Alumni Bring Career Insight to Campus
|
By Mónica Hernández Williams
|
Alumni Greg Hansen ’08 (left), Arthur Shemitz ’17 (center) and Aileen Keown Vaux ’05 (right) are bringing their expertise back to campus next week as the second cohort of Human-Centered Design mentors.
The Human-Centered Design concentration encourages students to explore the meaning of objects, spaces and systems to create solutions that put people first. The curriculum strengthens critical thinking and problem-solving skills while helping students understand connections across disciplines.
Sharon Alker, the Mary A. Denny Professor of English and General Studies, and Michelle Janning, the Raymond and Elsie DeBurgh Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology, co-direct the program and say Whitman students are eager to learn how to properly articulate in a job interview how their liberal arts education prepared them. They aim to help students calm their worries about finding the right fit early in their careers.
“Students need to hear from alums because you can get experience in a variety of areas before you find what you’re going to do for the rest of your life,” Janning says. “It’s definitely not linear. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you graduate.”
Faculty and alumni collaborated to develop the mentorship structure of the program, with a focus on career preparation and real-world application. Each semester, mentors share professional experience by leading class sessions, offering guest lectures, hosting networking events and engaging with local Walla Walla organizations.
Meet the mentors:
|
- Greg Hansen ’08 is a user experience researcher in Seattle who focuses on design research and 3D experiences. His Whitman degree is in Studio Art. He went on to earn a master’s in Human-Centered Design and Engineering.
- Arthur Shemitz ’17 is a civic design professional based in Australia who has facilitated design workshops globally. He earned a degree in Gender Studies at Whitman and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University.
- Aileen Keown Vaux ’05 is an education and training specialist in Spokane who focuses on the holistic learner. They graduated from Whitman with an English degree and hold a Master of Fine Arts from Eastern Washington University.
|
|
|
|
Women’s Golfer Wins Individual Championship
|
At the recent Northwest Conference league tournament, Camila Yoo ’28 finished at the top of the leaderboard, winning the individual championship title. Both of Whitman’s golf teams finished in third place overall. Following the championship, the Northwest All-Conference teams were announced. On the women’s team, Yoo received first team honors. One the men’s team, Mason Remington ’27 received second team honors and Ben Sweet ’26 received third team honors.
|
|
|
|
Senior Thesis Art Exhibition Opening Events
|
Sheehan Gallery and the Studio Art Department invite you to celebrate the artistic accomplishments of the 2026 Studio Art majors with their Sheehan Gallery exhibition (April 24–May 24) and connected events. An artist talk with Thesis Visiting Educator Nika Blasser will take place tonight at 7 p.m. in Olin Auditorium. An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 24, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in Sheehan Gallery. (Flyer attached.)
|
Visiting Writers Reading Series Tonight
|
The Visiting Writers Reading Series wraps up this week with a reading and Q&A by poet and essayist Maya Jewell Zeller tonight at 7 p.m. at Kimball Theatre in Hunter Conservatory. Zeller’s most recent publication, “Raised by Ferns” (Porphyry Press, 2025), is a memoir composed of layered essays that explore growing up in the Pacific Northwest. The event is free and open to the public.
|
President Bolton Holds Open Office Hours for Students Tomorrow
|
President Sarah Bolton will hold open office hours on Friday, April 24, from noon–1 p.m. in Reid Campus Center. Look for signage near the fish ladder sculpture. Throughout the semester, students can drop by these sessions to share their thoughts or just to chat.
|
The 57th annual Whitman College Renaissance Faire will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Boyer Avenue in front of Memorial Building. The event will include vendors, food, entertainment, a boffing tournament and a kids’ area. Costumes are encouraged but not required. (Flyer attached.)
|
Community Conversation on Saturday
|
Students from the Sites of Justice (POL-482) independent study course will host a community conversation and fireside chat titled “What Is Justice in a Prison Town?” on Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m. in Baker Center. Their conversation partners will be Vik Chopra and Anthony Covert ’28, who are among the founding members of and creative minds behind Unincarcerated Productions. The event is free and open to the Whitman and Walla Walla community. Refreshments will be provided. (Flyer attached.)
|
|
|
|
Congratulations to both of Whitman’s tennis teams who each won their second consecutive Northwest Conference Tournament this past weekend and now automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament. See more photos on Instagram.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reid Campus Center, Side Lawn
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
|
|
|
|
Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
|
|
|
|
