Willamette University opened its 185th academic year with a sense of excitement and opportunity as new students settled into their new academic home. Among Willamette’s new students are star athletes, passionate activists, a world-class robotics competitor, an international thespian, student government leaders, Americorps volunteers, Eagle Scouts, and more. This class arrived with a wide range of talents, but all came together in their choice to join the Willamette community.
As move-in began on the Salem campus, cars arrived filled to the brim with twin-size sheet sets, mini-fridges, and mementos from home. New Bearcats and their families were greeted by enthusiastic student-athletes who were there to haul items up to residence halls. That experience capped off several days of activities across the campuses, filled with campus tours, introductions to resources, community-building activities, and fun.
“Opening Days 2026 was a total blast,” says Sophia Kaplan BA’27, the student Opening Days Coordinator. Along with staff from the Office of Student Engagement & Leadership, Kaplan managed a programming team and a staff of Opening Days leaders to put on a successful orientation program.
“Thanks to our fantastic and dedicated team of Opening Days Leaders, we were able to welcome the incoming class of new Bearcats with energy and excitement. It means so much to me to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful people and represent such an amazing program.”
Connecting the dots
During its Welcome Program in Portland, new Pacific Northwest College of Art students were introduced to the faculty, staff, administrators, and fellow students who will become important sources of support throughout their time.
PNCA Dean Jen Cole welcomed the newest Sloths with a conversation about what it means to be a PNCA student, sharing advice for navigating the transition to college, staying on top of responsibilities, asking for help, and making the most of the many resources available to them.
On the Salem campus, convocation speaker Colby Takeda BA’11 recalled how his Willamette education gave him the interdisciplinary education he needed to found the successful health care technology company Pear Suite.
“Willamette taught me how to connect the dots,” Takeda said. “How to connect an idea from one discipline to a problem in another. How to build relationships with people who see the world differently. How to ask: What’s wrong? What are we missing? Who else needs to be at this table? What haven't we tried?”
“That's what a liberal arts education can give you,” Takeda said.
The Atkinson Graduate School of Management held Compass Week for its Early Career and Career Change MBA, 1-Year MBA, and MS in Accounting & Finance orientation. Activities included a treasure hunt around Kaneko, networking and career strategy sessions, as well as a fun night out in downtown Salem.
