Pacific University

06/04/2026

School is over, report cards are out. Did you make the honor roll? We did!

The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society has recognized Pacific for our exceptional support of transfer students. We've made PTK the Transfer Honor Roll every year since 2021. Pacific is one of just two schools in Oregon, and one of six in the Northwest, included in PTK's list.

Justin McRobert, our transfer coordinator and assistant director of admissions, was a transfer student at Pacific. "Having the opportunity to work in an area that I have strong personal connection to has allowed me to advocate for transfer students in a different way,” says Justin. “One of my goals is to identify and alleviate pain points before a student even knows that an issue exists.”

Are you thinking about transferring to Pacific? Reach out to Pacific University Oregon Undergraduate Admissions to help you get started!

Learn more about our inclusion in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's 2025 Transfer Honor Roll below.

For the fifth straight year, Pacific has been named to Phi Theta Kappa's Transfer Honor Roll, recognizing the university's exceptional support of transfer students.

06/02/2026

Stay cool as a cucumber, Boxers! 🥒

06/01/2026

As high school seniors stepped off the bus in Lewis & Clark National Historical Park into gray and gloomy weather with a light but steady rain, they probably had a similar experience as the Corps of Discovery did.

But the rain did little to dampen the spirits of Andy Haugen ’11, MAT ’13, a Pacific University graduate. He grinned as he told his students they would experience the site the way the explorers did over 200 years ago, the rain just another tool to take a deeper look into the history of our region.

To support this history class, Andy was recently selected as Oregon's recipient of a Teaching America250 Award that helps develop history curriculum.

Andy Haugen '11, MAT '13 is diving deep into the history of the West with his high school students as the U.S. celebrates its 250th birthday.

05/29/2026

Music in May is one of the longest running high school music festivals in the United States, which was founded in 1948 at Pacific University. Last weekend marked the 76th Annual Music in May Festival. 🎻 🎺 🎵

Participants stay on campus for an exciting weekend of music-making while also experiencing a sneak peek at college life, side by side with our enthusiastic Pacific University student mentors — including Megan Heinlen '28, one of this year's fantastic Music in May student mentors.

05/28/2026

In another fantastic example of scientific collaboration, biology students at Pacific participated in a chartered whale watching trip this spring, to see and learn about the marine ecology that supports our migratory whales, including the gray whales that are often seen on the Oregon Coast.

05/26/2026

Physician assistants — who are known as physician associates in Oregon — know that their work is always rewarding.

For PAs who are growing their careers into managerial or operational roles, a Doctor of Medical Science degree (DMSc) helps them continue to create meaningful change in their communities through leadership and roles in healthcare administration.

Applications for Pacific's DMSc Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 cohorts are open now!

Want to grow your PA career? Consider a DMSc degree from Pacific University and gain the skills to become a healthcare leader while also increasing your pay.

05/22/2026

Hannah Studer MSW ’16 learned early that a career in social work is about more than just providing services. Graduating in our first Master of Social Work cohort, Hannah now knows that it's about meeting people where they are to help them thrive in a challenging world.

Today, Hannah lives that mission — with fellow Pacific alumnus Brandon Dieckmann MSW '25, who Hannah taught while he was in our program — while leading one of Portland’s largest nonprofit social work organizations, Bridges to Change.

Hannah Studer MSW '16 is passing on the lessons of purpose that she learned in the first cohort of Pacific University's Master of Social Work program.

05/19/2026

What a great May Commencement! 😍 🎓🎉

05/17/2026

Here's to all of our brand-new Boxer Alumni! Congratulations on a great commencement ceremony today! 👏🎓🎉

05/15/2026

A respected member of the Pacific University faculty for nearly three decades and a leader in the fields of sports vision and vision therapy, Graham Erickson ’88, OD ’90 is the 2026 recipient of the Kamelia Massih Prize for a Distinguished Optometrist.

Dr. Erickson will accept the honor during our Graduate & Professional commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16.

The longtime Pacific University College of Optometry faculty member is regarded as an expert in sports vision and vision therapy.