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, 95 percent of Whitworth graduates are employed or in grad school within nine months of graduation. With high participation in internships, research projects and community service, combined with access to career advising and alumni networking, 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 Spokane Public Schools.
Olivia Newman is a graphic
designer at Yakima Valley Hops.
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 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 Alex Hoffmann earned an M.D. from the University of Washington School of Medicine and is an internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Meghan Bristlin is an associate dentist for LC
Smiles Dentistry in Lewiston, Idaho. She earned her doctor of dental medicine at Midwestern University in Arizona.
Tanner Scholten is a fish hatchery specialist for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife in Wenatchee.
Shannon Wessel is a high school science teacher in the Mead (Wash.) School District and a graduate of the Whitworth Master in Teaching Program.
Samantha Wolf is an associate veterinarian at VCA North Division Animal Medical Center in Spokane.
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
Recent Alums Kyle McEachran is a senior account manager at Google in Seattle.
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.”
Molly Silvius is a Certified
CAREER GOALS: “I’d like to
Taylor Burnight is the SEC
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.”
Public Accountant who works as an assurance senior at Moss Adams in Spokane.
Andrew Shaw is a corporate
development business analyst at PACCAR in Bellevue, Wash. reporting and global accounting policy supervisor at Costco Wholesale in Issaquah, Wash.
Matt Wetzel is a client
consultant at Gallagher Benefit Services in Spokane.
Alexis McLeod is a marcom
specialist at Numerica Credit Union in Spokane Valley, Wash., and a graduate of the Whitworth MBA Program.
Chemistry
Recent Alums Kristin Wucherer completed
her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.
Luke Welle is an emergency
medicine resident physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
Nadia Sarfraz received a full
scholarship to Georgetown University, where she is currently completing a Ph.D. in biochemistry and plans to next earn a J.D. in law.
Sammi Moeller is a middle school science teacher in Hilmar, Calif.
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 Elizabeth Bone is a public relations specialist at Itron in Liberty Lake, Wash.
Andrew Forhan is a social media and web content
specialist at Peninsula School District in Washington. He completed a master’s degree in administrative leadership at Whitworth University.
Skyler Noble is the marketing and communications coordinator for Spokane Public Library.
Beth Carrillo is the private events and group sales coordinator at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.
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 Recent Alums Skyler Lamberd is a high school
math teacher in the Mead (Wash.) School District.
Nathan Page is a middle school art and photography teacher at Duval County (Fla.) Public Schools.
Claire Hannan is a middle school special education teacher in the Mukilteo (Wash.) School District.
Jordan Fearer is a first grade
teacher in the Santa Barbara (Calif.) Unified School District.
SUREETHA MCCAIN
MAJOR: ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MINORS: READING INSTRUCTION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY CURRENT POSITION: McCain is a sixth grade teacher in the
Kent (Wash.) School District. She earned a master’s degree in comparative education at University College London.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “Whitworth
provides multifaceted intercultural experiences for all students and all majors. I was first fortunate to have studied abroad for my fine arts credit in London, where we embraced, explored and embodied the essence of British culture, lifestyle and global impact all throughout a Jan Term. Likewise, Whitworth’s School of Education provided a brilliant opportunity to complete an intercultural practicum internationally, in which I taught and experienced education in Melbourne, Australia. These intercultural immersions were most beneficial in solidifying the foundation within my profession and how I serve my students, and in refining my identity and future trajectories.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “The School of
Education became my second home while I was at Whitworth, and for this connection, I have my advisor Lisa Laurier, Keith
Lambert, Debbie Tully, Kathryn Picanco, Kira Austin and Anne Wilcox that I send my utmost gratitude to. The knowledge this team imparted are nuggets of shining gold that consistently illuminate as I engage in the teaching profession.”
CAREER GOALS: “One of my main dreams in life was to
become an educator, and here I am living that dream because of Whitworth. Within the next five years, I aspire to pursue the attainment of my National Board certification, start an educational nonprofit organization, and possibly pursue a Ph.D. Consequently, I see my profession evolving toward either educational leadership, educational nonprofit leadership, or advocacy of children and families through the law profession.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “My strongest offer of guidance
is to be engaged in all Whitworth’s School of Education has to share with you. Whether that be your multiple practicum experiences, knowledge shared by your professors, intercultural immersion, after-school activities, and even life stories from your professors and cadre... get involved and dive in!”
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
DEVON CLEMENTS
MAJOR: ENGLISH (LITERATURE TRACK) MINOR: PHILOSOPHY CURRENT POSITION: Clements is a copywriter and associate producer for Beavercreek Marketing in Grand Island, Neb. WHY WHITWORTH: “Having been born and raised in Missouri, I knew I wanted to attend university somewhere on the West Coast. In addition to the geographic considerations, I was adamant about receiving a liberal arts education, preferably at a school with a great faculty-to-student ratio. I threw these variables together, created a short list of schools, and fell in love with the photos of Whitworth’s campus and the university’s reputation for strong academics.” WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “Aside from the various activities, events and readings sponsored by the English department, I spent time playing intramural soccer, co-founding and serving as vice president of Generation Action, and working for the Whitworth Composition Commons.”
Recent Alums Jennifer Rudsit is a publishing coordinator at Sasquatch Books in Seattle. She has a certificate in publishing from the University of Denver.
Hanna Malmoe is a senior account manager at Strategy Labs, a digital marketing agency in Spokane.
John Taylor works at the 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.
Izze Scourey is a high school English teacher in the Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) School District and a graduate of the Whitworth Master in Teaching Program.
Luke Eldredge is a staff writer for And Sons Magazine, which he co-founded.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “If I had to narrow it down, John Pell was particularly influential during my years in the hallways of the English department. He helped me look at the world, and writing, in a layered and nuanced way. After beginning with his Introduction to Rhetoric course, I ended up devoting my studies to rhetoric and composition, taking a variety of courses from him culminating in an independent study my senior year.” INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “One of those moments that changed me as a writer forever, and surely made an impact on me the day it happened, was the first time Professor Caraway critiqued a poem I had written for one of his classes. I had (have) a bad habit of being grandiose, vague and purposefully ambiguous in my creative writing, and to put it plainly, he wasn’t going to have any of that in a student of his. He showed me where authenticity exists, how to find it, and in the famous words of Virginia Woolf (or Faulkner, Wilde, etc.) and then Thom Caraway, how to ‘kill my darlings.’” ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “I would tell students to enjoy their time and cherish every minute spent in classroom discussion.”
Health Sciences JESSICA HILL
MAJOR: HEALTH SCIENCE CURRENT POSITION: Hill is a pediatric oncology nurse at the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After earning an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, she enrolled in the school’s Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, with a concentration in oncology.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose Whitworth mainly because I
Recent Alums 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.”
MEMORABLE WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “One of my most
therapist at Sewall Child Development Center in Denver. She received a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Colorado State University.
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 study abroad program while at Whitworth!”
Isaac Fonken is a physician at Poudre
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “I loved all of
Melissa Callaghan is an occupational
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.
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
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.”
CAREER GOALS: “I would like 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.”
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.
Alex Fergus is the assistant reference
archivist for the Joel E. Ferris Research Archives, located at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane.
Allison Rude is a law student at the
University of Oregon and a law clerk for the Oregon Department of Justice in the Child Advocacy Section.
Noah McDonald is a middle school
history and ELA teacher in the Cheney (Wash.) School District.
Kristina Grossman is a program
coordination officer for the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance in Washington, D.C.
Kinesiology KC M. HUGHES
MAJORS: KINESIOLOGY, EDUCATION CURRENT POSITION: Hughes teaches health and fitness classes at
Deer Park (Wash.) High School, including ninth grade health, weight training and adaptive physical education. She also helps coach basketball and tennis 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: Hughes 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 Brianna Pace is a clinical athletic trainer for the Seattle Sounders Football Club.
Gavin Horst is a firefighter/paramedic for Spokane County Fire District 9.
Katherine Melka is a cheer coach
and PE teacher at Mead High School in Spokane.
Sam Aswegan is a graduate assistant
strength and conditioning coach at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he is working on a master’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science.
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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.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: Duarte was involved with the speech and debate program and the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Club.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “Michael Ingram, or Coach, as the
speech and 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.”
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.
Oliver Rudnicki is a financial analyst at Wells Fargo in Spokane.
Andrew Dodge is a biostatician
at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He earned a master’s degree in biostatistics from Georgetown University.
Jose Oronia is a software engineer at T-Mobile in the Seattle area.
Flannery Ho is a high school math teacher for Huntsville (Ala.) City Schools.
Hannah Gamiel is a development director at Cyan, a games studio in the Spokane area.
Music
Recent Alums Sarah Fazendin is earning her master’s degree in violin performance at New York University, where she teaches undergraduate students as an adjunct faculty member.
Ryan Worthington is a Marine musician with the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Barker teaches high school and
middle school band in Enumclaw (Wash.) School District.
Nick 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.
DENIN KOCH
MAJOR: JAZZ PERFORMANCE MINOR: ENGLISH CURRENT POSITION: Koch is a professional
freelance guitarist, composer and educator. He performs in the Denver area with his band and has his own private studio of guitarists. He teaches at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is completing a doctorate in jazz studies. He has a master’s degree in jazz and contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a certificate in arts leadership.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose Whitworth
because of the stellar reputation of the jazz department, the amazing faculty, the environment on campus and the great financial aid package I received. I was very fortunate to attend a school that felt like home to me and had a music department that has the strongest sense of community you’ll find anywhere.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE:
“Performing in Rome with the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever gotten to do. Playing with master Italian musicians like Rosario Giuliani drove home the point that there are people all over the world who love jazz and are striving to get better at it every single day, just like I am.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I played in the
jazz ensemble, jazz combos, wind symphony and symphony orchestra. I participated in the Spokane Intercollegiate Research Conference and performed in the Unplugged shows. I also played in the Spokane Jazz Orchestra and the Bob Curnow Big Band.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “My advice is
twofold. First, make it a point to get to know all of the faculty. You will be amazed at what they can offer you as musicians and people, and, when you’ve graduated and are in my position, they become invaluable resources and connections that you can draw on to help your own career. Second, when the semester gets rough and you get to the section of Professor Brent Edstrom’s theory class when approximately 18 projects are all due at the same time, remember why you fell in love with music in the first place and revisit that memory/ idea often. Working in the music industry is like being in a constant cycle of ‘seven projects at a time,’ but if you remember why you love it and master the things you are taught in school, you will never ‘work’ a day in your life.”
Philosophy JONATHAN KIM
MAJOR: PHILOSOPHY CURRENT POSITION: After Kim earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School, he worked as a litigation associate at a Seattle law firm. He recently left that position to pursue a new career path. WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I was involved with forensics (speech and debate) more than anything else. I also participated in Ethics Bowl, briefly worked at The Whitworthian, and was president of the Pre-Law Society. I highly recommend the first two activities as excellent complements to a philosophy major.”
Recent Alums Krista Ranno is the sponsorship director at Lahash International, a child sponsorship organization based in Portland, Ore.
Tyler Rich is a data scientist for Lake
Washington School District in Redmond, Wash., and a Strategic Data Project fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research.
Micah Allred is a law student at the University of Notre Dame.
Matt Ferris is assistant director of student
leadership and college at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minn.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSORS: “I was lucky to have had so many amazing professors, one of whom is Philosophy Professor Nate King. He taught us both by instruction and by example the importance of intellectual virtues (character traits that promote intellectual flourishing in the quest for truth). Every one of his classes (and encounters outside of them) was a humbling and eyeopening experience in cultivating these virtues. Not only have these traits made me a better person, but they also are largely responsible for getting me into and through law school, and even turned out to make me a better lawyer than law school ever did.” CAREER GOALS: “My career goal is to use my law degree, my philosophy training, and my speech and debate skills to serve the public interest. While the exact position I’ll end up in next is still undetermined, I hope to land at some government agency or nonprofit organization. Thankfully, I’m confident that my Whitworth education has prepared me well for whatever comes next.” ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Embrace what philosophy is all about: to love and to search impartially for truth, no matter where that leads. Don’t let what’s popular or expedient or comforting dictate your beliefs, and don’t get wrapped up in chasing material success or high marks – all that should follow naturally if you do it right anyway.”
Political Science JILLIAN HINES
MAJORS: INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, POLITICAL SCIENCE CURRENT POSITION: Hines was offered a position at the U.S.
State Department during her final semester at Whitworth. She works as a security assistant for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in the Office of Personnel Suitability and Security.
WHY WHITWORTH: “I chose Whitworth because it gave me so
many opportunities not only to grow as a person, but also to grow as a global citizen and a follower of Christ.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I rotated through a lot of activities
Recent Alums Chloe Becker is the legislative director for the Oregon House Majority Office.
Morgan Hamrick is an associate
attorney at a private firm in Denver. She graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Jeff DeBray is a data associate at Win Win Network in Seattle.
Hannah Howell is a
communications specialist for the Washington State Senate.
Justin Botejue is a physician
relations liaison for Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane.
at Whitworth, and that’s part of what made my time memorable. As a freshman, I was in band and German Club. Then I studied abroad for a year: half a year in Marburg, Germany, and half a year in Belfast, United Kingdom. My junior year I was a resident assistant in Baldwin-Jenkins, and in my senior year I had the opportunity to live and work as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C., for a semester through the American Studies Program. I tried to do everything I could in the time I was there!”
CAREER GOALS: “My current career goals haven’t changed much since I was 13. I’ve always wanted to work for the Department of State. Currently, I am studying for the Foreign Service exam. Once I’ve passed that (which I’m hoping to do in the next few years), I want to be a political foreign service officer somewhere overseas.” ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Always seek opportunities. That might be asking a professor for coffee to discuss ideas and plans, or engaging with your fellow classmates, or getting internships: It all helps shape your future. There is a wealth of knowledge at Whitworth, but (I know I’m biased) I’d say that the political science department will truly give you tenfold what you put into it. Don’t be discouraged by roadblocks; there is someone at Whitworth who can help you.”
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.
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,
and neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas.
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.”
Kirin Casteel is a school counselor at Camas
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Be curious and explore your
Alanna Feltner Williams earned master’s
degrees in public administration and social work at the University of Washington. She is now a research scientist for the UW School of Social Work’s Partners for Our Children.
Debora Calderon is earning her Ph.D. in cognition
(Wash.) High School. She earned a master’s degree in school counseling at Eastern Washington University.
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 Rebekah Miller is the director of children and family ministries at Grace Chicago Church. She earned a master’s degree in social work at Loyola University Chicago.
Courtney Bagdon-Cox is a research
and data analyst for the Washington State Department of Corrections. She earned a Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice from Washington State University.
Alma Aguilar is the compliance lead at
Family Impact Network in Spokane. She works to enhance parent-child visitation and in-home therapy services for families.
Alannah Price is the human resources director at WestGate Church in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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 Alanna Hamilton is the
membership and communications manager for The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
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.
Caleb Klein is the events coordinator at Western Washington University.
Morgan Gilbert is a senior financial analyst with Gilbert Valuations in Portland, Ore.
Reid Tennis is a production
electrician for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
EMILY BELOATE
MAJOR: THEATRE MINORS: THEATRE DANCE, COMMUNICATION CURRENT POSITION: Beloate is an assistant creative
producer/assistant director and choreographer with Epic Immersive, a San Francisco-based theatre company that creates site-specific performance experiences. She is also a studio dance instructor. Beloate is attending Utrecht University online to work toward a master’s degree in contemporary theatre, dance and dramaturgy.
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I was mostly involved in the
theatre and dance departments, so I was involved in smallscale and main-stage productions, dance performances, etc. I was artistic director for Jubilation Dance Ministry for two years and was involved for all four.”
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “One of my
most influential experiences at Whitworth was making The Nyx Project – my senior project for the theatre department. It stretched my creativity into new territory and was the
most fun I’ve ever had making theatre. We had so much support and I learned so much about myself and my artistry during the process.”
CAREER GOALS: “Being in the process of grad school, my career goals are currently all in question (as they should be). But the current goal is to either work toward creating an immersive theatre company or an industry adult dance studio. Either way it involves being in a leadership role and using art as a way to lift people up.”
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Take pictures and videos
of everything you perform or create – even small class projects. You’ll thank yourself later. Get to know your professors – they are extremely knowledgeable and incredible sources of inspiration. And don’t be afraid to do something that scares you a little bit.”
Theology MARISSA KUUSKVERE MAJOR: THEOLOGY
CURRENT POSITION: Kuuskvere is the youth ministry
director for Colbert Presbyterian Church near Spokane. Her favorite part of her job is seeing students learn new things about God as they grow up.
WHY WHITWORTH: “Whitworth was my local option and, for that reason, was very low on my list of schools. I had a huge change of heart after I attended a Why Whitworth Day and saw firsthand how different the student-to-faculty relationships were from the other schools I was visiting.”
WHITWORTH ACTIVITIES: “I wasn’t the fastest or the
best, but my time at Whitworth was marked by Ultimate Frisbee practice and wind symphony rehearsal. I loved music and athletics in high school and enjoyed participating in so many extracurriculars in college even though I knew I was never going to pursue them past my undergrad. At Whitworth I was able to be a theology major but also pour my heart into so many other passions.”
Recent Alums
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “Jonathan
formation at Montreat College.
Moo was my most influential professor. I think it was a mixture of the way he taught and what he taught. I was just becoming aware of the marriage of ecology and the Bible when I took his Tall Timber Jan Term class, and I fell in love with thinking deeper about God’s creation. Even after our concentrated time together over Jan Term, that group met regularly to discuss different topics and ideas outside of any class requirements. It is amazing what can happen when a passionate professor inspires their students!”
Micah Sanders is a staff associate at Young Life
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Talk to your professors. Each
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 University of Oxford.
The Rev. Rachel Toone is dean of spiritual
in the Spokane area and associate youth director at Millwood Community Presbyterian Church.
Bennett Pope is working toward a master of
divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he earned a full scholarship and a role as research assistant to a professor of New Testament.
The Rev. Drew Peterson works in bivocational
ministry in Spokane. He is the pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church and a lead case manager for Catholic Charities’ homeless housing department. He earned a master’s of divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.
one of them is a master of their field, and even though it can be intimidating, they work at Whitworth for the joy of the students. They want to know you and help you succeed, so take full advantage of meeting over coffee, walks or just stopping by their office.”
World Languages Cultures
&
BENJAMIN JONES
MAJORS: FRENCH, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CURRENT POSITION: Jones is an international relations officer and English instructor at ITECH Lyon, an engineering school in Lyon, France. He completed a business and languages master’s degree at the Université de Lyon 3.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH PROFESSOR: “Dr. Jenny Brown
was the one who fired me up to study abroad for a year instead of just one semester, and subsequently fueled many discoveries, both academic and, perhaps even more importantly, literary. It was very meaningful to have an ally on staff to help me with everything.”
Recent Alums Lindsay Delaney is a bilingual youth
services librarian at Tigard (Ore.) Public Library. She earned a master’s degree in information from the University of Michigan.
Katelyn Baddeley is a middle school
Spanish teacher for the Mead School District in Colbert, Wash.
INFLUENTIAL WHITWORTH EXPERIENCE: “My junior year studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, was unsurprisingly a hugely important part of my Whitworth education. The fact that the link was already made between Whitworth and the school in France, and that housing was also taken care of, was crucial, as I would never have been able to organize that myself at the time. And despite this ‘exotic’ experience, it was still nice to come back to Spokane for the last year!”
CAREER GOALS: “I plan to continue to specialize in international
Chicago’s bilingual master of social work program. He previously worked as a foster parent recruiter in Colorado, designing and delivering bilingual training for foster parents.
relations in an academic or business context. As a foreigner in France, it’s easy to let ‘English speaker’ dominate your résumé, but I feel that diversifying my skills and interests has been a crucial step. The well-rounded education I received has been instrumental in giving me the open-mindedness to pursue opportunities, regardless of the field.”
Lauren Davies is the bilingual wish manager
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: “Be curious, and be sure to focus on
Erik Blank is enrolled in Loyola University
for Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.
Anna Waltar is attending the University of Washington School of Law. She previously served as a teaching assistant for Whitworth’s Central America Study & Service Program.
other professional skills that can accompany language skills. And don’t think that cracking open another language will be as hard as the first one was: The skills we’re taught can be transferred to further language learning. The confidence and rigor learned for French helped me get to an acceptable level of Spanish relatively quickly.”
Become who youĘźre meant to be.
WeĘźre here to help. Career Services Tiffany Riddle Director, Career Services triddle@whitworth.edu 509.777.4542 Kirsten TenHaken-Riedel Assistant Director, Student Employment ktenhaken-riedel@whitworth.edu 509.777.4707 Kimberly Ortiz Assistant Director, Experiential Learning & Employer Engagement kortiz@whitworth.edu 509.777.3344 Stephanie Lewis Assistant Director, Career & Professional Development stephanielewis@whitworth.edu 509.777.4673
Office of Admissions 300 W. Hawthorne Road | Spokane, WA 99251 509.777.4786 | admissions@whitworth.edu | whitworth.edu