Class Notes

Alison Cochrun, B.A., English literature, writes full-time after teaching high school English for 11 years. Her third book, "Here We Go Again," was released by Atria Books in April. Her first queer romance novel, "The Charm Offensive," won the 2023 Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ Romance and Erotica. 

Mateo Messina, B.A., business administration - marketing, is a Grammy-winning composer for films and television. He also writes a symphony each year to benefit Seattle Children's Hospital, and expects to premiere his 25th symphony on Nov. 8, 2024. 

Michael Farmer, M.Ed., was recently selected to be the chief of schools for the Peninsula School District, overseeing the administrators of the district's 17 schools. Michael is the superintendent of Dieringer School District in Lake Tapps and has worked as an administrator with Tacoma Public Schools and the Eatonville School District.  

Adam Lervik, B.A, business administration - finance, recently  became the Whatcom Commercial Banking market leader for Peoples Bank, where he's worked since 2017.

Lani Difiesta, B.A., interdisciplinary studies, is the director of development and community engagement for Defend Our Health, an organization devoted to environmental public health based in Portland, Maine. 

Brett Mitchell, B.Mus., composition, recently became music director of the Pasadena Symphony. He's also the artistic director and conductor of the Sunriver Music Festival in Oregon. Brett has worked with the Colorado Symphony in Denver, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Houston Symphony. 

Samantha Wohlfeil, B.A., visual journalism and Spanish, recently became news editor of the Inlander weekly and online publication in Spokane. 

Annie Oien, B.A., fitness and exercise science, is the executive director of United Way of Lewis County. Previously, Annie taught health and physical education at Centralia College and worked at the Centralia College Foundation.  

Carter Dojan, B.S., Plastics and Composites Engineering, is working toward his doctorate at Colorado State University's School of Advanced Materials Discovery, where he recently completed the National Science Foundation's I-Corps entrepreneurship program. Carter's research is on novel technologies for rapid and automated manufacturing of fiber reinforced polymer composites. 

Ken Scholes, B.A., history, is the author of the five-novel series, "The Psalms of Isaak," published by Tor Books. He's also a singer-songwriter who combines his music and stories in hybrid events, and plans to visit Western in May.  

Tim Ashcroft, B.A., economics, recently became the president and CEO of the Hawaii Credit Union League and the HCU Services Corporation. Tim has worked in credit unions in Hawaii for 27 years. 

Julie Reiber, B.Mus., performance, recently performed with the North American tour of the musical "Jagged Little Pill," loosely based on Alanis Morissette's 1995 album. Julie has also performed on Broadway and in national tours of musicals such as "Wicked," "BKYLYN: The Musical," and "RENT." She recently released a solo album, "Love Travels," 

Kelly O'Neill, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, reports that she's officially retiring in June after more than two decades in communications. After moving from journalism into public relations and marketing, Kelly served in a variety of capacities for Tacoma Goodwill, The Art Institute of Seattle, Grande Ronde Hospital, Gritman Medical Center and finally the University of Idaho, where she worked for the Department of Theatre Arts and the Lionel Hampton School of Music.

Rob McDonald, B.A., journalism, recently became communications director for Energy Keepers, Inc., an independent power producer, owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Energy Keepers manages the Se̓liš Ksanka Qĺispe̓ hydropower project on the Flathead Indian Reservation, which has the capacity to generate 208 megawatts of electricity. Previously, Rob worked as the communications director for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Samantha Clark, B.A., psychology, is the assistant vice president - strategy and business development at MultiCare Behavioral Health in Spokane, where she recently received a Women of Achievement Award from the YWCA of Spokane. 

Jerry Goodwin, B.S., industrial technology, became the president and CEO of Guerdon Modular Buildings, which specializes in building large projects in sections to be assembled on site.