From May 12–23, 2025, Professor of Biology Andreas Madlung will lead a unique and in-depth alumni trip to Berlin, Germany. Over the span of 12 days, participants will learn about the city's history and urban ecology. This tour strengthens and promotes the ideals of lifelong learning and the importance of staying curious. This journey offers a personalized experience with an expert guide who will share their local insights and take you off the beaten paths of Berlin.
Multiple programs at the University of Puget Sound have been recognized by Intelligent.com, a widely respected source for higher education rankings and research. The university has been awarded top honors across several disciplines, reinforcing its status as a leader in higher education.
University of Puget Sound faculty were recently honored for their work and contribution for the 2023–24 academic year during an awards dinner. The annual awards dinner recognized exceptional contributions to teaching, research, and service, showcasing the university’s commitment to academic excellence. The award winners include:
TACOMA, Wash. - The University of Puget Sound has been honored once again for its academic excellence, securing a spot among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The university claimed the #95 spot in a highly competitive category among universities nationwide. Puget Sound was also recognized as a “Best Value School” moving up three spots to #81.
When Rebecca Wellington’s sister died in 2017, Wellington began to write as a way of processing her grief. Both sisters had been adopted, and Wellington had now lost the one person who understood what that meant. The initial writings morphed into an extensively researched history of adoption in the United States, and earlier this year, the University of Oklahoma Press published Wellington’s memoir, Who is a Worthy Mother? An Intimate History of Adoption.
Tiana Wood-Sims ’24 chose the clear nail polish flecked with gold glitter. That little bit of bling might be a small pleasure for someone outside the razor-wire fences of the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, but inside, it was momentous. With the facility’s ban against nail polish lifted for one day, the 10 women picked from an array of bottles spread out on the table of the prison classroom. Wood-Sims had chosen gold for this celebration—it matched her perfect 4.0 college GPA.
In the lowlands of Nepal, near the Indian border, humans and tigers have coexisted for centuries. After years of declining numbers, tiger populations are now growing, putting pressure on resources like food, water, and land that are shared with nearby farms and villages—and leading to increased conflict between humans and tigers. Nepal Tiger Trust is a nonprofit group that tracks tiger populations in Chitwan National Park and tries to educate local communities about their wild neighbors.
Professor of History Katherine Smith studies what scholars sometimes refer to as “the long 12th century,” encompassing the social and political events from around 1050 to 1200 CE. As a member of the faculty since 2005, Smith has taught a range of classes in the History department. Both of her books, War and the Making of Medieval Monastic Culture and The Bible and Crusade Narrative, were inspired by classroom discussions. She’s now working on a book that examines life in the Middle Ages through everyday objects.
Participants in Puget Sound’s first-ever alumni trip to Qatar will be visiting during the best time of the year. In Doha, travelers will encounter one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world. From our home base in the gorgeous and boisterous bazaar known as Souq Waqif, we’ll adventure all over the city and beyond. The full trip itinerary promises all sorts of experiences and adventures, but here are some of the most exciting highlights that travelers will encounter.
