TACOMA, Wash. — University of Puget Sound President Isiaah Crawford announced today his intention to retire as the university’s 14th president, effective July 1, 2027. The announcement, shared with the campus community, initiates a deliberate 18-month transition period designed to sustain the university’s upward momentum. 

The University of Puget Sound is proud to announce that Los Angeles–based multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer Grace Youn ’13 will deliver the Spring 2026 Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture in Public Affairs and the Arts. The event, titled “The Art of Not Knowing Yet,” will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in Schneebeck Concert Hall.

The University of Puget Sound's Health Professions Advising program is experiencing unprecedented growth, now supporting 523 students and alumni as they pursue careers in healthcare. This year, 442 undergraduate students — 28% of the student body — identify as pre-health, while 81 alumni are actively preparing applications for professional health graduate programs. The numbers reflect a program built on relationships and sustained commitment. 

For some students, a passion project begins with a single moment of clarity. For Abi Longbottom ’26, a senior at the University of Puget Sound majoring in politics and government with a crime, law, and justice studies minor, that moment came during a middle school book drive.

Faculty at the University of Puget Sound have published a paper in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, one of the field’s top journals, showcasing a novel climate model designed not for advanced researchers, but for undergraduate students. The paper, published on Jan. 1, 2026, identifies a major gap in climate education, and presents "Cambio," a simplified yet robust climate model that fills that gap.

The University of Puget Sound is proud of its vibrant academic community, one that is deeply committed to rigorous scholarship, transformative teaching, and impactful service. Faculty were honored for their achievements for the 2024–25 academic year this fall. They were recognized for outstanding work in teaching, research, and service.

This year's awards celebrate an exceptional group of educators and scholars whose work not only elevates the intellectual life of Puget Sound but also makes a tangible difference in their fields and communities.

Six Loggers who have made a meaningful impact in their professions, in their communities, and at the university will be honored with Puget Sound’s most prestigious alumni awards during Summer Reunion Weekend June 5 to 7, 2026. Learn more about the celebration at pugetsound.edu/srw.

University of Puget Sound Associate Professor Hajung Lee, an expert in religion and bioethics, recently participated in a prestigious Harvard Medical School bioethics delegation to Asia. A key insight from her trip is that building a global bioethics framework requires bridging deep cultural and religious divides through conversation, not by imposing Western standards.

Doris Zoebel Fraser: Some friendships begin with a spark, others with a surprise. Ours began with a kiss. It was 1955, and several of us new Alpha Phi pledges gathered in excited anticipation. Representing our brother fraternity, Sigma Chi, was junior class president, Dick Shorten — confident, charming, and full of Puget Sound spirit. After welcoming us, he came to each of us, shook our hands, and gave us each a kiss on the lips. It was certainly memorable.

Fans at this fall’s Homecoming football game witnessed a piece of Puget Sound history unfold. Twenty years after the original mascot’s debut, the university unveiled a new look for Grizz, the Loggers’ No. 1 fan.