Class Notes

"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."

David Harris, B.A., sociology, became the new head football coach at Lynnwood High School. Formerly, he was the assistant coach. David is also an education specialist at Treehouse, a nonprofit organization that supports foster youth. 

Jordan Gage, M.Ed., educational administration, and '13, principal's residency certificate, became the Head of School at Kings Schools in Seattle. Previously, he was superintendent at Northshore Christian Academy in Everett. 

Patrick Phelps, B.S., physics, is the founder and CEO of WhyGrene Energy Exchange, a software platform that enables homes and businesses to sell electrical power -- from solar panels, electric vehicles, battery packs or other sources -- back to utilities during times of high demand. 

Dexter Davis, B.S., environmental science, was recently awarded the 2023 Graduate Research Fellowships Program scholarship from the National Science Foundation. Since graduating, Dexter has worked in Associate Professor Shawn Arellano's Larval Lab as a research technologist and NSF geoscience research experience scholar. With the new fellowship, he'll soon begin a master's program at Oregon State University. 

Aura Cuellar, MBA, recently became executive vice president of Growth and Strategic Projects at LanzaTech Global, Inc., a carbon recycling technology company that plans to open three new plants before the end of 2023. 

Gina Cole, B.A., communication and journalism, was recently promoted to Corporate Communications manager at Zillow. 

Dave Porter, B.S., visual communication, retired after 38 years in information technology at Boeing, last serving in public cloud product management. 

Jennifer Jahner, B.A., English, was recently named dean of undergraduate students at the California Institute of Technology. Jen is an English professor at Caltech whose research interests include the histories of rhetoric, law, and natural philosophy, focusing on the European Middle Ages and its role in shaping contemporary understandings of rights, evidence, perception and proof. 

Briana Martinez, BAE, environmental studies, is the founder and CEO of Wild Moon, a spiritual education and adventure business for women, offering retreats, backpacking trips, workshops and other events "for women seeking to connect with their most powerful selves."  

Richard Macías, B.A., art, lives in Frankfurt, Germany, with his wife and two children, where he works in the General Services Office of the U.S. Mission Germany's Frankfurt General Consulate. The largest U.S. consulate in the world, Frankfurt supports many other U.S. diplomatic posts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

Two 2020 alums were among the 17 teachers nationwide to receive the 2023 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers from the National Science Teaching Association. Hillary Hunsaker, BAE, general science – elementary, is a STEM teacher at Conway School in Mount Vernon, and Natalie Reeder, BAE, general science – elementary, is a third-grade teacher at Cascade View Elementary School in Tukwila.

Two 2020 alums were among the 17 teachers nationwide to receive the 2023 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers from the National Science Teaching Association. Hillary Hunsaker, BAE, general science – elementary, is a STEM teacher at Conway School in Mount Vernon, and Natalie Reeder, BAE, general science – elementary, is a third-grade teacher at Cascade View Elementary School in Tukwila.

Michelle Bender, ’13, B.S., biology - marine emphasis, is an attorney who specializes in Earth law and serves as legal counsel for Ocean Vision Legal. Previously, she was the ocean campaigns director for the Earth Law Center where she helped draft Rights of Nature laws and policies around the world. Michelle recently spoke in the College of the Environment’s Environmental Speaker Series on “Ocean Rights: An Emerging Environmental Ethic to Transform Ocean Governance.”

Larry Orman, ’83, B.A., business administration and computer science, is the vice president for marketing and communication at Alcorn State University, the nation’s oldest, historically Black landgrant university. Larry and his son recently climbed the 19,341-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. “The eight-day Tanzanian climb to the top of Africa, through five climate zones, including an arctic zone at the equator, still feels surreal,” Larry writes.

Jeffrey Meriwether, ’95, B.A., and ’97, M.A., history, was recently selected as the dean of the Feinstein School of Humanities, Arts and Education at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Jeffrey is a well-regarded professor of European, African and military history at RWU and has served in several administrative roles—most recently as the school’s associate dean.

Ken Dalena, B.A., theatre, is a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War vet and has worked as an actor in television and film roles. He recently directed his first play, “You Can’t Take it With You” at The Claire Theater in Lynden.

Ethan Frank, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, is a marketing associate with Marketing Choices, and he’s based in Maui, Hawaii.

Peter Condyles, B.A., history, is a member of the Marysville City Council and president of the Marysville Historical Society.

Kendall Lujan, B.A., anthropology, is a guitarist and singer-songwriter in Portland, where she recently released a self-titled, four-song EP.