Class Notes

2010s

’17 Frank Jachetta, BA operations management, has been named to an electric customer project coordinator position with Avista’s construction services division.

’13 Cody Schoonover, MS biology, recently joined the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as game warden assigned to the Cheyenne Warden District in southeast corner of the state. Schoonover began his game and fish career as a wildlife damage technician in Sheridan, Wyoming, in 2016.

’11 Brittany Zuger, BA communication, earlier this year began a new position as deputy clerk for the city of Waitsburg, Washington.

’10 Ashley Wurzbacher, MFA creative writing, last year published a volume of short fiction, Happy Like This (University of Iowa Press). The book received the 2020 John Simmons Short Fiction Award, and much positive attention from prominent writers and critics. “This is a writer at the top of her game,” wrote The New York Times, “but hopefully she’s only just getting started.”

2000s

’08 Evan Buelt, BA philosophy, recently joined Battelle, a nonprofit Columbus, Ohiobased science and technology company, as a decontamination technician working to supply first responders and front-line healthcare workers with virus-free N95 respirators. Buelt, a former ASEWU president, wrote to Eastern magazine in March that, “I paused life to go help fight against the virus. I’m in desperate need of an EWU Flag. I’d love to show, as an Eastern alumnus, that we Eagles support the cause.” The flag arrived soon thereafter.

For Eastern students and recent alumni looking to embark on a new career, few assets are more rewarding than the advice of someone who’s successfully accomplished this goal. That’s why EWU’s Office of Alumni Relations and the Career Center have partnered to create the Eagle Career Network, ECN, a new online networking community that will provide powerful, on-demand career mentoring opportunities.

This “Eagles helping Eagles” model relies on alumni and friends to serve as resources to current students and fellow grads who could benefit from learning about the professional experiences and career journeys of seasoned business people. Eagle mentors drive how they want to be involved. It might be one-time support, such as reviewing a ’07 Katheryn Nuernberger, MFA poetry, has published her third book of poems, Rue (BOA Editions, Ltd.). Nuernberger is an assistant professor of English at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

’04 Ben Wick, BS computer science, earlier this year became mayor of Spokane Valley, Washington. Wick, a member of the Spokane Valley City Council, was named to the post following a council vote held on Jan. 8.

’03 Michelle Bonczek Evory, MFA poetry, joined the faculty of Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Bonczek Evory is the author of three books of poems, most recently The Ghosts of Lost Animals (Gunpowder Press), winner of the 2018 Barry Spacks Prize.

’01 Tamara Cullen, BA marketing, is the president of Spokane-based TRC Enterprises, a producer and vendor of products to assist home gardeners. Among the most popular is the “Roo,” an apron with an ingenious kangaroo-like pouch that helps with

EXPERT ADVICE

Give back to EWU on your own terms, while helping next-generation professionals.

harvesting. resume or sharing advice via an online chat or phone call. It could involve an ongoing series of conversations or email exchanges. Or it might entail allowing individuals to chat with — or job shadow — you or other professionals in your organization who are doing what they would like to do.

For those helping out, their generosity will come with rewards: By interacting with ECN participants, you will be able to make direct connections with other Eagle professionals and enhance the strength of your organization by identifying talent within the EWU community.

We need you, Eagles! Signing up is easy – you can even merge your LinkedIn profile with one click. Visit ecn.ewu.edu to learn more.

Good Chemistry

A recent EWU grad is poised to make his mark on biochemistry. J ohn Vant ’18 would be the first to admit that his decision to attend Eastern Washington University had little to do with academics. scientists, an experience that was invaluable to his progress as a young researcher. “The thing that sets Eastern apart from The Montana native, now 26, says he enrolled at other schools is its size and its focus on Eastern mostly because the university’s rec center teaching students,” says Vant. “By the time I had an ice rink. left, I personally knew every single chemistry

Hockey helped Vant make new friends professor in the department. You wouldn’t get and immerse himself in the university that at a lot of big universities.” community. But it didn’t take long for the gifted Vant’s research at ASU involves molecular undergraduate to be crossed-checked by a dynamics, a method that involves using passion that transcended the puck: research in computers to simulate the motion of atoms biochemistry. Now a standout doctoral student in biological molecules, in Vant’s case protein in biochemistry at Arizona State University’s molecules. “A lot of my science is focused on School of Molecular Sciences, Vant was recently bio-energy,” he says, “but it’s not too much of awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate a stretch for me to solve problems related to Research Fellowship. The fellowship will allow human health.” him to continue working with some of the world’s Human health is exactly what Vant has top biochemical experts. been up to this spring and summer due to the

Vant is no stranger to academic awards. At COVID-19 pandemic. In collaboration with Eastern, he was the recipient of the Daniel and the Mayo Clinic, he’s part of a team developing Margaret Carper Foundation Scholarship, a fulla model for disrupting the virus’ “envelope tuition award for his senior year. In part thanks protein,” a molecular structure that is crucial to that financial assistance, Vant says, he was able in preserving its genetic material as it travels to fully focus on his time with Eastern’s faculty between hosts. By disrupting the envelope

’00 Melanie Miller, BA finance and management, joined 1st Security Bank, a financial institution headquartered in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, as a commercial lending relationship manager.

1990s

’97 Kyle Rydell, BA education, earlier this year was named superintendent of the West Valley (Spokane, Washington) School District.

’95 Brian Leavitt, BA developmental psychology, was named the Kennewick (Washington) School District’s K-12 student services director. He previously served as executive director of learning support in the Pasco (Washington) School District.

’94 Robert “Bobby” Lee, BA education, a former member of the EWU baseball team, late last year was named athletic director at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Lee previously served as the interim district director of athletics and dean for physical education, athletics, recreation and wellness at Community Colleges of Spokane.

’94 Dena Naccarato, BA English, became the new superintendent of the Post Falls (Idaho) School District on Aug. 1.

’93 John Polm, M.Ed education, in July became the new superintendent of the Puyallup (Washington) School District.

’91 Angela Birney, BA education, was elected mayor of Redmond, Washington. Birney was sworn in for a three-year term on Dec. 17, 2019.

’90 Ali Abdullah Al Ahmed, BA business administration, was named the United Arab Emirates’ permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The UAE is ranked sixth on Unesco’s list of the largest donor countries. In addition to his position at the United Nations, Al Ahmed also serves as the UAE’s ambassador to France. protein, the thinking goes, researchers could interrupt transmission.

When Vant completes his doctoral and postdoctoral work, he says he aspires to work in one of the federally run national laboratories. No matter where his career takes him, Vant says, he will always appreciate the education he received at Eastern, and the scholarship donors whose generosity helped him to succeed.

“Even now, when I’m going through a rough time and things aren’t working out, I can think back and remember that people believed in me,” he says.

’90 Angela Wilson, BS chemistry, is one of two candidates for president-elect of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society. Wilson, the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Michigan State University, recently completed a rotation as a director with the Division of Chemistry at the National Science Foundation.

1980s

’83 Henry Hix, BA recreation, in January was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve on Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. The board awards some $250 million in grants every two years. Hix also serves as the chief of natural resource enforcement for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

’83 Doug Kelley, BA recreation management, a regional account executive with Avista, received a lifetime achievement award from the West Plains Chamber of Commerce for his service to the greater Spokane community.

FLYING TO YOUR PORCH THIS FALL

It’s no secret we Eagles love our red and white: That’s how we know you’re going to love this too! Coming to your porch this October will be the inaugural flight of…Eagle Flights, the new official wine club of the EWU Alumni Association! Get fabulous Washington wines made by Eagles, for Eagles, delivered straight to your door. You’ll enjoy delicious wines while benefiting Alumni Legacy Scholarships. Joining takes less than a minute! Sign up now at eagleflightswineclub.com.

’81 Larry Soehren, BA business administration, in January announced he was retiring from his position as president and CEO of Kiemle & Hagood, the property management and commercial real estate firm in Spokane where he had served for 37 years.

’80 Doug Matson, BA accounting, retired from his position as deputy superintendent of the West Valley (Washington) School District after 31 years of service.

1960s

’69 Ethan R. “Rick” Allen, BA journalism, recently released a new book, Inside Pitch (Persistence Press). The book chronicles the “one-year-and-bankrupt” history of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Pilots from the perspective of two team administrators who experienced firsthand the chaotic nature of the team’s front office.

EWUAA, YPN Board Members Announced

The EWU Alumni Association, EWUAA, is the official body representing EWU alumni. The volunteer-driven The Young Professionals Network, YPN, is an EWU alumni community promoting professional growth and career success. The organization is a non-dues-paying, nonprofit that YPN provides professional development works in partnership with the university’s Office opportunities for all EWU graduates of the last of Alumni Relations to continue to strengthen the decade. It is led by an eager group of young Eags bond between alumni and the university. who volunteer their time to help plan events

The EWUAA is led by a board of passionate and activities, market YPN to their colleagues Eags, volunteers who give of their time to and friends, and champion EWU in their connect with and engage current and future communities. alumni in fun activities, projects and programs. New board members for the 2020-21 year New board members for the 2020-21 year are are Austin Combs ’16, Rachel Dryer ’13, Holly Marianne Duong ’06 and Jenna Linerud ’01, ’05. Johnson ’17, Nic Lawrence ’15, Jessie Miller ’18, In addition, board member Erik Puthoff ’05 has and Dragana Perkovic ’13. been appointed as vice president/president elect. Each spring, new board members are

All EWU graduates are automatically recruited for the upcoming fiscal year. Both enrolled for free in the Alumni Association EWUAA and YPN board members serve twoupon graduation, and are invited to join in all of year terms. Complete lists of all board members our activities. are available on the web: ewu.edu/alumni.