News, Media and Stories | Biology

Student Rachel Araiza
Research is like a puzzle for Rachel Araiza ’22. “I like trying to figure out what’s going on and being the first to figure it out,” said Araiza. A love of the outdoors and biology led her to the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove to examine the eating habits of the bullfrogs that live in the wetlands.
Rylee Trendell working in the outdoors
Rylee Trendell '19 found Pacific to be a good fit because of his personal connections with professors, as well as the opportunity to play collegiate basketball.
Mary Richardson Walker
Mary Richardson Walker and her husband donated  part of the land that became Pacific's Forest Grove Campus. After her husband's death, Mary remained active in the early life of the school and the community of Forest Grove. The qilin statue that became Boxer, Pacific University's mascot, was donated to the school in her honor.
Heide Island presenting
Psychology professor Heide Island spent the past 10 months on Whidbey Island north of Seattle to continue extensive research she is conducting on the behavior of river otters.
Pacific alum practices law while launching Fitonic, a fitness supplement company.
Oregon Silverspot Butterfly
Project led by Rich Van Buskirk using scent-trained canines to help identify hospitable habitats for the endangered Oregon Silverspot butterfly.
Dr. Halpern will travel to Japan in June to continue her study into invasive species and the role herbivorous insects play.
“I love Pacific and am so grateful I will be able to get my degree from a place that has so quickly become a second home.”
Farmers feed the world, with a little help from scientists like Kara Lanning ’07. Lanning is a plant pathologist and visiting assistant professor of biology at Pacific Lutheran University near Tacoma, Wash. She is also the President of the Pacific University alumni board and will be celebrating her 10-year class reunion at Homecoming.
Mara Supan, Class of 2007, put in a lot of work to get to where she is now, as an Associate Veterinarian. Read more to learn about all the opportunities she sought out and her experience working with small animals for a career.

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