The defining variable in the rapid rise of autonomous artificial intelligence may not be a background in computer engineering, but rather the critical thinking skills obtained by a liberal arts education, according to a panel of industry experts convened as part of the recent University of Puget Sound Business Insights event.

Coming out of college on a softball scholarship, three things were true about Tara Brown Clark ’93. First, she had absolutely no idea that she was creative. Second, she had no idea that an adult onesie would one day change her life. And third — and most importantly — she never imagined how many women she would end up lifting up, including Olympians.

When Jake Elorduy ’26 arrived at the University of Puget Sound, football was his entry point. A lifelong athlete, he expected a run-of-the-mill college experience, centered on his experience on the field. What he found went far beyond the game.

“It’s hard to get a full grasp of what campus looks like if you’re not physically there,” Elorduy said. He grew up in Sacramento, California, and hadn’t traveled to the Pacific Northwest before touring Puget Sound. “Once I saw the community, that really drew my attention.”