Puget Sound Students Support Tiger Conservation in Nepal

View along the East Rapti River, which is the border between Chitwan National Park and the Meghauli village area where NTT works.

In the lowlands of Nepal, near the Indian border, humans and tigers have coexisted for centuries. After years of declining numbers, tiger populations are now growing, putting pressure on resources like food, water, and land that are shared with nearby farms and villages—and leading to increased conflict between humans and tigers. Nepal Tiger Trust is a nonprofit group that tracks tiger populations in Chitwan National Park and tries to educate local communities about their wild neighbors.

Puget Sound Alumnus Peter Bittner ’12 Embraces the Potential of A.I.

Walkway outside Wyatt Hall.

Peter Bittner ’12 didn’t set out to become an A.I. expert when he first set foot on campus at the University of Puget Sound. As an International Political Economy major with a minor in Spanish, he was initially drawn to international affairs. However, a passion for storytelling and a detour into freelance journalism led him to become well-versed in the capabilities of artificial intelligence—and gives him a unique insight into how the technology is upending the media landscape.

Nontraditional Educator

Frank Reed ’05, MAT’08

When Burbank, Calif., native Frank Reed ’05, MAT’08 topped out at 5'8" in high school, he begrudgingly accepted that he probably wouldn’t be headed to the NBA. But when then-Puget Sound basketball coach Joe Callero asked if he’d be interested in joining the team, Reed liked the sound of continuing to play while getting a top-tier education. With a grant from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program covering his undergraduate tuition, Reed committed to Puget Sound and the basketball team with sights set on a career in marine biology.

Freedom, and Then a Diploma

Commencement 2024

Elizabeth Shatswell ’24 wasn’t sure what to expect when she walked onto the campus of the University of Puget Sound after 23 years in prison. She had started her higher education in the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor through FEPPS—the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound. Arrested at age 17 and serving a 55-year sentence, she was released early in July 2023.

Seeing Themselves—and the World—in a Different Light

Katherine Smith

Professor of History Katherine Smith studies what scholars sometimes refer to as “the long 12th century,” encompassing the social and political events from around 1050 to 1200 CE. As a member of the faculty since 2005, Smith has taught a range of classes in the History department. Both of her books, War and the Making of Medieval Monastic Culture and The Bible and Crusade Narrative, were inspired by classroom discussions. She’s now working on a book that examines life in the Middle Ages through everyday objects.

Ask the Expert: Robin Jacobson

Professor Robin Jacobson

With the 2024 presidential election hitting the home stretch, we asked Robin Jacobson, professor of politics and government, about trends in polling, the challenges of battling disinformation, and just how polarized we really are.

Homecomings

President Isiaah Crawford at New Student Move-In Day in 2024.

President Isiaah Crawford welcomed the incoming Arches editor, Lisa Kozleski ’94, to his office for a visit in August to share his insights on what she should be sure to check out during her time in Tacoma and reflect on the ties that connect alumni across the decades.

University of Puget Sound Celebrates $31.18 Million Raised in 2023–24

White flowers bloom in front of a clear blue sky. In the background is Puget Sound's famous giant sequoia tree.

In July, the University of Puget Sound closed the books on another successful fundraising year, celebrating $31.18 million in gifts and pledges—one of the biggest fundraising years in the university’s history. These gifts help the university continue to advance the ambitious goals of its 10-year strategic plan, Leadership for a Changing World, and further establish Puget Sound among the finest liberal arts institutions in the country.

5 Reasons to Visit Doha, Qatar, With Puget Sound Alumni Tours

Katara village detail in Doha, Qatar.

Participants in Puget Sound’s first-ever alumni trip to Qatar will be visiting during the best time of the year. In Doha, travelers will encounter one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world. From our home base in the gorgeous and boisterous bazaar known as Souq Waqif, we’ll adventure all over the city and beyond. The full trip itinerary promises all sorts of experiences and adventures, but here are some of the most exciting highlights that travelers will encounter.