Winter 2025 Message

From the President

Honoring Alumni, Advancing the Arts, Shaping the Future

Powered by influential and inspiring alumni and energized by exciting new initiatives, Seattle University is making waves in Seattle and beyond.

In this issue, you will become acquainted with this year’s alumni awards recipients, which includes the newest inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame. These extraordinary alumni are—each in their own distinctive ways—changing our world for the better. As you read their stories, you will see what makes them sources of such immense pride for our institution. 

"As we celebrate the inspiring people and exciting new initiatives featured in this magazine, I am grateful for the commitment of our alumni and friends."

Even as we celebrate our alumni honorees, we also remember with a mixture of gratitude and sadness the passing of John Meisenbach, ’60, and Bill Eisiminger, ’67, ’73. Few alumni have had more of an enduring impact on Seattle University than these two proud graduates.

This edition also describes how our university is growing and embracing new opportunities to more deeply live out our Jesuit, Catholic educational mission in a rapidly changing higher education landscape.

Among other stories, you’ll read about the signing of a historic agreement between Seattle University and Cornish College of the Arts that will establish Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, setting the stage for an enhanced and innovative future for arts education in Seattle and the Puget Sound region. Following on the heels of the announcement of the historic $300 million gift of the Hedreen art collection—and the accompanying plan to build the Seattle University Museum of Art—the establishment of the Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University will cement us as the leading center for arts education in the Pacific Northwest.

And don’t miss the story about our new pep band! As we prepare to (re)join the West Coast Conference on July 1, 2025, there could not be a better time to have these musicians livening up our games and our campus.  

Finally, I encourage you to read about two new senior leaders who have joined us in recent months, including Tammy Herdener, ’94, who has returned to her alma mater to serve as Senior Vice Provost for Student and Campus Life, and Randy Merced, our new Executive Director for Public Safety and Emergency Management. Both bring a wealth of wisdom and experience in higher education and will help move our university forward.  

As we celebrate the inspiring people and exciting new initiatives featured in this magazine, I am grateful for the commitment of our alumni and friends. Thank you for being a part of all that Seattle University is today and all that it will be in the future. 

Respectfully, 

Eduardo M. Peñalver 
President