I Give Because | Amy Pedersen '08, OD '11

Amy Pedersen ’08, OD ’11 liked Pacific so much, she stayed six years. The daughter of Pacific University optometry alumnus Kres Pedersen ’79, OD ‘81, Amy came to Pacific to play basketball and enjoy a small-school environment. She ended up following her father to the university’s College of Optometry and into the profession, both ultimately working for Kaiser Permanente in California.

Personal attention at Pacific was key for Kres and for Amy alike.

“The professors at Pacific were there to teach. It really showed,” Kres said. “They were there to be a mentor, to get you excited about the material in the class and want you to investigate.”

“Professors had us over to their houses,” Amy echoed. “It was a very different college experience than I think a lot of people had.”

Both Kres and Amy have continued to support Pacific since their respective graduations.

“I give because I had a really, really good education, and even more than that, I had a great mentor,” Amy said.