Whitman Stories

Undergraduate research experiences can have a big impact on student learning, mindset and career choice. Just ask chemistry major Kaia Martin '21. "Before I was doing this research, I didn't really know what I was going to do after Whitman," said Martin, who spent the summer between her sophomore and junior years conducting research in the laboratory of Assistant Professor Mark Hendricks.

In recognition of their 50th Reunion, the Whitman College Class of 1969 raised more than $2.6 million in gifts and pledges and documented more than $4.5 million in bequests and future gift intentions — making theirs one of the largest class gifts ever.

With humor and humility, Eddy Vazquez ’15, a visual designer at Amazon, shared his journey with Whitman students. Vasquez’s talk at Fouts Center for Visual Arts was the second installment in the Visiting Alumni Artist Series. He encouraged his fellow Whitties to take advantage of the opportunities they have on campus and in the wider world, to gain experience and to develop a dynamic portfolio.

Meet Our Whitties is an occasional feature produced by the Office of Communications. It features a Q&A with students from across Whitman College.

The fall 2019 production "Playing with Fire (After Frankenstein)" reimagined the classic monster tale while showcasing student talent in makeup, acting, stage design and lighting.

On a clear October day, students sit scattered across Ankeny Field, cross-legged with sketching notebooks balanced in their laps, using pencils, pens and colored pencils to capture the countless trees surrounding the grassy center of campus. It's a scene typical of any college campus art class. Except these students aren't just artists - they're budding scientists.

During a visit to Whitman, James Garrison ’04 gave two talks. “Black Bodies that Matter,” his public lecture, focused on his current philosophical work and writing on race. The other was a lunchtime session for students considering pursuing graduate school and careers in academia. Garrison walked students through his own journey, and offered tips and insights on how to navigate processes can be intimidating and daunting.

This fall, Whitman College psychology Professor Melissa Clearfield is teaching PSYCH 347A, a special topics class examining how teen school shooters develop, looking at cases from Columbine to Parkland. Clearfield spent her sabbatical during the 2018-2019 school year developing the syllabus for the course, including searching for scholarly resources on a topic that has drawn lots of interest, but little research.

Semerdjian, who teaches Islamic world and Middle Eastern history at Whitman, shed light on Turkey's actions against Kurdish fighters in the region following the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces from Northern Syria, as well as how Russia is now seizing the opportunity to fill the power vacuum.

Maria Lux teaches courses in beginning, intermediate and advanced drawing in the Art Department at Whitman College. This spring, Lux will be teaching “Animals and Art,” a course that explores relevant issues regarding animals from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes historical and contemporary depictions of animals in art.

Funded by a $231,000 Core Grant from the Sherwood Trust, the Consulting Corps is a three-year pilot program that brings benefits to both area nonprofits and Whitman students, said Shelly Rasmussen, the community consulting specialist in the Student Engagement Center (SEC) who oversees the corps.

Ponti recommends that families facing issues such as divorce that might impact their child's college funding reach out to the financial aid office to discuss the situation. Financial aid officers have some discretion when it comes to considering the use of only one parent’s income on the FAFSA and can use professional judgment in some of these special circumstances.