Whitman Stories

Halfway around the world in Madagascar, subsistence farmers are harvesting silk from silkworms and weaving them into burial shrouds. But it's a student from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, who is helping turn that fabric into a marketable industry.

Each semester, students at Whitman College get the chance to be exposed to ideas from around the globe, thanks to the O’Donnell Visiting Educator program. Managed by the Center for Global Studies, the O’Donnell program funds visitors from around the world, who bring their expertise and perspective to Walla Walla.

In his new book, "The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez," Professor of Politics Aaron Bobrow-Strain weaves "a rich, novelistic tale of a young woman whose life spans both sides of the United States-Mexican border."

Two alumni will meet in legal action on Whitman's campus this week, when trial lawyer Andrea Burkhart '00 argues a case in front of Chief Judge Robert Lawrence-Berrey '86 of the Washington State Court of Appeals (Division III). The oral arguments will be held in Maxey Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, and are open to the public.

Best-selling author Sarah Kendzior came to Whitman on April 24, 2019, to encourage students from the Whitman Wire to continue their pursuit of journalism.

Bécquer Medak-Seguín '10 is an assistant professor of Iberian studies at Johns Hopkins University. He co-wrote this essay titled, "In a Polarized Spain, Voters Give the Socialists Another Chance." It reports on the latest political shifts within Spain's government, including Socialist gains as well as the emergence of a strong far-right.

The actor earned his first Tony nod for his role in the new Broadway musical "Hadestown," from director Rachel Chavkin and singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell. The show, which brings the ancient Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice and their journey to the underworld to 1930s America, leads the field of Tony Award nominations this year with 14, including Page's for best featured actor in a musical.

Becky Avila ’09 knows how hard it can be for first-generation students of color to succeed in college. As a first-year student at Whitman College in 2005, she worked hard to overcome hurdles. Since graduating with her degree in race and ethnic studies, Avila went on to earn a graduate degree and return to the Los Angeles neighborhood where she grew up.

As CEO of the Walla Walla Symphony, Leah Wilson-Velasco '03 brings people together through music. Starting with her undergraduate work managing the Fridays at Four recital series at Whitman College, Wilson-Velasco found her calling in the arts administration field.

A politics major at Whitman who currently resides in Seoul, McCullough provided this statement to accompany her portrait: "I'm Korean. I'm American. I'm an adoptee. I don't care to hyphenate or qualify; if I did, where would it end? I push against the rigid boundaries of Koreanness." Korean-Canadian photographer Hannah Yoon, who is behind the project, says connecting with other Koreans abroad while collaborating on her work led to a deeper understanding of her own life experience.

Assistant Professor of Sociology and Garrett Fellow Alissa Cordner, who specializes in environmental health and risk management, talked about the public safety concerns associated with a group of fluorinated pollutants known as PFAS, common but little-understood chemicals used in water-resistant clothing, stain-resistant furniture, nonstick cookware and many other consumer products. Cordner is one of the organizers of a nationwide PFAS contamination list.

Professor of Politics Aaron Bobrow-Strain spoke to NPR Weekend Edition host Scott Simon about his new book, The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez, which chronicles one undocumented woman's journey through the U.S. immigration system.