Creativity is sometimes seen as the domain of the young—an innate, unfettered spark that dims as we get older. But the truth is, creativity is not bound by age, nor is it confined to the arts. This issue of PCM aims to explore different forms of creativity and uncover how we can cultivate it at every stage of life. Whether through professional innovation, interpersonal problem-solving, or even just the way we navigate daily routines, creativity remains an integral part of human experience.

One of the most common misconceptions about creativity is that it belongs exclusively to artists, musicians, and writers. This issue challenges that notion by highlighting creativity in disciplines like science, programming, and even political protest. We speak with Sagehens who have harnessed creative thinking to revolutionize industries, researchers whose inventive approaches have led to groundbreaking discoveries, and individuals who have reimagined their lives in inspiring ways. Creativity, at its core, is about seeing possibilities where others see limitations.

Nurturing creativity later in life requires intention and curiosity. Small changes in our routines—such as picking up a new hobby, engaging in stimulating conversations, or simply allowing ourselves to actually make space for non-doing—can reawaken our imagination. We also examine the role of lifelong learning, the power of collaboration, and the importance of staying open to new perspectives. Creativity flourishes when we give ourselves permission to experiment, to fail, and to view things with a greater sense of both purpose and wonder.

In this fast-paced, technology-driven era, we often feel pressured to be productive rather than imaginative. But creativity is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It fuels innovation, enriches our lives, and helps us adapt to an ever-changing world. I hope some of the topics posed in these pages invite you to explore, question, and reimagine the role of creativity in your own life. Let this issue be both a mirror and a catalyst, reflecting the creativity you already possess and inspiring new ways to express it. After all, creativity is not something we lose—it is something we continue to discover.

—Adam Conner-Simons ’08
Guest Editor

A Hello from Acting President Bob Gaines

Robert Gaines

Having been a faculty member here for more than 20 years, I’m deeply humbled by the opportunity to lead the College during President Starr’s sabbatical. I know the value of Pomona and the kinds of breakthroughs that are possible here, particularly as it applies to creativity—the theme of this issue of Pomona College Magazine.

The way I see it, Pomona has a unique combination of magical elements that make its educational experience pop—a delicate fusion of factors that include motivated students, intimate classes, broad resources and an emphasis on curiosity, interdisciplinarity and, yes, creativity.

I feel this dynamic deeply in my connections with peers. Our environment encourages engagement with others in how they see the world, sharing perspectives across disciplines with colleagues in art, music, history and beyond. I’ve had many thoughtful conversations with my colleagues about the vastness of time, understanding stories etched across giant landscapes, how we as humans sense and understand the world around us, and what it means to be alive on Earth. These kinds of dialogues have helped me shape, refine and better understand my own perspectives, as well as encouraging more out-of-the-box thinking about many of my own projects in geology.

This kind of cultivation of creativity allows faculty and students alike to adapt and approach challenges from new angles—where some of the most exciting and unexpected outcomes lie. Whether in science, engineering, humanities or the arts, thinking creatively is crucial for new innovation and making a meaningful impact on larger societal forces.

Indeed, creativity and its capacity for “transformative knowledge” is one of the three central pillars of our strategic vision, and a major point of emphasis for several of our future projects, like the new Center for Global Engagement that we hope to break ground on in the coming years.

My experience at Pomona is that creativity is not a finite resource, but something that begets more of itself when cultivated. In my mind it is the most important and essential of human traits—without it, we would be forever repeating the same patterns, rather than finding new paths of inquiry and exploration.

—Robert Gaines

Acting President
Edwin F. and Martha Hahn Professor of Geology