Pacific University

Pacific University is a located in Forest Grove, Oregon about 40 minutes west of Portland, Oregon. It traces its origins to a private school, the Tualatin Academy, started in 1842 and was officially chartered by the territorial legislature in 1849. It is best known for its College of Optometry, but also offers graduate programs in several allied health fields via its College of Health Professions in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, professional pyschology, dental health science, and pharmacy. Pacific also has a full range of undergraduate liberal arts degree programs and an outstanding College of Education. The College of Education offers an undergraduate major in early childhood education and elementary education. There are also a number of graduate education programs including MAT/MAT Flex, MAT Special Education and M.Ed. in school counseling. Pacific University is presently in the process of expanding. There is a state-of-the-art University Library being built as well as a professional studies building and a brand new separate campus for the health professions.

Contemporary Alumni of Note

Robert Oliver (graduated 1932) ? had over 40 books published. He also received an honorary degree from Pacific in 1949.

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Roy Lieuallen (graduated in 1940) - was president of the Oregon College of Education from 1955 to 1961. He was then appointed chancellor of the State Board of Higher Education and served unitl 1982. He was awarded an honorary degree from the University in 1959. He was also appointed vice chairman of the State Education Commission of the People?s Republic of China for a time.

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Lawrence Nielsen (graduated in 1940) ? was an author and researcher. He wrote five books and numerous technical articles on plastics and held six patents.

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Lynn S. Meredith (graduated 1944) - was a former secret service agent serving under eight U.S. presidents. He was a personal bodyguard to the Kennedy children and stayed on with the family for a year after President Kennedy?s death.

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Ambassador Shirley Abbott (graduated 1952, OD?53) - served as ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Africa under Presidents Reagan and Bush.

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William Hilliard (graduated in 1952) - formerly the Editor of The Oregonian.

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Robert Casteel (graduated 1954) - is professor in Speech Pathology at PSU and is internationally recognized in the field of stuttering. He has been published in American and Swiss journals on subjects such as phoniatrics, stress control, stuttering and speech articulation.

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Varina Heinrich French (graduated 1956 and M.S. in 1965) - was a leading world gymnastics judge. She was the U.S. Gymnastics Federation delegate to the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1972 and 1980 and was on the ABC-TV gymnastics coverage team for the 1984 Olympic Games. She was instrumental in developing Pacific?s Physical Therapy program and was the first woman on the West Coast to chair the P.E. and Health Department in a college or university.

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George Ing (graduated 1957) - is a partner in Mt. Adams Orchards ? the world?s largest individual pear orchard. They also grow cherries and apples. He also served as manager of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and was chairman of the Winter Pear Control Committee.

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Jim Romig (graduated 1960) is president and CEO of Hilo Hattie ? a world-wide distributor of Hawaiian goods.

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Mindy Cameron (graduated in 1965) - was formerly the City Editor of the Seattle Times.

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Katherine Schreiber Occhiato (graduated 1966) is an opera singer with the Essen Opera in West Germany.

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Les AuCoin (graduated 1969) - was Oregon?s U.S. Representative from the First Congressional District from 1975 to 1992. He was the first democrat elected from the district since its formation. He was the 1985 Whip at Large and served on the House Democratic Study Group and the Executive Steering Committee of the Grace Commission caucus. In 1977 he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Pacific and has served on the Board of Trustees.

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Esmund K. Chung (graduated 1969) - was a television and stage actor (had a recurring role on Magnum P.I.)

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Thomas Stearns (graduated 1970) - is former publisher and general manager of Times Publications. He also was associate publisher of the Daily Journal of Commerce-Portland Business Today (now Portland Business Journal)

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Paul Ranslow (graduated 1971) - served as President of Ripon College from 1995-2002. Now President of Sierra Nevada College

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Nancy Wilson (graduated in 1976) is lead guitarist and vocalist in the classic rock group ?Heart?. Since the early 1970s the band has continued to make music, having recently released their first album in many years, titled Jupiter?s Darling.

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Brian Kerwin (graduated 1977) - co-starred with Sally Field and James Garner in ?Murphy?s Romance? and had the starring role in ?King Kong Lives?.

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Daniel Galvez (graduated 1977) - is a California artist and muralist. He has been commissioned by the City of San Francisco, Massachusetts Hispanic Murals Project and others to complete works of art.

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Michael McCartney (graduated 1982) - was formerly a U.S. Senator from Hawaii. He is now a television personality and CEO of Hawaii Public Television. He serves on the University?s Board of Trustees.

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