Community Fellow Blog

The Community Fellow Program at Whitman College is an academic year-long community-engaged immersive learning experience that offers students the opportunity to work alongside a community partner on a project that addresses critical social, educational, environmental, or health-related challenges facing our local community. Additionally, Fellows participate in a supportive cohort for professional development, planning, and reflection. The program gives junior and senior students opportunities to solve real-world problems and helps them think critically about their studies, their future, and the community around them.

Whitman’s Community Fellow program is primarily funded by the Donald and Virginia Sherwood Internship Endowment, which was established in 2012 thanks to a grant from the Sherwood Trust.

Jeimy Lainez beside MBLT land

Putting Sociology Classwork Into Practice to Better Understand Attitudes Toward the Outdoors.

Jeimy Lainez worked as a community fellow with the Blue Mountain Land Trust.

September 01, 2024

Cherry blossoms

Fellow works to help locals afford homeownership with community land trust.

Grace Canny worked as a community fellow at Common Roots Housing Trust.

June 20, 2024

Rachel Haughton crouching next to a fish tank near a body of water

A Year of Teaching Kids About Fish Ecology Culminates in Salmon Release

Rachel Haughton worked with the Tri-State Steelheaders as a Whitman Community Fellow.

June 05, 2024

Keathley Pinney Brown planting potatoes

Growing Vegetables–And Knowledge–With Incarcerated Youth

Keathley Pinney Brown worked as the Community Fellow for the Sustainable Living Center’s (SLC) Farm to School program

May 02, 2024

Cherry blossoms

Data tells stories, helps ensure funds for small towns.

Thomas Irwin Worked with the City of College Place as Community Fellow doing data analysis

January 22, 2024

Cherry blossoms

Fellowship with Chamber of Commerce ignites excitement for community engagement

Kylie Casper worked as a communited fellow in the Chamber of Commerce.

January 04, 2024

Montage of early avocado starts

Opportunity Blooms at the Juvenile Justice Center Thanks to Farm to School Garden Program

Elissa Corless worked at the School’s garden program at the Walla Walla Juvenile Justice Center (JJC)

December 15, 2023

Children painting fish for gyotaku printing

Salmon in School Program Forges Art, Connections

Rachel Haughton worked with Tri-State Steelheaders as a Whitman Community Fellow

November 13, 2023

Alanna Sherman at gift drive

Fellow helps facilitate community reentry through stories, gifts

Alanna Sherman worked with the STAR Project as a Whitman Community Fellow

November 08, 2023