Bridging divides and healing divisions across differences
02.06.2025 | Colleen KawaharaWillamette students learn to apply peace-building skills from Ireland's journey toward reconciliation.
Students bring characters to life in marathon 48-hour Animation Jam
02.06.2025 | Paul McKeanWith the help of caffeine, collaboration, and a couple of friendly dogs, PNCA and Willamette College students create fantastical animated films out of puppets and pixels.
A WU Point of View: Yan Liang discusses tariffs on China
02.06.2025 | University CommunicationsA WU Point of View spotlights the people who bring Willamette's mission to life. In this issue, Willamette Economics Professor Yan Liang helps us understand the implications of the additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports that was recently implemented by the United States.
A genuine desire to help others leads student to law school
01.23.2025 | Jessica RotterFaith O’Malley JD’24 didn’t think she had a “lawyer personality” but now she is finding her own niche in helping others.
Global brands and organizations embrace Subin Yang’s BFA’17 mission-driven art
01.23.2025 | Sophie CipollaYang transforms social causes into vibrant visuals for global clients, crediting her success to the mentorship she received at Willamette's Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Michael Gay MBA’23 leverages a Willamette MBA to tackle Oregon’s mental health crisis
01.23.2025 | Paul McKeanWith the entrepreneurial skills he gained at Willamette, Gay is making a tangible long-term impact on the complex challenge of mental health.
Bethany Abbate BA’21 leads the AI safety debate on Capitol Hill
01.23.2025 | Melanie MoyerWith a passion for safeguarding artificial intelligence and strong communication skills, Abbate presents and advocates on the national stage.
Genna Walsh JD’24 publishes two ABA articles on psilocybin
01.16.2025 | Jessica RotterGenna Walsh JD’24 shares her passion for wellness and educating others on psilocybin.
Tobias Read BA’97 builds on a lifetime of service as Oregon’s Secretary of State
01.14.2025 | Paul McKeanRead prepares to invest in Oregon’s future using the problem-solving approach to politics and government he first honed at Willamette University.
Elizabeth Larson BS/BA’21 connects art and chemistry through life-size play structures
01.02.2025 | Melanie MoyerAfter discovering a passion for chemistry and art at Willamette, Larson forged a path in interdisciplinary science education.
Razel Mari Sta. Rita MFA’24 finds freedom to create global connections at PNCA
01.02.2025 | Sophie CipollaThe Fulbright Scholar reflects on the ways PNCA has expanded his perspective and global network as an artist.
PNCA alums team up to capture the natural beauty of Montana in mural project
01.02.2025 | Linda LenhoffTessa Heck MFA’16 brought in fellow alum Shelby Baldridge MFA’20 to assist on the murals for an adventure and outdoor lodging company.
Willamette alum takes on national role to increase inclusivity in college sports
11.14.2024 | Sophie CipollaJosh Perez BS'23 MBA'24 is using his skills to create change at the NCAA and impact the future of college sports for all.
Uncovering history as an architectural historian
11.14.2024 | Sophie CipollaClassical Studies major Kirsten Straus BA’13 uncovers, interprets, and preserves the hidden histories of the city of Salem and the state of Oregon.
Data science alums promote sustainability and energy efficiency at Evergreen Economics
11.14.2024 | Linda LenhoffWith the help of career services and the power of the Willamette alumni network, Master’s in Data Science graduates are using their data science skills at a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in evaluating energy efficiency programs.
A champion for election reform works to be part of the solution
10.24.2024 | Melanie MoyerBeth Hladick BA’16 uses the lessons she learned at Willamette to understand the root causes of political polarization and find effective solutions for improving elections.
Jamaali Roberts BFA’17 intrigues and instructs with magical artwork
10.09.2024 | Linda LenhoffThe Atlanta artist creates logos, paintings, and murals to uplift diverse communities.
Fernando Bitelli BS’24 dedicates senior thesis to giving back to Brazil’s youth soccer community
10.09.2024 | Linda LenhoffThe soccer player created a program to help underserved youths develop their physical attributes, putting to work Willamette’s motto: Not unto ourselves alone are we born.
Determining a path forward for artificial intelligence in state government
05.02.2024 | Melanie MoyerAppointed by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, triple alum Justus Eaglesmith BA’21, MBA/MS’23 will help inform public policy and guide the state’s future relationship with AI.
Artist Demian DinéYazhi´ BFA’14 reimagines the future in piece selected for the 2024 Whitney Biennial
04.18.2024 | Linda LenhoffThe PNCA grad received awards for their thesis, Bury My Art At Wounded Knee: Blood and Guts in the Art School Industrial Complex, and a decade later continues to create challenging pieces with a global reach.
Karol Orozco MBA’22, MS’23 pairs business and data skills with people-centered values to lead TriMet to a more just future
04.18.2024 | Melanie MoyerA community leader, immigrant, and mother of two, Orozco uses her two degrees to bolster her professional aspirations.
Career Development Office helps Elana Greenberg BA’21, MS’22 land her dream job at Hewlett Packard
04.18.2024 | Linda LenhoffAfter earning two degrees from Willamette, Greenberg consulted with Career Development to help her find job search success post-pandemic.
Environmental Science major spends a summer in the Harvard Forest
04.17.2024 | Melanie MoyerAn active member of the Growing Oaks Team, Isabella Stone BS’24 has a special place in her heart for preserving the nation’s forests.
Anelise Zimmer BA’16 plays an important role in protecting coastal ecosystems in her position with the Pew Charitable Trusts
04.17.2024 | Linda LenhoffZimmer focuses on coastal wetlands and helping international players address climate change.
Student-designed Willamette Week Dessert Issue takes the cake
03.14.2024 | Melanie Moyer“This town takes its sweet tooth seriously,” writes the publication, and PNCA students helped reflect Portland’s sweet side in the layout and illustrations for the magazine.
R. Stranger MFA’24 combines creative writing and visual arts in their multimedia approach to art
02.15.2024 | Linda LenhoffR. Stranger’s multi-disciplinary, hyper-collaborative work showcases various mediums and has flourished in PNCA’s low-residency creative writing program.
MBA for Professionals program helps Kyle Hopkins MBA’21 launch his new international role at IKEA
02.14.2024 | Melanie MoyerWith the confidence he gained from his Willamette MBA for Professionals experience, Hopkins leads a team in Amsterdam focused on building software solutions for IKEA stores.
Akilah Deernose BA’04 breaks down barriers as Executive Director of the Montana ACLU
02.14.2024 | Melanie MoyerThrough her leadership of the human rights organization, the politics major is pursuing her life’s mission: to care for others in the ways she was cared for at Willamette.
Problem-solving and determination helped LaToya Kamara Manley MBA’12 build the women’s footwear strategy for Nike’s Jordan brand
02.01.2024 | Paul McKeanManley’s experience in Willamette’s MBA for Professionals program gave her the confidence and leadership skills to steward the legacy of Michael Jordan at Nike.
Conor Foley BA’12 uses his international public health knowledge to help local youth
01.17.2024 | Melanie MoyerWorking at the Marion County Health and Human Services, Foley focuses on preventing tobacco addiction among vulnerable youth populations.
Nels Swenson BA’98, MBA’99 advocates for others and promotes inclusion in engineering
01.17.2024 | Sophie CipollaNels Swenson, a Willamette University alum, received the Rodney D. Chipp Award for mentoring women engineers. Learn about his advocacy for women in STEM.
Open mind and interdisciplinary education helped Michael Diamond BA’11 design Google's next self-driving car
12.07.2023 | Sophie CipollaLearn about Michael Diamond and how he credits an open mind and interdisciplinary education to contribute to the design of Google's next self driving car.
MBA for Life program helped Andy Sloop MBA’00 develop a process management approach to sustainability
12.07.2023 | Linda LenhoffThe Nike leader strives to make the company zero waste and sustainable, taking corporate responsibility to the next level.
Living in a materials science world: Professor Robert Macfarlane BA’04 treasures what he learned at Willamette
12.06.2023 | Linda LenhoffThe associate professor at MIT, whose work has implications for climate and sustainability, energy, health, medicine, technology, and other fields, started with a degree in Biochemistry from Willamette.
Angelica Trimble-Yanu BFA’19 brings together tradition and technology for the artwork in Google’s new flagship store
11.29.2023 | Linda LenhoffThe Indigenous Oglála Lakȟóta artist from Oakland is passionate about exploring sustainability, traditional ceremonies, and ancestral remembrance in her community-based art.
Katie Hill BA’23 studies the hidden heroes of our ecosystems
11.15.2023 | Sophie CipollaThe first graduate of Willamette and Oregon State University's joint 3-2 Forestry program is investigating questions that climate scientists grapple with as they attempt to rehabilitate affected forests.
Sanaz Masoumi MFA’24 reflects literature and culture in her wearable art
11.01.2023 | Linda LenhoffSecond-year MFA candidate Sanaz Masoumi was featured at Portland Fashion Week and got an outstanding response from the audience.
“In the Deep” musical brings together three generations of Willamette alums and celebrates the power of connection
10.25.2023 | Sophie CipollaThe world-premiere musical, born out of a partnership among three Willamette alumni, challenges audiences to be fearless in the name of connection.
Willamette MBA alums address bias in hiring with AI
10.17.2023 | Paul McKeanAndrew Hallberg BA’12, MBA’16 and Malik Kahel MBA’16 have taken their experiences sitting on both sides of the venture capital investment table to found an AI startup.
Sarah Jenner BA’25 experiences a life-changing public health internship in Ghana
10.17.2023 | Sophie CipollaWith the support of the Career Development team and Willamette’s pre-health Cahill Internship Fund, Jenner spent her summer in Ghana as an intern at the Princess Marie Children’s Hospital.
Former pre-med student becomes a professional hacker
10.17.2023 | Melanie MoyerCarlos Luevanos BA’18 finds his passion making Zendesk’s newest tools and products safe and secure.
Nathan Galvan BFA’23 credits mentors at PNCA for helping him find success as a graphic design professional
10.17.2023 | Melanie MoyerGalvan made the most of his education and landed a job with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Hayley Freedman’s BA’09 commitment to global citizenship brings life-saving care to East Africa
10.03.2023 | Melanie MoyerFirst introduced to global public health and African Studies as a Willamette student, Hayley Freedman BA’09 continues a lifelong passion for service in her career.
José Alvarado BA’13 is a software entrepreneur who is paying it forward
10.03.2023 | Sophie CipollaReal-world experience, faculty mentors, and rich alumni connections helped José Alvarado start his own software agency and led to success in software engineering.
Internships lead to full-time position at Intel for Hadisa Gowhari MBA’23
10.03.2023 | Linda LenhoffThe MBA graduate and Fulbright fellow looks forward to focusing on her two passions: corporate finance and entrepreneurship.
Award-winning artist Olivia Harwood BFA’21 strives to empower herself and others in her work
09.20.2023 | Linda LenhoffThe PNCA alum is quickly attaining considerable status after having a number of shows, where audiences discover her passion for challenging notions of femininity.
Eileen Isagon Skyers MA’14 speaks about the intersection of art and AI on the TED2023 stage
09.05.2023 | Melanie MoyerAn expert on digital art and culture, Skyers spoke at the TED2023 conference about artists innovating with digital technology.
From music major to ethical hacker
09.05.2023 | Paul McKeanAriel Todoki’s BA’18 studies at the intersection of music and computer science gave her an advantage as she launched into a career in cybersecurity.
Camille Mercier MBA’09 earns her “seat at the table”
09.05.2023 | Sophie CipollaWith a Willamette MBA in hand, Mercier makes history as the first female CEO of Spirit Mountain Casino.
Jeremy Coste BA’17 banks on brilliance to become one of the youngest directors at Bank of America
09.05.2023 | Sophie CipollaWillamette's Gifted Scholars program allowed Jeremy Coste BA'17 to get a head-start on college at a remarkable pace — leading him to a job as director at Bank of America at the age of 24.
Morgan Gratz-Weiser BA’13 takes on vital role in the Governor’s office
08.07.2023 | Linda LenhoffThe alum works to support the governor’s policies on climate, clean energy and natural resources along with housing, health and education.
The Conversation Project: Willamette alum to share experience as immigrant in Oregon
10.05.2022 | Shelly StromLiani Reeves shares her journey from South Korea to Oregon, overcoming racial trauma to become a prominent attorney. Hear her story at 'The Immigrant Story'.
MBA sets the stage for establishing a new style
08.23.2022 | Jennifer JohnsonSaraa Green ’19 MBA, who works at Adidas, developed a business plan for a hair product that's now being distributed in the U.S.
From bank teller to VP: MBA leads alumna to executive ranks
01.10.2022 | Jennifer JohnsonJasmine Ames's transformation from aspiring brain surgeon to US Bank VP exemplifies adaptability and inspiring career growth through dedication and resilience.
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