CE Student Leaders
Meet Your Community Engagement Student Team!
Hi! My name is Nasser Guelleh and I’m a senior psychology major from the East Coast. I’m really pumped to be the new Student Coordinator for the Adopt-A Grandparent program! I first got involved with community engagement when I participated in the Adopt A Grandparent program, and the Mentor program, my first year back in 2019. I’m really excited that it’s come full circle through my time at Whitman and I’m glad I have the opportunity to help bring back that sense of community for the lovely people at OddFellows, especially as we navigate back to normalcy this year with in-person visits again. The Adopt A Grandparent Program is a great opportunity for students to put themselves in the Walla Walla community and facilitate conversations and relationships across generations.
If you're interested in learning more about the Adopt-A-Grandparent program, email me at grandparent@whitman.edu.
Hi! My name is Dori Buttleman and I’m a sophomore majoring in BBMB from Seattle. I am super excited to be one of the co-leaders for the Buddy Program this year! I really enjoyed becoming involved in the Walla Walla community through the CCEC last year, and I look forward to working with new volunteers and getting to know more members of the community this year through the Buddy Program.
If you have any questions about the Buddy Program, please email me at buddyprogram@whitman.edu.
Hi! My name is Nishtha and I’m a Junior studying Economics and Mathematics. This is my second semester getting involved with the CCEC and it has been a great journey connecting students, faculty, staff and community members outside Whitman. I am looking forward to all the exciting events this semester that will allow Whitman community members to interact with members of the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network!
If you're interested in learning more about the Buddy Program, email me at buddyprogram@whitman.edu.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Food Justice Project, email me at foodjustice@whitman.edu.
My name is Margaret Kanyoko (she/her) and I am a second year student from Kirkland, WA, majoring in economics and Chinese. I am honored to help lead the Food Justice Project at Whitman College. Since joining the project as a volunteer during my first year at Whitman, I’ve had a formative and fulfilling experience. As a project leader, I plan to continue connecting local organizations with student volunteers in support of the larger effort for equitable food access in Walla Walla.
If you're interested in learning more about the program, email me at foodjustice@whitman.edu.
Hi everyone! My name is Mavie Pham (she/her). I’m a sophomore. This year, I’m happy to be the leader of Story Time Program. By volunteering with Story Time, you will go to local elementary and nursery schools once a week to read books for the students there. I started as a volunteer for Story Time since my very first day at Whitman. It is one of the best parts of my freshman year. I want more students to experience the same opportunity and memory with Story Time like I did.
If you are interested in Story Time or have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at storytime@whitman.edu.
Hi! My name is Kali Natarajan and I use she/her pronouns. I’m a senior Environmental Studies Economics major. I’m so excited to be the student leader of the new Walla Walla Stream Team Program. This program focuses on restoring habitat in the Walla Walla area so native species can thrive. Through volunteering, you’ll get to visit restoration sites and work on maintaining healthy ecosystems through activities such as planting native species.
If you have any questions about the program or are interested in volunteering please email me at streamteam@whitman.edu.
If you have any questions for me or want to chat about our educational partnerships, please don’t hesitate to email me at stuleadk-12@whitman.edu
Hey! My name is Nomonde and I am a senior psychology major from Zimbabwe. Since my first year here at Whitman, I have been drawn to all the different volunteer programs that were being offered. I’d spend my Wednesdays hanging out with the Walla Walla Valley Buddies doing a variety of activities. Then Saturday mornings, I would watch romantic comedies with my grandmother from Adopt-A-Grandparent. 3 years later, I get to be the Executive Student Leader for the Community and Non-Profit Partnerships and I couldn’t be happier. I get to oversee the community projects and be a support system for the wonderful leaders of these projects. Community engagement has just been the best way for me to step out of my Whitman bubble and get connected with Walla Walla. So feel free to reach out if you would like to take a step out of the bubble, as well :)
If you're interested in talking with me about the community-based programs, email me at stuleadcompart@whitman.edu.
Greetings! My name is Eleshaday Abraha (She/Her/Hers). I am a junior BBMB major. My first time getting involved in the Walla Walla community was during my first year; I interned and volunteered at Providence St. Mary's hospital. As an international student, this experience exposed me to a new understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This year, I will be working as the executive student leader for diversity, equity, inclusion, and recruitment. Some of my roles include improving programming accessibility through the Career and Community Engagement Center, facilitating volunteer recruitment, and working with campus offices doing DEI work.
I look forward to collaborating with student volunteers and community partners. If you want to learn more about my position, don't hesitate to contact me at cedei@whitman.edu.
Hey! My name is Devon Player (she/her). This is my fourth year at Whitman and I am a Sociology major, Race and Ethnic Studies Minor. As part of my first year orientation, Whtiman introduced me to a few of the really incredible community partners with whom students can connect. Forming new relationships with different individuals and organizations at Whitman and around town has not only helped me develop a stronger sense of connection to the larger Walla Walla community, but it is also so much fun!! I’m excited to be leading Community Projects this year, as it is a way for us to respond to emerging needs in the community. When an individual or group in the Walla Walla Valley community has a project, challenge, or event that could use volunteer support, I will help facilitate that connection! I’m also hoping this will be a great way for Whitman students to get introduced to some new people and places in our incredible community! There is already so much incredible work being done in the Walla Walla Valley and I'm excited to help support these efforts alongside our awesome volunteer cohort!
If you're interested in learning more about upcoming community engagement opportunities, email me at communityprojects@whitman.edu.
Hi! My name is Clarisse, a junior majoring in BBMB with an interest in space and biotech. I first got involved with the Career and Community Engagement Center through the Adopt-a-Grandparent program. After falling in love with this amazing program, I wanted to be a part of this wonderful community of passionate leaders. This year, I will be the Executive Student Leader of Professional Development, a role that allows me to showcase the behind-the-scenes work that occurs between our student programs and non-profit organizations in the Walla Walla Community. I’m super excited for what’s in store this upcoming year and I look forward to getting more people to be a part of this wonderful opportunity. Also a lil interesting fact about me, I’m co-president of Whitman’s dance team Drip Drop and a zumba (Z-Fit) instructor. So, if you’re interested in either grooving out or breaking a sweat then please don’t hesitate to email me (No experience necessary!).
If you’d like to talk with me more about what I do, email me at ceprodev@whitman.edu.