Note from Dean de Castro

There is an adage that informs us how the past can serve as the blueprint for the future. As we continue enjoying our summer days, it is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past academic year and the opportunities ahead of us during the upcoming one. The 2024-2025 academic year was filled with successes, growth and advancement among our students, faculty, staff and alumni; collectively emblematic of the enduring strength and legacy of excellence of our college. They also reflect how our approaches—imbued with Jesuit tradition and values across teaching and learning, inquiry and discovery, and service and leadership—carry us forward helping us all fulfill our purpose. Furthermore, they inspire and motivate us to pursue additional ways for our college to make even greater positive impact.

The 2025-2026 academic year marks an exciting new chapter as we expand to become the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. With our storied nursing programs rising in rankings and continuing to carry prominent reputation, along with the growing success of our diagnostic ultrasound program, our college has its sights set on broadening the ways we at Seattle University can meaningfully attend to the health, well-being and vitality of society.

Joining our college this year is the Department of Kinesiology, whose motto, "Exercise for Life, Exercise for Everyone," promotes health benefits associated with leading a physically active lifestyle. We enthusiastically welcome Kinesiology students, faculty and staff! Plans to launch a Master of Public Health program have been approved, and we will continue to actively and thoughtfully explore the development of additional health professions programs that respond to local, regional and national needs.

The coming years will be an inflection point for our college. With an increasing array of academic programs and faculty scholarly and practice expertise, we are building out an academic community of inter-disciplinarity and inter-professionalism. This will enable us to educate and graduate students who are ready to transition into practice and pursue careers prepared to work in teams involving a mix of perspectives to address complex health issues at individual, community and population levels.

In my excitement and enthusiasm about the possibilities before us as a College of Nursing and Health Sciences, I invite you to join me in looking back at what we have achieved, as well as looking forward to create, unfurl and shape our future.