Careers start here
Job and Grad School Placements of Recent Alums
Equip yourself for a job and for life. Students choose Whitworth because they want to learn – not just facts, but how to think. This positions them well for today’s evolving job market because they know how to adapt to change, ask questions that lead to innovation, and serve and lead in a diverse world. They are the candidates employers are looking for. In fact, 93 percent of Whitworth graduates are employed or in grad school within nine months of graduation. Combined with high participation in internships and research projects, as well as in community service, Whitworth grads are ready not just for their first job, but for new opportunities throughout their lives.
Art Recent Alums Carly Colby is a graphic designer at Stuart Advertising in Spokane.
Cody DeJardin owns multiple
businesses, including the fashion business Perspectives Global.
Ruth Campbell is an elementary art specialist at Wenatchee Public Schools.
Olivia Newman is a graphic design & marketing specialist at Perry Technical Institute in Yakima, Wash.
HANNAH HIRANO
MAJORS: ART, ARTS ADMINISTRATION CURRENT POSITION: Hirano is the coordinator for conservation and museum services at the Seattle Art Museum.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I love painting and drawing, and I had enjoyed volunteering for a
community art center while in high school. I wanted these majors when I first applied to Whitworth because I couldn’t imagine not making anything or not having a studio background, and I wanted to be a self-sufficient artist. I thought they would also help me gain a broader understanding of the cultures of different types of arts organizations, and they definitely did.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I was a member of the Whitworth Symphony Orchestra for four years, and I was the art editor for Script, Whitworth’s student literary journal.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “The art department faculty members have
been wonderfully influential through classes, advising, mentoring, sharing their artwork, and being in conversation with me at any hour. Most of the things I love about art – the practice in making, learning history, the act of viewing – grew through my discussions with professors and by listening to them. They cultivated in me a desire for depth in my understanding and a will to action to be a decent human being.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “During my junior year I had the opportunity to
take Power & Politics in Art, a Jan Term study program in Europe. In this class we were able to wrestle with the questions of art’s purpose in and value to culture.”
CAREER GOALS: “I plan to apply for graduate programs focused on new media and
contemporary art history and theory. I would like to continue to work in a modern art-museum structure, but I’m highly interested in working more directly with artists and artwork.”
Biology CHRIS THOMAS
MAJOR: BIOLOGY CURRENT POSITION: Thomas is a third-year Ph.D.
student at Boston University. He is working in a lab in the cellular and molecular biology department that studies embryonic development using sea urchins as the model organism. In addition to conducting research in the lab, he mentors several undergraduates who work in the lab, and he teaches a lab class.
WHY WHITWORTH: “Whitworth is a smaller school,
which meant I’d be able to actually get to know my professors. That was important to me because I knew going into college that I’d want quite a bit of guidance. Also, Whitworth has an excellent biology program. Finally, the university provided me with an excellent scholarship.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I mostly spent my time
working part-time jobs. For example, I was the Japanese live-lab instructor for a semester. I also worked in the biology department as a teaching assistant for intro labs and for biochemistry.”
Recent Alums Sacha Clow is a metals chemist at OnSite
Environmental in Redmond, Wash. She is working toward a certification in data analytics at the University of Washington.
Jenna Morris is seeking a master of science degree in environmental and forest sciences at the University of Washington.
Dominique Armstrong is a graduate student
studying translational biology and molecular medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Tanner Scholten is a fish hatchery specialist for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife in Wenatchee.
Shannon Wessel is a science teacher at Mt.
Spokane High School in Mead, Wash., and a graduate of the Whitworth Master in Teaching Program.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “Dr.
Caccavo was one of several incredibly influential professors at Whitworth. In one of his classes, he told the class how some microbes are being used to clean up pollution in natural environments. Later, I talked to him about it in more detail, and that’s what got me excited about the prospect of research. He was a mentor to me, and I would go to him whenever I struggled with academic or personal issues. He taught me a tremendous amount about what it takes to be an exceptional scientist (I’m not even close yet).”
CAREER GOALS: “I have two pretty distinct directions I’m interested in – becoming a professor at a teaching university or going into industry and conducting translational research, which is research that advances medicine, therapies or treatments.”
Business COOPER STROUT
MAJOR: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CURRENT POSITION: Strout is a financial analyst at Itron, a technology company in Liberty Lake, Wash.
WHY WHITWORTH: “Whitworth has a good business school, and I also wanted a faith-based education.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: Strout was a member of the Whitworth Student Investment Group, which manages a portion of the university’s endowment, and the Business Club.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “Duff Bergquist and
John Hengesh. Duff because he had the highest expectations and his relevant classes played a large role in helping me get a job. John because he met with me frequently to help me get a job.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCES: “The Business
Trek was a fun way to get to know others and do valuable networking. Whitworth Career Services played a large role in helping me polish my résumé and get a job. Also, the School of Business alumni mentorship program played an enormous role for me.”
CAREER GOALS: “I’d like to improve my information technology skills through learning SQL language and implement various data analytic tools in my job.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Network and seek as much advice as possible – successful alumni want to help you. All you have to do is ask for a meeting or a phone call. They get enjoyment from helping you reach your goals.”
Recent Alums Molly Silvius is a Certified
Public Accountant who works as an assurance senior at Moss Adams in Spokane.
Sean Tobin is founder & CEO of Vessel Coffee Roasters in Spokane.
Leah Dassler is a multilingual forms specialist at Charles Schwab in Denver.
Remisola Omodara is an
account manager for Facebook in Austin, Texas.
Alexis McLeod is a marcom
specialist at Numerica Credit Union in Spokane Valley, Wash., and a graduate of the Whitworth MBA Program.
Tory Bray is a senior
accountant at First & Goal Inc. at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Chemistry Recent Alums Kristin Wucherer is pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dustin Dillon is a laboratory technician at UCLA Health in Los Angeles.
Taisiia Feoktistova is seeking a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Oregon State University.
John Koberstein is pursuing a
Ph.D. in neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University.
JOSEPH REGALADO MAJOR: CHEMISTRY
CURRENT POSITION: Regalado is a process engineer in
Spokane at Kaiser Aluminum, which produces fabricated and semi-fabricated aluminum alloys for the aerospace, transportation and defense industries. He develops stable manufacturing processes, provides technical oversight for the laboratories, and ensures final product conformance to customer and industry specifications. He has a master of science degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Washington.
WHY WHITWORTH: “The tight-knit community,
Whitworth’s core values and the (then) brand-new Robinson Science Hall. It was clear to me that the professors were there first and foremost for their students. I was really drawn to that, especially after visiting much larger universities.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I threw javelin for the track
& field team. I stayed really busy between school, track and work, but I did attend the Spanish Club (H.O.L.A.) and Science Club meetings when I had the chance.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “Karen
Stevens. She did an awesome job explaining physical chemistry in layman’s terms and made it applicable to
everyday life. I’ll always remember her enthusiasm for the subject and her willingness to work one-on-one with me when I was struggling in quantum chemistry.”
CAREER GOALS: “I’m really enjoying the aerospace
and manufacturing world and can see myself eventually working into a management role. Right now I’m working toward my NDT Level III certification for phased array ultrasonic testing. My wife (also a Whitworth grad) and I are happy to be back in Spokane where we’re raising our daughter. I’m challenged both at work and home, so I’m pretty content with where I’m at right now.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Stay involved in
extracurricular activities. Not only will they strengthen your résumé, but you’ll enjoy a more balanced college experience, and they provide key opportunities to discover your interests and strengths outside of the classroom. Second, find an industry that excites you – learn as much as you can about it and the skills those employers (or grad schools) are looking for. Chemistry provides a really strong foundation for the applied sciences. If you’re able to demonstrate an aptitude toward the specific skill set in the job posting, then you can find employment just about anywhere.”
Communication Studies SHYANNE FAULCONER
MAJOR: COMMUNICATION CURRENT POSITION: Faulconer is the community
programs & public relations coordinator for Benton County, Wash. Her specialties are in public relations, social media management and project management.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I knew that at Whitworth I
wouldn’t just be a face in a crowd – I would be part of a community that was really making a difference. It was welcoming and warm, and I felt like I could really grow and explore ideas with my peers and professors.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I participated in numerous
activities including a semester with Whitworth.fm and two years in the concert band. In my latter years, I spent the majority of my free time working or interning, ending with a wonderful job at Spokane Public Library.”
Recent Alums Taylor Oddino is an account executive at DH, a publicrelations agency in Spokane.
Andrew Forhan is a communications specialist for
Ferndale School District. He completed a master’s degree in administrative leadership at Whitworth University.
Beth Carrillo is private events & group sales coordinator at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Elizabeth Bone is a public relations specialist at Itron in Liberty Lake, Wash.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “All of my professors at Whitworth were influential to me at one point or another, but two that really made an impact on my Whitworth experience were Joy York and Jim McPherson. Jim pushed me to grapple with ideas that were challenging and taught some of the most grueling classes I ever took at Whitworth – for that I will always be grateful, for I learned the most about myself when I was pushed to what I thought were my limits, only to overcome them with ease. Joy was influential not only because of what she taught me in the classroom, but for the support and kindness I received outside the classroom. Her door was always open for coffee and candy, and she was a source of contagious laughter and a listening ear when I needed support.”
Education ZANOVIA CLARK
MAJOR: ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MINORS: READING, SPECIAL EDUCATION CURRENT POSITION: Clark is a secondgrade teacher on the English side of a dual language program at Mount View Elementary School in Seattle.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I had many
teachers in high school advise me to not let money stop me – to push the limits and to aim high, so I did. I applied to Whitworth through the Act Six scholarship program. Through the application process I discovered that Whitworth was the place I needed to be. While learning about Whitworth a phrase kept coming up from students and alumni: ‘relationships with professors.’ People explained that you not only gain lifelong friendships with other students, but lifelong friendships with professors and staff. The relationships I made with the staff and professors at Whitworth are something I’m truly grateful for. They are people I consider part of my family now.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I proudly
served as a cultural-diversity advocate and a Jan Term resident assistant. I was very involved with a tutoring and mentoring program called R.I.S.E. (Reinforcing the Importance of Support in Education). Participating and
volunteering with this group helped me find my calling as a teacher. I started as a volunteer, moved up to a coordinator role, and finally ended my time at Whitworth as the program manager for R.I.S.E.”
Recent Alums
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “As part of the education
Sureetha McCain is seeking a
program I had the opportunity to travel to Australia, where I met with Whitworth alumni and worked at a school. Teaching in Australia has been one of the best choices I’ve ever made. I spent three weeks at the school, serving students and learning about a different culture. Being out of my comfort zone was incredibly rewarding. I built relationships with my peers, my professors and an entirely different setting of people. This was an opportunity I’m thankful I pursued.”
CAREER GOALS: “In the next five
years I plan to earn my National Board certification. In addition, I would like to continue pursuing a graduate-level degree in literacy. My goal is to be a language and literacy specialist, working with schools and students to build lifelong literacy skills.”
Nathan Page is a middle school art
and photography teacher at Baldwin Middle-Senior High School in Baldwin, Fla. master’s degree in comparative education from University College London. She previously taught second grade in Bellevue School District.
Claire Hannan is a special education teacher at Explorer Middle School in Everett, Wash.
Jordan Fearer is a first-grade
teacher in Santa Barbara Unified School District in California.
Engineering Physics
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EMILY MACDONALD
MAJORS: PHYSICS, FRENCH CURRENT POSITION: MacDonald is a Ph.D. student
in physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. As part of her research in particle physics, she moved to Switzerland to work at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. She is conducting research there for the Compact Muon Solenoid project at the Large Hadron Collider. Her research involves “supersymmetry” searches, which aim to find new subatomic particles that do not fit into the current theory of particle physics.
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I tutored in physics, and my senior year I was also president of the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Club.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS:
“Whitworth is chock-full of influential professors. Richard Stevens was my advisor. He and Kamesh Sankaran gave me sound advice and helped guide me through my undergrad years and into the position I’m at today.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “I
Recent Alums Nick Brunner is a software engineer at The Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.
Katie Olleman is a bridge designer for the Washington State Department of Transportation. She earned master’s degrees in civil engineering and mechanical engineering at the University of Washington.
Caleb Bertolini is a spacecraft attitude control
engineer at Lockheed Martin in Colorado Springs. He earned an M.S. in astronautical engineering at the University of Southern California.
Hayden Wisniewski is a Ph.D. student in optics/ optical sciences at the University of Arizona.
had a summer internship at Harvard. It was my first taste of research and probably why I decided to pursue a Ph.D. Even though my internship was in nanotechnology, my mentor gave me a side project in soft robotics, and my partner and I made a robot spider out of straws and balloons. It was pretty cool.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “I would say to keep at it.
Find someone to mentor you – someone you can ask seemingly stupid questions and they’ll answer with no judgment. Do your homework with your friends (but no, don’t copy). Study. Figure out how you missed every point. Correct your mistakes. Physics is not an easy field of study, but I think it’s one of the most rewarding.”
English
JESSICA WISSE
MAJOR: ENGLISH (WRITING TRACK) MINOR: WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES CURRENT POSITION: Wisse manages social media for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. She primarily forms teams, sets new processes and implements new tools. After graduating from Whitworth, Wisse attended Portland State University, where she earned a master of science degree in writing, with a specialization in book publishing. WHY WHITWORTH: “I was the first person in my immediate family to attend college. Because of this, I felt a little more like a fish out of water than the typical freshman. The small size and ratio of professors to students at Whitworth made college seem a little less daunting.” WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I was involved with the English department’s student-run literary journal, Script, all four years, and national literary magazine, Rock & Sling, for two years. I worked at the writing center (now Composition Commons) for three years, and I also worked in the theology department as an administrative assistant.”
Recent Alums Dani Erickson is a digital merchandiser at Nordstrom in Seattle.
John Taylor works at University of Michigan-
Dearborn as the writing center coordinator and as a writing program lecturer. He earned a master of fine arts degree in creative writing at Emerson College.
Elizabeth Ginley is an English teacher at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and a graduate of the Whitworth Master in Teaching Program.
Luke Eldredge is a staff writer for And Sons Magazine, which he co-founded.
Hanna Malmoe is an account manager at Strategy Labs, a digital marketing agency in Spokane.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “Presenting a student lecture on feminism alongside my classmates for our women’s & gender studies capstone project. We were a bit nervous about how our peers would receive our lectures, and for many of us, it was the largest venue we’d ever presented in. But we pulled it off, and we ended the evening by answering thoughtful questions from our audience.” CAREER GOALS: “I would like to lead a team and pilot a new digital media strategy for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.” ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Get a job! Seriously, apply for as many paid internships and part-time positions that you can manage. Not only will the extra cash flow help with tuition payments, but it will also allow you to ‘try out’ different fields in a low-stakes environment. Internships and part-time jobs also help you build your network and give you a track record that many other recent grads won’t necessarily have. This will help you stand out when you get around to the job search after graduation.”
Health Sciences JESSICA PAIGE HILL
MAJOR: HEALTH SCIENCE CURRENT POSITION: Following completion of her degree at
Whitworth, Hill graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing with an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree. She is now matriculated into UPenn’s Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, with a concentration in oncology. She is working as a registered nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on the oncology floor while working toward her master’s degree.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose Whitworth mainly because I
Jacob Kriegbaum is a physical therapist
at Acceleration Physical Therapy in Spokane. He earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from Eastern Washington University.
wanted to go to a school that would challenge me academically and help me to grow my faith. Going into the sciences, it is not always easy to find professors with a strong Christian foundation who are willing to engage in stimulating, difficult discussions, like the professors do at Whitworth. I also wanted a place with a strong student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes so that I could get to know my professors and peers.”
Melissa Callaghan is an occupational
MEMORABLE WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “One of my most
Recent Alums
therapist at Sewall Child Development Center in Denver. She received a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Colorado State University.
Isaac Fonken is a physician at Poudre
Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Josena van Vliet is a patient care
coordinator at Summit Rehabilitation Associates in Spokane.
Christine Moen is a physician assistant at
Surgical Associates in Billings, Mont. She earned a master’s of medical science in physician assistant studies from Midwestern University (Arizona).
Erin Witthuhn is the aquatics director at Pikes Peak YMCA in Colorado Springs. She earned a master’s degree in sport and exercise science at the University of Northern Colorado.
influential experiences was doing the study-abroad program in Costa Rica for Jan Term. I got to take medical Spanish and work in an internship for the month. I lived with the most wonderful host family and really got to experience the culture. I would highly recommend taking advantage of at least one studyabroad program while at Whitworth!”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “I loved all of
my professors, especially my health sciences professors, but if I had to pick two, they would be Matt Silvers and Justin Ulbright. I road-tripped with these awesome professors in a 15-passenger van to present at a conference in Reno. In my classes, they opened my eyes to the wonders of the human body and what it can do. They also prepared me for nursing school and encouraged me, both at Whitworth and even after graduation. I can’t thank them enough.”
CAREER GOALS: “To complete my nurse practitioner degree
at UPenn in five years. I want to start out working in a children’s hospital, but eventually I’d like to work in an outpatient pediatric chemotherapy-infusion clinic.”
History HEATHER GLADY
MAJOR: HISTORY MINORS: PUBLIC HISTORY, SPANISH CURRENT POSITION: Glady is a project administrator at Design and Production Incorporated, a museum exhibit fabrication company in Lorton, Va. She helps project managers coordinate the multitude of moving parts required to build a new museum exhibit. She has a master’s degree in museum studies from The George Washington University.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose Whitworth because I wanted to attend a school that would help me grow academically as well as spiritually and personally. I knew Whitworth would help me do all three because it is a Christian liberal arts college with an excellent academic reputation. Whitworth also has public history courses, which are rare at liberal arts colleges and were important in helping me achieve my goal of working in the museum field.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “I had so many influential professors at Whitworth, but one who stands out is Dale Soden. He taught some of my favorite history
courses and is one of the most joyful and wise people I have ever met. He, and the entire history department, constantly encouraged and challenged me in significant ways, and I think about the lessons I learned in his classes often. I also now have an encyclopedic knowledge of 1960s protest songs thanks to him.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “One influential
Recent Alums Sarah Gambell is working toward
a Ph.D. in digital humanities at the University of Glasgow, where she earned a master’s degree in art history. She studies the value of digitization for the preservation of cultural heritage in conflict.
Josh Vance is an epidemiologist at
experience I had at Whitworth was getting to work in the university archives, helping research and find materials for the book Torchbearers, which celebrated Whitworth’s 125th anniversary.”
the Texas Department of State Health Services. He earned a master of public health degree at Boston University and a master’s in education from Houston Baptist University.
CAREER GOALS: “I would like
teacher at Mead High School in Mead, Wash., and a graduate of the Whitworth Master in Teaching Program.
to continue working in project management in the museum field because I love helping to improve museums and their communities. My ultimate goal, however, is to be the director of a major history museum.” ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Learn to be an excellent writer and to communicate clearly. You can achieve little if no one understands you.”
Alexandria Griffith is a social studies
Chelsea Chamberlain is a doctoral
candidate in history at the University of Pennsylvania and was a 2015-18 Lilly Graduate Fellow. She earned a master’s degree in history at the University of Montana.
Kinesiology KC MCCONNELL
MAJORS: KINESIOLOGY, EDUCATION CURRENT POSITION: McConnell teaches health and fitness classes
at Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Wash., including ninth-grade health, weight training and adaptive physical education. She also helps coach at Deer Park and is pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science at Concordia University, St. Paul.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose Whitworth for many reasons. First of all,
it was very important to me to have a faith-based education and I loved the strong, Christ-centered community that Whitworth provided. It also gave me the unique opportunity to play both basketball and tennis at the college level. The size of Whitworth was also very attractive because it made me feel important and valued as an individual student and athlete at the school.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: McConnell competed on the women’s basketball team and women’s tennis team.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “My most influential
experience by far would be participating in both women’s basketball and tennis at Whitworth. Through these teams, I not only gained lifelong friends, but I also learned so much about myself and about life through all of the experiences I was blessed with having here. It allowed for so much personal and spiritual growth, which I am thankful for every day as I look back on my education at Whitworth.”
CAREER GOALS: “I would like to continue in the field of education and complete my master’s degree in exercise science.”
Recent Alums Sam Aswegan is a graduate assistant
strength & conditioning coach at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he is working on a master’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science.
Gavin Horst is a firefighter/EMT for
Spokane County Fire District 9 and is attending paramedic school.
Ariana Holliday is a health and fitness teacher at East Valley High School in Yakima, Wash. She earned a master’s in curriculum design and instruction from Western Governors University.
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Math
Computer Science KAT DUARTE
MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE CURRENT POSITION: Duarte is an analyst in trust and safety at Google in Mountain View, Calif. She works to build user trust and to protect users.
WHY WHITWORTH: “During my visit to Whitworth I had a one-on-one with
a professor who said, ‘This isn’t about Whitworth or the degree you want. This is about who you are in your heart. Let’s talk about that.’ It was the first time touring schools that someone deeply cared about me as an individual and spent an hour talking about life advice. Genuine kindness and a sense of community became something I longed for, and no other school was offering that.”
Recent Alums Colleen Forbes is a program manager at Microsoft in Bellevue, Wash. She is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science at the University of Washington.
Andrew Dodge is a biostatician
Debate and the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Club.
at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He earned a master’s degree in biostatistics from Georgetown University.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “Michael Ingram, or Coach, as
Oliver Rudnicki is a financial analyst
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: Duarte was involved with Whitworth Speech &
the speech & debate team calls him, gave me a voice, the most powerful gift a mentor could ever give. I was 20 years old and tightly gripping a microphone on a brightly lit stage – I was petrified. Fifteen minutes prior I had been asked to speak to CEOs and directors of tech companies. This was the moment we had been training for, so I lifted the mic and my nerves disappeared. I look fondly back on this memory because it was the first of many times I would step onto a stage to speak. Coach got me a seat at the table.”
CAREER GOALS: “I want to solve hard problems and be surrounded by people
who can teach me something new. For the short term, I plan to pivot into program management. Long term I want to shift into a vice president or director role. Only 1.8 percent of leadership at Google is LatinX (Google diversity report) – that is the kind of statistic I take as a challenge. I want to defy the odds.”
at Wells Fargo in Spokane.
Jose Oronia is a software engineer at T-Mobile in Snoqualmie, Wash.
Flannery Allen is a math teacher at
Kentridge High School in Kent, Wash.
Kelsey Marcinko is studying applied mathematics at the University of Washington, where she earned a master of science degree and is working toward a Ph.D.
Music
Recent Alums Ben Barker teaches high school and
middle school band in Enumclaw School District.
MacKenzie Covington is the operations
manager at Warren Lex LLP, a law firm in San Francisco, and is on the Vanguard Advisory Council for the Global Fund for Women. She earned a master’s degree in music (vocal performance) from Louisiana State University.
Ryan Worthington is a Marine musician with the United States Marine Corps.
Denin Koch is working toward a master of
music degree at Eastman School of Music, where he received a jazz assistantship. He is also a freelance musician and private guitar teacher.
NICK KMET
MAJOR: MUSIC – COMPOSITION CURRENT POSITION: Kmet is a composer,
music editor, sound designer and scholar in New York City. He earned a master of music degree in composition from the screen scoring program at New York University, where he is now pursuing a Ph.D. in composition and teaching as an adjunct professor.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I was completely certain
that I was going to study jazz performance. That was my biggest focus in high school and what I enjoyed the most in school at the time, and Whitworth had (and still has) a killer jazz band and great faculty in that area.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “My junior year I submitted an original piece for orchestra as part of the yearly concerto competition, and was fortunate enough to have it selected to be performed by the orchestra. That was an amazing experience – I don’t know that there’s a better experience for a composer than to have an ensemble perform something of theirs live. That it was an orchestra was like a cherry on top. That’s just something most
people, and most composition students, will never get to experience.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “Having teachers like Brent Edstrom, who are open and excited about students using cuttingedge technology and techniques to further their study of music, is irreplaceable. Brent pushed me to try things that a lot of composition faculty at other schools simply wouldn’t, and that’s a direct result of his varied background and experiences. From an academic standpoint, nothing prepared me more for my master’s degree (and, frankly, my Ph.D.) than Richard Strauch’s music history courses. He taught them as if they were graduate-level courses, and they were quite challenging.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I spent most of
my time focused on music and music activities. I played in a lot of ensembles, including the jazz band, wind symphony, saxophone quartet and various jazz combos.”
Philosophy KRISTA RANNO
MAJOR: PHILOSOPHY CURRENT POSITION: Ranno is the sponsorship director at Lahash International, a nonprofit based in Portland, Ore., that partners with grassroots ministries in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda to provide care to vulnerable children. Her work is centered on expanding the impact of child sponsorship. WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “Whitworth increased my desire to be of service, and I found opportunities to serve in Spokane. I volunteered as a leader for a WyldLife program (Young Life) in Spokane Valley and completed internships at Shadle Park Presbyterian Church. I also mentored a refugee from Myanmar with World Relief and compiled data from ministries in Ethiopia.” INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “I did not anticipate the profound effect that studying abroad in Tanzania would have on my life and vocation. It gave me firsthand exposure to the complexity of missions and humanitarian work in Africa. What began as disillusionment and frustration was later transformed into a lifelong interest in the philosophy of missions and international development. These convictions led me to live and work with a ministry in Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa) for two years and also brought me to my present work with Lahash.” CAREER GOALS: “I would like to expand the Lahash child sponsorship program to help even more children in East Africa. I also want to deepen the engagement of individuals, families and churches in this local ministry. In the long term, I am interested in pursuing a master’s degree in nonprofit management or finance. I would like to help churches and parachurch ministries become more involved globally and to break down barriers around cultural engagement.” ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “In this age of instant information, there is a value in patience and humility when exposed to differing worldviews. Learning involves a willingness to be challenged and reshaped by differing views.”
Recent Alums Jonathan Kim graduated from Harvard Law School and works as an attorney at Foster Pepper PLLC in Seattle.
TJ Westre is an associate
consultant at The Spur Group, a business consulting company in Redmond, Wash.
Matt Ferris is the director of
leadership & college at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minn.
Tyler Rich is a business intelligence developer for Lake Washington School District in Redmond, Wash., and a Strategic Data Project fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research.
Kristin (Bennett) Blyckert is attending Vanderbilt University Law School.
Political Science MORGAN HAMRICK
MAJOR: PEACE STUDIES CURRENT POSITION: Hamrick was admitted to the Colorado Bar
in 2018 after graduating from University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She is an associate attorney at a private firm in Denver. She specializes in practicing family law as well as general civil litigation cases, including employment and disability discrimination and complicated contract disputes.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “I had two major
Recent Alums Coleen Hogan is a program analyst at the US African Development Foundation, a U.S. government agency based in Washington, D.C., that supports African agricultural communities. She earned a master’s degree in international development at the University of Denver.
influential professors at Whitworth. Kathy Storm was my seminar professor for Core 250. She helped me to recognize my passion for reading about different philosophers and theologians, and she really challenged my thinking. By the end of my senior year at Whitworth, she had become an amazing mentor, always encouraging me to pursue my passions and willing to take time out of her busy schedule to grab a cup of coffee and chat. The other professor who was highly influential was Julia Stronks. Although I never liked talking in class, Professor Stronks pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and prepared me for the dreaded Socratic method that law schools love to practice. I felt like I was very prepared entering my first year of law school because I had already briefed more than 100 cases in her classes.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “One of my
for the Oregon House Majority Office.
most influential experiences at Whitworth was when I had the opportunity to have dinner and discussion with a judge from the Supreme Court of Washington. Listening to this prestigious individual speak motivated me to continue to work hard to get to where I am today and confirmed my passions for working in the justice system.”
Kenzie Legg is attending law school
CAREER GOALS: “Becoming an attorney was my ultimate career
Chloe Becker is legislative director
at the University of Washington.
Abby Nyberg is an education
volunteer for the Peace Corps in South Africa.
Jeff DeBray is the community
outreach & development manager at Spokane County United Way.
goal; however, my plans don’t end there. I plan to expand my practice to help veterans receive medical benefits and discharge upgrades, and I am still considering becoming a judge advocate general once I have some experience under my belt.”
Psychology COLTEN WAYNE LARSEN MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY MINOR: THEATRE
CURRENT POSITION: Larsen is enrolled in a doctoral
program in clinical psychology at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore. He works in emergency departments as a behavioral health crisis consultant, assessing patients who may be suicidal, homicidal or psychotic. He also works in program development and evaluation for one of the emergency departments. Larsen earned a master’s degree in forensic and legal psychology from Marymount University.
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I was involved in
intramurals and freshman mentoring. I was also the costume shop assistant for the theatre department, the public relations manager for the gay-straight alliance club, and a volunteer at Northeast Youth Center and House of Charity through the psychology department, as well as an intern for the Spokane police ombudsman. I also studied abroad in London for theatre and art during Jan Term.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “Melissa
Recent Alums Jacqueline Nelson is a licensed mental health
counselor associate employed with Trauma Informed Therapies, PLLC in Spokane. She received a master’s degree in counseling psychology from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.
Kirin (Foster) Casteel is a school counselor at
Camas High School in Camas, Wash. She earned a master’s degree in school counseling at Eastern Washington University.
Nichole Webber is an occupational therapist at
All About Kids Occupational Therapy in Sandpoint, Idaho. She earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Eastern Washington University.
Alanna (Feltner) Williams is working toward
master’s degrees in public administration and social work at the University of Washington.
Rogers, Patricia Bruininks and Noel Wescombe were probably the most influential, in different ways. Dr. Rogers introduced me to my interest in forensic psychology and cognitive functioning. Dr. Bruininks pushed me to think more deeply and compassionately and to embrace who I am as a person. And Dr. Wescombe fostered my love for working with children and adolescents, as well as showed me to always have a smile and show compassion.”
CAREER GOALS: “After graduating with my doctorate,
I plan to enter into private practice as a consultant and forensic evaluator. My specific interests and populations include young individuals with disruptive behavior disorders, juvenile sex offenders, autism within the judicial system, and other high-risk populations. Additionally, I hope to go into teaching, with the goal of inspiring students, just as I was, and to work with developing professionals in the field.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Be curious and explore your options. You’d be surprised at the variety of interest areas in psychology. Test them all out and don’t rush it. Find the place most congruent with who you are and what you are passionate about.”
Sociology Recent Alums Alma Aguilar is a compliance specialist
at Family Impact Network in Spokane. She works to enhance parent-child visitation and in-home therapy services for families.
Rebekah Miller is seeking a master’s
degree in social work at Loyola University Chicago. She is specializing in mental health with a focus on trauma care.
Alannah Price is human resources manager at WestGate Church in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bailey Richardson is seeking a master’s
degree in school counseling at Seattle University and works as a milieu counselor at Center for Discovery, an inpatient eating disorder treatment facility.
OCTAVIO BLANCO
MAJOR: SOCIOLOGY CURRENT POSITION: Blanco is a business analyst
at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Seattle. His main responsibility is to work across departments to standardize and automate processes as AWS continues to grow. When not managing projects, Blanco mentors new “Amazonians” as they adapt to the fast-paced and competitive corporate environment. Outside of work, Blanco helps local high school students from underrepresented backgrounds pursue a college degree and a career in the tech industry.
WHY WHITWORTH: “Out of all of the universities I visited in high school, Whitworth was the only school that had me hooked the second I stepped on campus. After meeting faculty and staff, I knew I would be able to earn an education that would prepare me for whatever career path I decided to pursue.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I participated in varsity football and intramural sports, and I was an active member of the International Club.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “Mike Ingram
and Jason Wollschleger influenced me the most. They were the toughest on me academically, but also the ones I had great, meaningful conversations with regardless of the topic. Without knowing it at the time, they prepared me to be successful in an industry where delivering results and being the best at what you do is expected.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “My most influential experience was traveling and studying in France for a semester. My passion for the French language, as well as my desire to study in France and learn about its rich history, made this experience one that influences me to this day.”
CAREER GOALS: “My career plan includes attending law school to become a corporate or patent lawyer at a tech company.”
Theatre Recent Alums Andrew Coopman is a teaching artist and director at Village Theatre and Studio East in the Seattle area. He is working toward an MFA in directing at the University of Washington.
Emily Beloate is a theatre artist in San Jose, Calif. She works as an assistant producer/ director at Epic Immersive, a live, large-scale immersive theatre company, and as a dance instructor at The Joy of Dancing studio.
Alanna Hamilton is social media
coordinator and executive assistant at Tateuchi Center, which is raising funds to build a new performing arts center in Bellevue, Wash.
Morgan Gilbert is a senior financial analyst with Gilbert Valuations in Portland, Ore.
Preston Loomer is a theatre technician at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego.
CALEB KLEIN
MAJOR: THEATRE CURRENT POSITION: Klein is the house manager at the
Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, Wash. His position covers everything nontechnical for productions and events, including ushers, concessions, artist hospitality, patron safety, security and event logistics.
WHY WHITWORTH: “Partially for the strong arts program, and partially because three of my grandparents attended Whitworth in the 1930-40s. Also, the opportunities for scholarships were better than many schools I applied to.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I was heavily involved
in Jubilation Dance Ministry. I attended many, many PrimeTimes and generally spent time with friends. I worked for instructional technology & media services for multiple years and at the HUB Info Desk for another year.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “I was the
theatre department’s house manager for five semesters (a McDonald Scholar position). When I entered Whitworth, I was planning on pursuing a music degree with the intent
of teaching high school. However, as I worked as the house manager, I found a passion for and proficiency at a new aspect of the theatre world that I had never known or understood before.”
CAREER GOALS: “I plan on staying in the realm of patron services and hope to grow into a director role. I have also developed an interest in the operations management side of theatre.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Explore more than just your
known areas of the theatre world. The performing, acting, directing and technical areas are but part of the big world that is the performing arts. Like me, you may find a niche that is just what you are looking for.”
Theology LAURYN SMITH
MAJOR: THEOLOGY CURRENT POSITION: Smith is director of children’s and
youth ministries at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Everett, Wash. “My responsibilities include directing our various children’s ministries, such as Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and coordinating my wonderful team of volunteers. I work closely with our pastor, teaching Confirmation and developing our ministry to the growing demographic of older youth in our church and the surrounding community.”
WHY WHITWORTH: “The main reason I chose to attend
Whitworth was how important the Christian faith is across campus, no matter the department. I originally wanted a degree in biology, and I thought it was awesome that science and God weren’t considered mutually exclusive at Whitworth. I changed my major a few times, ending up in theology, but in every class God was the foundation of our learning.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “Every
Recent Alums Dylan Reyes is a middle school Bible teacher
and guidance counselor with Doulos Ministries in the Dominican Republic.
Daniel Thomas is communications manager at Black Lake Bible Camp in Olympia, Wash.
Katrina Ulnick is Ambassador Program
coordinator for International Service Learning, a non-governmental organization based in Spokane.
Michael Bouterse is the director of Thrive
Ministries, a multi-church ministry for young adults in Gig Harbor, Wash. He earned a master’s degree in theology and a postgraduate diploma in applied theology at the University of Oxford.
Micah Sanders is a staff associate at Young Life in the Spokane area and associate youth director at Millwood Community Presbyterian Church.
theology professor that I had the privilege to learn from at Whitworth is amazing, so I can’t possibly choose just one. Dr. Jerry Sittser’s classes were some of the most difficult classes I had to take, but they were also some of the most rewarding. I thought I knew a lot about Christianity going in, but I left every class with Jerry having a deeper understanding of Christianity and how its foundations inform our ministry today. Dr. Kent McDonald exudes passion while teaching, and seeing his passion for ministering to youth helped me uncover my passion for it. These professors, and all of the professors I learned from, gave me the tools I needed to get where I am today.”
CAREER GOALS: “Although I love and do both, I’d like to
transition from doing so much children’s ministry to doing more youth ministry. It’s a growing demographic in our church, and one that needs and wants to be ministered to in our community. Within the next few years I’d like to pursue a master’s degree in faith-based counseling to further my capabilities to serve in Everett and wherever God takes me from here.”
World Languages Cultures
&
TOM LEMBECK
MAJOR: SPANISH | MINORS: GENERAL BUSINESS, ATHLETIC COACHING CURRENT POSITION: Lembeck is a logistics specialist on the
purchase order management team at etailz Inc. in Spokane Valley, Wash. In addition to sending purchase orders to suppliers and building rapport through customer service, he analyzes shipping costs for the company’s largest orders and helps predict the best shipping options.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose to attend Whitworth because of the
Recent Alums Lindsay Delaney is a bilingual youth
services librarian at Tigard Public Library in Tigard, Ore. She earned a master’s degree in information from the University of Michigan.
Juliana Zajicek is working toward
a master’s degree in social work at Eastern Washington University. She previously taught English in Colombia on a Fulbright Scholarship.
Monika Cetnarowski is director of business development at 2nd Sight BioScience in Spokane.
Katelyn Baddeley is a Spanish teacher at Mountainside Middle School in Colbert, Wash.
people I met and the beautiful, comfortable-sized campus. What I didn’t realize when I chose Whitworth was that I was going to develop so many key relationships and grow in so many ways beyond just finding a career path.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “My study abroad to
Costa Rica. I got way out of my comfort zone while I lived with a non-English-speaking host family and got more travel experience in 3 1/2 months than I had in my entire life. It opened me up to a totally different world.”
CAREER GOALS: “I am more interested in personal growth than
achieving the ideal position or rank, or making a certain dollar amount per year. People mistake this mentality for being indecisive, when actually I am constantly seeking opportunities to live out the growth mindset, whether I get paid for it or not. I think that has been the biggest change in my career goals since graduating – I am no longer looking to prove myself worthy of deserving the things I want. Instead, I’m looking for ways to get uncomfortable and find new perspectives as a result.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Don’t just focus on your career – focus
on finding your blind spots and fleshing out your weaknesses. Focus on discovering your strengths and applying them to whatever you do. Focus on finding stable, meaningful relationships that challenge you. Ultimately, put the wants and needs of others before your own, and no matter what job you do, you will find yourself abundantly blessed.”
Become who youĘźre meant to be.
WeĘźre here to help. Office of Admissions 300 W. Hawthorne Road | Spokane, WA 99251 509.777.4786 | admissions@whitworth.edu | whitworth.edu
More resources Laurie Armstrong Sargent Assistant Director, Student Employment Career Services
Sandy Nowack Assistant Director, Internships Career Services
Kimberly Ortiz Assistant Director, Employer Relations Career Services
509.777.4707 larmstrong@whitworth.edu
509.777.4541 snowack@whitworth.edu
509.777.3344 kortiz@whitworth.edu