Devin Miller, B.S., industrial technology, is a co-founder of SecureSave, an employer-sponsored emergency savings program that encourages workers to save for financial emergencies.
Class Notes include professional accomplishments, awards, retirements, weddings, obituaries and other news about Western Washington University alumni; they’re gathered from published reports and communication from alumni themselves.
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Devin Miller, B.S., industrial technology, is a co-founder of SecureSave, an employer-sponsored emergency savings program that encourages workers to save for financial emergencies.
Brian Rudin, B.A., political science and Spanish, recently became the winemaker and general manager for Echolands Winery in the Walla Walla Valley. Previously, Brian was the winemaker at Duckhorn Wine Co.
Damond Morris, B.A. and '07, M.A., theatre, recently became the executive of the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon. He's also the founder of Shakespeare Northwest and the former chair of the drama department at Skagit Valley College.
Scott F. Andrews, BAE, music - elementary, and '74, M.A., music, is retired following a career as a musician, teacher, conductor and mentor. Scott worked in Canada as a choral conductor and singer and later became the Music Officer for the Touring Office of the Canada Council. He also worked with CBC Radio to develop a career program for aspiring young artists. Scott wrote that he is immensely grateful for the training and encouragement he received from Western's music faculty, particularly Robert L. Scandrett. His experiences at Western "opened up for me a world which I would never have dreamed possible," he writes.
"The Grand Promise," a historical novel about the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam and the surrounding communities, is the debut novel of Rebekah Anderson, B.A., English - writing. Published by Empty Bowl Press, the well-regarded novel is loosely based on Rebekah's own family history.
Phoebe DeMeerleer, B.A., political science, graduated in May 2023 from Boston University School of Law and has a one-year fellowship at the Conservation Law Foundation in Providence, Rhode Island.
Patricia Relay, B.A., art history, became the executive director of the Pratt Museum and Park in Homer, Alaska. Previously, Patricia was the executive director of the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive in Alaska -- and she's the former owner of the World Famous Up and Up tavern on State Street.
Crystal Pritchard, B.A., sociology, recently became a real estate broker with The Muljat Group in Bellingham. Previously, Crystal worked in public health education and social services.
Michael Justice, BAE, mathematics - secondary, co-founded EdJobList.com, a searchable website with job listings from hundreds of K-12 school districts in Washington and Alaska, including listings for teachers, administrators, counselors, janitors, librarians and other faculty and staff roles.
Sasha Elena Alden, B.S., chemistry, is a fifth-year Ph.D. chemistry student at Texas A&M University and the recipient of the Joseph W. Richards Fellowship from the Electromechanical Society.
Anna Adeola Makanju, B.A., French, linguistics, is vice president of Global Affairs for OpenAI. Previously, she was the global policy manager for Content Regulation at Facebook. Anna has also worked in the White House as a special advisor to the Vice President for Europe and Eurasia, and at the United Nations as a senior policy adviser.
After an internship at Archipelago Books, a small press devoted to publishing works in translation, Peter Dyer, B.A., English - creative writing, began work with the publisher Europa Editions.
Hannah Raschke, B.A., English literature, is the front office coordinator for Echo Theater Co., a circus and performing arts school in Portland, Oregon.
Christopher Lovgreen, M.A., English, has been accepted at Miami University's Ph.D. program in English, where he will also serve as a graduate teaching assistant in the university's first-year writing program.
Keegan Lawler, MFA, creative writing, recently published an essay in the Offing about Bronski Beat's son "Smalltown Boy," covered by Orville Peck.
Emma Williams, B.A., English - creative writing, just completed her MFA in creative writing at Eastern Washington University, continuing to work on her novel, and started as an adjunct instructor at North Idaho College.
Alyssa Quinn, MFA, creative writing, published her debut novel in 2022 with Dzanc Books. "Habilis" is an exploration into the origins of humans and human language: a historical reconstruction, psychological horror, mystery, ghost story and creation myth.
Miriam Vance, B.A., English - creative writing, became the contracts and rights associate and awards coordinator at Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull Press.
Alynn Sobolik, B.A., English - creative writing, is performing this summer with this psychedelic rock band, Of the Heavy Sun, which just released tis third full-length album, "Cosmic Television."
Dayna Patterson, MFA, creative writing, has her second poetry collection, "O Lady, Speak Again" coming out with Signature Books in 2025. Signature Books also published Dayna's MFA thesis in February. She's also an English instructor at Western and assistant head of the Research & Writing Studio.