Alums in the News

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Ashish R. Puravankara MBA’05 was reappointed as managing director of the real estate development company Puravankara Limited for a five-year term.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Vicki L. Wilson BFA’99's ceramic studio, Slipstream Clay Studio and Supply Shop, established a new location in Philomath and was featured in a local news article.
• Noah Beckham BFA’21, MFA'23 will have an event on April 18 at the Portland Art Museum celebrating their work in Conductions: Black Imaginings II.

School of Law

• Lisa Murkowski JD’85, who is a U.S. Senator for Alaska, was nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian lawmaker Lars Haltbrekken for her role in de-escalating tensions between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
• Geoff Winkler BA’03, JD’06, MBA’08 was elected as the next president of the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Michael Plank BA’06 was hired to be an assistant on Oregon State University men's basketball head coach Justin Joyner's staff after being an assistant on the University of San Francisco men's basketball team since 2021.
• Velika Yasay BA’24 is moderating a panel at Harvard's Kennedy School exploring the legal and political stakes of Students for Fair Admissions' new case and what it means for Native Hawaiian self-determination.
• Dulasi Tennakoon BA’25 is building a record of civic engagement through internships with a U.S. congressman, a state representative and the Salem mayor’s office.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Valeri Love MM’92, JD’95 was a guest speaker on the City Club of Eugene's program discussing the foster care system in Oregon.

Graduate School of Education

• Jocelyn McIntyre MAT’94 was appointed principal of Wilsonville High School after serving on an interim basis since the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Jeffrey Jennings BFA’78 has a visual art exhibition on display at the Andrew Durham Gallery in Houston, Texas, where he explores where geometry ends and nature begins.
• Hans Dietrich Messerschmidt BFA’99 was highlighted by a biographical directory of accomplished professionals and leaders for his expertise in graphic and presentation design.
• Andrew C.M. Lorish MFA’13 has a collection of abstract paintings going on display March 23 at the Central Oregon Community College’s Barber Library Rotunda Gallery, which are inspired by a world focused on the future, yet struggling with self-awareness.
• Steph Littlebird BFA’15 released her debut book that she both wrote and illustrated, titled "You Are the Land" where she highlights underrepresented perspectives.
• Molly Steadman BFA’16 is an artist-in-residence at the Sawtooth School for Visual Art, where she's exploring her interest in basketry and greenwood furniture traditions.
• Diana Oropeza MFA’23 was the recipient of the Oregon Literary Career Fellowship for Writers of Color.

School of Law

• Eric Robertson JD’17 was named the President-elect of the Oregon State Bar Nonprofit Organizations Law Section (NOLS) of the Oregon State Bar.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Dirk Hmura BS’92's real estate brokerage company is opening a new office location in Lake Oswego.
• Asha Jennings BA’98 was appointed to Chief Counsel at the Department of Health Care Access and Information for the state of California by Governor Gavin Newsom.
• Helen R. Atsma BA’00 works at HarperCollins Publishers and had one of their books, "Remarkably Bright Creatures" selected by the Salem Public Library for their community reading program.
• Greg Reed BA’03 had a profile written on him detailing his work for Chevron Richmond in California.
• Amelia Cruver BA’05 was named the chief financial officer for Ramsey County in Minnesota.
• Emily Brown BA’12 was appointed to the Walla Walla City Council.
• Andrew Caruana BA’24 announced his candidacy for Bend’s House District 54.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Punit Renjen MM’87's Renjen Fellowship program is challenging ten students to develop real solutions to Portland’s most pressing urban challenges through partnerships with community leaders, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Aaron Johnson BFA’05 has a series of paintings on display at Utah State University for the remainder of February, which depict the Palouse region of Idaho.
• Samantha Yun Wall MFA’11 has her first solo exhibition of drawings and paintings titled "What We Leave Behind" detailing her mixed race and transcultural identity, on display at the Seattle Art Museum through Oct. 20.

School of Law

• David Silke JD’91 joined the law firm Jackson Lewis PC at their office in Seattle, WA.
• Sarah Hunt JD’08 was featured in a story on the current U.S. administration's approach to rising electricity prices 
• J. Logan Joseph JD’15 has been appointed to the Union County Justice Court by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
• Nathaniel Levy JD’18 was one of four individuals to be elevated from an attorney to a partner at the law firm Miller Nash LLP in Portland, OR.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Vic Snyder BA’69 wrote a guest column in the Medford, Oregon, newspaper, The Rogue Valley Times, on Southern Oregon's connection to a Civil War tragedy.
• David Chiappetta BA’88 has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Fresno Superior Court.
• Brandi Row Lazzarini BA’96 is helping Willamette students incorporate AI tools into their coursework. In her courses, students develop the self-awareness and critical thinking skills they need to use the technology effectively and responsibly. 
• Mike Warjone BA’97 was featured in the Puget Sound Business Journal, where he touched on the forestry company, Port Blakely's renewed vision for the future.
• Jessica DiSalvo BA’04 voiced the character Danièle in the animated feature "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain", which was nominated for an Oscar.
• Gabriel Tallent BA’10 continues his literary journey with a book signing of his latest work: "Crux: A Novel" at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California.
• Kaylee Chrystal BA’20 is leading the way in impacting Oregon's literacy rates through her work as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Oregon.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Michael Woolfolk MBA’90 has been selected to serve as the next commander of the Civil Air Patrol New York Wing.
• Ali Kostelecky BA’20, MBA’21 led Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center’s efforts to earn the designation of "TsunamiReady Supporter" from the National Weather Service.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Jeremy Le Grand BFA’09 is part of a group show titled “Unreliable Instruments” at Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery.
• Noah Beckham BFA’21, MFA'23 opened Conductions: Black Imaginings II’s 2026 at the Portland Art Museum with a performance titled Ode to Dimorph.

School of Law

• Greg Zerzan BA’93, JD’96 has been appointed General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Transportation. 
• Michael Scarbo JD’14 was nominated to fill the judge vacancy for the 5th Circuit Court on Kaua‘i.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Crystal Rose BS’79 is the 2026 Women Who Mean Business Career Achievement Honoree.
• Martha Bennett BA’89 is one of three finalists to be Eugene’s next city manager.
• Robin Buckingham BA’99, MAT’01 was recognized as the 2026 Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year.
• Kelda Martensen BA’02 was selected to design this year’s Climate Pledge Arena merchandise collection to benefit the One Roof Foundation.
• Danielle Morgan BS’24 is in her first season as head girls basketball coach at St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, CA.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Michael Canty MBA’76’s company, Alloy Precision Technologies, was named a 2025 Best of Tech honoree.
• Madi Woodward BA’18, MBA’19 started a new role at Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Tara Tamaribuchi BFA’05 joined the VU Lecture Series to discuss her art practice, which investigates human life experiences.
• Nicolo Gentile BFA’13 recently installed a provocative piece in Philadelphia’s Maja Park.
• Lehuauakea BFA’18 was named one of the “25 Native American Artists to Know” by ARTnews.
• Rhiannon Skye Tafoya MFA’18 was recently profiled in Smoky Mountain News.
• Adelaide Blair MFA’23 brought together eight artists to create the Pacific Northwest Conceptual Art Center’s 75th Anniversary Retrospective.

School of Law

• Susan Cook JD’96 leads the great work of Willamette’s Trust and Estates Clinic.
• Kassim Ferris JD’96 joined the Intellectual Property Department at Miller Nash.
• James Boyle JD’97 joined the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Howard & Howard.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Anna Knisely BA’02 returned home to Montana to help start Logan Health’s first ear, nose, throat and lung clinic.
• Colby Takeda BA’11 was named to Slice of Healthcare’s 2025 50 Under 50 list.
• Josh Dean BA’14 is the new head coach of the Coronado High School Football Team.
• Lindsay Straube BA’16 recently reached the NY Times Best Sellers list and sat down for a conversation at Powell’s Books.
• Jadrian Teunissen BS’21 is engineering dairy delights at Tillamook County Creamery.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Shawn Chen MBA’90 was profiled in Forbes for the university he founded, which just so happens to count the founder of Labubu as an alum.
  
• Arsa Nikzad MBA’13 recently published an article in Foresight: The International Journal of Applied Forecasting.
• Sophie Clark MBA’19 is engineering the future of aviation at Boeing.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Tristan Perrotti MFA’23 is the first-ever Guest Artist in Residence at Southwestern Oregon Community College.
• Sally Jablonsky MFA’24’s one-woman show will be on view through November 17 at the Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend.
• Ebony Frison MFA’25 is a participating artist in the 2026 Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial.

School of Law

• David Drinkward JD’07, President and CEO of Hoffman Construction, was interviewed by the Portland Business Journal after the company was named the second-fastest-growing private company of 2025.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Barton DeLacy BA’75 is the 2025 recipient of the Jared Shlaes Prize.
• Richard Whitley BS’83 will retire as Nevada Department of Human Services Director on November 9.
• Heather Anderson-Bibler BS’94 and her husband started a vineyard just outside of Salem.
• Aaron Vandeford BA’04 is the new Director of Investor Relations at RAD Intel.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

•  James Furlo BA’06, MBA’07 recently bought the Baker Tower, the 10-story building, known for much of its 96 years as Hotel Baker, in Baker City, Oregon.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Melinda Hurst Frye BFA’00 was featured by Cascade PBS, highlighting Melinda’s unique art practice using flatbed scanners to capture natural habitats.
• Tara Tamaribuchi BFA’05 and the Sadako Renewal Project continue to fundraise to build a new statue of Sadako Sasaki in Seattle Peace Park. (Third story on the page)

School of Law

•  Amy Lindgren JD’02 on her new role as Lake Oswego Municipal Judge. She is also the municipal judge for the cities of Oregon City, St. Helens and Gladstone.
  
• Megan Peyton JD’07 was appointed to replace Clark County District Court Judge Kelli Osler, who is retiring on December 31.
• Dezi Robb JD’14 joined the Anchorage law firm of Landye Bennett Blumstein (LBB) as an Associate Attorney.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Cynthia Pemberton BS’80 has been named chair-elect of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents.
• Darrell Fuller BA’88 and his work with the American Red Cross were featured in the Summer 2025 issue of the Sigma Chi Magazine.
• Marie Watt BS’90’s string of recent successes with her art practice was profiled in Oregon Artswatch.
• E.M. (Ellen) Lewis BA’94’s new play, Apple Season, opened recently at 21Ten Theatre.
• Marianne Smith BA’97, MAT’99 received the Oregon Department of Education’s 25-26 InterMountain Regional Teacher of the Year award.
• Mike Warjone BA’97 will take over as CEO of Port Blakely in January.
• Chris Calaycay BA’98 and his coaching journey to the Vienna Vikings were profiled by American Football International.
• Jason Galbraith BS’01 was named one of 16 Regional Teachers of the Year as part of the Oregon Department of Education’s annual competition.
  
• Jacquelyn Grace Schmit BA’07 received a 2025 College-Level Teaching Award.
• Milla Bevens BA’19 was announced as one of the new attorneys at Nebraska-based firm Cline Williams.
• Sam Coren BA’19 appeared on the Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files podcast.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Le Anh Tuan MBA’03 was appointed CEO of Dragon Capital Vietfund Management JSC.
• Jan Taborsky BA'10, MBA’11 and Lacy Gillham BA’10 were featured in Forbes Magazine for building a million-dollar business selling organic gluten-free bread as solopreneurs.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Jocelyn Dean BFA’02 has a thriving photo booth business she started over a decade ago! Her photo booths are all over Portland in cool bars and hotels.
• Brenda Mallory BFA’02 was named a 2025 Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellow.
• Erin Bodfish, MFA’22 was featured in Bend Magazine (page 105), where she discussed her use of emotion when creating her paintings.

School of Law

• Karin Holma JD’89 was sworn in as a Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of Hawai'i.
• Amy Muenchrath JD’97 is the newest attorney at Two Spruce Law P.C. She will lead the probate law and estate planning firm.
• Nikki Pantera BA’03, JD’07 has been elevated to general counsel at Boise State University.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Tracy Klinger BA’95, MAT’97 is the new superintendent of the Gresham-Barlow School District.
• Erin Chaparro BA’98 has been awarded a $4 million grant from the US Department of Education to study Team-Initiated Problem Solving over the next five years.
• Jeremy Hall BA’98 and Erin Chaparro BA’98 won big at the Northwest Cider Cup. Bringing home a bronze medal in the high-tannin perry category and a gold medal in the low-tannin category.   
• Miranda Martin BA’18 is the outreach coordinator for The Perch in downtown Vancouver. She is helping homeless and at-risk youth find a more stable life.
• Ryder Hsiung BS’25 was drafted in the second round, 7th pick, by the Taipei Kings of Taiwan’s professional Basketball league.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Punit Renjen MM’87 was featured in Forbes India as one of the executives powering the world’s biggest companies.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Ka’ila Farrell-Smith BFA’04 exhibited her latest body of work, Portal Glyph, at the Russo Lee Gallery. Her work is vibrant and a daring, hopeful vision of alternative realities.

School of Law

• Dave Drinkward JD’07 has been appointed to NW Natural’s board of directors.
• Michelle Da Rosa JD’07 has joined Buchalter as a shareholder. She is joining as a member of the real estate practice group.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Jeff Heatherington BA’65 is the first person to have a college named after them at Western University of Health Sciences. The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest is now the Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Ritch Price BS’78 is retiring after 20 seasons as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks Baseball.
• Letwon Canton BA’04 is building community and creating opportunities with NAAIA in Seattle.
• Larissa DeHaas BA’13 was featured in the Eye on Sun Valley for her unique art of tiny dots that blend to create a bigger picture.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Brenda Mallory BFA’02 was featured in The Cultural Landscape: Part 22, a series of cultural profiles with portraits by photographer K.B. Dixon. This series focuses on the talented, dedicated, and creative people who have made significant contributions to Oregon's art, character, and culture.
• Wayne Bund MFA’10 was named one of the 20 LGBTQIA+ photographers you need to know in 2025. Wayne’s piece “Ellipsis” depicts “The queer body that feels at home in its natural environment.” 
• mai ide MFA’25 was featured in Portland Monthly. She was one of five artists participating in the 2025 Glean Residency, which gave the artists $2,000 and five months of access to the city's collected garbage. mai used her money and time to create a series of traffic cones wrapped in discarded fabrics to represent social repression and restriction of movement.

School of Law

• Colleen Gilmartin JD’02 was named by Governor Kotex as the next judge of the Clackamas County Circuit Court.
• Mai Vang JD’21 was sworn in as City Councilor for Ward 6 in the city of Salem on June 23rd. Please note this story is behind a paywall.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Ryan Diedrick BA’16 is the new passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the University of San Diego Toreros.
• Michael Chen BA’18 made the 10th annual Trellis list of “30 Under 30 rising stars fighting climate change at work” for his sustainability-focused role at Okta.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Ryan Whithorn BA’21, MBA’22 is helping baseball dreams take flight at Campo Las Palmas, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ player development facility in the Dominican Republic.
• Amanda Buschke, BA’23, MBA’25, takes on a new job in her dream field: marketing coordinator at the Oregon Restoration Company. Willamette taught her the importance of mentorship and leadership.
  
• Cole Lindberg BA’24, MBA’25 landed a coveted role as a Technical Solutions Engineer at medical software developer Epic weeks before receiving his MBA. 

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• Lehuauakea BFA’18 is reviving the practice of Kapa, Native Hawaiian bark cloth making, which was nearly wiped out by the 1900s. Incorporating Lehuauakea’s heritage into the reclaimed practice, she is among the few practitioners under 30.
• Steven Xue BFA’19 first honed his pragmatic, problem-solving philosophy at PNCA. He then used these skills to create attention-getting, innovative designs for some of the world's biggest brands.
• Laney Punarate, BFA’24, has found significant success after her “Sandwiches as Medicine” thesis project caught people's attention at Wieden-Kennedy. She is a freelance graphic designer and art director for big names like Lululemon, Chili’s, and Formula 1.
• Claire Frances Spaulding, MFA/MA’25, navigates the transition from graduate studies to being a fellow artist within the Portland arts scene. Reflecting on Willamette’s motto, she talks about the importance of community within the arts.
• Laura Quintero Anton BFA’25 used her experience working with Guatemalan immigrants to create a visual essay entitled “El Camino Del Quetzal” for her thesis project. The essay illustrates the complexities of migration, from the loneliness of dislocation to the joys of community.

School of Computing and Information Sciences

• Cameron Bayer MS’24 used the project-building skills he learned at Willamette to help land his dream job at Microsoft.
• Jacob Plax BS/MS’25 eagerly awaits his career in computer science in the Pacific Northwest, empowered by his two degrees and the support of the Willamette community. Plax will depart Willamette this August with two degrees, thanks to the 3+1 BS/MS in Computer Science program.

School of Law

• Gioia Fisk JD'24 spent the fall semester of her final academic year externing for U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon, setting her up for her current career. Through Willamette connections, introductions led to summer clerkships and a full-time offer at Hart Wagner.
• Kate Roberts JD’25 looks forward to her career as a lawyer advocating for survivors of sexual abuse. Study buddies and faculty gave Roberts the tools to think logically, advocate fiercely, and be confident in her ability to serve future clients.
• Carly Dederick JD’25 is equipped for a career in juvenile law, fueled by hands-on advocacy, leadership experiences, and the support of the Willamette community. With a renewed sense of purpose, she is ready to take her advocacy for children into the courtroom. Following the bar exam, she will be a law clerk for Judge Valeri Love MBA’92, JD’95.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Matthew Read BA’08 has been appointed Chief Counsel at the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation following multiple roles at the California Strategic Growth Council.
• Brice Hoerauf BA’25 encompasses Willamette’s motto, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born,” as he completes a double major in Environmental Science and Economics, internships in Washington, D.C., and student government positions.
• Tenley Grant BA’25 is set to continue advocacy of student-athletes in a Master of Education program studying intercollegiate Athletic Leadership at the University of Washington, following her leadership and advocacy within the athletics community.
• Olivia Schutz BS’25 shoots for the stars following the opportunity of a lifetime. She was invited to travel to Mexico with the Willamette Faculty to observe a rare total solar eclipse, despite majoring in Computer Science and Data Science, not Physics. Igniting a passion for research, she is now ready for her next adventure.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• John McKinlay MBA’95 has been named the new president and CEO of Centurion Asset Management Inc.
• Matt Mattson MBA’18 used his capstone project at Atkinson to build a plan for an apprenticeship program at his company. This allowed people in the waste management industry to begin working sooner, filling the need for more blue-collar workers after facing a critical shortage because of the pandemic.

Pacific Northwest College of Art

• René Rickabaugh BFA’70 was featured in Meer’s online magazine, which showed his exhibition titled Recent work. This collection was displayed in Portland’s Russo Lee Gallery in March.
• Elizabeth Malaska MFA’11 was announced as the winner of the Catherine Doctorow Prize for Contemporary Painting by the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. The Prize recognizes achievement in contemporary painting and includes a solo exhibition of Malaska’s work at UMOCA this fall. 
• Lehuauakea BFA’18 was featured in Art News as one of the 15 Native American artists to know.

School of Law

• Ed Finch JD’78, Mayor of Redmond, OR, was a guest on the Bend Don’t Break podcast to discuss his life, career, and the city’s future.
• Andy Miller JD’79 was honored as the 2025 Tri-Citian of the Year, an award given to those who have demonstrated service above self. It is the highest civic honor given for public service in the region.
• Karin Holma JD’89 was appointed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D., to be Circuit Judge to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, pending Senate confirmation.
• Liana Reeves JD’01 received the 2025 Justice Lynn R. Nakamoto Award from the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (OAPABA). The award honors those who have demonstrated leadership, professionalism, mentorship, a pioneering spirit, and a deep commitment to diversity and the support of Asian Pacific Americans in the Oregon legal community.
• Celeste Mountain Monroe JD’04 recently joined Miller Nash as part of the firm’s employment and education teams.
• Cierra Brown JD’15 will be the newly appointed Clackamas County judge on July 1st.
• Eric Robertson JD’17 was recently appointed to the Oregon State Nonprofit Organizations Law Section (NOLS) Executive Committee. The purpose of NOLS is to serve the people of Oregon by helping Oregon attorneys to better serve the very diverse range of non-governmental, not-for-profit entities recognized under Oregon and federal laws.
• Alex Hutchinson JD’20 has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA).
• Emily Grimmius JD’24 successfully led efforts to pass the Restraining Orders Without Borders' Survivor Protection Act in Oregon.

Willamette College (Formerly College of Arts & Sciences)

• Paul Broucek BA’74 was presented with the Hollywood Ally Award by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at their Gala on April 26 for championing the orchestra's musicians in their professional studio work throughout his career.
• Justin Pate BA’94 was featured in Window Film Magazine, where he spoke about his journey to becoming a master vehicle wrapper and teacher.
• Jesse Finch Gnehm BS’99 became the new Chair of It Gets Better UK, a charity in the UK with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect the LGBTQ+ community.
• Curtis Bell BA’05 was selected as the Captain Jerome E. Levy Chair of Economic Geography and National Security at the U.S. Naval War College.
• Jennifer White BA’05 was announced as the new executive director of the Idaho State Board of Education. 
• Cameron Ramey BA’09, the COO of Mad Capital, is working to facilitate sustainable farming for those willing to transition to regenerative organic production practices.
• Aubrey Grace Means BA’15 is helping policymakers in the federal government address some of the most significant issues related to nuclear energy.