Where Legends Are Made

What does it mean to be a legend or to live a life, to make a mark, to affect change that is legendary? To be a legend is not about celebrity or a certain status level—legends are shaped through curiosity, courage, compassion and a dedication to the common good. They set in motion a movement that is impactful, influencing others through inspiration and aspiration.

It's the professor whose research can be truly life changing. It's the student who is transformed inside the classroom and becomes a force outside of it. It's the artist who sees the world in bold, vibrant colors or the community leader who is elevating civic engagement. All of these are individuals who are legendary or legends in the making and it’s such individuals who inspire Seattle University’s “Be Legendary” initiative.

At Seattle University, being legendary means pursuing excellence while remaining grounded in purpose. It means asking difficult questions, challenging assumptions and using one’s gifts and talents to make a meaningful difference.

“Be Legendary” is guided by this mantra:

In the heart of the Pacific Northwest,
in a city of influence, it takes big dreams, inspiration and dedication to make your story legendary.
Whether your path is clearly marked or you're sketching it out as you go, Seattle University is the place to be in the spotlight.
Be a leader with purpose who shapes the world with passion.
Be on the forefront.
Be unstoppable.
Be for others.
Seattle University:
Be legendary.

This is more than a mission statement—it’s the bedrock of what it means to “Be Legendary” at Seattle University and what sets us apart.

“Being legendary is not about fame or burnishing one’s standing or credentials,” says Interim President Stephen Sundborg, S.J. “It is about leadership grounded in purpose and compassion, service that transforms communities and excellence that moves the world forward.”

This spirit is everywhere on campus—in classrooms and labs, performance spaces and residence halls.

It's present in faculty members such as renowned researcher Shen Ren and diagnostic ultrasound pioneer Joan Baker, who is featured in this issue. It's reflected in students who are turning ambition into action and in alumni who have become artists, entrepreneurs, public servants, athletes, even stand-up comedians like alum Monica Nevi, who turned a basketball injury into a career pivot to stand-up (see Nevi’s story in this issue’s “The Last Word.”)

We have legends like trailblazing mountaineer Jim Whittaker, Oscar-winning actor Brendan Fraser, Grammy-winning musician and educator Johnaye Kendrick, basketball icon Elgin Baylor and Rhodes Scholars Emile Wilson and Ryan Sawyer, all who began their journeys at Seattle University or Cornish College of the Arts and all with a passion for learning, a dedication to discovery and a fidelity to their craft.

While their paths may be different, they share something in common—a commitment to using their talents in service of something greater than themselves. And in the process, they are or are becoming legends.

The Legends

Legendary Trailblazer Jim Whittaker: A giant of mountaineering and Northwest outdoor life—and a towering figure at 6 foot 5 inches—Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mount Everest.

Whittaker would go on to become REI’s first full-time employee and later CEO before becoming an accomplished sailor.

Legendary Performer Jinkx Monsoon: Celebrated stage and screen artist Jinkx Monsoon first cut their performance chops as a student at Cornish College of the Arts.

From RuPaul’s Drag Race to Broadway and the West End, Monsoon’s star has been on the rise over the past decade. But their ascent to stardom seemed destined even back in their day as a college student at an arts school. 

Legend of the Courts Justice G. Helen Whitener, ’98 JD: A true trailblazer, Justice G. Helen Whitener is the first Black woman and first Black openly LGBTQ justice to serve on the Washington State Supreme Court.

Appointed to the state’s high court in April 2020 by then-Gov. Jay Inslee, Justice Whitener has since won election twice, first in November 2020 and then again in 2022. Whitener is the second Black person to serve on the state’s high court, after the late Justice Charles Z. Smith.

Legendary Actor Brendan Fraser: The Oscar-winning actor (The Whale)—who has ties to Seattle—honed many of his acting skills on stage performing as a student of the Cornish College of the Arts.

From goofy comedies to leading a hit action franchise to deeply dramatic roles including one that resulted in an Academy Award, Fraser has had a varied but unquestionably enduring acting career.

Legendary in Ethics & Tech Professor Onur Bakiner, PhD: Director of SU’s Technology Ethics Initiative, the professor’s research explores the people-side of artificial intelligence—its promising opportunities and potential pitfalls.

Dr. Bakiner is a leading force behind the university’s annual Ethics & Tech Conference, which brings to campus many of the brightest minds and industry leaders in this space.

Legendary Major Leaguer Tarik Skubal: Maintaining his dominance on the mound for the 2025 season—and helping lead his team to the post season two years in a row­—Detroit Tigers lefty and Seattle University baseball legend Tarik Skubal went back-to-back seasons as the American League's Cy Young winner (2024 & 2025).

Legendary in Cutting Edge Research Assistant Teaching Professor Shen Ren, PhD: Dr. Shen Ren is collaborating with the University of Washington and Northwest Kidney Center to transform dialysis treatment. 

Dr. Ren has helped to develop a novel urea removal technology for the development of a portable artificial kidney. The work is in partnership with the UW’s Center for Dialysis Innovation (CDI) and Northwest Kidney Centers (NWKC). 

Legendary in Entrepreneurship Madeline Haydon, ’05 MBA: Madeline Haydon is the founder and former CEO of nutpods, a clean-label, dairy-free creamer that achieved national recognition for sustainable business practices and rapid growth. What started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2011 became the number one dairy-free creamer on Amazon.

As the CEO of Green Grass Foods, the parent company of nutpods, Haydon led the company to rank #13 on the Inc. 5,000 list in 2019 and earned Amazon’s “Small Business of the Year” honors in 2020

Legendary in Civic Leadership and Politics Shasti Conrad: A 2007 alum, Shasti Conrad’s star continues to shine as the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Conrad’s position within the party has grown since she graduated from Seattle University after majoring in sociology and international studies. She served as a field organizer for Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign and joined President Obama’s first class of White House interns.

Legendary Hall of Fame Basketball Great Elgin Baylor: There are legends. And then there are LEGENDS, which defines the Seattle University hoops great who became a player, coach and later executive in the NBA.

Among the most well-known alums of Seattle University—there’s a reason SU's basketball court is named after him—Baylor is on the short list of the greatest basketball players of all time. A Most Valuable Player award-winner. A Basketball Hall-of-Famer. And certainly among the most famous athletes to emerge from SU.

Legendary in Music and Arts Education Johnaye Kendrick: For vocalist, composer and educator Johnaye Kendrick, being nominated for a fifth Grammy Award—and now a newly minted Grammy Award winner—is more than a professional milestone. It’s a moment decades in the making.

The chair of the music department at Cornish College of the Arts, Kendrick is a founding member of the vocal quartet säje while also balancing the different roles she plays as a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and educator. 

Legend in the Making Naho Umitani. A 2026 graduate who just walked across the stage at Climate Pledge Arena, Naho Umitani will be starting a year-long fellowship at the California State Capitol in the fall, where she will gain firsthand experience in policy work.

The position interested the 2025 Truman Scholar because of the opportunities to work directly on legislative policy—from research to drafting to passage into law—and aligns with her major in public affairs (she also majored in economics.)

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These are just some examples of remarkable individuals who are all leading by example and with purpose and compassion, pursuing excellence and creating lasting change. That's what it means to be legendary at Seattle University.

And it's a story that's still being written.

Take the legendary quiz to test your knowledge!