Class Notes

Dr. Will Nichols, B.S., biology, and his wife Brittany are the dentists behind Nichols Family Dental in Bellingham. Will was recently included in WhatcomTalk's 2023 Top 7 Under 40. Will is also the president of the Mount Baker District Dental Society and serves with Dr. Brittany Nichols on the board of directors for the Health and Hope Foundation.

Susan Lynn, B.A., journalism, editor and publisher of the Iola Register in Kansas, was recently inducted into the Kansas Journalism Hall of Fame. Susan is also past president of the Kansas Press Association. 

Hayley Smith, B.A., economics/social studies and '16, MiT, ran her first marathon in Hayden Lake, Idaho, in October.

"Scrapings and Leavings," a collection of plays and short stories by Dennis Mansker, B.A., English, was published this year. 

David Swanson, B.A., sociology, was recently inducted into the Washington State Academy of Sciences for his work in the field of demography. David is an emeritus professor in sociology at the University of California Riverside and continues to work in population and demographic research at Portland State University, University of Washington and Mississippi State University. 

Two WWU alums, Pat Piggee, ’66, BAE, elementary education, and Thelma Temple, ’72, B.A., psychology, are neighbors in Maryland at the Collington continuing care retirement community in Mitchellville. Pat is active with the community’s Residents Association and was delighted to meet a fellow alum in Thelma when she moved to the community recently.

Two WWU alums, Pat Piggee, ’66, BAE, elementary education, and Thelma Temple, ’72, B.A., psychology, are neighbors in Maryland at the Collington continuing care retirement community in Mitchellville. Pat is active with the community’s Residents Association and was delighted to meet a fellow alum in Thelma when she moved to the community recently.

Scott Meaker, B.S., biology, recently opened Squatchy's a gift shop in North Whidbey Island near the entrance to Deception Pass State Park. At the door to the shop is a 9-foot taxidermied Sasquatch sculpture, a replica of the Sasquatch Scott says he saw as a teenager in Yosemite National Park. 

Henry Jackson-Spieker, BFA, art, became an assistant professor of art at the University of Washington School of Art History and Design. Jackson-Spieker, a multidisciplinary artist whose work combines glass, bronze, steel, wood, fiber and light, is the Dale Chihuly Endowed Chair of Glass. This spring he'll be an Amazon Artist in Residence then attend the Cité Internationale des Arts Residency in Paris this summer. 

Zoe Wise, B.A., English - creative writing, a law school student and an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, just finished a 10-week law clerk internship with the Alaska Native Justice Center, where she researched family law issues and the Indian Child Welfare Act and worked with clients in Tribal court. Zoe has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and had once considered a career in academia until she worked as a paralegal. The clerkship confirmed her plan to pursue a career in Indian law. 

Shannon Britton, B.S., environmental science, is the assistant director for Grounds and Waste Management at Seattle University, where she supports the university's organic, pesticide-free approach to landscaping. 

Geoff Manning, B.A., geology, recently became the superintendent of the Campbell River School District on Vancouver Island. Before moving to Campbell River, Geoff spent 20 years in administration in the Comox Valley School District 

The Rev.. J. Edgar Boyd, B.A., recently retired from the pastoral ministry; he most recently served First AME Church - Los Angeles, the oldest African American church in LA. While there, Rev. Boyd formed the South Los Angeles Community Development and Empowerment Corporation, which collaborates with other denominations to address social and economic issues in South Los Angeles. Previously, Rev. Boyd served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in San Francisco for 20 years, and led Bethel AME Church of Los Angeles from 1986-92. 

Adam Gillman, B.A., Fairhaven Interdisciplinary concentration, recently became the rabbi at Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael in New Jersey. Previously, he served as a chaplain at NYU Langone Hospital, completed a fellowship at T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and was a student teacher at Schechter Manhattan Day School. 

Peter Kedenburg, B.A., planning and environmental policy, was included in 425 Business's 40 Under 40 list. Paul works as the branch manager of Sprague Pest Solutions in Bellevue. 

State Rep. Julio Cortes, B.A., journalism - public relations, is one of two WWU alumni in 425 Business's 40 Under 40 list. Julio is the Economic Development and Marketing manager for the city of Everett and represents the 38th Legislative District in the State House. 

Jackelyn Garcia, M.S., marine and estuary science, was awarded a Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship to work with the Puget Sound Partnership and Washington Conservation Action on a wide range of work focused on environmental policy. 

Ron Podmore, BAE, geography - secondary education, is screening an hour-long documentary, "The Best of Honduras," at the Federal Way Performing Arts Center on Nov. 3. During Ron's 30-plus year career in education, he has extensively traveled in Central America, written two books and is working on a third about the region. About 10 years ago Ron began to see a growing number of students from Central America in his classroom. "It made sense to really start digging into stories from these courageous young migrants," Ron writes. "To date, with over 10 trips exploring Central America, mostly to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, I recognize a growing need to change the narrative and share positive stories from this area of the world." Learn more about Ron's work. 

Randy Alanko, B.S., chemistry/biology, reports that he retired from his solo family medicine practice in Baker City, Oregon, after "36.98 years." He has six grown children and recently celebrated his 40th anniversary with his wife Janet. 

Paul Lindholdt, B.A., and '80, M.A., English, teaches literature and environmental studies at Eastern Washington University. LSU Press just published Paul's latest book, "Interrogating Travel: Guidance from a Reluctant Tourist," which combines first-hand narratives with research about the travel trade. Amid the escalating climate crisis, Paul asks, has the human cost of trekking the globe become too high?