University of Puget Sound Professor Kristin Johnson has been awarded the prestigious Founders' Medal by the Society for the History of Natural History. Johnson serves as professor and director of the Science, Technology, Health & Society program at Puget Sound. She is a highly respected scholar whose work has enriched the understanding of natural history and the naturalist tradition in North America.
Before I get into my speech I just wanted to say that I’m so beyond grateful to be here on this stage. I invited my family here this weekend to participate in commencement activities. One thing they weren’t expecting, however, was to see me up here. For the last month or so, I’ve kept this little secret of being the Commencement Speaker, so little do you all know you were all part of a bit of a surprise today. I just wanted to extend my thanks and graciousness to them.
University of Puget Sound has named a new university librarian and director of the Collins Memorial Library. Annie Downey will assume the role starting July 2024. Working closely with Puget Sound’s library staff, faculty, students, and leaders across campus, Downey will lead the development of a cohesive and inclusive vision for the library as a central place on campus, fostering vibrant intellectual exchange, building community, and promoting student success.
When finishing high school in 2014, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after I graduated, but I knew I didn’t want to stay in my hometown of Auburn, CA while I figured it out. Because of this, I joined the Army, and JBLM was my first duty station after finishing training. It meant a lot to be stationed here, as my grandfather was also assigned to Fort Lewis many years ago. I just wish he would have mentioned how much time I’d be spending trying to keep my gear dry.
University of Puget Sound student Julia Kaeppel ’24 has always been interested in computer programming. As a kid, she was a member of her elementary school robotics team and got hooked on programming in middle school as a pathway toward making video games. Kaeppel’s lifelong interest in operating systems and programming later led to an exciting research opportunity at Puget Sound.
TACOMA, Wash. — University of Puget Sound will welcome Abbie Lacsina as associate vice president for constituent relations, effective May 2024. Working closely with Victor Martin, vice president for university relations, and senior leaders across the institution, Lacsina will act as a liaison between internal and external constituents, while fostering a culture of volunteerism and philanthropy across generations of Loggers.
On a recent Thursday afternoon, students in University of Puget Sound’s Connections 375: The Art & Science of Color class were split into two groups. One group combined various chemicals to produce Prussian blue—the first modern, synthetic blue pigment—while the other group foraged outside to find the ingredients to create ochre—one of the oldest naturally-derived pigments.
From Ancient Myth to Jazz History, Puget Sound provides a wide selection of Summer Term courses available in two sessions between May and July. Enrolled students have the opportunity to stay on campus for in-person or hybrid classes while experiencing summertime in Tacoma. Students can also enjoy the flexibility that fully remote courses have to offer.
Last summer, English major Rowan Baiocchi ’25 skipped the stress of making room in a semester schedule by knocking out their core curriculum requirements in math and science through summer course offerings.
Rebekah McCosby MPH’23 likes to describe herself as a generalist. She began her undergraduate degree studying nursing, but quickly realized it wasn’t for her and switched to biology. After graduation, she worked in a community retail pharmacy and then in a cancer research lab at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. She was always interested in the health sciences, but she found it hard to commit to any specific career path.
