Chuck Sams To Deliver Commencement Address
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Charles (Chuck) F. Sams III will speak at Whitman’s 139th Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 25. Sams, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), is a distinguished conservationist and public leader, who served as Director of the National Park Service (NPS) from December 2021 to January 2025. Sams was the first Native American appointed to this national leadership role.
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“I am thrilled to be welcoming Mr. Sams to Whitman for commencement,” says President Sarah Bolton. “The expertise, passion and community-mindedness he has developed over many decades of service, which contributed to his important federal appointment to lead the national parks, will speak volumes to our graduates as they take the next step in pursuing lives of purpose.”
A commitment to seeking the common good for people and the Earth has motivated Sams throughout nearly four decades of executive leadership in conservation and tribal land management. He has had a variety of roles with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, including as Executive Director, and is widely recognized for building trust and collaboration between tribal nations and the federal government. During his tenure directing the NPS, the land units co-stewarded by tribal communities more than quadrupled, promoting the use of Indigenous knowledge to improve understanding of the natural world.
Read more.
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Whitman Represented in Local ‘39 Under 39’ List
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The Union-Bulletin recently published its annual list of “39 Under 39”—profiles of people who are 39 or younger and who support the Walla Walla community in a variety of ways. This year’s list included Philosophy major Ada Adler ’25, Social Media Specialist Esmeralda Marin, Equipment Coordinator Alan Saldana Carrillo, alum Erica Rodriguez ’17 and former Whitman staff member Ellen Brigham. (See the attached PDF to read these profiles which are behind a paywall.)
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Chemistry Professor & Alums Publish Research
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Associate Professor of Chemistry Tim Machonkin recently published a paper with co-authors Maddy Maker ’19, Nadia Ganjoloo ’21 and Drew Conkin ’21 in the Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. The paper, titled “Characterization of the Substrate Specificity and Regioselectivity of Ring-Cleavage of Pseudomonas putida DLL-E4 Hydroquinone 1,2-Dioxygenase (PnpC1C2),” provides the first detailed characterization of the chemistry of an important class of enzymes from soil bacteria that are involved in pollutant degradation. It serves as the basis of Machonkin’s current National Science Foundation-funded research on reengineering this enzyme to be active towards a broader range of compounds, which could make it potentially make it more useful in the bioremediation of intractable legacy pollutants.
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Visiting Writers Reading Series Event Tonight
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The Visiting Writers Reading Series continues with poet, novelist and translator Idra Novey, who will appear virtually at Whitman College on Thursday, April 3, at 6 p.m. at Kimball Theatre in Hunter Conservatory. Through her work, Novey explores themes of displacement, resilience and the transformative power of literature, offering readers a richly textured understanding of the human experience. (Flyer attached.)
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Volunteer for Spring Into Whitman Days
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The Office of Admission is looking for volunteers for two upcoming Spring Into Whitman Days for admitted students taking place on Saturday, April 5, and Saturday, April 26. Please sign up in advance.
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Sign Up for Tri-College Community Day
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Tri-College Community Day is a day of service and connection where Whitman College collaborates with Walla Walla University and Walla Walla Community College to participate in various service projects around town. This year, the annual event takes place on Sunday, April 13, from noon–4 p.m., beginning and ending at Fort Walla Walla Park. A free catered lunch will be provided to volunteers who sign up in advance.(Flyer attached.)
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Volunteer for Friends ‘FUN-ANZA’ Event
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The Friends Program is hosting a carnival-style event on Friday, May 2, for Whitman students and their elementary school mentees. Volunteers are needed to run activity booths and help with setup and cleanup. Please sign up in advance. (Flyer attached.)
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Whitman College had a strong presence at the recent American Physical Society Global Physics Summit, with 14,000 physicists from around the globe in attendance. Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics and Biophysics Jackie Acres (left) presented her perspectives on biophysics pedagogy; Assistant Professor of Physics Ashmeet Singh (right) talked about how time and gravity can emerge from quantum mechanics; and Uli Raudales ’25 (center) presented his research work with Singh on using statistical physics for developing better inference for natural hazards.
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom (RSVP)
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Reid Campus Center, Room G02
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Reid Campus Center, Lower Level
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Reid Campus Center, Queer Resource Center
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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On-Campus Housing Week Open House
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Douglas Hall, Main Lounge
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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On-Campus Housing Week Open House
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College House, Main Lounge
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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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