Opportunity & Excellence
When Erin Wilson ’05, PharmD ’18 decided to pursue a career in pharmacy, she didn’t have to look any further than her alma mater.
Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree at Pacific University in 2005. A few years later, she returned to pivot careers with Pacific’s three-year doctor of pharmacy program.
“I knew it would be a great fit for me,” she said. “I loved Pacific’s small, private environment. I knew that the professors are all about supporting students and optimizing their education.”
Pacific is often heralded by alumni and students for the personal attention and support students receive from professors, as well as the hands-on learning experiences that set students up for success.
That’s what senior Pamela Lee ’19 has found in pursuing her undergraduate degree in education and learning.
"I have that one-on-one connection with my teachers, and I know I can easily ask my peers for help when I need it."
– Pamela Lee '19
“When I first visited Pacific’s campus, I really liked how it was a small environment,” she said.
Lee hopes to go on to earn her master of arts in teaching from Pacific as well and become a teacher in Oregon. In the meantime, she’s gaining hands-on experience in and out of the classroom in Pacific’s innovative Early Learning Community.
“I get to engage with children who are from the Forest Grove community and from outside,” she said. “I get to see the way teachers use lessons to promote a certain activity or lesson.”
The same kinds of hands-on experiences are what made Wilson’s pharmacy program so meaningful as well.
She did rotations in a wide variety of pharmacy practice settings and had the opportunity to serve others through Pacific’s connections with organizations like Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center.
“Pacific is so invested and interconnected to the greater community of Forest Grove and Hillsboro,” she said. “I think every single one of the professors there is truly invested in student success. The opportunities the professors are willing to create for you, and connect you with, are phenomenal.”
Today, Wilson is completing a post-graduate residency at a children’s hospital and planning to pursue a career in pediatric pharmacy.
“Pacific has been great,” she said. “They have definitely set me up for success.” ■
Unrestricted Success
Pacific University donors are critical in helping the university recruit and retain top teaching faculty, pursue innovative partnerships with community organizations, offer hands-on learning experiences, and support the success of students like Wilson and Lee. Gifts to the Pacific Excellence Fund are especially helpful for these purposes, as the unrestricted fund provides resources to allow the university to respond to evolving needs and capitalize on opportunities to expand student access and learning. Make your gift today.
This story first appeared in the Winter 2018 Philanthropy Edition issue of Pacific magazine. For more stories, visit pacificu.edu/magazine.