My word for Willamette is...
- Community--WU provided me with many opportunities to be involved in worthwhile and fulfilling community projects. For example, I enjoyed helping other students as a member of residence hall government. Student government also allowed me to participate in significant projects that helped people outside of Willamette.
- —Vincent Pontier '01, M'03
- Balancing--Regardless of the set of skills and lacks one owns when arriving at Willamette, the balance with which a graduate departs, and the tools to re-balance as needed in the face of accelerating change, are a unique gift of the WU experience.
- —Steven Fullmer '78
- Continuation--Great education, inspiring and continuing into later life. Continuing into marriage with a WU athlete (later to become a NY Yankee minor leaguer). Continuing with son's marriage to another WU student. Son to continue as a college prof and Dr. of Criminology--author and scholar. So the WU tradition continues!
- —Esther Manning '36
Academic Excellence
Great teaching and scholarship lie at the heart of Willamette’s academic excellence. Endowed chairs and professorships are two of the best resources we have for preserving this unique asset. Endowed chairs and professorships enable Willamette to attract and keep the best teaching and scholarly talents from around the world. Chairs added as a result of the Campaign include the Dempsey Chair in Environmental Policy and Politics, the JELD-WEN Chair in Free Enterprise, the Peter and Bonnie Kremer Chair in Economics, the Wendt Chair in Business Law, and most recently Alex L. Parks Distinguished Chair for the Dean of the College of Law.
Our five academic centers of excellence include the Center for Sustainable Communities, the Center for Goverance and Public Policy Research, the Center for Religion, Law and Democracy, the Center for Ancient Studies and Archeology, and the Center for Asian Studies.