Ion Caltech Today
Construction and Parking
Images from the Ginsburg Center construction site in early May 2025
Construction Impacts
- Ginsburg Center: The concrete foundation for the site is complete, and contractors are now installing columns and supports for the building's first floor. Contact gcqpm@caltech.edu for more information.
- Downs-Lauritsen: Expect noise and vibration in the basement level. Dowels will be drilled into the wall near B105 between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. the week of May 5 to reinforce the location for a tunnel connection to the Ginsburg Center. Demolition and abatement activities will continue through June.
- West side of Karman Labs: Chilled water line repairs through end of May.
- Throop Memorial Garden, Gates-Thomas, and Hameetman Center: Installation of electrical conduits expected to continue at least through end of May.
Parking and Traffic
- Expect increased truck traffic along California Boulevard for concrete and material deliveries to the Ginsburg Center site. There will be no road or lane closures.
Pedestrian Access
- Access partially limited near the Ginsburg Center site, Throop Memorial Garden, Olive Walk, and Hameetman Center.
Community Member Milestones
- Welcome to Caltech:
Kevyn Garcia
Kevyn joined Caltech on April 28, 2025, as the audience services manager in the Office of Communications and External Relations. In this role, he will supervise audience services for Caltech’s auditoriums, train front-of-house staff to provide exceptional guest service, and assist with event operations as well as the Friends of Beckman Auditorium donor group. Previously, Kevyn served as front-of-house and special events manager with Irvine Barclay Theatre.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Chris Kalaw
Chris joined Caltech as the new recycling and materials coordinator in October 2024. In this role, he is helping to manage the Institute’s recycling program and prioritize cost-effective, local, and sustainable purchases. Chris also works at USC as a sustainability assistant and holds a BS in public health.
- Celebrating a promotion:
Lauren Breeyear
On April 7, 2025, Lauren was promoted to division chair assistant and faculty affairs manager in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE). She has been with BBE since 2016, first as the divisional events coordinator and then options manager for computation and neural systems and neurobiology. In her new role, Lauren will manage, direct, and oversee all administrative functions for the division chair’s office and faculty affairs.
- Celebrating a promotion:
Christopher Barragan
In April 2025, Christopher was promoted to director of the Center for Student Success, a new office designed to integrate student support services including Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) and the CARE team, where Christopher formerly served as the case manager. Under Christopher’s leadership, the new center will ensure that these programs and their associated staff members are effectively coordinated to provide all students with the resources they need to achieve their goals at Caltech and beyond.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Michael Soriano
Michael joined Caltech as director of hotel operations at The Athenaeum on April 28, 2025. Michael previously served as director of housekeeping at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, and he brings extensive experience in high-end hotel services at various various properties throughout California, including Napa, Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills.
- Celebrating a promotion:
Vincent Ton
Vincent has been promoted to program manager in the Student-Faculty Programs (SFP) Office in April 2025. In this expanded role, Vincent will manage SFP’s communication strategies and build upon mentoring opportunities while continuing to work closely with all students, faculty, staff, and campus partners to deliver impactful undergraduate research experiences for those at the Institute.
- Welcome (back) to Caltech:
Vivian U
Vivian U (BS ’06) joined Caltech as an associate scientist at IPAC in February 2025, where she has taken up the role of the proposal team lead for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Previously, Vivian was an assistant astronomer at UC Irvine, where she led a research group that studied black hole–galaxy co-evolution with the James Webb Space Telescope and the Keck Observatory telescopes.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Ken Lee
Ken joined Caltech as the Institute’s new chief investment officer (CIO) on April 15. As a member of the senior administrative leadership group, Ken will oversee Caltech’s investment strategies and manage its approximately $4.5 billion investment portfolio. Ken has more than 25 years of experience in the financial sector, most recently at Children’s Health System of Texas.
- Celebrating a promotion:
Shayna Chabner McKinney
Shayna has been promoted to associate vice president, strategy implementation and chief communications and external relations officer in the Office of Communications and External Relations (formerly Office of Strategic Communications). In addition to her innovative leadership of the Institute's communications efforts, Shayna will liaise with Caltech's colleagues and federal officials in Washington, D.C., assume responsibility for Caltech's partnership with JPL's office of legislative and government affairs, and integrate the Institute's posture across all communications and external relations work.
- In memoriam:
Dimitri Papanastassiou
Dimitri Papanastassiou (BS '65, PhD ’70), a staff scientist in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS), passed away on March 9 at the age of 82. Dimitri made significant contributions to research in cosmochemistry and planetary science. His graduate thesis included the construction and first uses of the world’s first digital mass spectrometer, the Lunatic I. He is remembered by colleagues for his sharp mind, wit, and life story that was interwoven with Caltech and JPL over six decades.
Resources
Various departments on campus have reported scam callers who are posing as Caltech employees and asking for personal information like Caltech UIDs.
View the latest dining menus for Browne Dining Hall, Red Door Marketplace, Broad Cafe, and Avery Kitchen.
View the full summary of 2025 benefits for Caltech employees, including health, retirement, childcare assistance, tuition reimbursement, and more.
Media Mentions
