Talk to any University of Puget Sound student or alumni and you’ll likely hear about a faculty or staff member who served as a mentor, challenged them to reach their full potential, and helped them follow their passions and curiosity. Whether at the front of the classroom or working behind the scenes, our dedicated faculty and staff support the success of students and make it possible for the university to fulfill its mission. This year, Puget Sound is celebrating a group of retirees who have given decades of service to the campus community.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New research into the inter-personal relations connecting China and Central America will provide a critical perspective on shifting global alliances. This work, led by Monica DeHart, University of Puget Sound professor of sociology and anthropology, has been awarded a prestigious 2025 Project Development Grant from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS).

What does it mean to be a grandmother today? For many, it’s no longer just weekend visits or holiday baking. As Jennifer Utrata, professor of sociology at Puget Sound explains, grandmothers across the country, often assisted by involved grandfathers, are stepping into daily, essential caregiving roles like never before. Her in-progress book manuscript, Keeping the Kids Afloat: Intensive Grandmothering and Family Inequality, uncovers how this quiet shift is transforming family life, and placing new, often invisible demands on an older demographic.