Fall 2023 Class Notes

The latest book by Marilyn Redmond, BAE, music education, "A Spark of Truth," is now on Amazon, along with her other 10 spiritual/self‐help books.

Two WWU alums, Pat Piggee, ’66, BAE, elementary education, and Thelma Temple, ’72, B.A., psychology, are neighbors in Maryland at the Collington continuing care retirement community in Mitchellville. Pat is active with the community’s Residents Association and was delighted to meet a fellow alum in Thelma when she moved to the community recently.

Steve May, B.A., English, wrote "Dickinson on Cats" for the May-June 2023 edition of The Emily Dickinson Bulletin. He is also working on a chapbook, "Emily Dickinson on Books," and volunteers as the e-commerce manager for the Friends of the Salem Public Library. 

Vern Giesbrecht, B.A., English, has published several articles in British Columbia History Magazine, including "Toil and Trivia: A Newspaper Editor's Life," about his time as editor of The Hope Standard from 1968 to 1970, and a profile of actor and director Antony Holland. 

Karen Triplett, B.A.E., biology – secondary, recently released her new book, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” 

Woodhall Press recently published Jennifer Chapman's novel, "Dying for a Second Chance," a psychological thriller. Jennifer, BAE, elementary education, spent her career in education, working in the U.S. and Guatemala and establishing several intergenerational programs. 

David Swanson, B.A., sociology, was recently inducted into the Washington State Academy of Sciences for his work in the field of demography. David is an emeritus professor in sociology at the University of California Riverside and continues to work in population and demographic research at Portland State University, University of Washington and Mississippi State University. 

Eileen Yamada Lamphere, B.A., elementary education and '89, M. Ed., school administration, is retired from the Kent School District and serves as president of the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League. The JACL is working on establishing a remembrance gallery at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, where thousands of people of Japanese descent were incarcerated during World War II following Executive Order 9066. 

Two WWU alums, Pat Piggee, ’66, BAE, elementary education, and Thelma Temple, ’72, B.A., psychology, are neighbors in Maryland at the Collington continuing care retirement community in Mitchellville. Pat is active with the community’s Residents Association and was delighted to meet a fellow alum in Thelma when she moved to the community recently.

Scott F. Andrews, BAE, music - elementary, and '74, M.A., music, is retired following a career as a musician, teacher, conductor and mentor. Scott worked in Canada as a choral conductor and singer and later became the Music Officer for the Touring Office of the Canada Council. He also worked with CBC Radio to develop a career program for aspiring young artists. Scott wrote that he is immensely grateful for the training and encouragement he received from Western's music faculty, particularly Robert L. Scandrett. His experiences at Western "opened up for me a world which I would never have dreamed possible," he writes. 

Al Ralston, B.A., political science, is vice president and partner at Gordon Thomas Honeywell - Government Affairs and the incoming president of Renton Rotary. Previously, Al was the president of the Washington Research Council and spent more than two decades in political strategy for The Boeing Co. 

Carol V. Davis, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, just had her fourth poetry book
published: "Below Zero," Stephen F. Austin State University Press. The book is centered on
poems about Siberia, where Carol taught at a university in January 2018. She was due to be back in
Siberia in 2020 as a Fulbright Specialist. She postponed twice because of COVID-19 and when the war
began, the State Department closed the Fulbright program in Russia. Carol teaches at Santa Monica College and Antioch University, Los Angeles.

Randy Alanko, B.S., chemistry/biology, reports that he retired from his solo family medicine practice in Baker City, Oregon, after "36.98 years." He has six grown children and recently celebrated his 40th anniversary with his wife Janet. 

Scott Cairns, B.A., English, will publish his 10th poetry collection, "Lacunae: New Poems," with Paraclete Press in November. Two previous collections, "Slow Pilgrim: The Collected Poems" and "Anaphora," were published in 2016 and 2019. His spiritual memoir, "Short Trip to the Edge" was recently translated into Greek and Romanian, and his book-length essay, "The End of Suffering," was just published in Greek. 

Paul Lindholdt, B.A., and '80, M.A., English, teaches literature and environmental studies at Eastern Washington University. LSU Press just published Paul's latest book, "Interrogating Travel: Guidance from a Reluctant Tourist," which combines first-hand narratives with research about the travel trade. Amid the escalating climate crisis, Paul asks, has the human cost of trekking the globe become too high? 

The Rev.. J. Edgar Boyd, B.A., recently retired from the pastoral ministry; he most recently served First AME Church - Los Angeles, the oldest African American church in LA. While there, Rev. Boyd formed the South Los Angeles Community Development and Empowerment Corporation, which collaborates with other denominations to address social and economic issues in South Los Angeles. Previously, Rev. Boyd served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in San Francisco for 20 years, and led Bethel AME Church of Los Angeles from 1986-92. 

Susan Lynn, B.A., journalism, editor and publisher of the Iola Register in Kansas, was recently inducted into the Kansas Journalism Hall of Fame. Susan is also past president of the Kansas Press Association. 

Chris Rust, B.A., political science, retired as superintendent of the Toledo School District in Washington state. Chris taught children with special needs and served as a school administrator in several Washington school districts. 

Kevin Bryant, B.A., speech communication, and '90, M.Ed., student personnel administration, is a former basketball player at Western from 1976 to 1980 and will be inducted into the Oregon Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame at Sunriver, Oregon, this April. Kevin has worked for high school athletic administration for school districts in Aloha, Tigard, Hudson's Bay, Redmond and Centennial. 

Greg Cox, B.A., chemistry, writes for Star Trek Explorer magazine. He also contributed a horror story, "Night of the Living Brain," to a new book, "Double Trouble: An Anthology of Two-Fisted Team-Ups," published by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. 

Paul Allen, B.S., computer science, recently retired after more than 38 years as a software engineer at IBM in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds several US and international software patents. 

Brian Lind, B.A., journalism, recently became Supply Chain Manager - Americas for Corio Generation, part of Macquarie's Green Investment Group. Brian has been a procurement professional in the energy field since 2000 and ran his own consulting business focused on wind energy for several years. He completed his MBA in 2016 from Marylhurst University. 

David Schmidt, B.A., business administration, recently became a vice president and Small Business Administration business development officer at North State Bank in North Carolina. David has worked in the financial services industry for three decades. 

Bob Peters, BAE, physical education - secondary, recently retied as athletic director at Centralia College, where he was the state's longest continually serving athletic director. The college's new four-acre multi-sport complex was named Bob Peters Field in his honor. 

Traci Hill Barela, M.Ed., English - secondary, teaches English at West Springfield High School in Fairfax, Virginia. Traci has lived and taught all over the world, in Athens, Helsinki, India, Bulgaria and Germany. 

Jeff Bullock, B.S., chemistry/biology, and '94, M.S., chemistry, who teaches agriculture at Wenatchee Valley College, was named the college's acting dean of Math, Science and Engineering. 

The Auction of Washington Wines recently gave Andy Perdue, B.A., journalism, its Wine Industry Champion Award. Andy is a longtime wine journalist and the co-founder of Great Northwest Wine magazine. 

Jeffery Wiggins, B.S., industrial technology, is a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymer Science and Engineering and is this year’s recipient of the university’s T.W. Bennett Distinguished Professor in support of his internationally recognized research. Jeffrey is also the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Science and Engineering.  

Peter Monahan, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, is a Spanish instructor at Yakima Valley College and was awarded the Sherrie and Daryl Parker Faculty Award for his work motivating students. 

Ron Podmore, BAE, geography - secondary education, is screening an hour-long documentary, "The Best of Honduras," at the Federal Way Performing Arts Center on Nov. 3. During Ron's 30-plus year career in education, he has extensively traveled in Central America, written two books and is working on a third about the region. About 10 years ago Ron began to see a growing number of students from Central America in his classroom. "It made sense to really start digging into stories from these courageous young migrants," Ron writes. "To date, with over 10 trips exploring Central America, mostly to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, I recognize a growing need to change the narrative and share positive stories from this area of the world." Learn more about Ron's work. 

Scott Meaker, B.S., biology, recently opened Squatchy's a gift shop in North Whidbey Island near the entrance to Deception Pass State Park. At the door to the shop is a 9-foot taxidermied Sasquatch sculpture, a replica of the Sasquatch Scott says he saw as a teenager in Yosemite National Park. 

Sean Gleason, B.A., business administration - marketing, is the CEO of Professional Bull Riders, with competitions in the U.S. and four other countries. 

Damond Morris, B.A. and '07, M.A., theatre, recently became the executive of the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon. He's also the founder of Shakespeare Northwest and the former chair of the drama department at Skagit Valley College.  

Dr. Amy Hobson, B.S., community health and '97, B.A., anthropology/biology, is a naturopathic primary care physician in Seattle.  

Cami Ostman, BAE, English/theatre, is the founder and director of The Narrative Project, which offers get-your-book-done courses. Cami is also the author of "Second Wind: One Woman’s Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents," and the co-founder of Red Wheelbarrow Writers. 

Three alumni have turned their passion for the ocean and its creatures into careers with the MaST Center Aquarium located at Highline College.

Rus Higley, '94, directs the 2,500-square-foot aquarium that serves Highline students, faculty and the public. He's joined by fellow graduates in biology with a marine emphasis Emily Bjornsgard, ‘20, the lead aquarist, and Lily Gray, ‘21.

The MaST (Marine Science and Technology) aquarium in Des Moines features more than 250 local species and two touch pools.

After a career designing menswear, Scott Miller, B.A., art, teaches in the Fashion Program at Marist College in New York. Previously, Scott was the vice president of Design at Perry Ellis.

Vini Samuel, B.A., English and history, has been appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to the Grays Harbor County Superior Court. Currently, Vini serves as the mayor of the city of Montesano and has operated a private law firm in Montesano since 2004. Vini is also the 2017 Distinguished Alumna of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.  

Jayne Entwistle, B.A., English, narrates audiobooks for Penguin Random House, Scholastic, as well as local Bellingham authors. Jayne also has a recurring role on "Blockbuster," a Netflix series filmed in Vancouver, B.C.

Mark Hughes, B.A., economics, is director of marketing for Kitsap Mental Health Services and recently became a member of the Olympic College Board of Trustees. 

"The Grand Promise," a historical novel about the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam and the surrounding communities, is the debut novel of Rebekah Anderson, B.A., English - writing. Published by Empty Bowl Press, the well-regarded novel is loosely based on Rebekah's own family history. 

Wade Nylund, B.S., manufacturing engineering technology, became the chief operating officer of Delta Motion, a manufacturer in Battle Ground that specializes in industrial hydraulic motion controllers. 

Mindy Uber, B.S., environmental science, is the senior director of environmental health and safety for Skanska USA Building and was recently appointed to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.

Cori Kauk, B.A., recreation, recently became the executive director of Bremerton Foodline, a food bank and distribution hub. Previously, Cori led the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank for 11 years. 

Anna Adeola Makanju, B.A., French, linguistics, is vice president of Global Affairs for OpenAI. Previously, she was the global policy manager for Content Regulation at Facebook. Anna has also worked in the White House as a special advisor to the Vice President for Europe and Eurasia, and at the United Nations as a senior policy adviser. 

Kami Westhoff, B.A., English - creative writing, and '02, M.A., English, published a short story collection, "The Criteria" in 2002 with Unsolicited Press and her poetry chapbook, "Cloudbound," is being published by Dancing Girl Press. Kami is a senior instructor of English at Western. 

Michelle Schutte, B.A., art history and art, is the owner of HOSA, a small-batch fermented hot sauce company in Bellingham. Michelle is also a fine artist whose art studio is in her top-floor apartment with great natural light, and her hot sauce kitchen is in the basement. "My days are literal circles," she recently told the Cascadia Daily News. 

Jimmy Watts, B.A., English, is a Seattle firefighter who hand-crafts fly rods through his Shuksan Rod Co. Jimmy is also a writer whose essay about novelist David James Duncan was recently published in The Flyfish Journal

Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Will Steffener, B.A., political science, to the Snohomish County Superior Court. With experience in the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office and the county's Public Defender Association, Will has been in private practice since 2021.  

Rex Mangiaracina, B.A., political science, recently published a memoir titled “Making Men: Finding Meaning in the Moments that Matter.” 

Katherine Thomas, B.A., English and linguistics, is a freelance food writer and part-time paralegal in Bozeman. She recently wrote about a community food bank for Edible Bozeman. 

Patricia Relay, B.A., art history, became the executive director of the Pratt Museum and Park in Homer, Alaska. Previously, Patricia was the executive director of the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive in Alaska -- and she's the former owner of the World Famous Up and Up tavern on State Street. 

Jill Nelson, B.A., English - creative writing, owns a design studio, Pinwheel Creative, and is developing a creative writing magazine.  

Brian Ogolsky, B.A. psychology, was promoted to full professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the
University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign. He was also named University Scholar for distinguished contributions to
research, teaching, and service. Brian is the department's director of graduate programs and leads the H.E.A.R.T. Lab (Healthy Experiences Across Relationship Transitions), which explores how romantic relationships change over time. He was recently selected to co-chair the 2026 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference. 

Brian Rudin, B.A., political science and Spanish, recently became the winemaker and general manager for Echolands Winery in the Walla Walla Valley. Previously, Brian was the winemaker at Duckhorn Wine Co.

Cathlina Bergman, M.A., English, recently became the librarian for Newton High School in Kansas and is working on a Master of Library and Information Science degree at Emporia State University

Cindy Hollenbeck, M.A., English, is the director of Public Relations and Communications for the Graduate School at Washington State University. 

Devin Miller, B.S., industrial technology, is a co-founder of SecureSave, an employer-sponsored emergency savings program that encourages workers to save for financial emergencies.  

Cassandra Hiller, B.S., environmental science, was recently named the village administrator for Salem Lakes, Wisconsin. Previously, Cassandra was the assistant county administrator for Lake County, Illinois. . 

Crystal Pritchard, B.A., sociology, recently became a real estate broker with The Muljat Group in Bellingham. Previously, Crystal worked in public health education and social services. 

Karen Fortuna, B.A., human services, is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and recently joined the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine standing committee of experts in primary care delivery, research, and policy. 

Meghan Hickerson, B.A., English literature, is an author and podcaster who has published 16 volumes (so far) of "The Journals of Meghan McDonnell," which chronicles her life since age 8. 

Eric Christensen, B.A., recreation, recently became a real estate broker for The Muljat Group in Bellingham. 

Michael Suarez, B.A., history, teaches middle school social studies and world history in the Sonoma Valley in California. He also teaches education and Chicano/Latino studies at Sonoma State University and is working toward a doctorate in educational foundations, policy and practice at University of Colorado Boulder. 

Zach Suderman, BAE, mathematics - secondary, was recently named principal of Tumwater High School. 

Mindy Pelton, B.A., anthropology, 2011, M.B.A, has recently been hired as director of the Career Services Center at Western. She has worked at Western for the past 6 years, most recently as the associate director of the Career Services Center and served as the interim director of the center in the 2022-23 academic year.

Andrew Garratt, '23, B.Mus. musical performance, and the Seattle Opera's Ibidunni Ojikutu, B.A., music, performed over the summer at garden parties for the Sun Valley Opera in Hailey, Idaho. Andrew is now working toward his master's degree in music and opera at Northwestern University. 

Carissa Jangard, BAE, special education and '10, M. Ed., literacy, recently became principal of Carl Cozier Elementary School in Bellingham. Previously, she was the school's dean of students. 

Chris Hughes, B.S., computer science, won the 2023 Padden Triathlon

Kate Brotten, B.A., Spanish, has published her first book, “Vinnie and his Weird Ear: Adventures with the dog who saved my life.” Vinnie is a rescued shelter dog who saved Kate’s life during a medical emergency. 

Katie Trent, B.A., political science, is CEO of Gene Juarez Salons and Spas, which has 12 locations in Puget Sound. 

Meagan Bryson, B.A., human services and '07, M.Ed., student affairs administration, serves as the first director of the newly minted Academic Advising and Student Achievement Center at Western.  

Melissa Beedle, B.A., accounting, became the Audit managing director at KPMG in Anchorage, where she has worked since 2005. 

Shannon Britton, B.S., environmental science, is the assistant director for Grounds and Waste Management at Seattle University, where she supports the university's organic, pesticide-free approach to landscaping. 

"The Language of Seabirds" by Will Taylor, B.A. Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, a story for middle-grade readers for and about LGBTQ+ youth, was recently featured on the Today Show as one of the titles on Jenna Bush Hager's kids' summer reading list. Taylor and "Seabirds" were featured in Window magazine's "First Crush, Second Draft."

Jen Reeves, B.A., psychology, owns Little Knitty, a yarn shop in Auburn that recently won a Best of Auburn award. 

Vincent Rendoni, B.A., English - creative writing, recently published a poetry collection, "A Grito Contest in the Afterlife," selected for the Catamaran Literary Reader. 

Kristin Beck, MiT, is the author of two historical fiction novels, “Courage, My Love” and “The Winter Orphans.” Her third novel, “The Woman on the Mountain,” releases next year. 

Ariel Wetzel, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, and '09, M.A., English, recently received tenure at Green River College, where she teaches English and directs the Writing and Reading Center. 

Brittany Rogers, B.A., English literature, is a senior product manager at Microsoft, working on Microsoft 365.

Meagan Caillier, B.A., general studies, recently became a broker with the Muljat Group in Bellingham. 

Peter Kedenburg, B.A., planning and environmental policy, was included in 425 Business's 40 Under 40 list. Paul works as the branch manager of Sprague Pest Solutions in Bellevue. 

Jaima Lindell, B.A., English - creative writing, is a project manager for a digital marketing company in Bellingham and her fantasy novel is in the editing phase with the indie Earth and Fire Publishing in Seattle. 

Rocio Herrera, B.A., psychology, is a bilingual mental health counselor at Skagit Valley College, where she hopes to serve as a role model for other first-generation students. 

State Rep. Julio Cortes, B.A., journalism - public relations, is one of two WWU alumni in 425 Business's 40 Under 40 list. Julio is the Economic Development and Marketing manager for the city of Everett and represents the 38th Legislative District in the State House. 

Michael Justice, BAE, mathematics - secondary, co-founded EdJobList.com, a searchable website with job listings from hundreds of K-12 school districts in Washington and Alaska, including listings for teachers, administrators, counselors, janitors, librarians and other faculty and staff roles. 

Robert Sears, B.A., English literature, is an attorney who specializes in car accident injury cases. He just opened a second Sears Injury Law office in Tacoma. 

Dr. Will Nichols, B.S., biology, and his wife Brittany are the dentists behind Nichols Family Dental in Bellingham. Will was recently included in WhatcomTalk's 2023 Top 7 Under 40. Will is also the president of the Mount Baker District Dental Society and serves with Dr. Brittany Nichols on the board of directors for the Health and Hope Foundation.

Tyler Rablin, B.A., English literature, is a teacher whose book "Hacking Student Motivation through Assessment," is coming out through Times10 Publishing.

Henry Jackson-Spieker, BFA, art, became an assistant professor of art at the University of Washington School of Art History and Design. Jackson-Spieker, a multidisciplinary artist whose work combines glass, bronze, steel, wood, fiber and light, is the Dale Chihuly Endowed Chair of Glass. This spring he'll be an Amazon Artist in Residence then attend the Cité Internationale des Arts Residency in Paris this summer. 

Jason Finkbonner, B.A., economics and politics/philosophy/economics, and '17, B.S., biology, just graduated from University of Washington Medical School, where he completed the Indian Health Pathway. Now, he'll begin specialist training in UW's Psychiatry Residency program in Seattle. Jason, the second member of the Lummi Nation to earn an M.D. degree, was also instrumental in a new partnership between the UW School of Medicine and Lummi Nation, allowing UW medical students to train at the Lummi Tribal Health Center. 

Jess Newley, M.Ed., environmental education, is a scuba diver and the Community Science and Education director for the Friends of the San Juans, where she develops scientific education programs like boater education, beach surveys and community science projects. 

Jon Suek, B.A., music, is a 2023-24 resident artist with the Toledo Opera and will perform throughout the year in Toledo Opera's regional educational program, in the company's Opera Outdoors and in smaller roles in Toledo Opera's mainstage productions this season. A tenor, Jon previously studied and performed at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, lived in Austria and Italy, then returned to the U.S. and performed in Seattle, Chicago and New York City. 

Remy Levin, B.S., mathematics and B.A., economics, recently became an assistant professor in the Economics Department at University of Connecticut. A behavioral and environmental economist, Remy completed his doctorate at the University of California - San Diego and spent several years as a long-distance backpacker and park ranger. 

Zoe Wise, B.A., English - creative writing, a law school student and an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, just finished a 10-week law clerk internship with the Alaska Native Justice Center, where she researched family law issues and the Indian Child Welfare Act and worked with clients in Tribal court. Zoe has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and had once considered a career in academia until she worked as a paralegal. The clerkship confirmed her plan to pursue a career in Indian law. 

Adam Gillman, B.A., Fairhaven Interdisciplinary concentration, recently became the rabbi at Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael in New Jersey. Previously, he served as a chaplain at NYU Langone Hospital, completed a fellowship at T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and was a student teacher at Schechter Manhattan Day School. 

Becca Lefanowicz, B.A., recreation, has joined the High Fives Foundation, a non-profit that provides grants for rehabilitation support to athletes with life-altering injuries because of mountain sports, as the director of fundraising and media.  

Alexa Peters, B.A., English - creative writing, is a freelance writer whose work was recently published in Rolling Stone. Her article explored gender diversity in the music industry. 

Frederick Livingston, B.S., environmental science, is an ecologist and poet who was just awarded the Prism Prize for Climate Literature for his upcoming book, "Trees are Bridges to the Sky," due from Homebound Press in 2024. His first book of poetry, "The Moon and Other Fruits," was published by Legacy Book Press in April. 

Alynn Sobolik, B.A., English - creative writing, is performing this summer with this psychedelic rock band, Of the Heavy Sun, which just released tis third full-length album, "Cosmic Television." 

Christopher Beltran, B.A., English - creative writing, is a public relations coordinator for Dark Horse Comics. 

Miriam Vance, B.A., English - creative writing, became the contracts and rights associate and awards coordinator at Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull Press. 

Tanner Abernathy, B.A., English - creative writing, is head of the English Department at Decatur High School in Federal Way. Tanner also wrote an online 12th grade curriculum and developed an Afrofuturism unit for 11th graders that was adopted district-wide. 

Sheila Erfan, B.A., biocultural anthropology, just completed a master's degree in biomedical sciences at Des Moines University in Iowa and has published two papers in the field of immune-mediated cancer therapy. Now, Sheila will begin work on her medical degree at Des Moines University's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program. 

Alyssa Quinn, MFA, creative writing, published her debut novel in 2022 with Dzanc Books. "Habilis" is an exploration into the origins of humans and human language: a historical reconstruction, psychological horror, mystery, ghost story and creation myth. 

Annabelle Barrett, B.A., studio art, recently designed and painted a new mural in Bellingham's Commercial Street Plaza for the Downtown Bellingham Partnership. 

After earning his master's degree in applied data science from Syracuse University in 2022, Abdullah Naimzadeh, B.S., physics, became a research associate with the Institute for Defense Analyses Information Technology and Systems Division. 

Emma Williams, B.A., English - creative writing, just completed her MFA in creative writing at Eastern Washington University, continuing to work on her novel, and started as an adjunct instructor at North Idaho College. 

Kendra Budd, B.A., creative writing and theatre, is the editor of Working RE Magazine and the marketing coordinator of OREP insurance company. 

Three alumni have turned their passion for the ocean and its creatures into careers with the MaST Center Aquarium located at Highline College.

Rus Higley, '94, directs the 2,500-square-foot aquarium that serves Highline students, faculty and the public. He's joined by fellow graduates in biology with a marine emphasis Emily Bjornsgard, ‘20, the lead aquarist, and Lily Gray, ‘21.

The MaST (Marine Science and Technology) aquarium in Des Moines features more than 250 local species and two touch pools.

Julia Furukawa, B.A., journalism - news/editorial, hosts "All Things Considered" for New Hampshire Public Radio in Concord, New Hampshire. 

Phoebe DeMeerleer, B.A., political science, graduated in May 2023 from Boston University School of Law and has a one-year fellowship at the Conservation Law Foundation in Providence, Rhode Island. 

Schantell Porter, B.A., business administration - management, is the office and project manager at Northwest Youth Services in Bellingham and the co-chair of PFLAG Bellingham/Whatcom Chapter. They were recently included in WhatcomTalk's list of Top 7 Under 40. 

Three alumni have turned their passion for the ocean and its creatures into careers with the MaST Center Aquarium located at Highline College.

Rus Higley, '94, directs the 2,500-square-foot aquarium that serves Highline students, faculty and the public. He's joined by fellow graduates in biology with a marine emphasis Emily Bjornsgard, ‘20, the lead aquarist, and Lily Gray, ‘21.

The MaST (Marine Science and Technology) aquarium in Des Moines features more than 250 local species and two touch pools.

Christopher Lovgreen, M.A., English, has been accepted at Miami University's Ph.D. program in English, where he will also serve as a graduate teaching assistant in the university's first-year writing program. 

Keegan Lawler, MFA, creative writing, recently published an essay in the Offing about Bronski Beat's son "Smalltown Boy," covered by Orville Peck.

Hannah Raschke, B.A., English literature, is the front office coordinator for Echo Theater Co., a circus and performing arts school in Portland, Oregon. 

Olivia Hicks, B.A., environmental studies/journalism, is a features writer for the automotive news site TopSpeed

After an internship at Archipelago Books, a small press devoted to publishing works in translation, Peter Dyer, B.A., English - creative writing, began work with the publisher Europa Editions.  

Katie Royse Ginther, B.A., theatre and B.S., psychology, lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is the artistic director of Kitchen Sink Theatre Co., which she launched in Seattle.

Jackelyn Garcia, M.S., marine and estuary science, was awarded a Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship to work with the Puget Sound Partnership and Washington Conservation Action on a wide range of work focused on environmental policy. 

Andrew Garratt, B.Mus. musical performance, and the Seattle Opera's Ibidunni Ojikutu, '04, B.A., music, performed over the summer at garden parties for the Sun Valley Opera in Hailey, Idaho. Andrew is now working toward his master's degree in music and opera at Northwestern University. 

Daniel Hornbuckle, B.A., journalism-public relations, has signed a professional contract to play basketball for BKM Lučenec in the Slovak Basketball League in Europe. He will play the 2023-2024 season.  

Eric Burford, B.A., art history and philosophy, recently became bar manager at Keenan's at the Pier in Bellingham. 

After a six-month internship at the Cascadia Daily News, Finn Wendt, B.A., visual journalism, became a visual journalist for the paper. 

Arlene Sprague Buchanan, 92, of Olympia, on April 20, 2023. 

Jean Marie Landahl Higginson, 89, an elementary school teacher for most of her career, on Jan. 4, 2023, in Ferndale.  

Tom Missel, 62, an assistant head football coach at Eastern Washington University and a former football defensive coordinator at Western, on Oct. 21, 2023, in Roslyn. 

Jim Jorgensen, 83, a longtime Blaine School District teacher and a former commissioner for the Port of Bellingham, on June 8, 2023. 

John G. Wells Jr., 80, a Puyallup resident, on May 8, 2023. 

Susan Sharer, 68, retired counselor for unemployment benefits and student grants at Pierce College and Clover Park Technical College, on March 18, 2023. 

SunRay Kelley, 71, famous for his whimsical, alternative, handmade buildings of castles, yurts, temples, and other fanciful structures, on July 16, in Sedro-Wooley. 

Carol Schwennesen, 77, an accomplished artist and arts educator, on May 27, 2023, in Seattle.

Lesli Marie Higginson, 62, a former water quality specialist for the city of Bellingham for five years who then became an environmental engineer with BP Cherry Point refinery for 15 years, on Jan. 6, 2023, in Bellingham. 

Constance Faulkner, 86, who taught at Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies from 1968 to 1990, on Sept. 11, 2023, in Bellingham. She was also instrumental in developing sexual harassment prevention programs at Western and active in the Bellingham community to establish a shelter for victims of domestic violence. 

Carol McRandle, 87, who taught speech/pathology at Western from 1975 to 2001, on Feb. 23, 2023, in Bellingham. 

Charles Ross, 90, former professor and chair of the Geology Department, on July 10, 2023, in Minneapolis. 

Marian Tonjes, 94, who retired from the faculty of Woodring College of Education in 1993, on Sept. 17, 2023. Dr. Tonjes, the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, was an avid traveler who visited 96 countries, and took students to Oxford, England, each summer for 16 years.  

John P. Francis, 82, who, after a career as an airline pilot, took several courses at Western in math, physics and astronomy, on April 20, 2023. 

Vicki Critchlow, 85, who worked in the Geology Department for 30 years, on March 5, 2023, in Bellingham. 

Verdie Watson, 105, a retired administrator in Western's Music Department, on May 28, 2023. 

Marlene Wolf, 87, retired office manager of the counseling center, on July 28, 2023, in Bellingham. 

Samantha O'Brochta, '13, B.A., journalism - public relations, and Levi Friedman, '14, B.A., English - creative writing, on March 25, 2023, in Las Vegas. 

Samantha O'Brochta, '13, B.A., journalism - public relations, and Levi Friedman, '14, B.A., English - creative writing, on March 25, 2023, in Las Vegas. 

Levi Friedman, '14, B.A., English - creative writing, and Samantha O'Brochta, '13, B.A., journalism - public relations, on March 25, 2023, in Las Vegas. 

Danny Edgel, '16, B.A, economics, and Leah Gold on Oct. 7, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Leah Bennett, '16, B.A., geography, and Ryan Page, '16, B.A., environmental studies, on June 30, 2023, in Anacortes. 

Leah Bennett, '16, B.A., geography, and Ryan Page, '16, B.A., environmental studies, on June 30, 2023, in Anacortes.