As the UO celebrates its 147th commencement, it’s time to look back at some of the highlights of the 2022-23 academic year
A High-Flying Flock
In September, the UO welcomed the largest number of incoming students in its history and an exceptional freshman class of diverse, talented and high-achieving Ducks. The new class numbered 5,338 new students, an increase of 16 percent over 2021 and a 36 percent increase in freshmen classes over the previous five years. The new flock of Ducks also broke records for representation, academic achievement and more, with an average high school GPA of 3.76, and 36 percent coming from a diverse race or ethnicity.
A Change in Leadership
As fall term began, the university found itself in search of a president. Michael Schill, UO president since 2015, announced in August he was leaving to take the same job at Northwestern University in Chicago.
In March, after an international search, the UO Board of Trustees named John Karl Scholz as the UO’s 19th president. A distinguished economist, Scholz had been serving as provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His economics expertise is in household savings, low-wage labor markets, financial barriers to higher education, and bankruptcy laws. He served in two presidential administrations, working in both the U.S. Treasury Department and the Council of Economic Advisors. He’ll begin his tenure as UO president July 1.
In other leadership news, Ginevra Ralph was selected as the second chair of the UO Board of Trustees. Ralph, whose term ends this summer, is stepping down. She and trustee Ross Kari, who also is stepping down, are the only remaining trustees from the original board appointed by then-Governor Kitzhaber in 2014.
At a final meeting of the school year, the Trustees voted to approve current Vice Chair Steve Holwerda as chair of the board, succeeding Ralph, and Marcia Aaron to become vice chair, succeeding Holwerda. They assume their new roles effective July 1.
Academics in the News
Innovations and initiatives benefited students, researchers, and the citizens of Oregon
The World of Discovery
Wide World of Sports
Players excelled and fans thrilled to winning performances on the fields and courts
Last summer, the University of Oregon became the first-ever host of a World Athletics Championship on American soil, shining a light on Hayward Field like never before.
In his first year on the job, football coach Dan Lanning led the Ducks to a 10-win season, capped by a thrilling 28-27 victory over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl. Along the way, ESPN’s College Gameday came to Eugene for the 11th time as the Ducks downed UCLA at Autzen Stadium.
Women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves notched the 200th victory of his Oregon career during a season that saw the Ducks advance to the round of eight in the WNIT postseason tournament.
The women’s volleyball team were a perfect 12-0 at home, set a school record with a 16-match winning streak, and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
As the school year wound down, the Ducks baseball team got hot, winning their last nine games to secure a tournament bid to the College World Series and bring a Super Regional series to PK Park.
Student Experiences
Within and outside of the classroom, students explored ways to make a difference
