Class Notes

Frederick Livingston, B.S., environmental science, is an ecologist and poet who was just awarded the Prism Prize for Climate Literature for his upcoming book, "Trees are Bridges to the Sky," due from Homebound Press in 2024. His first book of poetry, "The Moon and Other Fruits," was published by Legacy Book Press in April. 

Carol V. Davis, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, just had her fourth poetry book
published: "Below Zero," Stephen F. Austin State University Press. The book is centered on
poems about Siberia, where Carol taught at a university in January 2018. She was due to be back in
Siberia in 2020 as a Fulbright Specialist. She postponed twice because of COVID-19 and when the war
began, the State Department closed the Fulbright program in Russia. Carol teaches at Santa Monica College and Antioch University, Los Angeles.

Brian Ogolsky, B.A. psychology, was promoted to full professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the
University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign. He was also named University Scholar for distinguished contributions to
research, teaching, and service. Brian is the department's director of graduate programs and leads the H.E.A.R.T. Lab (Healthy Experiences Across Relationship Transitions), which explores how romantic relationships change over time. He was recently selected to co-chair the 2026 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference. 

Brian Lind, B.A., journalism, recently became Supply Chain Manager - Americas for Corio Generation, part of Macquarie's Green Investment Group. Brian has been a procurement professional in the energy field since 2000 and ran his own consulting business focused on wind energy for several years. He completed his MBA in 2016 from Marylhurst University. 

Ariel Wetzel, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, and '09, M.A., English, recently received tenure at Green River College, where she teaches English and directs the Writing and Reading Center. 

"The Language of Seabirds" by Will Taylor, B.A. Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, a story for middle-grade readers for and about LGBTQ+ youth, was recently featured on the Today Show as one of the titles on Jenna Bush Hager's kids' summer reading list. Taylor and "Seabirds" were featured in Window magazine's "First Crush, Second Draft."

David Harris, B.A., sociology, became the new head football coach at Lynnwood High School. Formerly, he was the assistant coach. David is also an education specialist at Treehouse, a nonprofit organization that supports foster youth. 

Jordan Gage, M.Ed., educational administration, and '13, principal's residency certificate, became the Head of School at Kings Schools in Seattle. Previously, he was superintendent at Northshore Christian Academy in Everett. 

Patrick Phelps, B.S., physics, is the founder and CEO of WhyGrene Energy Exchange, a software platform that enables homes and businesses to sell electrical power -- from solar panels, electric vehicles, battery packs or other sources -- back to utilities during times of high demand. 

Dexter Davis, B.S., environmental science, was recently awarded the 2023 Graduate Research Fellowships Program scholarship from the National Science Foundation. Since graduating, Dexter has worked in Associate Professor Shawn Arellano's Larval Lab as a research technologist and NSF geoscience research experience scholar. With the new fellowship, he'll soon begin a master's program at Oregon State University. 

Aura Cuellar, MBA, recently became executive vice president of Growth and Strategic Projects at LanzaTech Global, Inc., a carbon recycling technology company that plans to open three new plants before the end of 2023. 

Gina Cole, B.A., communication and journalism, was recently promoted to Corporate Communications manager at Zillow. 

Dave Porter, B.S., visual communication, retired after 38 years in information technology at Boeing, last serving in public cloud product management. 

Jennifer Jahner, B.A., English, was recently named dean of undergraduate students at the California Institute of Technology. Jen is an English professor at Caltech whose research interests include the histories of rhetoric, law, and natural philosophy, focusing on the European Middle Ages and its role in shaping contemporary understandings of rights, evidence, perception and proof. 

Briana Martinez, BAE, environmental studies, is the founder and CEO of Wild Moon, a spiritual education and adventure business for women, offering retreats, backpacking trips, workshops and other events "for women seeking to connect with their most powerful selves."  

Richard Macías, B.A., art, lives in Frankfurt, Germany, with his wife and two children, where he works in the General Services Office of the U.S. Mission Germany's Frankfurt General Consulate. The largest U.S. consulate in the world, Frankfurt supports many other U.S. diplomatic posts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

Two 2020 alums were among the 17 teachers nationwide to receive the 2023 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers from the National Science Teaching Association. Hillary Hunsaker, BAE, general science – elementary, is a STEM teacher at Conway School in Mount Vernon, and Natalie Reeder, BAE, general science – elementary, is a third-grade teacher at Cascade View Elementary School in Tukwila.

Two 2020 alums were among the 17 teachers nationwide to receive the 2023 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers from the National Science Teaching Association. Hillary Hunsaker, BAE, general science – elementary, is a STEM teacher at Conway School in Mount Vernon, and Natalie Reeder, BAE, general science – elementary, is a third-grade teacher at Cascade View Elementary School in Tukwila.

Michelle Bender, ’13, B.S., biology - marine emphasis, is an attorney who specializes in Earth law and serves as legal counsel for Ocean Vision Legal. Previously, she was the ocean campaigns director for the Earth Law Center where she helped draft Rights of Nature laws and policies around the world. Michelle recently spoke in the College of the Environment’s Environmental Speaker Series on “Ocean Rights: An Emerging Environmental Ethic to Transform Ocean Governance.”

Larry Orman, ’83, B.A., business administration and computer science, is the vice president for marketing and communication at Alcorn State University, the nation’s oldest, historically Black landgrant university. Larry and his son recently climbed the 19,341-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. “The eight-day Tanzanian climb to the top of Africa, through five climate zones, including an arctic zone at the equator, still feels surreal,” Larry writes.