Class Notes

Kari Mar, B.A., journalism, is the editor and publisher of The La Conner Community News, a new non-profit newspaper in La Conner whose citizen board of directors includes Jerry Willins, '97, B.A., English. "We are deeply grateful to this town for taking a chance on us," Kari wrote in a recent column, "and we hope to build a newspaper worthy of your trust."

Louise Gearhart, B.A., human services, became marketing manager for RMC Architects in Bellingham. 

Tim Barron, B.S., kinesiology, is a chiropractor who recently opened North Sound Spine & Sports Therapy in Ferndale. Previously, Tim worked at a spine and sports therapy clinic in Lynnwood. 

Shannon Braddock, B.A., communication, became acting King County Executive in early April after the resignation of Dow Constantine. Shannon had been King County Deputy Executive since 2023. 

Isabela Lund, B.A., journalism - news-editorial, covers East Pierce County for The News Tribune. Previously, Isabela worked as a digital content manager for KDRV in Medford, Oregon, and as a reporter for the Stanwood-Camano News. 

Kari Mar, B.A., journalism, is the editor and publisher of The La Conner Community News, a new non-profit newspaper in La Conner whose citizen board of directors includes Jerry Willins, '97, B.A., English. "We are deeply grateful to this town for taking a chance on us," Kari wrote in a recent column, "and we hope to build a newspaper worthy of your trust."

Jameson Goff, B.S., environmental science - terrestrial ecology, recently took his expertise in soils to work with New Dungeness Nursery in Sequim. 

Rachel Vasak, B.A., geology, recently became the executive director of the Whatcom Land Trust. Previously, Rachel led the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. 

Alissa Shay, B.A., planning and environmental policy, recently became the new deputy director of the Port of Grays Harbor, overseeing the industrial property and marine terminal divisions. Previously, Alissa was the general manager of Satsop Business Park. 

Jessica Schenck, B.A., journalism, was selected to be the superintendent of the Mount Baker School District. She'll come from the Othello School District, where she's the superintendent of teaching and learning. 

Brad Tanberg, B.A., business administration - finance, became the chief financial officer of Gulf Winds Credit Union, which serves Florida, Alabama and Georgia.  

Alyssa Pitcher, B.A., art, visual journalism, is a marketing production assistant at Whatcom Educational Credit Union and president of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce board. 

Tom Tebb, B.S., environmental geology, is retiring after 33 years with the Department of Ecology, most recently as head of the Office of the Columbia River. 

Lansia Jipson, M.Ed., environmental education, is a nurse practitioner who recently joined the neurology clinic of Aspirus St. Luke's in Duluth, Minnesota.  

Peter Kalivas, B.S. biology, is a neuropharmacologist whose work explores the brain molecules and circuits that underlie substance use disorder. He's a Distinguished University Professor of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he was the founding chair of the neuroscience department. He is the past-president of the American College of Neuropharmacology, which recently honored him for his work in mentorship.  

Zoe Ballering, MFA, creative writing, recently received an Oregon Literary Fellowship. Her anthology, "There Is Only Us" received the 2022 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction, and she has short stories forthcoming in The Cincinnati Review and Story Magazine. In addition to writing, Zoe is senior assistant dean of Admission Communication at Reed College. 

Dorrance Publishing Co., just released "Black Sun and Scarlet Skies," a young adult novel by Thitiya Astleford, B.A., English - creative writing, 

Joel Purdy, M.S., geology, is the Water Resources manager for Kitsap Public Utilities District. 

Kelly Kriss, B.A., art, is principal of Adele Harrison Middle School in Sonoma, California, and was named Middle Grades principal of the Year by Region 4 of the Association of California Administrators, which represents six counties in Northern California. 

Michelle Marques, B.A., German, recently became a radio content producer and the weekday local host of "All Things Considered" for Northern California Public Media, serving NPR stations in the northern San Francisco Bay Area. Michelle has been working in radio in Sonoma County, California, for about 20 years.