Dear Friends,
I’m Kelley Strawn, Professor of Sociology and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.
After more than 20 years at Willamette, I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this community.
It’s a privilege to support our students and faculty in this leadership role. I’m pleased to share a snapshot of what they’ve accomplished so far this academic year.
Faculty Excellence
- Teresa Hernández, Assistant Professor of English, was named one of only 10 Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders for 2025 by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars — a prestigious national recognition of her scholarship and community-engaged teaching.
- Scott Pike, Professor of Archaeology, received the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award from the Archaeological Institute of America — one of the field’s highest honors.
- Physics professors David Altman and Daniel Borrero recently received grant support from the Jonathan F. Reichert Foundation to launch a new quantum technologies course, giving students hands-on experience with emerging quantum systems and positioning Willamette at the forefront of undergraduate STEM education.
Student Achievement on the National Stage
- Joshua Torres BA’27 was selected as a Voyager Scholar through the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service — one of just 100 students nationwide and only two in the Pacific Northwest. The award supports his leadership development and public service work for years to come.
- Diego Diaz BA’26, MBA’27 earned first place in finance innovation at the University of Utah’s Hack-a-House competition, competing against teams from Harvard, UCLA, and other top universities with a creative housing affordability solution.
- Rae Ota BA’27, Adam Son BA’27, and Salah Williams BA’27 received highly competitive U.S.–Japan Bridging Scholarships and are studying abroad in Japan this spring.
Research with Real-World Impact
- A student-faculty research team led by Professor Pike conducted groundbreaking fieldwork in Greece, studying wildfire-affected archaeological landscapes using advanced drone and imaging technology. Their work informs preservation efforts abroad and offers insights relevant to wildfire-prone regions like the Pacific Northwest.
These accomplishments reflect the intellectual curiosity, collaborative spirit, and close faculty-student mentorship that have long defined Willamette.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and faculty — your engagement strengthens this community and the meaningful work happening across our campus every day.
Warmly,
Kelley D. Strawn
