26 Uplifting Moments of 2026

Pacific University Year in Review

Everyone belongs at Pacific University.

Since our earliest days as a school for orphans, we have been committed to opportunity — to transforming potential into purpose. It’s who we’ve been for more than 175 years, and at this moment of change in our world and in higher education, it’s who we will continue to be.

At Pacific, students’ education centers on real-world experiences that prepare them to fulfill their purpose in the world — as the educators and caregivers, creators and entrepreneurs, public servants and community leaders who uplift all of our communities.

We’re proud to celebrate the brightest moments of 2026 at Pacific University — the moments of inspiration, of impact, of opportunity achieved — and we’re even more excited for what lies ahead.

26

Honoring Public Health Leader Jessica Scruggs DHS '09

Jessica Scruggs DHS '09 is the recipient of the Pacific University Alumni Association's 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award. After earning her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from Pacific, Scruggs went on to pursue a career in the U.S. Public Health Service. She served as a senior staff member for former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, influencing federal public health with a specific focus on mental health and substance use disorder. In 2025, she received the Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal. Today, she uses her expertise to help companies leverage technology to make mental health services more accessible.

25

Piloting The National Autism-Inclusive Campus Program

Pacific University is one of just seven colleges and universities nationwide piloting the College Autism Network’s Autism-Inclusive Campus designation program. Over the course of two years, Pacific is assessing how it can enhance the college experience for autistic and other neurodivergent individuals, helping set the standard for inclusiveness in higher education. Among the most visible initiatives in the project is the development of sensory rooms at the university’s libraries on the Forest Grove and Hillsboro campuses. Based on a proposal developed by Pacific alumna Nicollet Young OT '25, the sensory rooms opened in early 2026, offering tools for individuals to self-regulate and manage sensory input.

24

Opening The One-Stop Opportunity Hub

Pacific University introduced its new Opportunity Hub, a one-stop resource connecting academic advising, career development, study abroad, and community engagement to connect classroom learning with real-world practice and ensure every student gets the opportunities they need to turn their education into a meaningful career, purpose-driven life, and thriving future. Equally available to undergraduate and graduate students, the Opportunity Hub also will later expand to include career services for Pacific alumni.
 

23

Awarding Legend Judy Sherman An Honorary Doctorate

Long-time Boxer Judy Sherman became an official alumna at May 2026 Commencement, when Pacific University presented her with an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree. Sherman has devoted 53 years to Pacific as a coach, professor, athletic administrator, and generous supporter. Perhaps best known for her tenure as the Boxer softball coach, where she held a .714 winning percentage over 26 years, Sherman also spent 11 years as Pacific’s athletic director, at a time when just 4% of such positions nationwide were held by women. The softball field at Lincoln Park Athletic Complex, where the Boxers compete, was originally built by her father so his daughter and other women had a place to play. It remains named for the Sherman-Larkins family.

22

Renewing Federal Support for Geriatric Care Training

Pacific University’s School of Occupational Therapy renewed its third year as a partner in an Oregon Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant that is helping bring more age-friendly care to older adults across the state. As part of the program, Pacific is providing education to students and healthcare providers in topics from dementia care to culturally-relevant aging. In turn, Pacific students gain invaluable clinical placements as part of their OT training, including with Washington County Health & Human Services, where students are conducting fall-prevention programs in assisted living and retirement communities.

21

Recognizing Math Professor Nancy Ann Neudauer for Global Service

Pacific University Professor of Mathematics Nancy Ann Neudauer continues to draw recognition for her advocacy for women in mathematics. In 2026, she received the Yueh-Gin Gung and Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of America. Later in the year, it was announced that she will be named one of eight fellows of the Association for Women in Mathematics. Neudauer has had a profound impact on mathematics research worldwide, with a focused passion for developing opportunities for women. She has received multiple grant awards to advance mathematics and mathematics education, including a $1.6 million National Science Foundation grant in 2023. Internationally, she has received four Fulbright Awards and a Fulbright Global Scholar Award for projects to advance math education in Africa, South America and New Zealand.

20

Announcing Oregon’s First In-Person Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees

Pacific will offer Oregon’s first in-person, three-year bachelor’s degrees. The concentrated degree pathways allow highly-focused students to graduate in just three years, saving a full year of tuition and entering the workforce faster. Developed by faculty, the three-year pathways maintain the rigor of a traditional four-year degree, as well as the invaluable campus experiences that enrich a Pacific education, but reduce elective requirements. Starting in Fall 2027, three-year degrees will be available in chemistry, computer science, and sustainability & adaptation, with additional options expected to be added in the future. All three majors also continue to be available on a four-year track, as well.

19

Honoring Global Vision Researcher Pabita Dhungel MS ‘19

Pabita Dhungel MS '19 is the recipient of the Pacific University Alumni Association’s 2026 Emerging Leader Award. The first student from Nepal to graduate from Pacific’s Master of Science in Vision Science program, Dhungel went on to UC Berkeley, where she’s advancing research into the biomechanics of the eye and the causes and treatments for myopia — a condition expected to impact half of the global population by 2050 and that is under-treated in two-thirds of people in low-income countries. She’s been honored with multiple fellowships from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation, several institutional awards to continue her graduate research, and a place on a Nepali news organization’s “50 Influential Women in Nepal” list.

18

Ranking No. 1 Northwest Private University For Research

The National Science Foundation’s annual Higher Education Research and Development Survey ranked Pacific No. 1 among the Northwest’s private universities in research and development investment. It’s the sixth consecutive year that Pacific has earned the top spot. During the 2024 fiscal year, Pacific invested more than $8.3 million in research and development, including $3.3 million in federal government sponsored research and $1.29 million in state and local government sponsored research. 

17

Launching Stackable Career Certificates

Pacific’s Master of Nonprofit Leadership Program is offering the university’s first stackable professional certificate model. The online master’s degree program has revamped its curriculum to make advanced professional leadership skills more accessible and affordable for the workforce that serves more than 29,000 nonprofit organizations in Oregon. Participants will be able to take individual certificate tracks to focus on targeted skill development — or they can stack all four certificate tracks together with a hands-on “Project in Action” capstone to earn a master’s degree. The new model rolls out in January 2027 and features a new rolling admission schedule, allowing students to start classes at the beginning of any term. It also decreases tuition to make the program more affordable.

16

Achieving National Banner Recognition for Unified Sports

Pacific University’s Unified Sports program is among eight universities in the U.S. to be named a Special Olympics 2026 National Banner Unified Champion. An active program at Pacific for over a decade, Unified Sports provides opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities and support-athletes from Pacific to participate and compete together in several sports and activities, including soccer, basketball, dance and kickball. Pacific’s Unified Sports activities regularly draw between 50 and 100 participants each week. Pacific is one of three schools in Forest Grove to receive national banner recognition, joining Forest Grove High School and Joseph Gale Elementary. Pacific’s banner will be unveiled at a Pacific basketball game in January 2027 and displayed in the Stoller Center.

15

Introducing Oregon’s First Dental Therapy Program

In March, Pacific University became the fourth university nationwide accredited to provide a dental therapy program — and only the second to offer a master’s-level program. Dental therapists are mid-level dental care providers who work under the supervision of a dentist in the way a physician associate works with a physician. The development of the profession is designed to bridge the gap in oral care, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Dental therapy is recognized as a licensed profession in 14 states, including Oregon. Pacific was instrumental in the approval in the state following nearly a decade of advocacy by Pacific dental hygiene faculty and a 2020-2023 pilot program in partnership with Willamette Dental Group that led to the first licenses in Oregon. The university’s first master’s students began their program in Fall 2026.

14

Earning National Recognition For Campus Mental Health

Pacific University was one of 38 institutions nationwide to receive Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award. The honor recognizes colleges and universities dedicated to fostering a culture of mental health wellness and belonging through innovative support for the campus community. Among the highlighted supports were Pacific’s comprehensive care referral system, one-stop Support at Pacific resource collection, wellbeing programming on the Forest Grove and Hillsboro campuses, and multidisciplinary working groups focused on mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and substance abuse harm reduction.

13

Expanding Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Pacific’s Undergraduate Research Program expanded by 53% in the past year, including the opportunity for 29 students to spend the summer tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues — from modeling novel materials for atmospheric carbon capture to studying the neurological impacts of climate change on marine life. About 27% of the university’s externally funded research takes place in the College of Undergraduate Studies, giving college students the rare hands-on opportunity to research and publish alongside faculty members.

12

Creating Direct Community College Pathways to Pharmacy Education

The Pacific University School of Pharmacy established partnerships with Chemeketa Community College in Salem and Umpqua Community College in Roseburg to streamline the path to a career in pharmacy. Under the agreements, students can complete their pre-pharmacy coursework at the community colleges, then transition directly into Pacific’s accelerated three-year or extended five-year Doctor of Pharmacy pathways. Students in the pharmacy tracks also get personalized application support, waived application fees, and the opportunity to take part in professional activities with Pacific’s pharmacy program. The partnership programs are part of a wider effort at Pacific — the state’s largest private preparer of health professions — to make healthcare education more accessible and attractive to students as fields such as pharmacy are expected to face severe provider shortages in the coming years.

11

Celebrating Teaching Legend Mike Steele

For more than 50 years, Mike Steele has taught future Pacific alumni. Now he can count himself among them. The Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of English received an honorary Doctor of Human Letters from Pacific in May, acknowledging a lifetime of inspiring and uplifting students. In addition to teaching across a broad range of subjects, Steele also started Pacific’s national powerhouse handball program, serving as head coach for 37 years. He also launched an endowed fund that supports students across his broad range of interests.

10

Securing $81,000 in Veteran Student Scholarships

The Thayer Family Foundation has committed $81,000 to providing scholarships for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces pursuing their education at Pacific University. Founded by the family of retired Army Brig. Gen. James Thayer, who received an honorary degree from Pacific in 2009, the Thayer Foundation is led by president Tommy Thayer — who also earned an honorary degree from Pacific in 2018 and who serves on the university’s Board of Trustees. 

9

Naming Track Star Ally Hammond '26 NWC Woman Of The Year

Pacific University student-athlete Ally Hammond ‘26 was named the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference 2026 Woman of the Year. A four-time All-American in indoor and outdoor track and field and the second-fastest 100-meter hurdler in the division’s history, Hammond was the first Boxer to win the award since its inception in 2009. The award recognizes not only excellence in athletics, but also academics, leadership and service. Among the most decorated track and field athletes in Pacific history, Hammond also was a member of Pacific’s Pharmacy Club, volunteered at the local food bank, and worked at Forest Grove High School’s summer basketball camp. She graduated in May 2026 with a degree in environmental science with concentrations in toxicology and chemistry. 

8

Establishing Oregon’s Newest Musical Theatre Program

Responding to student interest, Pacific introduced a minor in musical theatre, making it one of the few places in Oregon where students can pursue study in the field. The musical theatre minor complements Pacific’s robust majors in music, music education, theatre, and dance, providing further specialization for students interested in acting, directing or teaching after graduation. Only two other universities in the state offer a major or minor in musical theatre, with a third offering a certificate program.

7

Applauding Student Kai Markle '27 For Voting Rights Leadership

In April, Pacific University undergraduate student Kai Markle '27 was named among 168 students nationwide to the All In Campus Democracy Challenge’s 2026 Student Voting Honor Roll. Markle, a double major in politics and government and in philosophy, works as a student ambassador for the Pacific Votes program, a nonpartisan effort to encourage college students to register to vote and direct them to voter resources in the states where they live. Pacific University has been a designated Voter Friendly Campus since 2021-2022 and is the only university in Oregon to earn the designation.

6

Funding Breakthrough Research For Tropical Disease Treatments

The Pacific University School of Pharmacy is seeking treatment strategies for leishmaniasis, a potentially fatal parasitic disease. Professor Sigrid Roberts received a $464,000 National Institutes of Health grant to continue research that she hopes will lead to safer and more affordable treatments for the disease. The World Health organization estimates that as many as 1 million new cases occur annually, mostly in Africa and South America, where access to treatment is limited for many. This is the second NIH grant Roberst has received for leishmania research.

5

Naming Ledbetter Field For Lifelong Supporter 

Pacific University Trustee Emeritus Kim Ledbetter Hon. ‘26 was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the university at its August Commencement ceremony. For more than 20 years, Ledbetter has been an enthusiastic supporter of Pacific’s students and mission. He served on the Board of Trustees for 12 years, established a student scholarship, provided startup costs for Pacific’s graduate business program, helped fund renovations of Jefferson Hall, and helped create a fund that gives students hands-on investing experience. Most visibly, Kim and his wife, Barb, funded the replacement of the artificial turf at Hanson Stadium in 2017, and they recently committed not only to funding the next necessary replacement, but also creating a fund to provide for perpetual upkeep of the athletic surface. Ledbetter Field at Hanson Stadium has been permanently named in their honor.

4

Winning Provider Of The Year Honors For Pacific EarClinic 

The Pacific EarClinic received the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation’s 2025 Provider of the Year award in April. The award recognizes Pacific’s School of Audiology and associated clinic for its longtime commitment to expanding access to hearing health services. The EarClinic is a teaching clinic, open to the public, that provides hearing evaluations, hearing instrument technology evaluations, fitting and follow-up services and more. The foundation also recognized Pacific Audiology Professor David Brown, who is a founding professor in the program and also serves on OLSHF’s board of trustees.

3

Appointing Professor Rebecca Schoon To Universal Health Plan Board

Pacific University Associate Professor of Public Health Rebecca Schon was appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek to Oregon’s Universal Health Plan Governance Board and begins her four-year term in January 2027. Schoon has spent more than a decade researching universal healthcare, starting with her doctoral research at Oregon State University on Taiwan’s universal healthcare system. Schoon sees her appointment not only as an opportunity to increase access to healthcare for thousands of Oregonians, but also an opportunity to model community engagement for her Pacific students. 

2

Honoring Boxer Historian Bruce Bishop '68 For Alumni Service

Bruce Bishop ‘68 is the recipient of the Pacific University Alumni Association’s 2026 David & Sandy Lowe Outstanding Alumni Service Award. The alumnus has become the unofficial historian and caretaker of the legacy of Pacific’s mascot, Boxer — spearheading the 2018 effort to recast a third incarnation of the legendary statue and ultimately facilitating the return of the original in 2024, after a 55-year absence. In addition to his devotion to maintaining the Boxer Spirit at Pacific, Bishop also led his fraternity brothers to establish the Gamma Sigma Legacy Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of their 150th anniversary and helped his Class of 1968 to establish the Golden Guard Endowed Scholarship Fund.

1

Uniting Pacific & Willamette to Create Oregon’s Largest Private University

Pacific University is moving forward with a merger with Willamette University to create the largest private university in Oregon. Together, the two oldest universities in Oregon will expand student opportunities by combining their broad academic portfolios, creating more student pathways, and achieving the scale and reach of a large university — while maintaining the small learning communities and personal attention that help students thrive. The new collegiate university model means that Pacific and Willamette retain their campuses, athletic programs and traditions as distinct learning communities within the larger whole. The merger process is lengthy and dependent on several external regulatory steps. The universities are expected to achieve the corporate merger — becoming a single nonprofit entity — in early 2027. The academic merger — when they become a single accredited institution of higher education — is expected in 2028.