Ask the Expert: Regina Jorgenson ’98

Regina Jorgenson ’98

After studying physics in the Honors Program at Puget Sound, Regina Jorgenson ’98 dedicated her astrophysics career to exploring space, specifically galaxy formation and evolution. “I love astronomy because it has a built-in time machine,” says Jorgenson, who also has master’s and doctorate degrees in physics.

The Sound of Freedom and Joy

Emma Smith ’24 with her bike over her shoulder on N. 30th St. in Tacoma.

If you ride a bike anywhere around Puget Sound, maybe this will sound familiar. You could be on Vashon Island, or sailing down 30th Street, or heading home from Mount Rainier. There might come a moment, a stretch of road, a bit of path. Maybe it lasts a few seconds, maybe a minute. You might cover half a block or half a mile. Dirt path or winding tarmac. You might be with friends or on your own. Often, it’s on the slightest of downhills, a feeling intensified if you’ve already gone up. 

History in Her Hands

Shgendootan George ’95 creating a raven's tail pattern. Photo by 'Wáats'asdíyei Joe Yates.

For nearly five decades, at the anniversary ceremony of the 1882 event when the U.S. Navy bombarded her Tlingit village of Aangóon, weaver and teacher Shgendootan George ’95 would hear village leaders ask: “Is there anyone here from the Navy to apologize?” The apology never came.

Alumni Trip: A Deep Dive into Berlin

Cherry blossoms on campus

From May 12–23, 2025, Professor of Biology Andreas Madlung will lead a unique and in-depth alumni trip to Berlin, Germany. Over the span of 12 days, participants will learn about the city's history and urban ecology. This tour strengthens and promotes the ideals of lifelong learning and the importance of staying curious. This journey offers a personalized experience with an expert guide who will share their local insights and take you off the beaten paths of Berlin.

Outdoor Learning

Participants on the PacTrail program's second expedition

Grayson Shearer ’25 grew up backpacking near his hometown of Denver, and by the time he arrived for his first year at Puget Sound, there wasn’t much he hadn’t experienced on a trail. So when Shearer heard from a friend last spring about the university’s Pacific Trail Program, it wasn’t so much the challenge that appealed to him as it was the company.