University of Puget Sound’s motto—"To the heights!”—has rarely felt so apt. In July, the university closed the books on another successful year as it celebrated raising $26.16 million, a 43% increase from the previous fiscal year. The gifts will help Puget Sound continue to work toward the ambitious goals set forth in its Leadership for a Changing World strategic plan. Puget Sound's endowment sits at $448.6 million.
TACOMA, Wash. — University of Puget Sound announced that it has selected a new director for the Puget Sound Museum of Natural History. Professor of Environmental Policy & Decision Making and chair of the Department of Geology Kena Fox-Dobbs will assume leadership duties from Professor Emeritus Peter Wimberger. Wimberger has served as director of the museum since 2005, during which time he greatly expanded the museum’s outreach programs, including a pivot to online programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
University of Puget Sound earned a top spot in Money’s newest rankings of colleges across the United States. Puget Sound received 4 out of 5 stars, placing it among the top universities in 2023 for education quality, affordability, and graduate outcomes.
“I’m pleased to see publications like Money continue to recognize the exceptional value of a Puget Sound education,” said President Isiaah Crawford. “Puget Sound is committed to preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world—and excel in their chosen fields.”
University of Puget Sound is one of the nation's best colleges for students seeking a great education with excellent career preparation and at a relatively affordable price, according to The Princeton Review®. The education services company named Puget Sound as one of its Best Value Colleges for 2023.
For nearly 30 years, Repertory Dance Group (RDG) has provided students at University of Puget Sound the opportunity to express themselves through dance. Unlike other college dance programs, RDG is noncompetitive—any student can audition and everyone is offered a chance to perform regardless of skill level. RDG is also the largest student group on campus, drawing participants from across the campus community. Each year's programming culminates in a show during the spring semester that features all 140 student dancers.
Hollywood legend Rita Moreno charmed the campus community in April when she delivered the Spring 2023 Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture and spoke to a class. Now 91, Moreno is perhaps best known for playing Anita in the 1961 film West Side Story, a role that earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress— and made her the first Latina to win an Oscar.
Summer around here has a different rhythm than the rest of the academic year. What does it feel like to you?
It’s not quite as busy on campus as it is between September and May, but it’s far from a ghost town. We have students here taking classes and doing summer research, and we have a very vital and busy conference schedule, among other activities. Conferences, summer camps, and our Summer Academic Challenge allow us to make the campus available to the broader community, where people are able to utilize our facilities in a variety of ways.
Faithlina Abeshima ’16 majored in music and psychology, but a work-study in technology set her on a different career path. Shortly after graduating, she was hired by the university as a technology support analyst; then, in 2019, she stepped into the role of information security administrator. We asked her for advice on steering clear of the hackers, scammers, and bots.
