| A newsletter for alumni and friends
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January 13th 4:00 PM PT
Hear from alumnus Steve McConnell '85 as he discusses data contributions to the CDC's community-based COVID-19 forecasting model, Ensemble.
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January 26th 4:00 PM PT
Join Whitman alumnus Steve Hammond '79 as he shares the Syphax family history of his southern roots in New Orleans.
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March 10th 4:00 PM PT
Alumni, students, families and friends of Whitman College are invited to screen the documentary film Signing Black in America with associate producers Ceil Lucas '73 and Carolyn McCaskill.
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A Student Serving Students: Whitman Junior Wins New Hampshire School Board Election
Jonathan Weinberg '22 has wanted to make an influence on the education system in his hometown since he was a student in the district, not too many years ago. When an opportunity presented itself in the form of an opening on the school board, the junior philosophy major at Whitman felt called to step forward.
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New First Year Seminars Build Intellectual Community
This fall, new students are exploring important questions while they sharpen their writing, reading and discussion skills in Whitman College's new First Year Seminars program. The program—which replaces the Encounters curriculum for first-year students—has been built by faculty over the past two years, with the goal of preparing students to make the most of a liberal arts education.
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Practicing in a Pandemic: Student Musicians Play On
Although musicians have to deal with a variety of limitations, many students are still enjoying making music from home or the Whitman practice rooms.
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Virtual Whitman
Want to hear from Varsity young alumni about the impact of their athletic experience on their careers? Did you miss Christopher Leise's Meanings of the Mayflower at 400? Watch the recordings of these and many other virtual presentations at your leisure on our Virtual Whitman website. See all recordings here.
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Alumni Board Seeks Passionate Volunteers
The Alumni Association Board of Directors seeks qualified individuals who will bring diverse experiences and perspectives. The Whitman Alumni Board has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, particularly alumni who identify as people of color, representatives from the 1960s and 1970s and/or candidates who will contribute to increasing alumni engagement in the San Francisco Bay area.
Members are eligible to serve two three-year terms beginning July 1. The Alumni Board typically meets on campus twice a year and virtually on a monthly basis. Each member serves on a working group aligning with, and supporting strategic priorities. Attendance is required at in-person meetings and expected at local area events.
Deadline to submit documents related to petitioning is March 15, 2021 c/o Nancy Mitchell, director of alumni relations, at mitchenl@whitman.edu.
For instructions for petitioning, board membership information and bylaws, go online to whitman.edu/alumni/stay-involved/alumni-board. For questions, call (509) 527-5952.
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Announcing a New Alumni Recognition Award
The Trailblazer Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognizes alumni striving to light a path for others to follow. Selected jointly by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the Alumni Association, this award recognizes alumni whose work exemplifies inclusion, promotes equity, and values and reflects the diversity of our world. Read more and nominate a worthy Whittie for this and all Alumni Recognition Awards.
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Faculty Book of the Month
Santana-Acuña Publishes His Study of a Global Classic: Ascent to Glory
Assistant Professor of Sociology Álvaro Santana-Acuña published his book Ascent to Glory (Columbia University Press, 2020). This book, which is on sale in more than 25 countries, studies the making and global consecration of One Hundred Years of Solitude, one of the best-selling novels of all time. Reviews of Ascent to Glory have appeared in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Turkey, and India.
Gerald Martin, author of the best-selling biography Gabriel García Márquez: A Life, says that “readers will be inspired to use Ascent to Glory, which is full of new ideas, to think more lucidly about the unusually challenging future that now lies before us, both in literature and in life.” Stephen Enniss, Director of the Harry Ransom Center, house to the García Márquez Archives, wrote “Álvaro Santana-Acuña reveals the circle of friends and collaborators who helped bring One Hundred Years of Solitude into print, and he exposes the broader network of readers, reviewers, and agents of different kinds who made it one of the most beloved novels of the 20th century.” One of Latin America’s leading writers today, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, acknowledges “I have been waiting for this book. One Hundred Years of Solitude is arguably the most influential novel of the last fifty years, but how did that happen? Álvaro Santana-Acuña has probably given us the definitive account of that miracle.”
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Inclusion Action Items Update
As the Fall 2020 Semester comes to an end, the Whitman community has begun implementing the action items laid out by the Inclusion Task Force earlier this year. More than 20 action items were started this fall, and the December 2020 Inclusion Action Items Update details what steps have been taken and also highlights the action items scheduled to begin in the spring.
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Whitman LinkedIn Community
This private group is intended to help develop professional networks for Whitman students, alumni, faculty and staff. Please use this group as a resource for career exploration, Whitman connections, sharing jobs and giving career advice.
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Student Engagement Center Welcomes Fellowships and Grants
The Office of Fellowships and Grants has joined the Student Engagement Center as Whitman continues to advance its strategic plan under President Murray.
The college believes that integrating staff resources and program opportunities in the SEC and F&G will provide more options for students and alumni throughout their undergraduate years and professional lives after Whitman. Alumni interested in being a resource for SEC and F&G activities are encouraged to contact either office.
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Calling All Whitties!
We’re inviting you to join more than 2,250 alumni who have signed up for Whitman Connect with the goal of connecting Whitties as they explore career options or look for jobs in this “Whitties-only” platform. Once you are signed up, join a community of like-minded individuals based on industries or identities. A larger community means more opportunities for connections.
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Whitman Hosts Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
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This year's Banff Mountain Film Festival favorites are on tour virtually and ready to watch! Use the Whitman College Outdoor Program affiliate link to watch it through us, the Walla Walla regional host. Proceeds from paying to watch through the affiliate link will go towards making it free for Whitman students to watch and supporting the Bob Carson Outdoor Program Fund. Students can pay to watch it now, but we are working out details with Banff to make it free for them to watch in the future.
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Athletics Update
Student athletes arrived on campus last week and are busy training, preparing for any possible opportunity for competition! The Northwest Conference President's Council made the decision to resume conference competition and championships this month when federal, state, local and NCAA health directives permit. For the latest news on season start dates, along with season preview interviews with Head Women's Basketball Coach Michelle Ferenz and Head Men's Basketball Coach John Lamana, go to athletics.whitman.edu.
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Emma Saas '20 describes her investigation of novel methodologies for estimating fecundity, a key biological parameter, for fish in the genus Sebastes (rockfish). Her findings will assist fisheries researchers in effectively building reproductive histories and estimating productivity of multiple species in this commercially important North Pacific group.
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