On Jan. 5, Dr. Ken Walden assumed his position as the interim director of the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College, following the resignation of former director Priya Junnar.
Walden has served as a seminary president, dean, associate professor, university chaplain and enrollment executive, which he said prepared him well for his new role.
“I’ve always … felt and experienced a lot of value in traditional classroom settings,” he said. “But it’s in my experience and observation that there’s a tremendous amount of value in non-traditional education settings.”
Walden said he hopes to maintain the Athenaeum’s current trajectory, with interdisciplinary programming that spans across the arts, politics and more, and is eager to work on a potential increase in music-related events.
Athenaeum fellow Violet Ramanathan CM ’27 said the program plays a central role in the college’s identity.
“I see [it] … as the crown jewel of CMC,” Ramanathan said, describing it as a feature that distinguishes the college by giving students opportunities to dine with a wide range of influential speakers.
Athenaeum server Marco Cisneros-Farber CM ’29 also pointed out the importance of the program.
“Going to the Athenaeum helps build the academic spirit of yourself and the school as a whole,” Cisneros-Farber said.
Ramanathan said she got a positive impression of Walden when she and the other fellows met with him for lunch in early February, and that he would be “well-equipped” to connect with the many different speakers.
“He strikes me as a very compassionate person,” Ramanathan said.
In a statement to the CMC community on March 14, 2025, Dean of Faculty Heather Antecol said Walden’s prior work would suit him well to lead the Athenaeum.
“His scholarship and training enable him to translate theological insight into practical action, allowing him to navigate complex organizations with intellectual rigor, cultural competence and a deep commitment to human care and development,” Antecol said in the statement.
According to Antecol, Walden and Junnar collaborated during the transition to “ensure continuity, stability and a smooth handoff.”
After leading the program for 11 years, Junnar worked alongside Walden in January to guarantee a seamless changeover.
“An idea like no other in American higher education, the Ath has really been the learning experience of a lifetime for me,” Junnar said in a statement to TSL last March.
Walden expressed his appreciation for Junnar and her support, saying, “Priya has been a wonderful, wonderful teacher.”
Walden said he was attracted to CMC’s distinct learning model and that “something special happens” when people sit down together, share a meal and discuss — a learning experience unique to the Athenaeum.
Additionally, he was drawn to CMC’s ambition to grow programs, buildings and faculty in a time when many places of higher education are no longer expanding.
According to Ramanathan, many Athenaeum events are sponsored by various research institutes at CMC, but others are directly selected by the director.
”[Walden] seemed excited about … giving the fellows and the broader community more of an opportunity to shape who comes to the Ath,” Ramanathan said.
Ramanathan is optimistic and said she does not anticipate any dramatic changes under the new leadership. Instead, students and staff expect Walden to continue to propel the Atheneum’s core values and goals.
Walden encouraged students from across the consortium to engage with the Atheneum.
“The Athenaeum is truly a gem, a valuable space,” he said.
Facebook Comments