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Alums in the News

Check out some Willamette University alums making headlines!

  • April 2025

    Atkinson Graduate School of Management

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    School of computing and information sciences

    • Maile Sakamoto MS'24 is using data to improve access to healthcare.

    School of Law

    • Pat Egan JD’00 was named National Confectioners Association's (NCA) 2025 Advocate of the year. This award honors Egan's outstanding dedication to ensuring the confectionery industry's strong voice in critical policy discussions at every level of government. 
    • Zach Forester JD’23 is the newest associate at Schwabe's Anchorage office. 
    • Nena Cook JD’91 has been confirmed as Vancouver's new city attorney

    Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

    • Angella Graves BA’97 MAT'98 transformed Cornelius Elementary to better fit the community's needs. By making the school fully dual-language and building in annual events the community is thriving. 
    • Emily Embleton BA'23 and Milo Greeburg BA'24 spent eleven months helping rural areas in Oregon through the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program.
    • Colby Takeda BA'11 was featured in the Wall Street Journal for his innovative work in the health care field. Avoid the paywall and learn more about the feature here

    Susan Seubert BFA’92
    Susan Seubert BFA’92

    Lehuauakea BFA’18
    Lehuauakea BFA’18

    Maile Sakamoto MS’24
    Maile Sakamoto MS’24

    Pat Egan JD’00
    Pat Egan JD’00

    Zach Forester JD’23
    Zach Forester JD’23

    Nena Cook JD'91
    Nena Cook JD'91

    Angella Graves BA’97
    Angella Graves BA’97

    Milo Greenburg BA’24 and Emily Embleton BA’23
    Milo Greenburg BA’24 and Emily Embleton BA’23

  • March 2025

    College of Arts & Sciences

    Atkinson School of Management

    • Tania Wilson MBA’24 will lead Intel's AI initiatives.

    College of Law

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    • Chris Freeman BFA’10 and Bryan Boyce will reopen Boathouse Microcinema on March 9th, where they will feature avant-garde films.  
    • Eva Wrzesinski BFA’22 uses their work to talk about homelessness to a young audience who sees the issue daily but may not have context. 
    • Rachel Wolf MFA’14 was featured in Canvas Rebel, where she talked about her journey of becoming a cameraless photographer.
    • Michael Curry BFA’81 proposes his idea for a new design for the Keller Auditorium that would make it more impactful for the city of Portland.
    • Lehuauakea BFA'18's work made it into the Hawai‘i Triennial — the state’s largest thematic art exhibit.

     

    Crayton Webb BA’94
    Crayton Webb BA’94

    Barbra Saigos BA’64
    Barbara Saigo BA’64

    Timothy Davis BS‘94
    Timothy Davis BS‘94

    George Tanabe, Jr. BA‘65
    George Tanabe Jr. BA‘65

    Tania Wilson MBA’24
    Tania Wilson MBA’24

    Eva Wrzesinski BFA’22
    Eva Wrzesinski BFA’22

    Rachel Wolf MFA’14
    Rachel Wolf MFA’14

    Michael Curry BFA’810
    Michael Curry BFA’81

    Lehuauakea BFA'18Lehuauakea BFA'18

  • February 2025

    College of Arts & Sciences

    • Bethany Abbate BA'21 works at the forefront of policy development, bridging the gap between technological innovation and necessary safeguards as AI advances at an unprecedented pace.
    • Joe Bushman BS'93 is relocating to Arizona for his new position as Casteel High School's new football coach.
    • Bob Packard BA'73 recently completed the renovation of the Portland International Airport (PDX)  as the leading manager for ZGF Architechs, the company hired for the remodel. 
    • Eric MacMillan BA'08 was named the next Assistant Regional Director for the Fish and Aquatic Conservation program in the Pacific Region.
    • Bill Richter BA'61 was featured on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation News where he shared his educational background, programs, such as the Kansas Dialogue, he is a part of, and more. 

    Atkinson School of Management

    College of Law

    • Faith O'Malley JD'24 has grown as a student and advocate for others; O'Malley's time at law school has been a shining example of her dedication to fighting for justice for others. 
    • Sasha Petrova JD'15 was elected for partnership with her law firm, Tonkon Torp
    • James Lawler, JD'82 has retired after a 41-year career in Louis County.  
    • Shawn O'Neil JD'91 was elected the new Mayor of Wilsonville and was sworn in on January 6th. 

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    • Subin Yang BFA'17 has been able to collaborate with brands and build a portfolio that reflects her commitment to social impact.  
    • Kelda Van Patten MFA’20 was featured in Create! magazine . She shared her education history, where some of her inspiration comes from, and more. 

     

    Eric MacMillan BA’08
    Eric MacMillan BA’08

    Bill Richter BA'61
    Bill Richter BA'61

    Michael Gay MBA'23
    Michael Gay MBA'23

    Faith O’Malley JD’24
    Faith O’Malley JD’24

    Sasha Petrova JD’15
    Sasha Petrova JD’15

    James Lawler JD’82
    James Lawler JD’82

    Shawn O’Neil JD’91
    Shawn O’Neil JD’91

    Kelda Van Patten MFA’20
    Kelda Van Patten MFA’20

  • January 2025

    College of Arts & Sciences

    • Bill Mosher BA'72 was named Denver's next Chief Projects Officer.
    • Elizabeth Larson BS/BA'21 created a project called Learn to Play, which teaches kids about chemistry through large-scale models of DNA structures that double as play structures.
    • Dylan Selph BA'23 will spend the month of January at the Wendelstedt Umpire School in Ormond Beach, Florida. 

    College of Law

    • Terry Bloor JD'78 will retire at the end of this year after 45 years as a prosecutor with Benton County.
    • Beth Heckert JD'87 is retiring after three terms as Jackson County District Attorney. 
    • Spencer Topham JD'10 joined Spencer Fane LLP in Salt Lake City as their newest partner.  
    • Joey Morones JD'24 is the newest member of Gilroy Napoli Short Law Group. Morones is dedicated to client advocacy and achieving just and fair outcomes.

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    • Tessa Heck MFA'16 painted two large-scale murals in the LOGE Camp's new hotel in Missoula, Montana. 
    • Courtney McConnell MFA’20 was featured on Canvas Rebel, where she talked about her experience creating art, teaching, and being a mom. 
    • Razel Maria Sta. Rita MFA’24 shares his most significant takeaway from PNCA, which informs his philosophy as an artist.

     

    Elizabeth Larson BS/BA'21
    Elizabeth Larson BS/BA'21

    Terry Bloor JD'78
    Terry Bloor JD'78

    Beth Heckert JD'87
    Beth Heckert JD'87

    Joey Morones JD'24Joey Morones JD'24

    Courtney McConnell MFA'20
    Courtney McConnell MFA'20

    Razel Maris Sta. Rita MFA'24
    Razel Maria Sta. Rita MFA'24

  • December 2024

    Atkinson Graduate School of Management

    • Sridhar "Sri" Krishnan MBA'94 has been promoted to Chief Financial and Risk Officer for Chelan PUD.

    College of Arts & Sciences

    College of Law

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    • Joe Bun Keo MFA’23 curated two shows at the West Hartford Public Library.
    • Gretchen Kent BFA’93 balances her artistic talents with her skills in fundraising and donor engagement.
    • Gopika Dahanukar MFA’14 Spoke at the Jehangir Art Gallery about her mother’s, Prafulla Dahanukar, collection of medium-spanning art collection.
    • Hazel Miller BFA’16 exhibited “We Will Be Fossils Someday” in Spokane at Placeholder Studios in November.

    Sridhar “Sri” Krishnan MBA’94
    Sridhar “Sri” Krishnan MBA’94

    Ann Schmiesing BA’89
    Ann Schmiesing BA’89

    Jayne Downing BS’94
    Jayne Downing BS’94

    John Waller BS'98John Waller BS'98

    Jeff Auxier JD'06
    Jeff Auxier JD’06

    Gretchen Kent BFA'93
    Gretchen Kent BFA'93

    hAZEL mILLER bfa'14
    Hazel Miller BFA'14

  • November 2024

    College of Arts & Sciences

    College of Law

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    Lynn Miyahira BA’03
    Lynn Miyahira BA’03

    Tobias Read BA'97
    Tobias Read BA'97 

    Dan Rayfield JD' 04
    Dan Rayfield JD' 04

    Dan Rayfield JD' 04
    James DeVecchio JD'17 

  • October 2024

    Atkinson Graduate School of Management

    • Logan Heagerty BA'23 MBA’24, earned second place in the TiE Oregon's competition and will represent Willamette in InventOR's competition.

    College of Arts & Sciences

    • Jamie Arredondo BA’05, the executive director of CAPACES Leadership Institute, has created positive change by providing educational and leadership development programming to over 2,500 Latinx, immigrant, Indigene, Afrodescendiente, and frameworks in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
    • Brad Lomax BA’04, MAT'08, became McNary High School's new athletic director and assistant principal. 
    • Elaine Morrison BA’14, has been hired by KPS3, a full-service marketing and communications firm, and the director of growth marketing.

    College of Law

    • Stanton Long JD’67, served on the Lane County panel, which discussed the charter review process and four potential changes, one of which Long proposed.
    • Nathanial Woodward JD’20, is making a big difference in his small town of Price, Utah.

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    • Anne Crumpacker MFA’11, was featured on the cover of Western Home Journa/Sun Valley Summer magazine.
    • Derek Franklin BFA’09, was featured in Nester for his residential studio, which offers out-of-town artists a space to live and show their work for two weeks. 
    • Olivia Harwood's BFA’21, Huntress Collection is being featured at One Grand Gallery starting October 4, 2024.
    • Brenda Mallory BFA'22, Exhibition, in Absence of Instruction, opened at the Gorman Museum of Native American Art on September 18, 2024
    • Eva Wizesinski BFA'22, collaborated with author Julie Stowers to illustrate her children's book, "Toby Finds a Home."

    School of Computing and Information Sciences

    • Colleen Smyth BA'15, MS’21, is joining the new Data Science Education K-12 Research to Practice Conference (DSE-K12) Launce Collective after she developed her school's first elective class on data science.

    Logan Heagerty BA’23, MBA’24
    Logan Heagerty BA’23, MBA’24

    Jamie Arredondo BA’05
    Jamie Arredondo BA’05

    Brad Lomax BA’04, MAT’08
    Brad Lomax BA’04, MAT’08

    Elaine Morrison  BA’14
    Elaine Morrison BA’14

    Nathanial Woodward JD’20
    Nathanial Woodward JD’20

    Derek Franklin BFA’09
    Derek Franklin BFA’09

  • September 2024

    Atkinson Graduate School of Management

    • Natalie Heacock MBA’10, was appointed the new President of The Patrick Lumber Company, effective August 1, 2024.
    • Jim Morrell MM’93 joined the World Council of Credit Unions board in 2024. He leads the Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union in Shelton, WA.
    • Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, MBA’08, is the new President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies

    College of Arts & Sciences

    College of Law

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    School of Education

    Natalie Heacock MBA'10
    Natalie Heacock MBA’10

    Jim Morrell MM’93
    Jim Morrell MM’93

    Kendrick Pearson, BA’19
    Kendrick Pearson, BA’19

    Cierra Brown, JD’15
    Cierra Brown, JD’15

    Mihnea Moga JD’19
    Mihnea Moga JD’19

    CJ Crossett, MA’16
    CJ Crossett, MA’16

  • August 2024

    Atkinson Graduate School of Management

    • Joshua Perez BS’23, MBA’24 started a year-long postgraduate internship at the NCAA in their inclusion department.

    College of Arts & Sciences

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    Joshua Perez BS'23, MBA'24
    Joshua Perez BS'24 MBA '24

    Scott McCormick BA'73
    Scott McCormick BA'73

    Ann Schmiesing BA'89
    Ann Schmiesing BA'89

    Jenna Reineking MFA’17 and Nick Patton MFA15
    Jenna Reineking MFA’17 and Nick Patton MFA15

  • July 2024

    College of Arts & Sciences

    College of Law

    • Chelsea Mazza JD’14 is the new chief deputy district attorney for the Criminal Division of the Douglas County (Nevada) District Attorney’s Office.
    • Northwest Nazarene University President Joel Pearsall JD’83 announced his plans to retire next summer.

    Pacific Northwest College of Art

    • Rebecca Campbell BFA’94 has a new show, Young Americans, at LA Louver in Venice, California.
    •  The ‘Feeling Our Age’ art exhibit grand opening and book signing with
    • Kathleen Cosgrove BFA’03 took place on June 20th at the Watermark in Portland’s Pearl District.

    Bradley Eckerson BA’12
    Bradley Eckerson BA’12

    Marques Johnson BA’03
    Marques Johnson BA’03

    Connor Mertens BA’17
    Connor Mertens BA’17

    Kathleen Cosgrove BFA’03
    Kathleen Cosgrove BFA’03

  • June 2024

    On May 16th, The University of Oklahoma named Anna E. Carpenter BA'02 the 14th dean of its College of Law. Carpenter will begin in the position on July 15th.

    Monica Dinsmore BS'92senior director of esports brand & marketing at EA, was heavily featured in Forbes' May 3rd article on one company’s approach to building a sustainable esports ecosystem.

    Pacific Power named Ryan Flynn BS'97 president of the electricity provider on May 2nd. The utility serves more than 800,000 customers across Oregon, Washington and California.

    Steven Hector Gonzalez BFA'15 curated the show "Visions," which opened in Irving, Texas on May 18th.

    Willamette Week recently featured Laura Halley MBA'22's new business venture, a secondhand athleisure store focused on sustainability.

    The Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section recently honored Alexandra Hutchinson JD'20 with a 2024 Award of Merit for significant, recent contributions to the mission of promoting justice through service, education, or leadership.

    The Seattle Seahawks announced on May 24th that Paimon Jaberi BA'17, MBA'18, has been promoted to the team's Vice President of Business Strategy & Analytics.

    Zachary Lange BA'12 received the William F. Pyburn Award from the University of Texas at Arlington. This award recognizes a graduate student pursuing studies in natural history. Lange is a fourth-year biology doctoral student originally from Sisters, Oregon.

    Steph Littlebird BFA'15 served on the selection committee of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design and NOAA Fisheries 2024 Art + Science Fellowship.

    The National Operations Center of Excellence Technical Advisory Committee recently named Galen McGill MBA'93 its vice chair. McGill is the Oregon Department of Transportation's state maintenance and operations engineer.

    On May 22nd, Kellie Menghini BA'12, MAT'13, was named one of the 12 educators to receive a 2024 Crystal Apple Award. The annual event, presented by the McLaran Leadership Foundation in cooperation with Salem-Keizer Public Schools and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, recognizes excellence in Salem-Keizer educators.

    Linda Navarro BS'90 was honored by the Oregon Bankers Association on May 2nd with a new award in her name. Navarro, the inaugural recipient of the Linda W. Navarro Trailblazer Award, will retire as president and CEO this July.

    It was an exciting May for Kim Nicholls BS'87, as she made headlines twice. First, Forbes included her on a list of the best mom-made wines, and then she received a Legacy Award from the North Bay Business Journal's annual Women in Wine Awards.

    Liani Reeves BA'98, JD'01, was honored with the 2024 Professionalism Award by the Multnomah Bar Association. The award is presented to lawyers who "exemplify professionalism beyond the observance of the legal profession's ethical rules, and who serve the best interests of clients and the public in general." 

    Jason Rowton (aka Jackson Rayne) BA'03 showed off his Master Illusionist skills on the May 29th broadcast of AM Northwest.

    On May 8th, Junior Achievement of Alaska announced Joe Schierhorn JD'85 MM'85 as one of the four members of the Alaska Business Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.

    Anna Carpenter BA'02
    Anna Carpenter BA'02

    Ryan Flynn BS'97
    Ryan Flynn BS'97

     Paimon Jaberi BA'17, MBA'18
    Paimon Jaberi BA'17, MBA'18

     Steph Littlebird BFA'15
    Steph Littlebird BFA'15

    Liani Reeves BA'98, JD'01
    Liani Reeves BA'98, JD'01

    Joe Schierhorn JD'85 MM'85
    Joe Schierhorn JD'85 MM'85

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