Fall 2022 Class Notes

Jeannie Darneille, B.A., art history, recently left the Washington State Senate after 21 years of service representing the 27th District (Tacoma) and serving as the chair for the Human Services, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Committee. She is now assistant secretary overseeing the Women’s Prison Division of the Department of Corrections. Prior to running for public office, she spent 30 years directing nonprofit social service agencies.

Ray Matlock Smythe, BAE, history, just published “Coping with Grief: My Personal Journey of Learning to Overcome Sorrow,” on coping with the death of a loved one. “It is extremely reader friendly,” Ray writes, “It motivates you to live a full life after the loss of that special person.” The book is available on Amazon, along with Ray’s three other titles, “Tips to Improve Your Retirement Experience,” “Creating a More Positive Life, One Column at a Time,” and “Creative Teaching: A Guide to Success in the Classroom.”

Western’s Sociology Department recently voted to rename its Center for Social Science Instruction/Demographic Research Laboratory in honor of retired professor Lucky Tedrow, B.S. and ’76, M.A., sociology. Tedrow directed the lab, newly renamed the Tedrow Lab for Demographic and Social Research, from 1977 to 2018.

Carol V. Davis, B.A, Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, teaches at Santa Monica College and Antioch University in California. She was scheduled to travel to Siberia for her third Fulbright fellowship, but the trip was cancelled due to the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Carol’s fourth book of poetry, “Below Zero,” will be published in 2023 by Stephen F Austin State University Press.

Deborah Kellar Pattin, B.A. theatre, retired in June 2022 from a career in public education, teaching drama and English and serving as a teacher librarian. For the past six years she was the librarian at River Ridge High School in the North Thurston Public Schools.

Kevin Helppie, B.A., music performance, recently retired as professor of music from Western Oregon University and was made professor emeritus after 23 years on the faculty. Now, he’s a voice instructor at Oregon State University and a member of the board of directors of the Eugene Opera. Kevin’s wife, MaryRuth Helppie, ’80, B.Mus., music performance, and ’82, cert., music education, also recently retired from a 38- year career as an elementary music specialist, including the last 20 years in the Canby School District near Portland, Oregon. They now enjoy spending more time with their five grandchildren.

Kevin Helppie, '79, B.A., music performance, recently retired as professor of music from Western Oregon University and was made professor emeritus after 23 years on the faculty. Now, he’s a voice instructor at Oregon State University and a member of the board of directors of the Eugene Opera. Kevin’s wife, MaryRuth Helppie,  B.Mus., music performance, and ’82, cert., music education, also recently retired from a 38- year career as an elementary music specialist, including the last 20 years in the Canby School District near Portland, Oregon. They now enjoy spending more time with their five grandchildren.

After a 40-year career in higher education Mark Mitsui, B.A., exercise and sport science and psychology, recently retired as president of Portland Community College, Oregon’s largest higher ed institution. Previously, he was president of North Seattle College and deputy assistant secretary for community colleges in the U.S. Department of Education in the Obama Administration.

Marci Larsen, BAE, special education and ‘85, M.Ed., school administration, is serving as interim superintendent of the Monroe School District in 2022-23. In 2019, Marcie retired as superintendent of the Mukilteo School District.

Greg Cox, B.A., chemistry, recently sold new short stories to Star Trek Explorer magazine, Weird Tales, Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2022, and an upcoming anthology based on the Deadlands role-playing game. He is also editing a new book series, Stan Lee’s “The Devil’s Quintet,” for Tor Books.

Tim Boyles, B.A., journalism, is a photographer who lives in Tampa, Florida, and Altoona, Pennsylvania. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, the New York Times, People and Time.

Kelli Holz, B.A., accounting, was named chief financial officer of Washington Federal Bank beginning in 2023. Currently Kelli is the bank’s senior vice president and chief risk officer.

John Ruple, B.A., sociology – demography, recently joined the Biden Administration to serve as senior counsel in the White House Council on Environmental Quality. John is serving the White House while on leave from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he leads the Law and Policy Program at the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment. His research areas focus on the management of public lands and their resources.

Jacquelyn High-Edward, B.A., political science, was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to be a Spokane County Superior Court judge. Previously, she was a Spokane County Court Commissioner.

Robert L. Slater, BAE, theatre, recently retired from 27 years as a teacher, primarily at small alternative schools. His fifth book in his post-apocalyptic Deserted Lands series, “No Man’s Land,” is available at Village Books and online.

Keelan Naasz, ‘99, environmental education, works in affordable housing with Catholic Charities Housing Services in Yakima, which was recently honored by the National Equity Fund for its work developing St. Catherine De Vigri Villas in Tieton, housing farmworkers and their families.

Tim Wilson, B.A., art – design production, is the groundskeeper for the Seattle Mariners, supervising the crew that ensures the M’s have a pristine playing surface at T-Mobile Park.

Julie Kline, B.A., political science, recently became a trial lawyer at the Seattle law firm of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender. Previously. Julie was a senior deputy prosecuting attorney for King County and a senior adviser and interim general counsel to Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.

Carl Gipson, B.A., political science, was appointed president of external and legislative affairs of the Pacific Northwest Region for AT&T, based in Redmond. Previously, he was director for external affairs for AT&T in Washington state.

Kendall Hagensen, '09, B.A., psychology, owns Vancouver Wellness Studio, a collaborative healthcare clinic in Vancouver, Washington. She works with two other alums on staff: Lisa Bryant, '08, B.A., anthropology – biocultural concentration, is a licensed naturopathic physician and the studio’s medical director and Tameka Lim, B.A., general studies, has a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine and practices both while directing the studio’s new spa location.

Jenny Nguyen, B.A., psychology, recently opened the Sports Bra, touted as the world’s first sports bar dedicated to women’s sports. The Portland establishment’s motto: “We support women’s sports.”

Harmit Gil, B.S., computer science, became the Blaine area port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Previously, he was chief of staff for CBP’s Seattle Field Office.

Carson Huntoon, B.S., cellular and molecular biology, is the pharmacist and co-owner of Hoagland Pharmacy in Bellingham.

Leann Luong, B.A., East Asian studies, works at the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. Embassy, as a Navy/Marine Corps programs officer in the Security Cooperation Office. Previously, Leann served in the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. 

Julie Schram, B.S., biology - marine emphasis, is an assistant professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast. She’s working with the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to- Stimulate Competitive Research Fire and Ice project, a five-year, $20 million research project looking at the changes of Alaska’s boreal forests and oceans.

Josefina Magaña, B.A., sociology and Spanish, is the new director of Thurston Thrives, a community initiative by the Thurston County Chamber Foundation that focuses on community health and safety.

Matt Paxton, B.A., communication and philosophy, is an attorney with Chmelik Sitkin & Davis in Bellingham and president of the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. He was a finalist in the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Top 7 Under 40 Whatcom Young Professionals 2022 Award.

Elliott Smith, B.A., Canadian- American Studies and history, ’12, M.A., history, recently completed his first year as an Ordinary Seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Elliott was a general vessel assistant aboard the MV Cape Taylor, a 634-foot Ready Reserve military cargo ship.

Wendy Overton, B.A., East Asian Studies, is an adviser for the cybersecurity company Safe Security, as well as on the partner advisory board of Code 42, which produces threat management software. Until recently, Wendy led the insider risk mitigation program for Optiv Security Inc.

Kendall Hagensen, '09, B.A., psychology, owns Vancouver Wellness Studio, a collaborative healthcare clinic in Vancouver, Washington. She works with two other alums on staff: Lisa Bryant, B.A., anthropology – biocultural concentration, is a licensed naturopathic physician and the studio’s medical director and Tameka Lim, ’01, B.A., general studies, has a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine and practices both while directing the studio’s new spa location.

Marissa Guerrero, B.A., business administration - finance, was recently appointed to serve out a term on the Mount Vernon School Board.

Kendall Hagensen, B.A., psychology, owns Vancouver Wellness Studio, a collaborative healthcare clinic in Vancouver, Washington. She works with two other alums on staff: Lisa Bryant, ’08, B.A., anthropology – biocultural concentration, is a licensed naturopathic physician and the studio’s medical director and Tameka Lim, ’01, B.A., general studies, has a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine and practices both while directing the studio’s new spa location.

Hart Johnson, B.A., and ‘13, M.A., English, heads the Humanities Department at Wenatchee Valley College.

Kara Vernon, B.A., communication, was recently promoted to director of Professional Services at FidelityEHR, a software company that focuses on improving outcomes for children and families with complex behavioral health challenges.

Anne Massey, B.S., community health, is a doctoral student at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology. She also completed her Master of Public Health degree at UW and is a graduate research assistant at the Washington Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence. In 2020, she also worked in early COVID-19 response efforts as a member of the Department of Epidemiology’s SEAL Team (StudentEpidemic Action Leaders). Among her many other accomplishments, she was named 2022 Miss Seafair earlier this year.

Henry Jackson-Spieker, B.F.A., art, who completed his MFA at Alfred University in New York, recently had a sculpture exhibited at the San Juan Island Museum of Art. Henry teaches glass blowing and bronze casting at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, was a selection panelist for public art at SeaTac International Airport in 2021, and was a juror for the 2022 City Artist program sponsored by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.

Alix Prior, B.A., human services, recently became the manager of the Ferndale Library.

Ryan Hackler, B.S., chemistry, and B.A., politics/philosophy/economics, is a postdoctoral appointee at the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, where he was admitted into Argonne’s Chain Reactions Innovation, a lab-embedded entrepreneurship program. Ryan, who completed his doctoral degree at Northwestern University in chemistry in 2019, and his business partner Robert Kennedy will collaborate with scientists at Argonne to commercialize and scale up technology they codeveloped to convert plastic waste into value-added chemicals and consumer products. They hope to take things like plastic bags and convert them to motor oils, detergents, waxes and other useful commodities.

Jessica Andrews, B.A., theatre, recently played Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” at the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival in Kansas City, Missouri. She completed her MFA in acting at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Jordan Saravanja‐Recania, B.A., communication studies, moved to Tokyo in 2016 and graduated from Kudan Institute of Japanese Language & Culture in 2017. Jordan taught English in Funabashi, Japan, from 2017‐2022 and achieved his dream of earning his first- and second- degree judo black belts from Kodokan Judo Institute in 2017 and 2020. This year, he moved back to his hometown of Federal Way and now works as a seasonal parks maintenance worker for the city of Federal Way.

Karley Thurston, B.A., economics/mathematics, is a Fellow in the U.S. Digital Corps, a new program launched by the White House in 2021 to bring early-career, civicminded technology professionals to serve the federal government. Karley, who completed her Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on using data more effectively and securely.

Tennison S. Black, B.A., creative writing and Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, was one of the winners of the National Poetry Series for “Survival Strategies,” a poetry collection that explores their experiences living in Arizona and Washington. Tennison won $10,000 and will see her manuscript published by University of Georgia Press in fall 2023.

Bryson Bellefeuille, B.S., toxicology, recently graduated from medical school at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio, Texas. Bryson and his wife Kathleen Bellefeuille, B.A., communication sciences and disorders, and their three children have returned to Washington for Bryson’s residency at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

Bryson Bellefeuille, B.S., toxicology, recently graduated from medical school at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio, Texas. Bryson and his wife Kathleen Bellefeuille, B.A., communication sciences and disorders, and their three children have returned to Washington for Bryson’s residency at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

Thomas Hunter, B.A., environmental policy, became the assistant city manager of Pflugerville, Texas, northeast of Austin. Previously, he was director of Public Works and Utilities for the city of Port Angeles.

Catherine Shelton, B.S., biochemistry, is a graduate student at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Microbe-Host Interactions Ph.D. program and has been selected as the 2022 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar. In addition to a $1,000 cash prize, Catherine will be mentored by the recipient of the 2022 Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science, Ruth Lehmann, a developmental geneticist and director of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Before graduate school at Vanderbilt, Catherine was a research assistant in the Tuberculosis Discovery Program at the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle.

Tahlia Natachu, B.A., English literature, became the executive director of the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project in New Mexico, where she previously served as director of development and a youth development coordinator. Tahlia, who also earned a master’s in education from Portland State University, also taught language arts for two years in the Zuni school district.

Lorin Lindell, B.A., communication studies and journalism – public relations, is the social media and PR specialist for Visit Bellingham Whatcom County and was a finalist in the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Top 7 Under 40 Whatcom Young Professionals 2022 Award.

Tris Anderson, B.A., journalism, recently became managing editor of both the Detroit Lakes Tribune and the Perham Focus in Minnesota. Previously, Tris worked at newspapers in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and Pierre, South Dakota.

Peter Condyles, B.A., history, was recently appointed to the Marysville City Council. Peter is also the president of the Marysville Historical Society, and chairs the Snohomish County Policy Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to the Snohomish County Council on funding related to housing and homelessness.

Erin Rosenkranz, B.S., biochemistry and ’22, M.S. chemistry, now works in pharmaceutical sciences at Seagen, formerly Seattle Genetics, a biotech pioneer in cancer care. Erin is focusing on antibody- drug conjugates, which are engineered to target cancer cells directly while allowing other cells to remain as healthy as possible during whole-body treatment.

Chelsea Joefield, B.S., public health, recently became the club advisor and program manager for Western’s Ethnic Student Center. As a student, Chelsea was the coordinator of the Hacherl Research & Writing Studio and a web designer in the Digital Media Center.

Amy Valentine, 95, a retired nurse and longtime volunteer for Camp Fire, on June 10, 2019, in Anacortes.

John Fenton, 90, a retired teacher, coach and vocational counselor in Washington state, on April 20, 2022.

Dwight Reynolds, 86, a retired educator who worked in France, Italy, Spain and the U.S., on July 20, 2018.

Shirleen Baker, 85, a retired teacher, on Sept. 5, 2022.

Jeanette (Graham) Myers, a longtime resident of Bainbridge Island, on July 31, 2022, in Port Ludlow.

Douglas “Sam” Martin, 84, a former varsity athlete in track, basketball and football and retired agricultural business consultant, on May 27, 2022, in Boise, Idaho.

Imogene Sanders, 106, a retired teacher, community volunteer and fan of the performing arts, on May 24, 2022.

Harry Warren, 90, on June 28, 2022.

Colin Lundell, 82, a retired purchasing manager for Multicare in Tacoma, on Aug. 10, 2022, in Methow.

Bruce Berry, 83, retired principal in the Ferndale School District, on July 27, 2022.

The Rev. Evelyn Wiseman, 91, who taught at Western and elsewhere in the field of movement education, was ordained to the priesthood in 1985 and served many Anglican and Episcopal congregations in British Columbia, Scotland and England, on Jan. 8, 2022, in Surrey, England.

Steven Allen Gordon, 75, a restauranteur and caterer, on May 26, 2022.

Maurice Frederick Jensen, 74, on July 4, 2018.

Alice Spoelstra, 88, a retired teacher at Sumas Christian, Mount Baker School District, and Lynden Christian Schools, and an active church volunteer, on Feb. 5, 2022.

David Pedee, 71, retired from the telecommunications industry and a world-class fly fisherman, on July 17, 2022.

Linda Jean Boyd, 70, who taught special education for 43 years in Port Angeles, on Sept. 1, 2022.

Carl Ellan Kelley, 78, on Jan. 30, 2019.

Joan Alice Bethel, 85, who served many communities, from young mothers and disabled adults to hospital patients and people recovering from substance abuse, on March 30, 2022.

John Emil Whitman, 68, retired teacher and coach in Darrington, Lake Stevens, Mount Vernon and Marysville, on July 3, 2022.

Patricia Kaye Baerny Roberts, 69, who ran a dog-lodging business with her husband in Utah before retiring, on April 7, 2022.

Raymond Walter Blank Jr., 74, a talented musician and retired music and math teacher in Bellingham Schools who later directed the North Cascade Concert Band, on May 16, 2022, in Mount Vernon.

Lee Anderson, 72, a retired, 40-year coach and teacher at Ferndale High School, on Aug. 19, 2022.

Joan Marie McIntyre, 88, on Aug. 1, 2022, in Bellingham.

Kathy (Zakarison) Snyder, 63, a graphic artist, talented photographer, and world-traveling scuba diver, on Aug. 7, 2022, in Colorado.

Michael D’Hondt, 64, a retired teacher at Happy Valley Elementary School and coach at Whatcom Middle School, on June 26, 2022, in Bellingham.

Michael F. Adams, 59, a conservationist, ethical shellfish farmer, and former commissioner for the Bainbridge Fire Department, on July 4, 2022.

Cameron Johnson, 54, who was an insurance underwriter, November 26, 2021.

Chris Carver, 64, who worked in healthcare, on Aug. 20, 2022.

Nicole Renee Hurtubise, 58, on July 1, 2022.

Kristina Anne Brown, 47, who worked in marketing, on March 1, 2022.

Daniel Arriola, 48, who worked in IT with Hyphen Solutions, on June 18, 2022.

Elvajean Flores Duenas, 46, who had a passion for running and cooking, on July 12, 2022.

Jennifer Ramona Wallen, 56, an educator who worked within the greater urban Indigenous community as an activist and cultural educator, on May 29, 2020.

Cameron Lansberry, 42, on July 20, 2022.

Kristine Hertzog Desgroseillier, 46, who worked in land restoration and community projects, with the U.S. Forest Service and conservation districts, on June 7, 2022, in Wenatchee.

Christopher Keefe, 41, a cook and musician in Bellingham, on May 25, 2022.

Matthew Mikos, 38, a manufacturing engineer at Janicki Industries, on May 23, 2022.

Mehrdad Brian Baldwin, 38, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 12, 2022.

Herbert Brown, 82, professor emeritus of biology who taught for 39 years and served on the Sehome Arboretum Board, on May 28, 2022, in Bellingham. He had a deep love of the natural world and once found and photographed the Phantom Orchid on Sehome Hill, a lucky find since the orchid sometimes goes into remission for 17 years after blooming.

Karen Bradley, 66, a retired longtime chair of Western’s Sociology Department, on July 29, 2022.

Robert Jewett, 84, a retired, 40-year mathematics professor who helped develop the Hales-Jewett theorem, on July 30, 2022. Dr. Jewett’s research interests included harmonic analysis, ergodic theory, differential equations and combinatronics.

Marjorie Donker, 95, professor emeritus of English who taught at Western from 1967 to 1995, on Jan. 16, 2022. She also completed her bachelor’s degree at Western in 1964.

David Burden, 77, a retired custodian with passions for woodworking, model trains and traveling, on June 7, 2022.

Holli Brawley, 45, a control technician who had worked at Western since 2014, on March 31, 2022. Her colleagues in Facilities Management created the Holli Brawley Memorial Scholarship for Women in the Trades at Bellingham Technical College.

James E. Shaw, 79, retired chief of University Police, on June 28, 2022.

Cheryl Mathison, 66, a program coordinator who worked in teacher education at Woodring College of Education, on Aug. 26, 2022. She also served as Public School Employees of Washington Local Union president, and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western.

Del Hubbard, 85, a retired systems controller, on July 25, 2022, in Bellingham.

Carl Allen, ’05, B.A., communication, and Jonelle Schermerhorn, on Aug. 26, 2022, at Fort Casey.

Jaime Liljegren, ‘12, B.S., environmental science – marine ecology, and Lucas Nardella, ‘12, B.A., philosophy, on July 30, 2022, in Bellingham.

Jaime Liljegren, ‘12, B.S., environmental science – marine ecology, and Lucas Nardella, ‘12, B.A., philosophy, on July 30, 2022, in Bellingham.

Jon Fedele, ‘16, B.A., philosophy, and Kaylee McElroy, ‘17, B.A., communication sciences and disorders and linguistics, and ‘20, M.A., speech language pathology, on April 30, 2022, in Tacoma.

Jon Fedele, ‘16, B.A., philosophy, and Kaylee McElroy, ‘17, B.A., communication sciences and disorders and linguistics, and ‘20, M.A., speech language pathology, on April 30, 2022, in Tacoma.