On a cloudy Saturday morning, the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor buzzed with an unusual air of celebration. The atmosphere inside the prison walls was energetic and hopeful as the University of Puget Sound and the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS) hosted an inaugural commencement ceremony, marking a historic moment for 10 incarcerated women who completed their Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies.
Professor of Biology Leslie Saucedo has been on a mission to understand what causes unregulated cell growth in the body—a hallmark of cancer. She’ll retire this summer after sharing her passion for cellular biology with students at Puget Sound for 21 years. Her most recent book, Getting to Know Your Cells (Springer), was published in July 2023. We asked Saucedo about her career path, collaborating with an alumna on the illustrations for her book, and the benefits of studying fruit flies.
Rachel Gross ’08 notices those logos on your clothing. Your Patagonia rain jacket, REI hiking pants, and Chaco sandals are more than just pieces of equipment to her. Gross, assistant professor of history at the University of Colorado, Denver, is an outdoor gear historian who studies the business and culture of brands.
