In creating his own major, it was evident that Juan Pablo Liendo ’21 had sights on incorporating his degree across many disciplines. With an interest in politics alongside his love for improving communities through sustainability and economic improvement, Liendo became passionate about empowering people around the world through each opportunity that has called him. Now, working as an associate grant administrator at the Seattle Foundation, Liendo advances local organizations' efforts to achieve their goals and further their missions.
Whitman allowed me to explore my passions in different fields and find the connections among them.
Juan Pablo’s Pathway
2017 | Member of the International Students Club
2018 | Faculty-led Summer Crossroads course in Rome, Italy: Studied the landscape and cityscape in Ancient Rome with fellow Whitties, relating his travels to environmental studies while also learning about water rights, which later turned into his thesis topic.
2019 | Elected President of the Associate Students of Whitman College (ASWC)
2019 | Theater Department Production Team
2019 | Whitman Institute for Scholastic Enrichment (WISE) Organizer: Serving as a resource and role model, Liendo had the opportunity to connect with first-generation local middle and high school students, showing them that Whitman is somewhere they can belong.
2019 | Semester in the West Participant: Spent the semester learning about various locations throughout the western region of the United States and how each location handles environmental problems. This fueled Liendo’s passion for activism through policy.
2020 | Studied at American University in Washington D.C. as part of Whitman's Off-Campus Study program. While in D.C., Liendo also interned at Futuralis Tech learning about business development.
2020 | Senior Admissions Intern
2022 | Whitman Consulting Corps Student-Consultant: Through resources provided by the Career and Community Engagement Center, Liendo found an opportunity to consult with nonprofits to further their mission and vision of their goals by working with their leadership teams for the duration of a semester.
2020 | Senior Philanthropy Chair for Annual Giving
MAY 2021 | Graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, Politics and Sustainable Planning: Liendo created his own major based on his interests.
2021 | Mohammed Nasir Khan Award: Presented to a student who warrants recognition for significant contributions to diversity within the Whitman community.
2023 | Associate Grant Administrator at the Seattle Foundation
“I was encouraged to take on new challenges and play big by faculty, staff and fellow classmates. This is why I was motivated to be an active member of my community and make a change through different leadership positions,” Liendo notes as he looks back at his time as a student.
“My experience at Whitman was life-changing. I loved my time there because not only did I grow academically, but also developed my self-confidence and was supported to achieve my career goals after graduation.”
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