Kris Surovjak

Hometown: Port Clinton, OH

Education: B.A. Kenyon College, Music

What I love about Whitman: The location. I’m a small town kid. Walla Walla is just about the largest town I’ve ever lived in. I love not having to deal with rush hour traffic and being able to walk into my favorite restaurants without needing a reservation. But more than that, I appreciate the intentionality of faculty, students, and staff in choosing Whitman. No one ends up in Walla Walla accidentally. This makes for a vibrant, adventurous, quirky, tight-knit community that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Why I enjoy working in Admission: I believe in the Liberal Arts education, and I like sharing my knowledge and experiences with students who may not have otherwise considered this type of education. Plus my office looks out over an area of campus referred to as Narnia… who wouldn’t love that?

Favorite Activities in Walla Walla: I love all outdoor activities! I hike, backpack, flyfish, and cycle. In the winter you can find me in the foothills of the Blues or in the Wallula Gap or out in the Palouse. And in spring, summer, and fall I’m in the Blues, Wallowas, Strawberry Wilderness and beyond. The glacier lilies and calypso orchids on Zig Zag in the spring are magnificent.

My Favorite Place on Campus: As someone who is passionate about sustainable agriculture, I love the hidden-in-plain-sight garden on campus that yields asparagus, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and some of the most delicious raspberries I’ve ever tasted.

Fun Fact(s) About Me: I am an avid hiker and completed the Wonderland Trail, which is a 90-mile circumnavigation of Mount Rainier. I came upon deer, mountain goats, marmots, pikas, and a very docile bear on that trip—it was awesome!