Selling the Great Outdoors

Illustration of mountain scene with a pair of climbers scaling an escalator with ropes to get to the wilderness

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.

From Iraq to the Puget Sound: Finding my Own Call to Action

A graduation cap is seen with flowers decorating the top and the words "More to Grow" on the top.

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 Names Abbie Lacsina as Associate Vice President for Constituent Relations

Jones Hall

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.

Puget Sound Master of Public Health Grad Supports Global Health Efforts

Master of Public Health graduates of the Class of 2023.

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.