Andrew Trogstad-Isaacson ’11: “Get out and explore”

Andrew “Drew” Trogstad-Isaacson grew up in Minnesota and attended Whitman, graduating as a Geology major in 2011. After more than a decade working and researching outside the region, he returned in 2022 and now serves as the Interim Director of the Water & Environmental Center at Walla Walla Community College. He has over 20 years of environmental education and natural resources management experience. Drew and I met on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and had a great chat in Walawála Plaza.

How are you involved in the Walla Walla community?

To start—where am I not involved? [laughs]. In my current job, I work closely with water and natural resources agencies like Walla Walla Conservation District, the state’s Department of Ecology, CTUIR [Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation], and lots of nonprofits. I am also a board member of Tri-State Steelheaders, which has been really fun and rewarding. I try to remain connected to the happenings at Whitman by returning to campus whenever possible, from partnering with professors on projects to keeping in touch with advisors, etc. I’m also trying to enjoy the community for everything it has to offer, whether its lunch meetings like this one or heading into the Blues and enjoying the outdoors. I also enjoy being an active member of the community by making connections, not just for me, but also for others—I really enjoy connecting people to each other!

How does your role fit into larger aspects of our region?

One of the things that drew me to the Pacific Northwest when looking at colleges was the connection to outdoor landscapes here. I really liked Whitman’s campus and the community. When I got here, I tried as many things as I could to get me out into the natural world, which led me to a degree in Geology wherever class had a field component. This helped me cement my understanding of the natural world. It also led me to create a career that encourages others to get outside and teaches them about their sense of place, and their connections to the ecosystems that our community is a part of. Many people don’t have that connection—they may think of themselves as stewards of the environment but not a part of it. I was recently at the Washington Science Teachers Association conference in Spokane and got to hear keynote speaker Hazen Audle, who does a lot of work with National Geographic. He spoke of visiting Indigenous communities around the world and shared with the conference-goers how all those kids know exactly what species of plants and roots and animals are in their backyards and what they are used for—medicine or food, for instance. Unfortunately, a lot of kids in the US don’t have that kind of knowledge. They get everything from the grocery store! So, connecting kids to where they are and helping them understand what’s around them—I’ve built my career around this and I really enjoy it, especially with the Walla Walla community.

What is something you’ve learned about Walla Walla since you moved here that surprised you or that you weren’t expecting?

Having grown up and spent time in a lot of rural communities, I’ve seen a lot of connection to tradition and a refusal to change or adapt. While Walla Walla is definitely a rural community, it also feels more involved. There are lots of connections here and efforts to partner with national organizations. People like to explore creative community improvement opportunities. It’s not siloed, at least not like other similar communities. It’s like it’s trying to stay true to its roots while also bringing in international connections.

In what ways is Walla Walla diverse?

I like how Walla Walla has students, farmers, winemakers and immigrant populations all interacting together on a daily basis. Maybe there isn’t as much overlap as there could be, and maybe we will see more of this in the future, but I think there’s a lot more of this kind of cross-pollination than in a standard rural setting. Speaking as someone who has friends in lots of different communities—it’s not just those identities that make them diverse, but also diversity can be what you can’t see, like values or perspectives. You can have a place that looks diverse, but if only one of the groups is representing a viewpoint, is that community really diverse? It’s important to have a diversity of opinions and characters and to have people being willing to share them—that, to me, is key to a community’s overall diversity.

What do you think Walla Walla will be like in five years?

I hope we can have more integration between all these different groups. Like better representation of migrants or the Hispanic population when there are decisions related to local development. Or take natural resources—not just having the hard-core enthusiasts, but also groups like hunters and farmers that utilize the ecosystem—getting the chance to provide input. Also, maybe having more younger residents—Walla Walla should not just be a place that young people leave, but one that they can come back to. It’d be great to have young people stay or come back a little bit after their other adventures. 

If you could be involved in an aspect of Walla Walla life that you are not currently involved with, what would it be? 

The arts community! I’d love to really get involved in that. I’m a published photographer on the side, but it’s been years since I’ve done that kind of project. It’d be great to get involved in that again. Maybe have a gallery at some point. 

Do you think it’s hard to get away from campus?

When I was a student, there was definitely a “Whitman Bubble.” But now it seems like that bubble is being challenged. It seems like there’s a lot happening that’s getting students off campus and interacting with people not like themselves, which is awesome! But students also need to be proactive in pushing their own boundaries and being willing to be uncomfortable. As a “T-whittie” I’m still learning so much about this community that I didn’t know before. It’s great when students can do this now!

Is there anything else Whitman students should know about our community that you haven’t discussed?

I would encourage students to get outdoors and explore the places we have around us, like McNary, or Jubilee Lake or get up in the Blues. Do it responsibly, of course! Always have what you need to be safe. But just get outdoors (and if you’re new to this kind of adventuring, the OP is a great place to start!). You’ll meet a variety of people from the region and you can get their perspective on a variety of topics. Plus, it will give you a better idea of this place—not just campus and downtown. It’s just a matter of getting out of your own little world to see what else there is, something I’m still doing myself!

Beyond the interview:

Andrew Trogstad-Isaacson ’11 will be available for questions and further conversations on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at noon in Reid Campus Center, room 207. The Career and Community Engagement Center will provide lunch for the first 10 students in attendance. Questions or ideas? Please contact Noah Leavitt at leavitns@whitman.edu.