Our Place in Walla Walla: Anna Okada ’17
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Feature by: Noah Leavitt, College Liaison for Community Affairs
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Name: Anna Okada
Class year: 2017
Current job: Musician, Teacher, Performer
I caught up with Anna on a sunny afternoon in Cleveland Commons earlier this month while she was in town after several performances in Montana.
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Tell us about your role in the Walla Walla Valley.
I teach violin to community members ranging from young kids to mature adults. I try to cater how I teach depending on what the person needs to be able to grow as a musician. So working with a 7-year-old student will be lighthearted, and the lesson will center around fun activities. If it’s a high school student we’ll work on technical skills. I really enjoy teaching adults because they’re interesting and insightful and ask intriguing questions and they really want to be there, which I love. With adults it’s often about reclaiming a connection to music they’ve lost in their life and bringing joy. I find that most adults used to play and then stopped and then want to get back to it. It’s unusual to have an adult student who is learning music for the first time. Every student needs something different, and so I’m always changing my teaching styles to be responsive.
What is something you’ve learned about this area that surprised you or that you weren’t expecting?
I think the quality and quantity of arts and culture is surprising for a town of our size. I hear this a lot from people who visit here from other places. Having grown up in Walla Walla, I didn’t really appreciate this fact, but since I’ve travelled a lot, I now realize it. For instance, there has been fantastic programming from the Walla Walla Symphony. Similarly, the Chamber Music Festival has really grown and developed a following. People can enjoy high-quality art and music here, which they’re often surprised about since we’re a rural area. I think this can give young people who grow up here an advantage in terms of seeing what’s possible or even normal and not feel intimidated about going after things they want to try.
Read more.
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Beyond the interview:
Anna Okada ’17 will be available for questions and further conversation this Wednesday, April 16, at noon in Reid Campus Center, Room 207. The Career and Community Engagement Center will provide lunch for the first 10 students in attendance. Questions or ideas or accommodation requests? Email Noah Leavitt at leavitns@whitman.edu.
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National Student Employment Week
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In recognition of National Student Employment Week, the Office of Human Resources would like to lift up the important role that student employees play at Whitman. Student employees make many meaningful contributions, and we are grateful for the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm they bring to their work. Students help make our offices and departments run smoothly and enhance our operations across campus in many ways, including:
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- Leading trips for the Outdoor Program.
- Helping to manage athletic contests.
- Serving as office assistants in many departments.
- Advising students on career preparation.
- Tutoring and providing note taking services.
- Serving as teaching assistants.
- Conducting research.
- Working in food preparation at Bon Appétit.
- Caring for the organic garden.
- Writing for and publishing the Whitman Wire.
- Engaging with Whitman alumni.
- Assisting with the execution of conferences and events.
- Contributing to the Walla Walla community in numerous ways.
- Assisting with the recruitment of incoming students.
- Doing social media on behalf of our offices.
- And much, much more!
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We are so grateful to our student employees and extend our sincere thanks for all you do!
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Transforming Classics Lecture Tonight
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Eric Orlin, Professor Emeritus of Greek, Latin and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at University of Puget Sound, will deliver the third installment in the Spring 2025 Transforming Classics Series on Monday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m. in Olin 129. In a talk titled “Trajan in Oregon? What Rome Is Doing at the Mouth of the Columbia,” Orlin will discuss why the Astoria Column in Astoria, Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River, looks similar to Trajan’s Column in Rome, and how that understanding helps us better understand the American version.
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Whitman Undergraduate Conference Tomorrow
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The 27th annual Whitman Undergraduate Conference—a celebration of the scholarship, critical thinking, self-driven exploration and creativity of Whitman students—will take place throughout the day on Tuesday, April 15. Classes will be suspended to allow for greater participation. Students, staff and faculty are all invited to show up and learn more about the research and projects that students are working on. Visit the Undergraduate Conference website to see the schedule of presentations and posters.
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Fitness Webinar for Employees Tomorrow
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Whitman College employees are invited to attend a “Spring Into Fitness” webinar on Tuesday, April 15, at 12:30 p.m. Hosted by Active&Fit Direct, this session is designed to inspire individuals to embrace an active lifestyle as the weather warms up. Advance registration is required.
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Conversation With Author Javier Zamora on Thursday
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The Center for Global Studies and the Hispanic Studies Department will host a conversation with renowned memoirist and poet Javier Zamora on Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in Maxey Auditorium. Associate Professor and Chair of Hispanic Studies Aaron Aguilar-Ramirez will moderate a discussion with Zamora, focused on Zamora’s 2022 memoir, “Solito,” in which he recounts the harrowing journey he made as an unaccompanied 9-year-old from El Salvador to the United States. The conversation will be followed by a book signing. The Whitman College Bookstore will have copies of the memoir available for purchase. (Flyer attached.)
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Photo (@whitmancollegeorganic): Students recently planted two new fruit trees in the Organic Garden—a peach tree and a nectarine tree—sourced locally from Frog Hollow Farm.
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Cordiner Hall [community event]
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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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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
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Reid Campus Center, Side Lawn
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Open Meeting: Blue Mountain Audubon Society
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Olin 129 [community event]
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Welty Student Health Center
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Reid Campus Center, Side Lawn
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Stanton-Anderson-Cleve Field
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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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