Get to Know a Gustie: Tracy Bahl ’84

Grad year: 1984

Major: Exercise Physiology

Hometown: Faribault, MN

Current City: Greenwich, CN

Current Company/Organization: OneOncology

Job Title: President and CEO

What is your first Gustavus memory?

Visiting Gustavus as a high school senior and feeling the “Gustie Spirit” first had.

What was your favorite class and/or professor and why?

Athletic Training taught by Gary Reinholtz. It inspired me to serve as an Athletic Trainer while at Gustavus, and further opened my eyes to the healthcare industry. Gary was an outstanding teacher with a rare balance of high competence, humor, and approachability that I try to model as a leader today. Interestingly, those characteristics are shared by all of the by all of the Gustavus faculty I meet today. I think it is one of the many things that differentiates Gustavus as an academic institution.

What do you miss most about your time as a student?

Being with my friends every day, learning new things together – both inside and outside the classroom. While Gustavus really launched me into this journey of lifelong learning,, and my best friends today are those I met at Gustavus, there is something really special about that initial experience as a student.

What brought you back to campus the last time you visited?

I get to campus once a quarter for our Board of Trustees meeting, but also try to get back as much as I can – particularly for Gustie football.

How has your Gustavus experience most impacted your life beyond the Hill?

Clearly the academic experience opened doors and prepared me to charge through them. But beyond that, the values Gustavus instilled in me years ago are evident to this day. The sense of your place in a broader world, the pursuit of justice and fairness, and the idea of a community of people working together to make the world a better place are still important to me. It’s been clear to me that you may leave Gustavus after your four year, but Gustavus never really leaves you.

What do you most enjoy about being a Gustie alum?

Getting a chance to see the students that make up Gustavus today. I wonder how I ever got admitted! It’s inspiring to see these students and the incredible adults they are becoming. It makes me fell great about the future of Gustavus and of our next generation.

 


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