Alum Artist Connects With Landscape & Legacy
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For Linda Infante Lyons ’81, nature and art have been linked as long as she can recall.
“My mother created a very enriching environment for her children, and I remember a [John James] Audubon poster of a pair of mallard ducks on the wall next to my crib,” she says. “There’s a science aspect to it, but also some artistic license that Audubon took with his paintings. It stuck in my mind.”
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When she wasn’t out collecting nests or plant specimens in the pockets of wilderness scattered across her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, Infante Lyons could often be found “drawing on furniture and getting in trouble for it,” she recalls, “or in my notebooks instead of listening to the teacher.” It was a habit that extended into her time at Whitman College, where her Biology major provided ample opportunity to make illustrations in her notes. “I probably spent more time on my drawings than [studying],” she laughs.
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“Taquka’aq, Sovereign of Kodiak Island” (oil on canvas) by Linda Infante Lyons.
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Minoring in Spanish, she fell in love with the magical realist literature of Latin America, a genre that seamlessly integrates the natural and supernatural in a way that parallels how the Alutiiq see the interconnectedness of the universe. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she moved between the U.S. and Chile, working for two years as a lab technician in cancer research before focusing on raising her three daughters.
Read the full story in the Spring 2026 issue of Whitman Magazine to learn more about how Infante Lyons moved into a career where she creates art that explores Alutiiq identity, Alaskan history and landscape.
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Outdoor Air Quality & Wildfire Smoke Policy
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Walla Walla is subject to occasional poor air quality alerts, particularly from regional wildfire smoke. As per the Outdoor Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke Policy, and in compliance with Washington state employment law, Whitman College monitors U.S. Air Quality Index levels and will respond according to the severity of the situation. Alerts in Whitman Today or distributed by email will identify the level of risk and any appropriate remediation, up to and including requiring N95 masks for outdoor workers, postponing or canceling athletics and outdoor events, moving to remote work options, or even temporarily closing the college.
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Staff Appreciation Breakfast Tomorrow
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All Whitman staff members are invited to a Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, June 2, at 8:30 a.m. in Reid Campus Center’s Young Ballroom. Gather with your colleagues to honor retirees, recognize years of service milestones, celebrate the 2026 Janice Abraham Award recipients and enjoy some delicious food.
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Global Programs Hosts Summer Activities
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The Office of Global Programs will organize weekly events for members of the Whitman community who are on campus during the summer. These events are open to all students, staff, faculty, and family members. Add the events to your Google calendar or watch for announcements. (Flyer attached.)
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Climbing Center Summer Updates
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The Climbing Center is currently operating on an adjusted summer schedule. (Flyer attached.)
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- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 5–8 p.m.
- Saturday, Sunday, from 3–6 p.m.
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The Climbing Center will also host a two-hour Climbing Basics clinic three times this summer.
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- Saturday, June 6, from 4–6 p.m.
- Saturday, July 11, from 4–6 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 8, from 4–6 p.m.
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The clinic will cover the basics of top rope climbing and belaying, including safety checks, tying in and climbing commands. No experience necessary. (Flyer attached.)
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Be sure to watch this highlights video to relive the excitement of Whitman’s 140th Commencement Ceremony celebrating the Class of 2026!
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Staff Appreciation Breakfast
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Multipurpose Gym
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Multipurpose Gym
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Whitman College [community event]
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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