FROM THE PRESIDENT
A Day in the Life of WWU’s President The year has begun well, celebrating all the new that accompanies a fresh start—new students (especially freshmen), new faculty and staff members, newly returned Adventist Colleges Abroad students and student missionaries, new academic initiatives (the Center for Health Professions, for example) and programs (like cybersecurity and game development), new facilities (such as two nursing simulation labs), and new missional priorities for the year. After the first several frenetic days, the happy celebrations of newness are transitioning toward all the good work that lies ahead. The academic machinery of the institution is beginning to thrum and you can feel its steady vibrations. Students are grappling with course requirements and both faculty and staff educators are hard at work, shaping and delivering excellence in thought twinned with faith in God. My day begins by meeting with leaders Tony Buettner of Blue Zones and Mark Ishikawa of Adventist Health, together with David Lopez, director of WWU’s Center for Humanitarian Engagement. As a Blue Zones certified workplace, it is appropriate that our meeting is a walking one, touring campus as we think about how WWU and Blue Zones can collaborate in drawing our campus further into the values of life balance and healthful practices. We pause at the new bike lanes on 4th Street, thinking about next steps to further our relationship. As each year begins, I have the privilege of engaging student leaders. I participate in events with our deans and resident assistants for training and inspiration, and start to take the measure of our excellent corps of student leaders. On this Thursday, I am meeting with returning student leaders in ASWWU: President Annaliese Grellmann and Collegian Editor Ashley Herber. We draw on our previous collaboration as we think and pray about the year ahead. The day also features an hour catching up on WWU’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders with sponsor Natalie Smith-Gray, assistant professor of engineering. She has just returned from leading a trip of faculty and students to Manda, Tanzania, one focused on their latest project: improving delivery of fresh water to the 5,000 residents of Manda, a large area on the shores of Lake Malawi. SmithGray has printed out a map of the area and circles various schools that need better water service, features of the current water system, and proposals about how to improve things. She tells me EWB is garnering fresh recruits for the project and describes the next steps in drawing students into “generosity in service.”
In the evening, I have the privilege of attending a meeting of student varsity athletes and coaches as Athletic Director Nestor Osorio celebrates new athletes and accomplishments and identifies priorities for the year ahead. The room throbs with energy and excitement! Chaplain Albert Handal draws expertly on his passion for running to offer an exhortation on the importance of character development. Newly-appointed Vice President for Student Life Darren Wilkins and Assistant Vice President for Student Life Brooklyn Armesto-Larson team up to winsomely and effectively outline student life procedures and expectations. The events of the day add up to a settled sense that the 2023–2024 school year is solidly underway. The fulfillment of WWU’s mission in this new academic year has begun. A skilled, dedicated team is once again leading the institution in valuing excellence in thought, generosity in service, beauty in expression, and faith in God. Thank you for joining in WWU’s peerless mission. John McVay, president
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS: WALLAWALLA.EDU/WESTWIND
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Westwind Fall 2023
PHOTO: CHRIS DRAKE
As I write these lines to you, we are closing out the first week of the 2023-2024 academic year.
