Willamette Academics
Our challenging academic program will help you develop your talents in an environment that cultivates creativity, critical thinking and a global perspective. Willamette professors are celebrated teachers and noted scholars who — above all else — are committed to your success. As a Willamette graduate, you will be equipped to succeed and accountable to yourself, your community and the future.
Willamette challenges you to:
- think critically
- write persuasively
- analyze deeply
- communicate fluently
- grow intellectually
- engage globally
These skills are fostered by Willamette faculty who:
- join our community because teaching is their passion
- strive to challenge, engage and truly know their students
- are deeply committed to each student’s success
- are noted scholars, inviting students to participate in their research
You will leave Willamette with the skills to:
- impress potential employers in a host of fields
- succeed in the country's best graduate programs
- be a responsible leader in your community and globally
Real-World Experiences
A Business Man, Minus the Suit
Biking is more than a pastime for Jan Taborsky — it’s a vocation.
"Attending Willamette and getting the Kemper Scholarship were life-changing experiences for me," Jan Taborsky says. "Both opportunities gave me direction and laid out a potential career path."
Introducing Students to Research
Professor Seth Cotlar challenges his students to think critically about history while they assist him with research.
"My research assistants get to experience first-hand what it's like to be a professional researcher or writer," says Seth Cotlar, associate professor of history. "They learn something important about themselves while getting a close-up look at how the books they see in Borders or read in their classes are produced."
Devoted to the Liberal Arts
Willamette is helping Yesenia Gallardo find ways to merge her diverse academic pursuits.
"Willamette has helped me tap into my potential," Yesenia Gallardo says. "When I started college, I already had an idea about what I was interested in and what I was good at, but Willamette pushed me to take those pursuits to a new level."
In Love with the Outdoors
Kate D'Ambrosio ’06 turned her passions for forestry and public policy into a career with the U.S. Forest Service.
"The professors at Willamette don't forget about you after you graduate," Kate D'Ambrosio '06 says. "They have a continued interest in their students. Their help and support has been invaluable."
A Leader On and Off the Field
Whether playing football or helping form a new club, Walter Robinson hones his leadership skills at Willamette.
"My dad always told me, 'Work as hard in the classroom as you do on the field,'" Walter Robinson says. "I've definitely done that at Willamette. My teachers have made me step outside my box and think critically, and I know that will help me in the future."