Alumni Blog

Seattle University’s 22nd President Eduardo Peñalver has been traveling across the country over the past several weeks, hosting a series of events with alumni, donors, prospective students, and friends of the university.

Meet 22 in ‘22 has been an opportunity for President Peñalver to deepen his relationships with members of the Seattle U community who don’t currently call Seattle home, which has been a priority for the president since his Inauguration last September.

“One of the most important goals for my first year is learning as much as I can about Seattle U,” says Peñalver. “Getting out on the road and meeting members of these different communities in different places is another way for me to get to know the Seattle U family.”

Peñalver has been accompanied on the tour by other leaders at the University, including Provost Shane Martin, Athletic Director Shaney Fink, new Vice President for University Advancement Edgar Gonzalez, and Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement Ellen Whitlock Baker. The stops have included the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Portland.

Each visit has included an “anchor” event, which has allowed attendees to hear directly from Peñalver about his current priorities and long-term vision for Seattle University. Additionally, the president has taken the reins as a panel moderator, facilitating an open dialogue between him, alumni, students, and faculty at each stop. This included a Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) panel, featuring recent alumni living in the Bay Area, and an Ignatian-inspired leadership discussion in L.A. – which included Erica Yamamura, director of Student Development Administration program/College of Education, as a panelist.

In addition to each “anchor” event, Associate Provost and Dean of Admission James Miller and his team have hosted an admitted students’ reception, where future Seattle U students can learn more about Seattle U and the Redhawk community, meet other admitted students, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni. The reception provides admitted students with information about the “strategic directions and revitalization of the curriculum” occurring this year. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to connect with our admitted students, which is something we were always doing, but what I’m excited about is that we’re doing it in a more authentic way to Seattle U,” says Miller. We are really looking at our admitted students and alumni communities as connected to one another.”

The president’s tour will pick back up later this month in Washington, D.C. on Friday, April 22, followed by stops throughout Washington state – including Tacoma (May 11), Bellevue (May 18), and the Tri-Cities (June 15).

To learn more about Meet 22 in ’22, visit www.seattleu.edu/presidents-tour.

The Meet 22 in '22 President’s Tour launched with events in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, March 15-16. Beyond providing an opportunity for SU’s 22nd President Eduardo Peñalver to meet constituents in these markets including alumni, donors, employers and higher education leaders, the events are an occasion for prospective students and their families to hear about the Seattle University experience from people who lived it—our alumni, faculty, and students.

In the Bay Area, Brian Le, ’19, Raelene Judnich, ’16, and Justin Totura, ‘17, all Graduates of the Last Decade—or GOLD alumni—participated in a roundtable discussion sharing what made SU the right fit for them, memories of their student experience, tales of the college-to-career transition and their best advice for prospective students. Though each alum pursued a different academic track, all were drawn to SU by common underlying themes, such as the desire to attend college in a vibrant urban setting where “business was booming” and where there were good internship opportunities, an interest in SU’s Jesuit mission and the welcoming experience when first visiting campus. The alums illustrated their unique college-to-career transitions with stories of trying on different roles, mastering learning curves and practicing persistence, honest foreshadowing for students at the start of their college experience, laced with valuable lessons and positive payoffs.

In Los Angeles, Jack Neton, ’22, a senior majoring in business analytics and finance and captain of the men’s swim team, joined Deyadra Blye, ’09, now a program manager at Santa Monica College, and Erica Yamamura, College of Education’s Student Development Administration Program Director, in a roundtable discussion focused on their journeys to and through Seattle University, as well as the role that Ignatian-inspired leadership has played in their student and professional experiences. A grounding in issues of social justice and racial equity, the practices of reflection and discernment and caring faculty and coaches surfaced as key differentiating characteristics of a Seattle University Jesuit education that have guided each in their own personal leadership path.

The following quotes from the alumni table participants at both locations offer advice for prospective students to inspire enrollment in the Redhawks Class of 2026.

“Be curious. Sing in the choir. Take that psychology class. Get involved in the community. Take the time to figure out what you’re naturally good at and what excites you.”
– Raelene Judnich, ’16

“Take advantage of opportunities on and off campus. That’s what allowed me to find what I love and am truly passionate about, and what I’m doing today.”
– Brian Le, ’19

“Find your community and support system. The people who made the most difference for me were the ones I got to “drop in” and see every day.”
– Deyadra Blye, ’09

“Put yourself out there. College is not like high school: if you’re authentically yourself people will enjoy that. Make friends when working to achieve a common goal – whether that’s part of a club, a class, your residence hall floor, etc. Build your own community. Alumni go out of the way to get you at least connected. Build those relationships now. College is tough – you need the relationships, and that’s a distinguishing factor for SU.”
– Jack Neton, ’22

For more information on Meet 22 in '22, visit seattleu.edu/presidents-tour.