Fall/Winter 2025 Class Notes

Douglas Massey, B.A., anthropology, psychology, sociology and Spanish, received the Princess of Asturias Award for the Social Sciences from the royal family of Spain at a ceremony in October. Massey, the Henry G. Bryan Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University and the director of Princeton's Office of Population Studies, was honored for his extensive work in the fields of international migration and social stratification. 

John MacBeath Watkins, B.A., journalism, political science and '83, M.A., political science, is the co-owner of Twice Sold Tales, a secondhand bookstore in Ballard, where he occasionally sells copies of his self-published 2018 book, "The Outlaw John Locke and Why Liberalism Is Worth Fighting For," which he most recently updated in 2025. 

Willie Schnitzer, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, recently retired after several decades in the real estate appraisal profession in the San Francisco Bay Area, including work in the reconstruction of freeways in the East Bay following the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. He's also a volunteer for Oakland's First "T," an organization that assists disadvantaged middle school students. 

Terry Veltkamp, B.S., technology education and '90, M.Ed., technology, was inducted into the White River Athletic Hall of Fame for his work as head football coach at White River High School and winning five league titles. 

Jonathan Zehr, B.S., biology, is a distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Ocean Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He led a team that received the American Association for the Advancement of Science's oldest award, the Newcomb Cleveland Prize, for work published in the journal Science on the groundbreaking discovery of an organelle within a single-celled algae that converts nitrogen gas into ammonia and helps the algae survive in nutrient-poor ocean regions. Their research was funded in part by the Simons Foundation, for which Jonathan is a principal investigator. 

Greg Cox, B.A., chemistry, had some new publications this year, including "People I want to Eat," a grisly new zombie story in issue 371 of Weird Tales magazine, and "Star Trek: The Original Series: Identity Theft," which will be out in December in time for Star Trek's 59th anniversary. 

Mike Acord, B.S., mathematics, was recently honored by the Washington Education Association - Retired for his advocacy work to improve substitute teachers' work conditions in Washington. 

Loretta Richardson, the widow of Keith Scheid, B.A., English, is paying tribute to her late husband with a road trip to promote and share his adventure book for young readers, "East with the Dragon." Watch for her on the road in her "dragoned-out SUV," covered with artwork from Keith's book. 

Retired Division 1 football coach Dave Christensen, B.A., sociology, is a motivational and keynote speaker who recently shared what he's learned about leadership in a book, "Your 4th Down: Why You Need to Go for It."

Dan Whitlock, B.A., business administration, retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, after 31 years of service. Col. Whitlock served in command positions at the company, battalion and brigade-level. He served as general’s deputy chief of staff human resources, in intelligence and security, in comptroller positions, and at the Defense Intelligence Agency as reserve director of intelligence in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the U.S. Central Command. Col. Whitlock's career also included a combat tour Afghanistan, where he earned a Bronze Star. He is currently an executive project manager with KONE Elevator in Illinois.

Mike Taggart, BAE, mathematics, retired from the Everett School District after teaching math for 36 years. He also coached multiple sports including eighth-grade football and  basketball. 

Craig Packard, B.A., theatre, wrote and directed the feature western, "This Bloody Country," released in October by Quiver Distribution and available for streaming. The film won the Audience Choice Best Feature Award at the 2025 Utah International Film Festival.  

Fairhaven Distinguished Alumnus Coll Thrush, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, recently wrote "Wrecked: Unsettling Histories from the Graveyard of the Pacific," which was published in May by University of Washington Press. Coll is a professor of history and associate faculty in critical Indigenous studies at the University of British Columbia. His previous books include "Native Seattle" and "Indigenous London." 

Joel Pfundt, B.A., urban and regional planning, was appointed director of the Bellingham Public Works Department 

Kevin Gudgel, BAE, English - secondary, was named Athletic/Activities director at Burlington-Edison High School, Where he has taught English and served as ASB advisor for 25 years.  

Mare Sullivan, CERT, elementary education, is a teacher at an outdoor preschool who just wrote a new children's picture book "Come Out and Play!" celebrating the joys of getting outside and exploring the natural world.  

Brooks Smothers, B.A., art - graphic design, recently became the host of the podcast "See America," which highlights unique roadside attractions, history and hidden gems in the U.S. 

Evan Schatz, B.A., political science, is a lead staff member for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, most recently serving as the Democratic staff director for the Senate Appropriations Committee, where Murray is the top-ranking Democrat. 

Lindsey Myhre, B.A., business administration – finance, became chief financial officer of Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Previously, she was vice president of finance.

Megan Peyton, B.A., English, was recently appointed to Clark County District Court. Previously, Megan worked as a defense attorney in Vancouver, Washington. 

Arthur Lim, B.S., sport psychology, received the 2025 Innovation Honor Award from the Cordage Institute for his development of three new knots. His "Mittens Knot" was featured in Ropecord News. 

Amy Harder, B.A., journalism, is the inaugural journalism fellow for the University of Chicago's Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, where she's the co-host with institute founder Michael Greenstone on the podcast "Shocked," which explores wide-ranging questions in the energy space. Amy also writes about the future of energy as national energy correspondent for Axios. 

Alyssa-Lois Gehman, M.S., environmental science, is a biologist with British Columbia's Hakai Institute, where she and her research team published a study over the summer pinpointing the pathogen responsible for sea star wasting disease, which has destroyed billions of sea stars on the Pacific Coast for more than a decade. "There are a bunch of things we can do now that we know what causes this disease that might actually change the tide and make it so these animals can survive," Alyssa-Lois told KUOW. 

Brett W. Bachman, B.A., English - creative writing, is an in-demand film editor whose work can be seen this year on six films: "Companion," " Heart Eyes," "Rabbit Trap," "The Toxic Avenger," " Lone Samurai," and "Shelby Oaks." 

Ashton Macauley, B.A., and '15, M.S., psychology, just completed his sci-fi comedy novel, "One Night at Kedasi," published by Artemesia Publishing and Shadow Dragon Press. Ashton has written several books and this is his first with a traditional publisher. 

Steve Guntli, B.A., visual journalism, lives in Austin, Texas, where he edits the Cedar Park-Far Northwest Austin and Leander-Liberty Hill editions of the Community Impact newspaper. 

Tim Barron, B.S., kinesiology - movement studies, is a doctor of chiropractic who recently returned to Whatcom County to open North Sound Spine & Sports Therapy in Ferndale.  

Whitney Osiensky, M.A., anthropology, is Whatcom County's first full-time archeologist, ensuring cultural resources are protected during construction and maintenance of public works projects.  

The Redmond High School Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Cami Gates, B.Mus., music education, came in second at the American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta in March. The students memorized 35 minutes of classical music and performed unconducted. 

Thomas Hunter, B.A., environmental policy, was recently appointed the city manager of Liberty Hill, Texas. 

Jesse Nichols, B.A., visual journalism, a multimedia journalist for Grist, recently received the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Jesse was honored in the category of early career science journalism and specializes in science and the environment. 

Greg Connor, B.A., political science, recently joined the American Feed Industry Association as the senior manager of Multilateral Affairs and Market Access. Previously, Greg worked as an international program specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Vivian Edwards, B.A., English literature, became the branch manager of the Chelan and Manson public library branches in Chelan County. 

Taylor Nichols, B.A., journalism, earned her master's degree in data journalism from the University of Maryland earlier this year and received a Roy W. Howard Fellowship from the Scripps Howard Foundation to cover housing with the Maine Monitor. 

Marlén Marquez, B.A., sociology, is the Organizational and Community Engagement coordinator for the Latino Advocacy and Leadership Association of Whatcom. 

Raelyn Kaplan, B.A., Fairhaven Interdisciplinary Concentration, is managing director at Joyco Digital and was included in Whatcom Talk's 2025 Top 7 Under 40 list.  

Joanne Knowles-Blankenship, 96, a former teacher at St. Helen's Elementary in Longview, Van Asselt and Sanislo elementary schools in Seattle and as a substitute teacher in Anacortes, on Aug. 13, 2025. 

Douglas D. Dayton, 96, a retired elementary school teacher in Shelton, on April 2, 2025. 

Lillian Landahl Riley, 95, a retired teacher who spearheaded the creation of new parks and open spaces in North Seattle and recipient of Seattle Parks & Recreation's Denny Award, on Aug. 27, 2025. 

Distinguished Alumnus William Kendrick, 89, retired superintendent of Salem Keizer Public Schools and Seattle Public Schools and active community volunteer, on April 13, 2025, in Anacortes. 

Rob Brand, 88, a retired teacher and school administrator in Bellingham and adjunct faculty member in Woodring College of Education, where he taught aspiring elementary school teachers into his 80s, on May 15, 2025. 

Bob Gilda, 84, a retired math teacher and assistant principal in Bellingham and a member of the first WWU men's basketball team to make an appearance at a national tournament, on Oct. 4, 2025. 

Karl Kloster, 84, who taught junior high school for 30 years, then at Everett Community College for 20 years, on April 20, 2025. 

Sue Harris Lindsay, 82, a retired teacher and real estate agent on Sept. 25, 2025. 

Don Michael Sampson, 80, retired founder and director of the Humboldt Open Door Clinic in California, former English teacher at the Washington Correctional Center in Shelton, and a well-regarded musician and artist, on June 7, 2025. 

Pat Poppe, 89, a retired clinical social worker and skilled gardener, on April 24, 2025. 

Georgia Spencer, 87, who taught for 35 years in primary grades in Seattle Public Schools and was an active community volunteer, on June 21, 2025. 

Mary Ann Jenkin Ford, 93, a retired math teacher and elementary school principal who gave her own art and art collections to Western, on March 21, 2025. 

Jeff Jacobson, 63, who worked as a constitutional law lecturer, digital encyclopedia editor and inventor of kitchen gadgets and guitar accessories, on July 9, 2025. 

Marlene "Mickey" Spencer, 89, who worked as a teacher in Indigenous communities in Arizona and Alberta, earned doctorate in psychology and served as a counselor and researcher in the field of consciousness studies, on July 21, 2025.

Jeffrey Richard Sloth, 58, the former mayor of Snohomish and director of political and legislative affairs for the International Union of Operating Engineers, on June 13, 2025, in Chestertown, Maryland.

David Leon Alles, 79, a naval veteran, high school and college-level science teacher, ornithologist and a founding member of the Boulder (Colorado) County Nature Association, on March 5, 2025, in Bellingham. 

Sarah Nicole Carlson, 25, who worked as a speech-language pathologist at Olalla Elementary in the South Kitsap School District, on April 8, 2025. 

George Kriz, 85, a longtime professor in the Chemistry Department and recipient of the Peter J. Elich Teaching Award who after retiring from teaching in 2014 continued to work as an advisor to students going into pre-healthcare professions, on July 8, 2025. With fellow faculty Donald Pavia and Gary Lampman, Dr. Kriz wrote several well-regarded textbooks and lab manuals. In the community, Dr. Kriz also served on the board of directors for the Bellingham Theatre Guild and sang with the Whatcom Chorale. 

Susan Mancuso, 77, former chair of Woodring’s Department of Educational Leadership and former director of Western's Student Affairs Administration graduate program, on April 27, 2025. Dr. Mancuso was also earned a Master of Arts in sociology from Western in 1974.

Lee Balzer, 88, who taught in the Biology Department in the 1970s before joining the faculty and in administration at Seattle Pacific University and serving as president of Tabor College in Kansas, on May 11, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Sandra Daffron, 80, who directed Woodring's Continuing and College Education Program in the Department of Educational Leadership, on March 3, 2025, in Seattle.

Retired Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Bill Heid, 87, on May 12, 2025. Dr. Heid joined the faculty at Western in 1968 and taught at Fairhaven from 1970 to 1998, in topics including psychology, gender studies, social history and improv theater. 

Carolyn Joyce Mendenhall, 78, who worked more than 30 years for Western Libraries as the return books/stacks supervisor, where she loved working with students, on May 1, 2025

Kevin Fenwick, 61, equipment manager for WWU Athletics and an integral part of the support system for student athletes for more than 30 years, on Aug. 30, 2025.