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Governance Chair < Back Debbie Dison Hall Governance Chair Debbie is a Caltech alum (BS ’74), retired lawyer, and former partner at Allen Matkins’ Los Angeles office. She is a life member of the SURF (Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship) Board where she served as the Board chair from 2013 to 2015. Debbie was also a board member with the YMCA of the Foothills, President of the Caltech Alumni Association, and served on the Caltech Y’s board of directors from 2009-2014. While she was on the Y board, she served as Governance Committee Chair for several years. Debbie currently volunteers as a judge for the local court system. Committee Affiliation: Executive Committee, Governance Committee Previous Next

Marketing & Communications Co-Chair < Back Mitch Aiken Marketing & Communications Co-Chair Mitch has led Caltech's Educational Outreach efforts since 2013, through Caltech's Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach. Previously, he directed education programs and centers at the X PRIZE Foundation, The American Film Institute and KCET. He earned a BA in Communications and an MEd in Educational Media and Instructional Design from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. Committee Affiliation: Communications & Marketing Committee Previous Next

< Back Shrishti Pankaj Kulkarni* Shrishti ('26) is pursuing a Physics major with a minor in Computer Science at Caltech, and is a member of Venerable House. She does research with the Endres Lab, exploring laser cooling techniques in the field of neutral atom quantum computing. Outside of classes and lab, she enjoys practicing Kathak (an Indian classical dance form) and reading fiction. Shrishti is an Internal Vice President of the Caltech Y, and is especially passionate about environmental conservation and cultural exploration. She has helped organize Make-a-Difference Day, Cultural Cuisine Tours, and a variety of decompression events. Committee Affiliation: Student ExComm, Advancement Committee Previous Next

< Back Leslie Maxfield Leslie Maxfield (BS ’95) is the director of Caltech Academic Media Technologies. Leslie is passionate about the co-evolution of humans and technology and its impact on the future, especially in education. She is a graduate of Caltech and the University of California, Berkeley. You can often find her out watching rocket launches and walking her beagle on the beach. Committee Affiliation: Communications & Marketing Committee Co-Chair Previous Next

< Back Kevin Gilmartin Kevin Gilmartin studies social and political developments in British literature and print culture during the Age of Revolution, an era of social and political upheaval in Europe and the Americas from the late eighteenth century through the first half of the nineteenth century. Looking beyond literary texts, his research considers newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and other print forms to produce a more nuanced and finely grained account of the politics of literary culture. Committee Affiliation: Previous Next

< Back Doug Rees Doug has been on the Caltech faculty since 1989 and is currently the Roscoe Gilkey Dickinson Professor of Chemistry and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He served as Dean of Graduate Studies from 2015 to 2020. His research interests in molecular structure reflect the influence of his academic lineage where his advisor, advisor's advisor and advisor's advisor's advisor all received their graduate degrees in chemistry at Caltech. Committee Affiliation: Communications & Marketing Committee Previous Next

Advancement Co-Chair < Back Portia Harris Advancement Co-Chair Portia is a board-certified Ayurveda Practitioner and the founder of Healthy Self Ayurveda. She also manages a private family foundation dedicated to supporting underserved communities through philanthropy and serves on the board of Leadership Pasadena. Before transitioning to holistic health, Portia enjoyed a 20-year career in student affairs in higher education, including nine years at Caltech. In her final year there, she served as the Caltech Y’s Director of Marketing & Development, leading their centennial endowment campaign. Committee Affiliation: Advancement Committee Previous Next

caltech Y NEWS The Intersection of Robotics & AI: Winter Friends Dinner with Professor Aaron Ames Caltech Y 2024 Annual Report Out Now! Congratulations to all the students who received year-end awards! SPHEREx Mission Takes Center Stage at Caltech Y Friends Dinner, Raising Over $2,500 for Fire Recovery Efforts Double Your Impact: Creating a Global Perspective Kicking off the Trip Ticket: Global Perspectives Campaign! 1 2 3 4 5 publications Caltech Y News Publications 2024 Annual Report READ MORE 2022 Annual Report READ MORE Rise Report 2021-22 READ MORE 2019 Annual Report READ MORE 2023-24 Rise Report READ MORE Rise Report 2022-23 READ MORE 2020 Annual Report READ MORE 2018 Annual Report READ MORE 2023 Annual Report READ MORE 2021 Annual Report READ MORE Rise Report 2020-21 READ MORE

Steam Summer Experience (SSE) Thank you to our 23-24 Sponsors For more information email rise@caltech.edu

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Rentals About We are pleased to announce the official launch of our new website for Caltech Y gear rentals! The platform has been upgraded and streamlined to enhance your rental experience. Rentals are only available to Caltech and JPL community members (students, faculty, staff, alumni). To facilitate a seamless rental process, please follow these instructions when you are ready to reserve items: Follow the prompts to create an account, providing all required information Register using your Caltech/JPL affiliated email address Select your desired pickup and drop-off dates Gear pickup and drop-offs are available exclusively on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10AM-4PM Make your payment through our secure system Review and sign the required waiver forms Submit your request Please note that the request submission alone does not guarantee the reservation. A member of the Caltech Y will approve your request, at which point your gear will be reserved. Your payment will be refunded if your request is not approved. All rental prices are subject to change. Please be sure to make the reservation no later than 5pm of the business day before your desired rental pick-up day. If you have any questions, please call (626) 395-6163 or email us at caltechy@caltech.edu . We look forward to serving your gear rental needs! RESERVATIONS What We Offer room rentals The Caltech Y has one room available for reservation for meetings or small programs. This room has access to a restroom. Please note there may be limited availability for these rooms. Reservation Periods begin: Fall: August 30 Winter: November 30 Spring: February 30 Summer: May 30 *Room reservations must be re-requested at the beginning of each term for continuous weekly reservations* The Frank Dryden Multi-Purpose Room is a larger space that is versatile for a variety of functions. It is furnished with stackable chairs and is suitable for groups up to 10. It also has a TV and VCR/DVD. Please email caltechy@caltech.edu or call 626-395-6163 to reserve - Pickup and Drop-Off hours are exclusively from 10am to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. - Reservation requests can be made at any time online; however, gear can only be picked up or returned on our designated rental days which are Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays. - On which days can I rent equipment? - What are the pickup and drop-off hours? - You should make your reservation as early as possible to ensure availability. Online reservation requests can be made as early as 90 days in advance of your planned return date: however, no later than 5pm of the business day before your desired rental pickup day. - You must cancel your reservation no later than 5pm on the business day before your scheduled rental pickup for a full refund. Failure to do so will result in a 1-day charge for each canceled item or items not picked up, with the remaining balance eligible for a refund. - What is the cancellation policy? - How early should/can I make a reservation? FAQ - You will receive an email the day before or on the same day when your rental starts with information on how to pick up your reserved items. On your pickup day, you may pick up reserved items from 10am to 4pm from the numbered bins on the porch outside the Caltech Y or by following special instructions. Bin number and/or special instructions will be included in the pickup email. - How will I receive information about my rental pickup? - All tents MUST be set up and taken down by the renter after staff inspection upon return. An additional $20 fee per tent will be assessed if you are unable to set up or take down your tent at the time of return. If you are renting multiple tents or a 6-person tent, you MUST bring extra people with you to help set up. This process ensures that the person who rents the tent(s) after you has all the pieces and the tent is in good working order. - Are there any specific instructions for returning tents? - You will be charged to replace lost or damaged equipment. In general, charges are based on how long we have had the specific equipment. - 1st Year = full replacement cost - 2nd Year = 80% replacement cost - 3rd Year = 60% replacement cost - 4+ Years = 40% replacement cost - We are closed on weekends and holidays and cannot rent or accept equipment for returns during those times. You will be charged for the full rental period (even if you use the gear for only one day/night) and will return the gear on our next open day. - I only need to rent for one day. Why can’t I return gear on other days besides Mon/Wed/Fri? What is the rental fee policy? - I broke or lost equipment. Will I be charged?

< Back to all programs India Ki Khoj Cultural Trip TBD 2026 trip announced in the fall To Participate: https://forms.gle/XzD3MRuPesdmAsTB9 About The Caltech Y, in partnership with the Caltech SURF Program and IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN), is coordinating a trip to Gandhinagar, India. This trip is designed to introduce Caltech students to the many layers that form identity in India. Through a combination of academic lectures and fieldtrips, IITGN faculty will take participants through the India of the past, present and future, relating India’s ancient traditions of philosophy, science and technology to a present-day India. The trip will take place in Gandhinagar, located on the west coast of India, a region chosen by Gandhi as the center of his political campaigns and social experiments. Nearby, Ahmedabad also has a long-standing tradition of business and entrepreneurship as well as striking architecture. It is a historic city steeped in tradition that is also responding rapidly to modernity and globalization. ITINERARY December 13 Leave Caltech December 15 Arrive in India December 16-21 Workshops, Discussions, Fieldtrips December 22 Leave India December 22 Arrive in US PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Talks and discussions will be led by IITGN faculty and other guest speakers. Topics include: History Religions in India Democracy Caste and community structures Science and technology (both ancient and modern) Science policy Indian philosophical traditions India as an economic market Gender issues Poetry and films Thanks to our partners, IITGN and the SURF Program, this trip is heavily subsidized. The $1500 student fee includes transportation, lodging and meals while in-country, visa processing fees and travel insurance. Immunizations are required, but not covered in the fee. Knowing that some students may face exceptional financial barriers that could prevent their participation, participants are given the option to break up their fee over time, and/or to apply for the Global Perspectives Scholarship in order to receive additional subsidy, if needed. Because this trip is scheduled at the beginning of winter break participants may choose to travel independently to a different destination when the program ends or to return with the group to Caltech. The trip is open to all undergraduate students. For questions, please contact caltechy@caltech.edu . Space is limited. Previous Program Next Program