Black Alumni Union logo
Black Alumni Union
Louis Smith '69

Welcome

We welcome you to our page and want you to participate with us and share our purpose and vision.


Purpose: Support and nurture a successful black student experience while matriculating through UPS and beyond  

Strategic Vision: “Creating Generational Value While Empowering Dreams”

Check back often here to see what we’re doing, and learn about upcoming events and some of the activities that we have been involved in.

September Meeting: September 8, 7 - 8:15 p.m. PST.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83538948126?pwd=CrYnNT5or4q931ngqsJMNnsa5Vq3ua.1
 

Sincerely,
Louis Smith ’69
BAU President

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to: lsmith@pugetsound.edu

 

The Black Alumni Union is delighted to welcome Olivia Kent-Horton ‘27 as our social media manager. Welcome Olivia!

List of Officers

Past Presidents

Alumni Spotlight
Young photo of PS alumnus Al Roberts, Black & white

Inducted to the Athletics Hall of Fame: Al Roberts '69

Al Roberts spent more than 40 years coaching football, including 21 years with the National Football League, 11 years with college football, and the remainder at the high school level. He started his coaching career at Mercer Island High School before becoming head coach at Garfield High School.

Roberts played football for the University of Washington during the 1964-65 season before transferring to Puget Sound, where he set records on the football field, including ones for single-game rushing yards (192) and single-season rushing yards (576). He also holds the record for the second-longest run in Puget Sound football history at 90 yards. “Puget Sound is where I got started,” he says. “I enjoyed the relationships I made when I was there as well as the instructors, players, and coaches. We were pretty good at that time.”

During his collegiate coaching days at the University of Washington, Purdue University, and University of Wyoming, his teams advanced to compete in the Rose Bowl, Sun Bowl, and Aloha Bowl. Much of his NFL career was spent as a special teams coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Rams, Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Arizona Cardinals, among other teams.

Roberts returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2011, where he currently coaches football at O’Dea High School. His advice to the next generation of athletes contains some of his trademark humor. “Do not blink,” he says. “If you blink, you’ll be 50 years old. If you blink twice, you’ll be 81 years old. Why did I blink twice? I’m 81 years old! But I’m excited to be here.” 
 

Black Alumni Union Activities

BSU Activities

Passages Welcome Dessert Social
Passages Welcome Dessert Social, hosted by BAU and BSU

BAU President Lou Smith with Puget Sound’s Associate Vice President for Constituent Relations Abbie Lascina and BSU president Bella Clinton ‘27

Dessert Social

Dr. Renee Sims with BSU VP Bri Babin ‘27 and BSU President Bella Clinton ‘27

Dessert Social

Henry Johnson ‘71 presented Lou Smith ‘69 with a college emphasizing college days and the birth of the BSU. Pictured here are Dr. Crawford, Bernadette Ray ‘99, MAT ‘01, and Lou Smith and Henry Johnson ‘71. 

Community Engagement

Reentry Theater of Harlem visiting Puget Sound
Good Things Happening at Puget Sound

The University of Puget Sound hosted a powerful residency with New York’s Reentry Theater of Harlem (RTH), bringing its innovative, arts-based approach to justice and rehabilitation to campus from Oct. 20 to Nov. 17. The visit, featuring RTH founder Alex Anderson and assistant art director Rory Anderson and Arts educator Charanya Ramakrishnan, is a major initiative of the university’s Mellon Foundation-funded project to reimagine justice through the humanities.

Read more here!

BAU Engagment
BAU members support NAACP as we work to continue to work closely with Tacoma Black Collective

Regina Glenn ‘70, MBA ‘71 pictured with Lou Smith ‘69, Lyle Quasim ‘70, and Dr. John Vasser. 

Sarah Lee & Louis Smith
Coffee With Alumni!

Board of Trustee member Sarah Lee ‘94 met with students and other alumni (and BAU President Louis Smith ‘69!) on Nov. 8 on campus. It was a great opportunity to talk with current students - and reconnect with alumni. 

Jamila Sherls and Lou Smith

Board of Trustee Member Jamila Sherls ‘05 was a featured speaker at the Paths to Purpose Speakers series sponsored by the Maroon Society on Nov. 19. She is pictured here with BAU President Lou Smith ‘69. Dr. Jamilia Sherls ’05 is a Puget Sound alumna and currently serves as Director of the Office of Immunization for the Washington State Department of Health. 

BAU Engagment

Bil Moss ‘81 with friends

BAU Engagment

Regina Glenn ‘70, MBA ‘71 with Malando Redeemer

BAU Engagment

In August, Puget Sound hosted the Civic Leaders Gathering. This annual event brings together community leaders from across the South Sound — including some Logger alumni — for an afternoon of connection and conversation about how to strengthen the city and region we call home
 

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

BSU Events
BSU Events

Washington State Legislative Preview 2026
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 

6:30–8 p.m.

University of Puget Sound, Schneebeck Concert Hall

Hear from House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-27th Legislative District) and Senate Republican Leader John Braun (R-20th Legislative District) as they discuss their parties’ top priorities for the session and the potential impact on individuals and communities.

More information and tickets here.

SRW BAU
Summer Reunion Weekend
  • Summer Reunion, June 6-8, 2026
HFW BSU
Homecoming and Family Weekend
  • Homecoming, October 2026
     
Charter Members of the Black Student Union

Passing the Torch: Origins of Puget Sound's Black Student Union

Archives

See our Former Alumni Spotlights and Past Activities

Keith Blocker

Read about 2025 Professional Achievement – Midcareer Alumni Award Winner Keith Blocker ’12

Bernadette Ray

Read about the impact of beloved high school principal Bernadette Ray ’99, MAT’01. See page 10.

Edward Horne, USAF Lt. Col (Ret.) '70

Read about the fascinating life of pilot Ed Horne, USAF Lt. Col (Ret.) ‘70