Alumni News
As with so many accomplished musicians, Dario Ré found the inspiration for his music both on campus and out in the greater Bellingham community.…
by Frances Badgett
Richland-born Nate Jo attended Hanford High School after years of homeschooling, and immediately ran for a leadership position in…
Karlee Deatherage ('13) is passionate about protecting the environment and planning for a more sustainable world. She majored in planning and…
Kristen Deptula (’06) is the co-owner of Canalside Inn (https://thecanalsideinn.com), a dog-friendly inn located in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Kristen didn’…
Jordyn Berg (’16) turned a successful undergraduate experience into a career. She majored in English and creative writing and minored in writing…
by Frances Badgett
When Pasadena-born business major Megan Alle (’21) attended the Double Major: Death Cab for Cutie and ODESZA concert at Civic…
by Frances Badgett
Seattle attorney Jeff Frank has worked in commercial, construction, and real estate litigation for more than 30 years. He is…
by Frances Badgett
Tucked at the foot of Sehome Arboretum amid the buzz of honeybees and the cluck of chickens lies the Outback Farm: five acres of…
Alaska native Megan Lau’s path from Western to winning the 4 Under 40 Award from the American Marketing Association this year is a fascinating one.…
by Frances Badgett
Two years ago, Boise native Elise Batten (industrial design, 2024) was looking for a college that reflected her values and would…
Paul Merriman sold his investment advisory firm and retired in 2012, but he is still a go-to source for advice about investing, regardless of whether…
Joseph Liston ’95 majored in East Asian Studies and Mandarin Chinese at Western. He currently works for an information security company managing and…
In our ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT SERIES meet Sean Jones ’00 who majored in general studies and focused his studies in sociology and English. Jones manages a…
Ali LeRoy ('10) was a journalism major with a public relations focus. She is now the senior marketing and communications manager for Lifelong. …
Meet alumnus David Katsandres ’18!
Katsandres was a computer science major at Western.
“I loved my time in the computer science department at…
Meet alumna Gabrielle Kazuko ’10! Gabrielle studied news-editorial journalism and dance. At Western, her fierce journalism professor Carolyn Nielsen…
Dear WWU Community,
Following a nationwide search, I am pleased to announce that Kim O’Neill will join Western Washington University as our new Vice…
By Frances Badgett
Zoe Evans-Agnew (’21), Outstanding Graduate in Honors and behavioral neuroscience major, came to Western for the diversity of…
By Frances Badgett
(Oluchi uses ze, zim, zis gender non-conforming pronouns)
When Ebonezé “Ebon” Oluchi wrote zis letter of intent when applying…
By Frances Badgett
When Aliki Valdes transferred into Western from Whatcom Community College, she knew she was interested in biology—she had enjoyed…
By Frances Badgett
It almost didn’t happen. Biology professor Dave Hooper was out on a run when he saw a friend, Dr. Greg Wolgamot, a pathologist at…
By Frances Badgett
When Karen Rockwell considered a gift to Western that would benefit students, she thought of her parents, Benita and Larry Offutt…
by Frances Badgett
Rukhsar Sadat was born in Afghanistan, a country torn apart by war due to Western imperialism. Her Shia Muslim family was…
by Frances Badgett
Huxley alumnus Woody Wheeler (’76) and his wife Lori Cohen have dedicated their lives to environmental protection and…
by Frances Badgett
Dale Durrwachter (’62) is deeply grateful for the success he achieved in the field of education. The retired educator is…
By Yara Clark (’21)
Camp Korey is a year-round camp for youth with life-altering medical conditions. Named for Korey Rose, a teen who lost his…
Ken Johnsen leads the teams that build some of Seattle’s most visible, complex, and well known urban development projects. He’s most proud of how…
Brendan Pape, ’11, CEO of Brist Manufacturing in Bellingham, and his colleagues are lending their talents to help small businesses amid the pandemic.
By Yara Clark (’22)
Brist Manufacturing designs and manufactures apparel for companies and brands around the world. What makes this local,…
Following two decades as Western Washington University’s Vice President of University Advancement and President and CEO of the WWU Foundation …
Dear Western Community,
In the midst of this pandemic, as we all struggle with loss and fear, we have seen the disproportionate impact of the virus…
Edward Rippe (’11) chose to attend Western the first time he set foot on campus. Nine years later, as a practicing emergency room physician in…
When Western sent a request for donations to the Student Emergency Fund, Paula Rippe answered with her characteristic warmth and enthusiasm. When she…
Dear Alumni and Friends,
As we continue to greet uncertainty with courage and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Wednesday seemed an…
Dear Western Family,
Of the many things that have surprised – and reassured – me in the past few weeks, the ways in which the Western community has…
The Pacific Northwest has always been my home. I love the rainy weather, the scenic Puget Sound, the proud mountains, and the beautiful woods. I grew…
Dear members of the Western Family,
As you know by now, last week we announced that all classes and instruction will be offered remotely throughout…
Dear Friends of Western,
I hope this message finds you well. During this remarkable time for our state, our nation, and the world, I am reaching out…
A $10 million gift from Fred Kaiser and Grace Borsari will support “Building Washington’s Future" a campaign to raise $20 million for a new…
This year, thanks to the Western Foundation’s Student Ambassador Scholarship, third-year student Tatum Buss was able to work as an intern for her…