Elaine Prentice, who will retire August 12, has been a reporter, writer, editor, designer, and public relations officer at Whitman College for 27 years. Now associate director of communications, she edits the Whitman Magazine, is responsible for such publications as the President's Report, and contributes to other projects. A former high school teacher, she is a graduate of the University of Portland with postgraduate credits in English, history, education and publications writing and design. She has two children, Lorraine Steelman and Richard Prentice, and two grandchildren, Téa and Grace.

Office: (509) 527-5169; E-mail: prentice@whitman.edu

Chris Bishop ’79, publications design manager, serves as lead designer of the Whitman magazine and oversees other major campus publications, including admission, development, and alumni projects. A lifelong local resident, Chris graduated from Whitman with degrees in studio art and education. During the 1980s she worked as a graphic artist and later was director of Carnegie Art Center from 1986 until 1998. Chris and husband Larry Bishop ’76 live on a wheat ranch in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, with horses, cows, and several lively dogs to keep them company. For recreation, Chris practices figure skating and hones her softball skills. Nominated by her colleagues, Chris is a 2005 recipient of the Janice Abraham Award, which recognizes the significant contributions and outstanding service of Whitman staff members.

Office: (509) 527-5769. E-mail: bishopc@whitman.edu

Shari Buchheim-Keane is a 1985 Wa-Hi graduate who has worked at Whitman for the past five years as production assistant in the college’s production services office. All on-campus printing, copying and binding jobs pass through Shari’s hands. When she’s not hard at work at Boyer House, Shari and her “awesome” husband and daughter can often be found rock-climbing in their favorite spot, “Spring Mountain.”

Office: (509) 527-5185; E-mail: buchhesl@whitman.edu

Lore Fauver, communications officer, contributes to the staff as a photographer, designer, and manager of numerous projects. She coordinates photography for Whitman publications and the Whitman website and oversees the organization of the Whitman photo collection. If you need a photo for a publication or project, she is the one to call. You will also see her photos gracing the pages or even a cover of the Whitman magazine. Among her other responsibilities is production of the college catalog and campus directory, and she designs and produces requested campus posters and brochures. Lore graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in classical studies and extended work in American Indian studies. Outside of Whitman Lore spends as much time as she can in her art studio and looking for the next big adventure. Visit her personal website at www.lorefauver.com

Office: (509) 527-5969; E-mail: fauverlj@whitman.edu

Mike Garvin, distribution assistant at Boyer House for the past three years, is a Chicago native who considers Walla Walla his hometown. Mike, who retired from the U.S. Post Office after 32 1⁄2 years, brings a world of expertise to his work in distribution services, which handles all of the college’s outgoing mail, including FedEx and other special mailings. He and his wife, Burna, have a son, James, and three grandchildren, Kristin, Andrew and Kayla. In his spare time, Mike enjoys reading biographies and other non-fiction books, playing hearts online at Yahoo, and doing crossword puzzles.

Office: (509) 527-5266; E-mail: garvinmp@whitman.edu

Dave Holden enjoys a dual role at Whitman, working as a writer, photographer and news media contact in the Office of Communications while also serving as sports information director. Before coming to Whitman in 1989, Dave worked in editorial capacities for a Portland, Oregon, hospital. A communications and politics graduate of the University of Washington, he also worked previously as a newspaper editor. In his spare time, Dave tends a flock of goats and adds to a sprawling collection of sports memorabilia and books. Dave and wife Janice have three children: Dusty, a recent graduate of Lewis & Clark College; Adam, now attending Willamette University, and Emily, a high school senior.

Office: (509) 527-5902; E-mail: holden@whitman.edu

Betty Linke, manager of distribution services, is a Walla Walla native and Wa-Hi graduate who has worked at Whitman since 1977. Her favorite aspect of her job is still meeting students, faculty and staff, and making sure their mailings are assembled and processed on time. In fact, Betty’s willingness to go the extra mile to help everyone who comes through her door at Boyer House is one reason she received the Janice Abraham Award for exemplary service to the college in 2004. Betty’s career prior to Whitman included several collegiate secretarial jobs she took after studying secretarial science at Eastern Washington State College. Her positions ranged from colleges in Florida to Colorado to Walla Walla, and her most memorable job was as head secretary to the faculty at Florida’s Valparaiso College, located in Al Capone’s original “compound” by the sea. Betty spends as much time as she can on Oregon’s beaches, but when she’s at home she enjoys playing golf and working in her rock garden. She and her husband, Don, have a blended family that includes four children and six grandchildren.

Office:(509) 522-1546; E-mail: linkebj@whitman.edu

Linda O’Reilly, desktop publishing technician, has worked at Whitman since 1990, when she started as a typographic technician, in the days when copy was typeset. In 1993 Linda adapted her flying fingers to the new world of desktop publishing, which allows her more creativity as she designs posters, newsletters, ads and brochures for the campus. Linda is married and has three children and one very special granddaughter, Paxton, whose pictures and handiwork grace every nook and cranny of Linda’s office. She is delighted that a new grandchild is due to arrive in November to share the office with her and Paxton. In her spare time, Linda enjoys reading, swimming, occasional biking, and above all, playing pinochle—so much so that she has started a pinochle night at the local Eagles and is always looking for new players.

Office: (509) 527-5181; E-mail: oreilly@whitman.edu

Lenel Parish, senior news service officer, spends her days in Memorial 315 and surrounding areas gathering and disseminating news and information about the college in her quest to make Whitman a household name from coast to coast. Born in North Hall (many years ago when it was General Hospital), she grew up in Prescott, Washington, majored in journalism at Washington State University, and edited that college’s newspaper The Daily Evergreen. She now lives in Walla Walla where she and husband, Dewey, own and operate the “Zip Zone” on 9th Street. Lenel and Dewey have a blended family of four young adults, and they spend their “spare time” playing with grandson Anthony.

Office: (509) 527-5156; E-mail: parishlj@whitman.edu

Amber Woodworth, communications operations manager, keeps the office of Communications running smoothly. From her office in Boyer House, she maintains the department’s budget, oversees outsource printing, gathers data and completes numerous surveys about the college, and helps to plan Commencement week and other major events. Amber lives in a farmhouse outside Dayton, Washington, with her husband, Val, an aerial applicator, and their two teen-age sons. Amber is active in volunteer work in the community, including providing literacy tutoring to adults and running adopt-a-family programs at Christmas.

Office: (509) 527-5160. E-mail: woodwoar@whitman.edu