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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.
Willamette students learn to apply peace-building skills from Ireland's journey toward reconciliation.
Inaugural cohort includes students and faculty from across Willamette University’s colleges and schools, who will propose innovative solutions to revitalizing Portland and the region.
Willamette University vision science expert shares tips for distinguishing real photos from AI fakes as technology makes detection increasingly difficult.
Colby Alexander BA’24, JD’26 looks forward to what is ahead after completing the first year of law school and his undergraduate degree at Willamette.
Willamette continues its streak as the #1 program in Oregon and the #2 program in the Pacific Northwest.
With 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 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.
Thorsett has leveraged his academic experience and expertise to drive innovation and growth at Willamette since becoming its 20th president in 2011.
Sustainable timber maintained and harvested by Willamette University students and faculty makes a mark on Portland’s beloved airport.
With a passion for safeguarding artificial intelligence and strong communication skills, Abbate presents and advocates on the national stage.
Willamette’s top data science program received high marks in affordability and its ability to prepare graduates for meaningful careers that lead the future.
With the entrepreneurial skills he gained at Willamette, Gay is making a tangible long-term impact on the complex challenge of mental health.
Faith O’Malley JD’24 didn’t think she had a “lawyer personality” but now she is finding her own niche in helping others.
Yang 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.
Henderson will steward the university’s mission and work closely with faculty, deans, and staff to maintain the institution's high standards of academic excellence while ensuring its continued relevance in higher education.
Genna Walsh JD’24 shares her passion for wellness and educating others on psilocybin.
Read prepares to invest in Oregon’s future using the problem-solving approach to politics and government he first honed at Willamette University.
Key achievements during Thorsett's presidential tenure include a more robust academic portfolio, better institutional resilience, and improved enrollment.
The society provides scholarship, professional development, and leadership opportunities for English students and aspiring professional writers.
Bradshaw will create a body of work related to research in Belgium that will inform her interdisciplinary teaching across PNCA’s curriculum.
The encouragement that PNCA Senior Associate Dean Kate Copeland received from her own two Fulbright Scholar Grants has inspired her to mentor Willamette students and scholars across the nation.
After discovering a passion for chemistry and art at Willamette, Larson forged a path in interdisciplinary science education.
The Fulbright Scholar reflects on the ways PNCA has expanded his perspective and global network as an artist.
Tessa Heck MFA’16 brought in fellow alum Shelby Baldridge MFA’20 to assist on the murals for an adventure and outdoor lodging company.
25 years at Willamette Law and a lifetime of dedication to the legal community.
Professors Susan Smith and Yvonne Tamayo reflect on their years of service to Willamette Law.
Classical Studies major Kirsten Straus BA’13 uncovers, interprets, and preserves the hidden histories of the city of Salem and the state of Oregon.
Josh Perez BS'23 MBA'24 is using his skills to create change at the NCAA and impact the future of college sports for all.
In honor of First-Generation College Student Celebration Day, Director of Intercultural & Inclusion Juliane Corpus discusses some of the ways that her office helps support and uplift first-generation students at Willamette.
With 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.
Over the course of three days, PNCA opened its doors for the Trans* Geographies symposium.
When Gretchen Kent BFA'93 realized she might not become a gallery artist, she didn't abandon her creative roots — she reimagined them, striking a balance between her foundation management work and her ongoing creative practice.
Willamette Law professor teaches Constitutional Law while also serving as an advocate and activist.
Christiane Cegavske seeks to share the delights and discoveries that happen during the painstaking process of stop-motion filmmaking.
Former elected official Brad Avakian teaches his MBA students the importance of engaging with their local representatives because of the many ways that public policy can affect a business.
Suzan Nuri BA’27 is mastering the power of political organizing through her mission to increase voter turnout for the 2024 election.
Willamette University’s Conversation Project explores the power of listening and embracing discomfort to foster closer relationships — and a stronger democracy.
PNCA faculty member Nina Martinez teaches a course that blends art with activism as a tool for social change.
Constitutional Law professor Norman Williams is one of only a few scholars nationwide whose research and teaching focuses on the presidential nomination process and its rules.
Beth 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.
In a guest lecture and workshop, data policy expert and advocate Meghan Maury gave students a crash course on data policy and the role of data in civil rights advocacy.
Willamette Law professor discusses her continued research on prisons and eugenics.
The upcoming election for Portland's next mayor will be the first under the new government structure and ranked choice voting system.
Lectures, panel discussions, and events explore democracy through interdisciplinary perspectives.
The Atlanta artist creates logos, paintings, and murals to uplift diverse communities.
The 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.
With expert faculty and robust engagement with Oregon’s business and tech communities, Willamette’s top-ranked School of Computing & Information Sciences is a leading voice in integrating AI and machine learning into the professional world.
The award from the Bureau of Land Management will support student research on the ecology of Joshua trees and desert soil microbes under climate change.
Stevens Fellowship provides opportunities for students to innovate, develop skills, and impact the community.
The Willamette MBA was again recognized as a national leader in relevant, experiential management education — the only program in Oregon and one of two in the Pacific Northwest that made Bloomberg’s Best Business School list.
Logan Heagerty BA’23 MBA’24 is a first-generation dual-degree alum whose passion for entrepreneurship lead to an award-winning lift chair invention in collaboration with his father.
As part of the DSE-K12 Launch Collective, Colleen Smyth BA’15 MS’21 strives to bring data science education to more students.
Jaime Arredondo BA’05 is committed to educating, serving, and connecting the community and living out Willamette’s beloved motto.
The acclaimed illustrator, who honed their storytelling skills at PNCA, was recognized for their work in Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter
WUPILP’s summer fellowships provide students with valuable experience in public interest law.
Willamette University kicked off a new academic year with joy and energy across its five colleges, welcoming an accomplished and innovative group of future change makers to its campuses.
Willamette's Director of Health Services brings vision and drive to serve student health on the Salem campus.
An impressive lineup of new faculty members — including a former public defender, an Emmy award-winning animator, a global public health advocate, and a Disney artist — will provide valuable learning opportunities for students.
Located two blocks away from its Pacific Northwest College of Art, Willamette’s Graduate & Professional Center will host top-rated programs in management, computing, data science, and more.
For the incoming class of 2028, community and relationships flourish during the first days of college.
Danielle McCoy and Jordan Jackson bring their design expertise to the classroom and to the world stage.
Nearly 500 students were honored for their accomplishments at Willamette University’s annual commencement ceremonies.
The Ecotrust building, renowned for its sustainability-focused design and commitment to community engagement, will now serve as a nexus for Willamette University's Portland-based graduate and professional programs.
Appointed 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.
Visual Mathematics students took over a gallery in the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to showcase how mathematical principles can inspire artistic works.
The undergraduate team won Best Presentation Award, Runner-up in Documents, and Runner-up in Overall Performance with their simulated company Bearcat Health at the annual competition.
The nationally-renowned folklorist and translator encourages us to work together to understand the racism behind much of our folklore and to re-educate ourselves.
PNCA, the Pacific Northwest's leading art and design school, invites the public to join special programming to close out its First Thursdays participation with its final event of the season on May 2.
During Student Scholarship Recognition Day and Focus Week, students presented research, exhibited thesis projects, and celebrated a community of scholarship.
The 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.
A community leader, immigrant, and mother of two, Orozco uses her two degrees to bolster her professional aspirations.
After earning two degrees from Willamette, Greenberg consulted with Career Development to help her find job search success post-pandemic.
Zimmer focuses on coastal wetlands and helping international players address climate change.
An active member of the Growing Oaks Team, Isabella Stone BS’24 has a special place in her heart for preserving the nation’s forests.
During his 17-year tenure, Hudson spearheaded an era of growth and modernization at Willamette, making his presidency one of the most impactful in the school's history.
A contract with Marion and Polk Counties’ Health Departments brings together students and faculty to address environmental health hazards through civic-engaged learning.
While many in Hollywood are still recovering from pandemic-era closures and setbacks from the summer of strikes, Marchese landed a job promoting big-name films.
Henry Dalton BS’24 pioneers the Willamette Fungi Project, exploring the potential of fungi for medicine. His approach showcases the world of mycology.
The students turned research into websites, podcasts, posters, and more to help others reduce screen time and find answers to mental health challenges.
Hidden across the Salem campus, you might stumble upon kale, corn, green beans and more. The student-grown fruits and vegetables nourish the campus and help feed the Salem community.
On their first tour in five years, students will connect with alums, high schoolers, and community members as they travel the Pacific Northwest.
“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.
Chemistry students spend their summers learning how to conduct innovative research while developing impressive research presentation skills.
Assistant Professor of Data Science Kristen Gore discusses gender inequities in technology fields and what can be done to address them.
R. Stranger’s multi-disciplinary, hyper-collaborative work showcases various mediums and has flourished in PNCA’s low-residency creative writing program.
Once again, Willamette University’s Masters in Data Science program was the only program in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to make the cut.
Through 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.
With 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.
Manley’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.
Discover the success story of Willamette University's Women's Triathlon program, the first NCAA Varsity program of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
The artist and curator focuses on public engagement in all of his work, which visitors had a chance to experience in two graduate student exhibits.
An interdisciplinary summer research project gave Shouvik Ahmed Antu BS’26 the chance to work with faculty to explore how ChatGPT can empower innovative research and learning.
Why are adults being left out of the computing revolution? Assistant Professor of Computer Science Fred Agbo is trying to find out.
Nels Swenson, a Willamette University alum, received the Rodney D. Chipp Award for mentoring women engineers. Learn about his advocacy for women in STEM.
Students found creative freedom and professional experience during another year of the partnership with Argyle Winery.
Working at the Marion County Health and Human Services, Foley focuses on preventing tobacco addiction among vulnerable youth populations.
The Nike leader strives to make the company zero waste and sustainable, taking corporate responsibility to the next level.
Learn 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.
The 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.
Associate Dean for Health and Well-being Don Thomson gives guidance for students heading home for winter break.
The Indigenous Oglála Lakȟóta artist from Oakland is passionate about exploring sustainability, traditional ceremonies, and ancestral remembrance in her community-based art.
The 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.
With the rich experiences and the multidisciplinary toolkit he gained as a dual-degree Willamette graduate, Fuentes is thriving in the high-caliber world of consulting at Deloitte.
With several faculty members leading the conference and a first-place student win, the School of Computing & Information Sciences dazzled peers.
Maciel uses his degree in his work designing for a custom fabrication company, while his art examines how to elevate shared personal spaces.
Professor of Human Resources Ashley Nixon explains how technology and stress intersect in the workplace and what we can do about it.
When the opportunity arose for Terry Sherman BA'25 to pursue a summer internship at Center 50+, he knew immediately that it would be a great fit.
Second-year MFA candidate Sanaz Masoumi was featured at Portland Fashion Week and got an outstanding response from the audience.
The world-premiere musical, born out of a partnership among three Willamette alumni, challenges audiences to be fearless in the name of connection.
Andrew 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.
Galvan made the most of his education and landed a job with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Carlos Luevanos BA’18 finds his passion making Zendesk’s newest tools and products safe and secure.
With 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.
The university was named one of the top three liberal arts colleges in the Pacific Northwest for the fifth year in a row and excelled in “social mobility” and “best value” categories.
The list evaluated 500 American colleges and universities on graduation rates, graduate salaries and educational outcomes.
The event will be filled with storytelling and music that honors the diverse members of the community in hopes of spreading understanding and acceptance.
Through new collaborations across the North Park Blocks, PNCA returns as the “front porch” for Portland’s art scene with an expanded First Thursdays.
Willamette raised more than $27 million in commitments — the majority of which were in support of scholarships — beating the previous record from 2007.
At parties, reunion dinners and faculty lectures, friendships were formed and connections were reforged across campus, all based on one thing: a shared love of the Willamette University community.
Willamette University students contribute to community projects like Give!Guide redesign & Blanchet House displays, blending creativity with social impact
Hundreds of students flooded campuses in Salem and Portland last week to move in, attend introductory sessions and discover what their new surroundings have to offer.
Billie Henderson ’24 shares her journey in Ken Burns’ documentary, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness.” She aims to destigmatize mental health.
Julian Voss-Andreae ’04, renowned for his quantum sculptures, garnered acclaim. His journey from Germany to Portland unfolded into a remarkable career,
Bearcats from far and wide converged on Salem to reconnect with classmates and friends at Willamette's largest Alumni Reunion Weekend on record.
Willamette University students advance to final stage of Adobe Analytics Challenge, competing for a $35,000 prize in a global marketing analytics competition.
Willamette Law celebrates three decades of making connections in the legal community.
Willamette welcomed new students at Opening Days by helping them move in, learn about resources on campus and introduce them to campus life.
Experience the revamped Goudy Commons Cafe at Willamette University with new menus and operating hours. Enjoy delicious offerings and culinary themes.
Willamette University promotes inclusivity by allowing students and staff to specify preferred pronouns and gender identities, fostering a respectful community.
Zach Haroian BS/MS ’21 earned multiple degrees and landed a job before commencement.
Sheryl Buske joins the faculty at Willamette Law.
Terrence Green, JD’11, returns to Willamette Law this fall to teach Immigration Law, bringing invaluable insights as a first-generation immigrant himself.
More than 475 students — representing the College of Arts and Sciences, Atkinson Graduate School of Management and the College of Law — graduated from Willamette University on Sunday.
As the student speaker at Commencement 2016, Anelise Zimmer ’16 drew on her Willamette experiences and urged her fellow new graduates to find the courage to climb life’s mountains.
The student-run production showcased history and tradition through music, dance, stories, song and food.
The university is named on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
The jazz group gains global recognition for second straight year.
The Princeton Review recognized Willamette for its sustainability efforts.
Through the program, Maria Hernandez ’15 will explore national histories of discrimination and resistance.
NerdScholar recognized Courtney Stevens in its "40 Under 40: Professors who Inspire."
Willamette University celebrates its first undergraduate student selected for the prestigious Luce Scholar program, offering a transformative experience in Asia
The OnStage blog calls Willamette's Theatre program "absolutely incredible." Students delve into acting, directing, stagecraft, and more.