News, Media and Stories | Spring 2023

President Jenny Coyle
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Pacific University celebrated the installation of Jennifer Coyle '90, OD '93, MS '00 as its 18th president. A week-long showcase of special events preceded the inauguration ceremony, highlighting the mission of Pacific and the amazing contributions of its people. 
The Queer Experience
The 1990s was a watershed period for LGBTQ+ rights across the country. In Oregon and at Pacific, incremental gains were accomplished amid a climate of of fear and hostility. Through the social and institutional challenges, progress continued. Today, the university works to celebrate diversity.
Marsh Hall
Over the last 30 years at Pacific, programs were added and expanded; enrollment grew. The vast majority — about 80 percent — of Pacific’s living alumni attended the university in the last 30 years. Now scattered from Washington County, Oregon, to points around the planet, they represent an increased diversity of disciplines and experiences, as well as after-graduation achievement.
Olivia Barrows
Global opportunities have long been a part of the Pacific University experience, and they are on the rise. 
students in japan
Pacific's relationship with Japanese students dates almost back to the university's first days; now it has a firm connection to a leading university that sends students to Oregon, and accepts many others in return.
Comfort Ricketts with the First Lady of Liberia
Before Comfort Ricketts ever reached Pacific, she made a harrowing escape in Nigeria. At Pacific and afterward, she has influenced people and changed lives.
Aaron Sutton
Their ethos of community engagement made the Sutton family a perfect fit for Pacific. And they helped forge an enduring relationship between Pacific and the University of Western Australia.
Literature and Creative Writing majors from the Class of 2012 gathered at the Portland home of English Professor Emeritus Pauline Beard in early October 2022.
Public Health Assistant Professor Adelle Monteblanco 
Public Health Assistant Professor Adelle Monteblanco has been recognized as one of 15 Emerging Scholars-nationally for 2023 in Diverse Issues In Higher Education. Learn more about her research, which focuses on inequality as it pertains to extreme heat and examining its health impacts on vulnerable populations.  
Pinocchio shot
In a remarkable convergence of talent, passion and academic backgrounds, seven Pacific alumni  were among the scores of people who helped make the acclaimed stop-motion film in Portland. The film took about three years to create and was released Dec. 9. It won the Academy Award for best animated film. 

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