With the 2024 presidential election hitting the home stretch, we asked Robin Jacobson, professor of politics and government, about trends in polling, the challenges of battling disinformation, and just how polarized we really are.

President Isiaah Crawford welcomed the incoming Arches editor, Lisa Kozleski ’94, to his office for a visit in August to share his insights on what she should be sure to check out during her time in Tacoma and reflect on the ties that connect alumni across the decades.

New Arches editor Lisa Kozleski ’94 started getting paid to write when she was 16, writing for her hometown paper in Woodland Park, Colo. Thanks to a well-timed conversation with admissions counselor W. Houston Dougharty ’83, she chose to study at Puget Sound where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with honors. Kozleski went on to work at newspapers of all sizes, including the South Pierce County Dispatch and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Professional Achievement Award/Lifetime 

Professor of Biology Leslie Saucedo has been on a mission to understand what causes unregulated cell growth in the body—a hallmark of cancer. She’ll retire this summer after sharing her passion for cellular biology with students at Puget Sound for 21 years. Her most recent book, Getting to Know Your Cells (Springer), was published in July 2023. We asked Saucedo about her career path, collaborating with an alumna on the illustrations for her book, and the benefits of studying fruit flies. 

Sports Stars

Longtime health educator and advocate Regan Nelson ’02 is the host of the Clean & Green Living podcast, which guides listeners on lifestyle changes to minimize exposure to toxic chemicals.