- April 2025 Update:
Career Conversations:
Starting on March 13th, alums across the globe, from Washington, D.C., to Saudi Arabia, gathered virtually to support our current AGSM students by sharing career tips and insights. They answered current students' questions about succeeding post-graduation and making connections that will continue to strengthen the Willamette Career network for years to come.
PNCA Gallery tour:
A small group of PNCA alums and friends visited the campus for a private tour on March 20th. After coffee, tea, and pastries from Elephants Delicatessen, the group joined Assistant Director of Galleries & Exhibitions Marsh Mack for an hour-long journey through the permanent and temporary exhibitions throughout the building.
Heritage Club at the Oregon symphony's rolling stones tribute concert:
On March 20th, members of the Willamette Heritage Club, which is made up of alumni who are more than 50 years out from graduation, gathered at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to enjoy the Oregon Symphony, rock band, and lead singer MiG Ayesa put on a Rolling Stones tribute concert!
The group sat together, sang, and danced in their seats during the show.
After the performance, a small group gathered at HopCity Tavern in the Hilton for conversation and a nightcap.
Headband at ICCA SEMIFINALS:
On March 22nd, a group of Bay Area WU Alumni, current students, and a capella lovers gathered in Redwood City to cheer on Headband at the ICCA Semifinals.
Before the performance, the group gathered at Das Bierhauz for a pre-performance reception, where they enjoyed drinks, appetizers, and socializing.
This was the first time a Willamette group had advanced to the semifinals, and they couldn't have been more proud.
WUSN - Women in sustainability panel:
On March 26th, alums gathered for a virtual career networking session featuring women leaders in the Willamette University Sustainability Network.
Various career-level panelists shared their experiences and advice during the session. They answered questions, helped current students and young alums learn about career paths and networked.
Alumni mile:
Track & Field and Cross Country alums from 1979 to 2022 competed in the annual Alumni Mile on March 29th.
The group kicked off the Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance with a little friendly competition before enjoying pizza and the rest of the official meet by cheering on the current student-athletes.
- March 2025 Update:
Heritage Club at Willamette's Far Away Performance:
On February 20th, Heritage Club members, alums who are more than 50 years out from graduation, met at Kaneko for the AGSM open house.
Then, as a pre-performance reception, they headed over to Taproot at the Mill for Willamette's Third Thursday staff/faculty social. They had a nice visit with each other, faculty and staff in attendance.
During the play, they sat near one another and found the performance very well done by our cast and crew of students!
wU in the Desert:
On February 27th, a group of alums gathered in La Quinta.
They enjoyed a lovely evening of food, friendship, and fun.
They also spent time sharing all the exciting things happening at Willamette and the Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Virtual Bingo:
On March 4th, a group of alums gathered virtually from across the country to play several rounds of Bingo! The competition was friendly, and the group had a great time.
- February 2025 Update:
Virtual Trivia:
On January 23rd, alums gathered online for five rounds of trivia. The group had a great time despite the challenging game and questions that stumped the whole group.
WU Stream: Willamette in Dialogue -- Last lecture with retiring provost Carol Long:
On January 28th, over 70 alumni gathered virtually to enjoy a final lecture from retiring Provost Carol Long, featuring a look at Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.
The group included alums from the Class of 1961 to the Class of 2024, a testament to Carol's immense and prolonged impact on the university.
Alums were thrilled to delve into Calvino's dismissal of dichotomous thinking and the need to allow for the messy entanglements of diverse themes and ideas.
Carol left us with her final thoughts, including that we should all seek to make space for understanding things outside our context or experience so that there may be less division and distance between us and others.
As Calvino writes, "... seek and learn to recognize who and what, amid the inferno, are not inferno, then make them endure, give them space.”
A recording is available to watch on our YouTube.
- January 2025 Update:
Willamette at the Portland Blazers:
On December 19th, Willamette alumni gathered at the Moda Center to watch the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Denver Nuggets!
After the Blazers were victorious the alums got to stick around to shoot some free throws.
Virtual Ugly Sweater Musical Bingo:
On December 18th, alums gathered online for several rounds of Ugly Sweater Musical Bingo! The group had a great time singing along, dancing, and winning prizes!
WU Stream: Willamette in Dialogue -- "Listening to Grief":
On December 10th, over 50 alums gathered online to hear Professor Maegan Parker Brooks share her knowledge in Thanatology, the study of death, dying, loss, and grief.
The talk was part of WU Stream’s Willamette In Dialogue series, which explores pertinent topics through a WU lens.
A recording is available to watch on our YouTube.
- December 2024 Update:
PNCA Tea with the Dean:
Former Board of Governors members gathered at PNCA on December 6, 2024, to have tea with Dean Jen Cole. The group enjoyed socializing and an informational presentation by Dean Cole.
Annual Star Trees Lighting:
Alumni, friends, and community members gathered on the Salem campus on December 3, 2024, for the annual Star Trees Lighting ceremony, a tradition that began in 1997.
The festivities included a performance by the Willamette Master Chorus, a S’mores bar, and, of course, Blitz!
Museum of Contemporary Craft Collection Tour:
Willamette alumni and friends gathered at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art on November 20, 2024. The group enjoyed a reception and several exhibitions before learning about Willamette’s plans for the Museum of Contemporary Craft collection.
The group also took a behind-the-scenes tour of the collection in its newly renovated storage space.
- November 2024 Update:
Willamette Heritage Club at Portland Baroque Orchestra:
The Willamette Heritage Club, a group of alums 50+ years out from graduation, met in Portland on November 16th to see the Portland Baroque Orchestra performance of The Royal Trumpeter: Kris’ Podium.
Members gathered for a pre-concert talk before heading into Sanctuary Hall at First Congregational Church for the performance. Afterward, they enjoyed a happy hour at The Tavern at Heathman.
WU Stream: A Willamette Update with President Thorsett:
On November 14th, President Steve Thorsett addressed over 50 alums about the University’s many accomplishments of the past seven years and previewed its bright future.
The talk was part of WU Stream’s Willamette Updates series, which virtually brings university leadership to the community to share essential information and answer questions.
WUSN Career Networking Discussion:
On November 13th, the Willamette University Sustainability Network (WUSN) held a panel for current students to hear from alumni about their career experiences, answer student questions, and offer advice.
WUSN is a group dedicated to building community, increasing engagement, and deepening professional networking among Willamette University students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supportive community members who work in sustainability-oriented industries.
Atkinson Dean’s Football Outing:
Atkinson alumni and their families gathered with Interim Dean Romana Autrey and Willamette University President Steve Thorsett on November 9th for the traditional Dean’s Football Outing.
The group gathered for lunch before making their way to the stands to cheer on the Bearcats as they took on Pacific University in their last home game of the 2024 season.
Willamette RE/VISION:
Alums from the School of Computing and Information Sciences gathered at the new Ecotrust building in the Pearl District at the end of October.
The group heard a great keynote address by John Horton about the Power of Data and engaged in a lively Q&A. They also heard inspiring talks by Professor Fred Agbo about human-computer interaction and by Professor Rachel Brown about computer vision. After the formal presentations, the group socialized and enjoyed food and drinks.
- October 2024 Update:
Seven cities, one night:
Willamette alumni across the United States came together on October 16th for this annual celebration, during which they reconnected with old friends and made new ones.
A special thank you to our hosts, who allowed over 100 alumni to gather across events in Boise, Minneapolis, Portland, Salem, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.!
Willamette alums in France:
From September 8th to September 16th, 12 alums toured France as part of our Willamette Explorers Travel Program.
The Program offers thoughtfully designed journeys, plus the security and ease of group travel with your fellow alums.
While in France, the group strolled along romantic canals, hanging out in bustling squares and sipping locally made prestigious wines.
Matriculation:
Willamette University alumni gathered on August 24th on the Salem campus to meet the new students joining the Willamette family and welcome them with candles to float down the Mill Stream during a tradition called Matriculation.
During the Matriculation ceremony, students float candles down the Mill Stream, symbolizing the start of their unique journeys at Willamette. The glow from the candles reminds the new students that every journey is personal but that they will always be connected within the Willamette community.
Heritage Club in sunriver:
The Heritage Club, a group of alums who are 50+ years out from graduation, held a splendid retreat in Sunriver, Oregon, on August 28 and 29.
Twenty alums enjoyed a tour of the High Desert Museum, a nice dinner, sharing stories, and making new friends.
Thank you to Jim Vidal, BA’67, and the Willamette Alumni Heritage Club for organizing and sponsoring the event!