Bushnell University Reaches Record Undergraduate Enrollment (Photo) - 09/22/26

EUGENE, Ore. – Bushnell University began the fall 2026 term with a record 603 undergraduate students, the largest undergraduate population in university history.  

Total enrollment for undergraduates and graduates reached 796 students, a three percent increase over the prior year, and the fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth. 

Undergraduate enrollment increased six percent, from 567 students in fall 2025 to 603 this fall. Bushnell also welcomed a record 246 new undergraduate students, a 24 percent increase over last year. That group includes a record 137 first-year students, up 36 percent from 101 in 2025.

“Each of these numbers represents a student who has chosen to make Bushnell part of their story,” shares Bushnell University President Dr. Joseph Womack. “We are grateful for that trust. Continued growth gives us both the opportunity and the responsibility to serve more students through an education grounded in wisdom, faith and service and to prepare them for lives of purpose in their professions, communities, and churches.”

The fall 2026 class also reflects Bushnell’s reach beyond Oregon. One-third of first-year students come from outside the state, while new traditional undergraduate students arrived from 12 states in addition to Oregon: Florida, New York, and Texas, along with many other western states. 

Bushnell also welcomed 15 international students from Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

Bushnell continues to serve a significant population of first-generation college students, who make up 40 percent of the university’s traditional undergraduates.

“There is so much to celebrate in this year’s record enrollment,” said Michael Fuller, M.S., vice president for enrollment. “Students and their families are choosing Bushnell because it is a strong investment in their future, a place where they can explore their calling within a personal, Christ-centered community while gaining the practical experience needed to succeed in the workforce. Our location in the heart of Eugene further connects students to a vibrant community filled with opportunities to learn, serve, and grow. We are tremendously grateful for every student who has chosen Bushnell and excited about all they will bring to our university.”

The fall enrollment continues a longer period of sustained growth for Bushnell. The university has now recorded five consecutive years of enrollment growth. During the 2025-26 academic year, Bushnell served 958 students, a 3.5 percent increase over the previous year, and a 15 percent increase since 2022-23.

Bushnell University is a private, Christian university in Eugene, Oregon. The university fosters wisdom, faith and service through excellent academic programs within a Christ-centered community.

Fall 2026 enrollment figures reflect University headcount as of Sept. 22, 2026.

About Bushnell University

Founded in 1895, Bushnell University helps students discover and answer God’s call on their lives. Devoted to offering a Christ-centered environment, Bushnell encourages students to grow in wisdom, informed by faith, and leading to lives of service. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the University was founded by pastor-educator Eugene C. Sanderson and pioneer businessman and church leader James A. Bushnell. 

Bushnell is the largest private university in Eugene’s vibrant University District. The University offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees for undergraduate and graduate studies through course formats on campus, online, and hybrid formats. More information about the University is available at www.bushnell.edu. 

Bushnell University Welcomes Healthcare Leader Rhonda Busek (Photo) - 08/26/26

EUGENE, Ore. – Bushnell University is pleased to welcome veteran Oregon healthcare leader Rhonda Busek, MBA, as associate dean of the College of Health Professions. Busek brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience and an extensive network of healthcare partnerships that will help strengthen student opportunities, expand clinical collaborations, and support the future of Oregon’s healthcare workforce. 

In her new role, Busek provides academic leadership for the College of Health Professions while expanding strategic partnerships with healthcare organizations across the state. Her work focuses on strengthening clinical training opportunities, advancing workforce development initiatives, and fostering collaborations that prepare students to serve their communities with excellence, compassion, and faith. 

For Busek, joining Bushnell is not simply taking on a new job: it is the continuation of a journey she believes has been guided by relationships, service, and God’s faithfulness. “Throughout my career, I have been blessed with opportunities to serve alongside incredible healthcare leaders and community partners,” she shared. “Each experience prepared me for the next, and I believe those experiences have led me to Bushnell. I wanted to be a part of Bushnell’s future and the future of the healthcare workforce in Lane County.” 

A Calling Shaped by Relationships 

Raised on her family’s cotton farm in Slaton, Texas, Busek learned early the value of hard work, community, and serving others. While working for a radiology practice during college, she gained firsthand exposure to hospitals and physician offices, sparking an interest in the broader healthcare system. 

“It helped me identify that healthcare systems and community relationships were my areas of interest and strength.” 

After marrying her husband, Andy, the couple moved to Oregon and established what she describes as a “middle ground” between their families in Texas and Alaska. Eugene soon became home, and Busek began building relationships that would shape the next three decades of her career. 

She started with the Lane County Medical Society, where she worked closely with physicians and healthcare leaders, developing professional relationships that continue today. Those connections opened the door to Lane Individual Practice Association, later Trillium Community Health Plan, where she spent 15 years serving in progressively senior leadership roles, ultimately becoming Senior VP of Government and Community Services while earning an MBA in Healthcare Management from Florida Institute of Technology. 

She later helped PacificSource Health Plans establish its first Coordinated Care Organizations – innovative community health programs designed to ensure that healthcare decisions reflect local needs. She then spent six years with Oregon Health Authority, serving as deputy Medicaid Director before becoming Provider Services Director, helping shape healthcare policy and strengthening systems that served Medicaid patients all across Oregon. 

Looking back, Busek sees a common thread running throughout each chapter of her career. “I have been blessed with colleagues, mentors and opportunities that have continually opened new doors,” she said. “Those relationships have taught me that meaningful progress happens when organizations come together with a shared purpose of serving others.” 

Investing in the Future Healthcare Workforce 

Most recently, Busek served as executive director of the Lane Community Health Council, where she partnered with healthcare providers, government agencies, and community organizations to address some of Lane County’s greatest healthcare challenges, including workforce development, children’s behavioral health, food insecurity, and housing. 

It was through those workforce initiatives that she first became acquainted with Bushnell University and its growing commitment to healthcare education. Following a healthcare workforce grant awarded to Bushnell, Busek witnessed the university’s desire to prepare healthcare professionals equipped not only with technical expertise but also with a Christ-centered approach to caring for others. 

“I learned about Bushnell’s desire and drive to become a leader in higher education for the future healthcare workforce and graduating students who were capable and driven to bring their faith, knowledge and experience into their work lives,” she said. “I was intrigued and interested in becoming a part of the education of the future healthcare workforce.” 

When the associate dean position became available, Busek saw an opportunity to unite everything she had spent decades building. 

“I wanted to bring my healthcare relationships from the past 20-plus years, my experience in local community, county and state healthcare systems, and my desire to grow the workforce in Lane County,” she said. 

Strengthening Healthcare Partnerships Across Oregon 

Her extensive network throughout Oregon’s healthcare community positions Bushnell to strengthen partnerships with hospitals, clinics, healthcare systems, and community organizations, creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students while helping address workforce needs across the region. 

“Rhonda’s remarkable career has been defined by servant leadership, collaboration, and a deep commitment to improving health and wellness across Oregon,” said Dr. Reed Mueller, vice president for academic affairs at Bushnell University. “Her relationships in behavioral and physical healthcare systems across the state, combined with her strategic leadership and heart for strengthening whole systems, will be an incredible asset to our students, our faculty, and partners in the region, ultimately serving the needs of the community through our growing College of Health Professions. We are excited to welcome her to Bushnell.” 

As Oregon continues to face growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, Busek believes institutions like Bushnell play an essential role in preparing graduates who combine professional excellence with compassion, integrity, and a commitment to serving others. As associate dean, she hopes to help position Bushnell as a trusted partner in addressing Oregon’s healthcare workforce needs while preparing graduates to serve with both professional excellence and Christ-centered compassion. 

For Busek, that mission makes Bushnell exactly where she is meant to be. 

“I believe God continues to open doors for each of us in ways we don’t always expect,” Busek said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside the faculty, staff and students at Bushnell, and I look forward to helping prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders who will make a lasting difference in our communities.”