Dr. George and Mrs. Helen Long

Dr. George Long graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1966 with degrees in both Biology and Chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Brandeis University in 1971, where he studied invertebrate lactate dehydrogenases. He then worked on nuclear DNA polymerases as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California at San Diego. Dr. Long was Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Pomona College from 1971-79 and from 1979-1982 he was an NIH Senior Fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Washington, Seattle. Subsequently, from 1982-1986 he was a Senior Research Scientist at Eli Lilly & Company in Indianapolis where his lab studied the genes of proteins regulating blood coagulation. Now, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Vermont, Dr. Long served as Professor of Biochemistry in the College of Medicine from 1986 to 2006.

In 2002, Dr. Long was awarded National Inventor of the year by the National Organization for Intellectual Property. He was elected to the Vermont Academy of Science and Technology in 2003 and was named Distinguished Alumnus at Pacific Lutheran University in 2005.

Dr. Long is the proud father of five daughters. In 2000, George married Helen Seltstedt. Together George and Helen owned and operated a bed and breakfast for 13 years in Burlington, Vermont where they remain active in the community. For example, George has been a Guardian Ad Litem in the County Courts since 2006 and enjoys helping elementary school children with their reading. Helen, for many years, has served on the Boards of the University of Vermont Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, the Burlington Garden Club, and Joseph’s House. Together, the Longs enjoy gardening, bicycling, cooking, travel, and reading and currently spend winters in Arizona. They also enjoy time and activities with their grandchildren.

In 2015, Dr. George and Mrs. Helen Long named Pacific Lutheran University as a beneficiary of their estate and established the George L. and Helen B. Long Science, Technology and Society Endowment for the Natural Science Division at PLU. The endowment includes the opportunity to bring an expert in the field to present at the Rachel Carson Science, Technology and Society Lecture. Since the establishment of the endowment, the Longs have made a financial gift to the university each year so they are able to see the impact of their gift during their lifetime.

Dr. George and Mrs. Helen Long
Dr. George and Mrs. Helen Long