Nata Natarajan ’89 & Alison Ashlock

Nata Natarajan ’89 and Alison Ashlock find Whitman College connections wherever they go—and they don’t have to look far. Whitties in the family include Alison’s father, Dennis Ashlock ’61; her aunt, Margaret Reinbold ’60; Nata’s sister, Lalitha Lane ’91; his brother-in-law, Scott Lane ’88; and Nata and Alison’s own two children, Kali Natarajan ’23 and Kieran Natarajan ’22.

Supporting scholarships for Whitman students is also a family tradition, dating back to 1986, when a small group of alumni from Spokane established a scholarship endowment under the leadership of Dennis Ashlock, a former Whitman Overseer. Nata and Alison have generously carried on the tradition, supporting the Spokane Area Dennis Ashlock Scholarship Endowment for more than 25 years. Inspired by the scholarship match opportunity offered by the Board of Trustees, their recent pledge provides an even greater impact for students from the Spokane area.

Following in his father-in-law’s footsteps, Nata is not only supporting the college through the scholarship endowment, but he is also a longstanding volunteer. As a current member of the President’s Advisory Board, he couldn’t be more pleased about Whitman’s commitment to meeting the full financial need of all incoming students beginning this fall. This milestone carries special significance to Nata, who knows his father-in-law would be thrilled to see Whitman become more accessible than ever.

As parents of two recent Whitman graduates, Nata and Alison are delighted to see this profound connection continue into another generation. They are deeply grateful to their extended family for recognizing the lasting value of a liberal arts education and supporting the Spokane Area Dennis Ashlock Scholarship Endowment alongside them. Through this collective generosity, future students can experience the transformative power of a Whitman education, ensuring the family legacy continues as Dennis Ashlock intended.

Outside of Whitman, Nata works for an aviation consulting company and Alison teaches at an elementary school. As empty nesters, they enjoy traveling together, successfully blending their ideal vacation styles into a mix of relaxation and activity. When possible, their favorite trips take them to the Washington coast with their kids.