Steve Thorsett

Steve Thorsett is the 20th President of Willamette University, a position he has held since July 1, 2011. He is an accomplished astrophysicist and higher education administrator, with extensive experience in academia. Thorsett's research focuses on areas such as radio pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, and the masses of neutron stars, contributing significantly to the fields of radio astronomy and high-energy astrophysics.12

Early Life and Education

Born on December 3, 1964, in New Haven, Connecticut, Thorsett grew up in Salem, Oregon. He graduated from South Salem High School in 1983 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Carleton College in 1987, graduating summa cum laude. He then completed his Ph.D. in Physics at Princeton University in 1991, where he focused on millisecond and binary pulsars.24

Academic Career

Before his presidency at Willamette University, Thorsett was a professor and served as the Dean of the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz from 2006 to 2011. His earlier academic roles included positions at Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology.124

Contributions as President

As president, Thorsett has overseen various initiatives aimed at enhancing Willamette University's academic programs and financial stability. Notably, he has been involved in the strategic merger discussions with the Pacific Northwest College of Art, aiming to strengthen both institutions while maintaining their unique identities.3 His leadership style emphasizes decentralized management, allowing individual colleges within the university to foster their own cultures.3

Thorsett's contributions to academia extend beyond administrative roles; he is recognized for his scholarly work and has received awards such as the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship during his career.2