Willamette University's Board of Trustees has renewed President Stephen E. Thorsett's contract for five more years, following a period of transformation that has positioned the institution as one of the Pacific Northwest's fastest-growing private universities.

Under Thorsett's leadership, Willamette has defied national trends of declining college enrollment, achieving a 28% increase in undergraduate enrollment over the past three years.

“President Thorsett hasn't just led Willamette — he's helped transform it," said Kevin Smith BA’79, chair of Willamette University's board of trustees. "His strategic and innovative thinking have strengthened Willamette and ensured the institution is built for long-term success.”

A record of achievement

Thorsett's 13-year tenure has been marked by game-changing initiatives, including:

• The merger with Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2021, which expanded Willamette's presence in Portland and increased opportunities for the creation of innovative cross-disciplinary programs;
• Launch of Willamette’s fifth school – the School of Computing and Information Sciences – the only Pacific Northwest institution on Fortune magazine's Best Master's in Data Science list;
• Securing $160 million in donations and pledges, primarily dedicated to expanding student access and scholarships, the largest fundraising effort in the institution’s history;
• Recognition as the Northwest's most socioeconomically diverse selective university by The New York Times College Access Index.

A Salem native, son of a longtime Willamette biology professor, and internationally acclaimed astrophysicist known for his work studying Einstein’s theory of gravity using collapsed stars.

Thorsett brings both local roots and global perspective to his role. Prior to becoming Willamette's president in 2011, Thorsett built his academic career at institutions including UC Santa Cruz, Caltech, and Princeton University.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as president of Willamette, a special place that is at a pivotal moment in its history,” Thorsett said. “The work we've accomplished together has laid the foundation for something extraordinary, but we have a lot of work yet to do to create more opportunities for Willamette to fulfill our educational mission while serving the needs of the region for years to come.”

Not resting on its laurels as the first university in the west, Willamette University has strategically expanded its academic programs over the past few years in response to the evolving needs of the state and region. By launching or expanding programs in high-demand fields including business, data science, public health, and sustainability, Willamette has become a source of skilled professionals for regional employers. The university's focused growth in these fields, combined with its commitment to access and academic excellence, has established Willamette as a model for how private universities can support the economic and social advancement of the Pacific Northwest region.