Stories to be featured on the Current Graduate Students audience page
This summer, Dr. John Johnson joined the University of Puget Sound as interim vice president for institutional equity and diversity. A native of Philadelphia, Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State, a master’s degree in educational psychology from Ball State University, and his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. This year marks his 30th year in higher education.
A Girl Scout outing set Cindy Rogers on her path to a career in occupational therapy.
“I was an avid Girl Scout through high school,” recalls Rogers, who grew up in small-town Utah. “One year we did career study.”
That included a visit to a Utah state facility for people with disabilities, where Rogers had a chance to observe an occupational therapist in action.
“The minute I saw her doing her thing, I said, ‘This is me.’ In junior high, I knew I wanted to be an OT.”
Every career is a journey — and no two paths are alike. Always a Logger is a podcast from the University of Puget Sound and the Puget Sound Alumni Council about the winding path to success and the many ways Logger alumni find personal and professional fulfillment after graduation. The first season is now available to watch on YouTube or you can listen on your favorite podcast player.
The University of Puget Sound recently hosted the Washington State Special Olympics Spring Games, bringing soccer, swimming, and track athletes to campus alongside the vital FUNfitness health screening program. Backed by thousands of volunteers, including Puget Sound students, this marks the second year the university has hosted the games — a partnership that Liz Corwin, FUNfitness clinical director and Puget Sound assistant professor, said has transformed the experience for both Puget Sound students.
The University of Puget Sound recently held the Puget Sound Symposium on AI & Privacy, bringing together an interdisciplinary group of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to address the ethical and legal challenges posed by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. The event successfully fostered critical dialogue across different sectors about how AI impacts personal data, influences governance models, and redefines the boundaries of mental privacy.
Rovin Ian Antonio ’23, DPT’26 is graduating with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. An army veteran and Puget Sound alumnus, Antonio has been a steadfast leader within his cohort, serving as co-president of the Student Physical Therapy Association. In this role, he organized program-wide events and secured partnerships to fund student research and global travel. Antonio also coordinated the Fall 2025 PT/OT Job Fair, connecting more than a hundred students with potential employers.
Tacoma, Wash. — The University of Puget Sound has named John Johnson, Ph.D., as interim vice president for institutional equity and diversity, effective July 6. In light of President Isiaah Crawford’s upcoming retirement on July 1, 2027, Johnson will serve in this role during academic years 2026-27 and 2027-28.
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation has named University of Puget Sound Prof. Renee Watling as the recipient of the 2026 Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence. The award recognizes clinicians who advance theory in brain-behavior relationships.
