dr. Lawrence Palinkas, Kurt Jose, Christian Santana, Dr. Edel Jose

Dr. Lawrence Palinkas, UCSD School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.

Kurt Jose, Founder & CEO of IndiviDx

William Johnson, Kaiser Permanente
Christian Santana, Strive2Thrive, Pitzer College

Enchanted Forest of Light Winter Event

Join us for a winter wonderland escape into the Enchanted Forest of Light, transforming the gardens into a realm of magic, mystery, and incandescence! Guests will rendezvous at the Enchanted Tent for a delicious treat along with seasonal sips designed to enhance the evening’s magic before we embark on our magical journey through the forest. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be welcomed into a glowing landscape that invites wonder and discovery. Wondrous installations, including an entire town of magical “stained glass” houses by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin; sparkling geometric installations from HYBYCOZO; Flower Power on the Promenade; and exquisite lighting effects in the Ancient Forest await!
Enjoy the evening in our winter wonderland escape at the Enchanted Tent and explore the Enchanted Forest throughout the night.
December 5th Friday
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Descano Garden
1418 Descano Drive
La Cañada Flintridge , CA 91011

 

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Precision Medicine Symposium

The Future Is Personal: Inside the Science of Precision Medicine 

We cordially invite you to a reception and an insightful discussion on precision medicine, which will be held at the recently dedicated Robert Day Science Center. This symposium will feature expert panelists who will discuss the impact of precision medicine on both healthcare and research.

Date: November 20, 2025
Time: 4:15 – 5:30 PM
Location:
Robert Day Science Center
681 Claremont Blvd
Claremont, CA 91711

RSVP HERE
Dr. Barbara Fortinin

Dr. Barbara Fortinin

Program Director Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomic Data Analytics Program

Barbara Fortini joined KGI in July 2017 to lead the Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomic Data Analytics (MSGDA) program. Within the KGI curriculum, Fortini teaches four courses: Human Molecular Genetics, Human Genomics, Human Genomics NGS Lab, and Functional Genomics. Fortini’s research is focused on how non-coding genomic variation affects colorectal cancer risk.

Prior to joining KGI, Fortini served as a visiting assistant professor of biology at the W.M. Keck Science Department of the Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges. Fortini completed her postdoctoral training at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. She received her BS in 2002 and her PhD in 2011 at the California Institute of Technology.

Dr. Patrick T. Fueger, MS, PhD

Dr. Patrick T. Fueger, MS, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology Director, Comprehensive Metabolic Phenotyping Core Associate Director, Cancer Metabolism T32 Training Program Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope

Dr. Fueger is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology in the Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope and Associate Director of the Cancer Metabolism T32 Training Program at City of Hope.  He also serves as Director of the Comprehensive Metabolic Phenotyping Core in the Beckman Research Institute, which provides services for investigators with interests in diabetes, metabolism, and cancer. Dr.  Fueger received his BS and MS degrees in biological sciences and exercise physiology, respectively, from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.  He was awarded his PhD in Molecular Physiology & Biophysics from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine for his integrative physiological studies on skeletal muscle glucose metabolism.  He was a JDRF-funded postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University, where he became an expert in islet biology.  Previously, he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Bioengineering Interdisciplinary Training for Diabetes Research T32 Program with Purdue University.  Dr. Fueger is the recipient of numerous awards including a Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) from NIH, Virendra B. Mahesh Award for Excellence in Endocrinology from the American Physiological Society, and Arti Hurria Research Mentoring Award from City of Hope.  His current research interests are in pancreatic islet biology and hepatic metabolism, including the impact of fatty liver disease on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer. Fueger Lab
Kurt Jose

Kurt Jose

Founder & CEO of IndiviDx

Kurt Jose, the Founder and CEO of IndiviDx, a biotechnology-driven clinical laboratory specializing in Precision Medicine, has dedicated over a decade to bridging the gap between science and everyday care. IndiviDx’s mission is to leverage genetics and provide clinicians with insights that enhance their understanding of each individual’s unique response to medications, ultimately shaping more personalized treatment plans.

At IndiviDx, he seamlessly integrates biotech innovation with clinical expertise to promote more personalized and human-centered care. By empowering individuals with data-driven insights, IndiviDx ensures that each clinician’s treatment plan is tailored to the unique needs of the patient.

Kurt’s vision extends beyond the laboratory, as he strives to create a future where mental health treatment is as personalized and precise as the individuals it serves. Through his commitment to combining science and compassion, he aims to revolutionize mental health care, ensuring that every treatment is guided by the individual behind the data.

 

Speaker Forum

Mental Health Matters: A Collective Effort

We invite you to join us for an insightful discussion on mental health and wellness. We will be exploring a broad range of topics, including genetics for the betterment of mental health, crisis management, mental health in our evolving world, and the dynamics of the parent-student relationship.

Date: November 7, 2025

Time: 1:30-2:30pm

Location:

Pitzer College

McConnell Center, Founders Room

Reception & Speaker Forum

 

RSVP HERE
Lawrence Palinkas

Lawrence Palinkas

Professor

Lawrence Palinkas is a Professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California, San Diego. A medical anthropologist, he is an expert in the areas of preventive medicine, cross-cultural medicine and mental health services research. He is particularly interested in behavioral health, global health and health disparities, implementation science, and community-based participatory research. His research has included studies of psychosocial adaptation to extreme environments and disasters; mental health needs of older adults; cultural explanatory models of mental illness and service utilization; HIV and substance-abuse prevention in Mexico; evaluation of academic-community research practice partnerships; and the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for delivery of mental and behavioral health services to children, adolescents and underserved populations. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, National Institutes of Health, the MacArthur Foundation, and the William T. Grant Foundation. His current research encompasses implementation and sustainment of mental health services and behavioral health prevention programs, effects of climate change on mental health, and climate adaptation in vulnerable communities. Among Palinkas’ scholarly achievements are the Antarctic Service Medal from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Navy in 1989; deputy chief officer of the Life Sciences Standing Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research in 2002; chair of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s External Advisory Council in 2003; co-lead of the Creating Social Responses to a Changing Environment Grand Challenge for Social Work; and membership on committees of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, Society for Social Work and Research, and Society for Applied Anthropology. He is the author of more than 520 publications.
Christian Santana, MSW, ASW

Christian Santana, MSW, ASW

Student Support Case Manager | Pitzer College

Christian Santana, MSW, ASW, is a Student Support Case Manager at Pitzer College. She began her career in counseling in 2017 when she worked with adolescents in substance abuse outpatient treatment. She pursued her master’s in social work in 2019 after noticing that almost all of the adolescents she worked with had a history of trauma and mental health issues. She has been working at Pitzer since 2024 and enjoys working with young adults. Christian has experience working with various age ranges, socioeconomic statuses, veterans, and substance use.
William James Johnson, M.S., LMFT

William James Johnson, M.S., LMFT

Psychiatric Social Worker | Kaiser Permanente

My name is William Johnson, and I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). I have been a therapist since 2015. I have extensive experience witth children, teens, young adults, families, as well as couples. I’ve worked in
community mental health agencies, private, telehealth agencies, and now work at Kaiser Permanente. I am very active in the labor side of things as well, as I am a National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) union steward and was part of our 6 1/2 months strike this past year.
Kurt Jose

Kurt Jose

Founder & CEO of IndiviDx

Kurt Jose, the Founder and CEO of IndiviDx, a biotechnology-driven clinical laboratory specializing in Precision Medicine, has dedicated over a decade to bridging the gap between science and everyday care. IndiviDx’s mission is to leverage genetics and provide clinicians with insights that enhance their understanding of each individual’s unique response to medications, ultimately shaping more personalized treatment plans.

At IndiviDx, he seamlessly integrates biotech innovation with clinical expertise to promote more personalized and human-centered care. By empowering individuals with data-driven insights, IndiviDx ensures that each clinician’s treatment plan is tailored to the unique needs of the patient.

Kurt’s vision extends beyond the laboratory, as he strives to create a future where mental health treatment is as personalized and precise as the individuals it serves. Through his commitment to combining science and compassion, he aims to revolutionize mental health care, ensuring that every treatment is guided by the individual behind the data.

Fulbright Fall Celebration 

Join the Claremont Consortium Chapter for the Fall Celebration! Meet fellow Fulbrights and Friends of Fulbright in the relaxing atmosphere of the Grove House, complete with live music performed by the Grove House Jazz Band, tasty bites, and refreshing beverages. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our board members, gain insights into upcoming Fulbright initiatives, and network with the greater community! All are welcome! 
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
 
Location:

Grove House 

Claremont, CA 91711
(Pitzer College) 
RSVP BY OCTOBER 31st 
RSVP HERE

Reimagining Incarceration: Forging Paths Forward

The Claremont Consortium Chapter held its inaugural speaker forum centered on justice reform on May 2, 2025 at Pitzer College. The event highlighted the Inside-Out BA Pathway program at the California Rehabilitation Center, which serves incarcerated individuals, as well as rehabilitation efforts in fire camps, executive clemency, and related policy analysis.

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Fulbright Association Claremont Consortium Chapter President Dr. Edel Jose opened the forum and served as moderator. Several distinguished guests were in attendance including Claremont Mayor Corey Calaycay, Claremont Police Chief Mike Ciszek, and Pitzer College President and Fulbright alumnus Strom C. Thacker. Congresswoman Norma Torres and Congresswoman Judy Chu honored the speakers and the Fulbright Claremont Consortium Chapter with Congressional Certificates commending their work and dedication to Justice Reform.

The panel featured Professor Nigel Boyle, Professor of Political Studies at Pitzer College; Professor Charis Kubrin, Professor of Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California Irvine; Professor Daniel Pascoe from the School of Law City University of Hong Kong; and Lieutenant Anthony Banks, Camp Commander Malibu Conservation Camp #13.

The forum took place during Pitzer College’s Community Weekend 2025—a special event that unites alumni, families, students, faculty, and staff for a weekend of celebration. It also marked the retirement of Professor Nigel Boyle, honored at The Parting Glass event, which celebrated his 33-year legacy at Pitzer. For 20 of those years, he served as the Fulbright advisor, helping Pitzer become one of the nation’s top-producing institutions for Fulbright scholars for 16 consecutive years.

Chapter President Dr. Edel Jose opening remarks

Professor Nigel Boyle founder of the Inside-Out-Pathways to BA Program at Pitzer College
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Claremont Chapter Launch

On April 5, 2025, the Fulbright Claremont Consortium Chapter officially launched, hosting Fulbright Alumni, Friends of Fulbright, and Fulbright semi-finalists. The inaugural chapter event took place at Union on Yale in the Claremont Village.
Dr. Edel Jose, Founder & President, and Dr. Rainbow Chung-Ou, Vice President, both Pitzer College alumni, welcomed the attendees. The event provided a valuable opportunity for the Fulbright community to connect, share experiences, and mentor prospective Fulbright scholars, marking a successful beginning for the new chapter.
We welcome Fulbrights and Friends of Fulbright to join us in the journey of growing the Claremont Consortium Chapter!
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Fulbright Claremont Consortium Chapter Launch
Chapter President Dr. Edel Jose and Vice President Dr. Rainbow Chung-Ou
Claremont Consortium Chapter Meet & Greet
Fulbright semi-finalist and Pitzer College Fulbright Director Noosha Malek

Speaker Forum Event

Reimagining Incarceration: Forging Paths Forward Join us for an engaging discussion hosted by Pitzer College and the Fulbright Claremont Consortium Chapter. Reimagining Incarceration examines reform from policy to practice. The discussion focuses on current mechanisms and how we can shape the future of incarceration. Enjoy light fare, beverages, networking, and a thought-provoking speaker forum. 

Speaker Forum Event Registration Here
Nigel Boyle

Nigel Boyle

Professor and IGLAS Chair, Political Studies|Pitzer College

Professor Nigel Boyle holds the IGLAS Chair in Political Studies at Pitzer College. He has been a faculty member at Pitzer for 33 years, including a term as Pitzer College Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs. His research was mainly focused on welfare-to-work reform in Britain, Germany, and Ireland.  He was Pitzer’s Fulbright Program Advisor from 1998 to 2023.  He has been involved in prison higher education for the last 12 years, he was the PI for the Mellon grants that created the Justice Education Center, and he has led the Pitzer College prison BA-pathway program which is graduating its fourth cohort this year. Professor Boyle is the architect of the Claremont Colleges’ Justice Education initiative, including the largest concentration of Inside-Out courses (incarcerated and outside students taught in the same classes) in the U.S. As founding Director of the Institute for Global Local Action and Study, Nigel has worked to integrate Pitzer’s renowned study abroad and community engagement programs to help students address Pitzer’s four core educational requirements: local and global intercultural understanding, and social justice theory and practice.
Charis E. Kubrin

Charis E. Kubrin

Professor Criminology, Law & Society|UC Irvine

Charis E. Kubrin is Professor of Criminology, Law & Society at UC Irvine. She is also a member of the Council on Criminal Justice, the Racial Democracy, Crime and Justice- Network, the Diversity Scholars Network, the Scholars Strategy Network, and UCI’s Center for Population, Inequality, and Policy. Among other topics, Prof. Kubrin’s research assesses the impact of criminal justice reform on crime rates. She has testified on criminal justice reform in California before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, as well as before the Little Hoover Commission. She is a frequent media contributor whose writing has been featured in the The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Scientific American, Forbes, and CNN. Prof. Kubrin has received national awards from the American Society of Criminology including the Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar Award (for outstanding scholarly contributions to the discipline of criminology), the Herbert Bloch Award (for outstanding service contributions to the ASC and to the professional interests of criminology), and the Coramae Richey Mann Award from the Division on People of Color and Crime (for outstanding contributions of scholarship on race/ethnicity, crime, and justice) as well as from the Western Society of Criminology including the W.E.B. DuBois Award (for significant contributions to racial and ethnic issues in the field of criminology) and the Paul Tappan Award (for outstanding contributions to the field of criminology). In 2019, she was named a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology. Prof.Kubrin’s research examines the immigration-crime nexus and considers the impact of immigration-related policy on immigrants, immigrant families and immigrant communities. Another line of research assesses the impact of criminal justice reform on crime rates. A third line of research examines the use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials against young men of color. Prof. Kubrin is also part of the California 100, an statewide initiative to envision and shape the long-term success of the state. Through the California 100 research award, Prof. Kubrin evaluated the current facts, origins and future trends in criminal justice reform in the state.
Daniel Pascoe

Daniel Pascoe

Professor, School of Law|City University of Hong Kong

Born in Canberra, Australia, Daniel studied law and Asian studies at the Australian National University before working for short periods in criminal defense and government legal practice. In 2008, Daniel moved to the United Kingdom where he was Keith Murray Graduate Scholar at Lincoln College, Oxford, reading for an MPhil in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a DPhil (PhD) in Law. Daniel joined City University of Hong Kong in January 2014 as Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in July 2020. He has held visiting positions at universities in Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Daniel’s research focuses on criminal law and punishment in comparative perspective, also extending to Southeast Asian law, Islamic law and legal pedagogy. He has published two books and more than 25 journal articles with leading US and international law reviews. Outside of academia, Daniel has worked as a consultant for NGOs Amnesty International and Reprieve. Recently Professor Pascoe published new research in the Northwestern Law Review on Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentencing in the United States. The piece, “Worthless Checks? Clemency, Compassionate Release, and the Finality of Life Without Parole,” presents original empirical data on clemency covering the period 1990–2021 in order to investigate the relationship between LWOP sentences and the release mechanisms of executive clemency and compassionate release in both state and federal cases.
Lieutenant Anthony Banks

Lieutenant Anthony Banks

Camp Commander, Malibu Conservation Camp #13

Lieutenant Anthony Banks serves as the Camp Commander at Malibu Conservation Camp #13, a minimum-security facility for incarcerated women located in Malibu, California. The camp is jointly operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and CAL FIRE. Under this partnership, women at the camp receive training in wildfire suppression and actively engage in conservation and community service projects across the state.
Join the Claremont Consortium Chapter For an afternoon of networking with the Fulbright community and friends of Fulbright! Come celebrate the chapter’s soft launch in a relaxing outdoor setting over tasty bites and refreshing drinks. Connect with our board members and discover ways to become an active participant in our chapter. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the lovely setting of the Claremont Village among specialty shops, art galleries, and vintage music shops!  

Event RSVP

You’re invited to the Claremont Consortium Chapter’s launch event for networking with the Fulbright community and discovering ways to become active participants. You can enjoy tasty bites and refreshing drinks, and then spend the rest of the day networking and exploring Claremont Village.

Register Here