Pacific Index

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: A & E

Merck, who graduated from Pacific in 1998 was recently hired to fill the new role of Media Relations director.

"It's a great place to be," said Billy Merck, the new Director of Media Relations, while reminiscing about his years at Pacific. Although he has been as far as Louisiana and back since his undergraduate graduation, Merck seems unable to stay away from his beloved alma mater.

Merck was a Pacific undergraduate student from 1993 to 1998 where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in English. Since then, he has completed a Master of Arts in education, also from Pacific, and a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing as well as a Master of Arts in English from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Currently, he is working toward his Doctorate at Washington State University, Pullman.

Technically speaking, The Director of Media Relations position on campus is a new one and not completely outlined. Merck has high hopes for his job description even though there are some holes to fill.

"Some of it is even kind of undefined which is exciting because I get to define it," he said.

In the 90's, when Merck was still an undergraduate, he played soccer for the university and discovered his calling for English and creative writing. He originally started school with plans to be a math teacher, which changed to a history teacher, and then later became English. Merck credited Pacific professors Lorelle Browning and Doyle Walls for having a significant influence on the discovery for his passion for English.

Merck's other passion, soccer, took him across the nation and away from Pacific. When he started work on his Master of education degree at Pacific he was also playing for the indoor soccer team, Portland Pythons. Before his education degree was finished he left to play indoor soccer out of state with a group of his teammates. They all piled into a van and drove to Utah to play for a year-and-a-half. Afterward, they continued on their journey to play in Louisiana.

After returning to the Portland area, Merck started teaching at Washington State University, Vancouver. The same year he taught there, Tim Thompson, a Pacific English professor, asked him to come fill an adjunct position teaching expository writing.

The Pacific alumni soccer game, in fall of 2007, opened the doors for Merck's new Personal Relations job at Pacific. In September of 2007, Merck got in touch with Barbara Richey, Associate Vice President in Marketing and Communications, requesting coverage of a soccer player and friend, associated with Pacific, in the university magazine. During their exchanges, Richey urged Merck to apply for the opening PR position. A few months later, Merck found himself back at Pacific wearing a business suit and, once again, filling different shoes than he had before.

"The university is a different university then when I was a student here, but I like it because I still get to go through that discovery," he said. "I am sad they moved the soccer field though…"

Merck's summation of exactly what he will be doing here at Pacific was a simple one. He is here to make Pacific a better experience for everyone, both those that are already here and those that don't even know they are going to come here yet.

"I would welcome any student, faculty or staff who sees me, to stop me, and tell me why they are here and about their experience. I want to know who the people are here and what they like about Pacific," said Merck.

Merck is very interested in meeting any Pacific student. Feel free to contact him at any time: bmerck@pacificu.edu, 503-352-2902 or at UC Box A162

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