CE Student Leaders

Hi! My name is Madeline Langdon, and I use she/her pronouns. I am a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Rhetoric, Writing, and Public Discourse. I am super excited for my position as leader for the Buddy Program this year. I’m really passionate about this program and getting to work with the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network, so I hope to share this passion with my fellow peers, and facilitate  the opportunity for all of us to spend time with the buddies. If you have any questions or would just like to chat about the Buddy Program please reach out to me at my email buddyprogram@whitman.edu.

Hi Everyone! My name is Adam Simon, and I am a Junior majoring in Psychology, working towards a minor in Hispanic Studies and Art, and a Global Studies concentration. I am the student leader for Non-Profit and Community Partnerships at Whitman, which means I work to support the Food Justice Project, Buddy Program, and Stream Team. Starting out as a volunteer in the Buddy Program, Friends Program, and Food Justice Project my first year, I became really passionate about getting more involved with the community here in Walla Walla. These programs provide such incredible opportunities to enact real, meaningful change in our communities while building lasting connections with community members outside of the Whitman bubble, and this really struck me from the moment I got involved as a volunteer. Wanting to increase my engagement with the programs, I spent my sophomore year as the Buddy Program leader. I am really excited to now support current program leaders using my experiences from last year having been a program leader myself.  

If you have any questions about getting involved with any of these programs or community engagement in general, I’d love to chat! Feel free to email me at: stuleadcompart@whitman.edu.

Hello! My name is Margaret Kanyoko, and I use she/her pronouns. I am a senior from Bothell, WA, majoring in Economics and Chinese. I am so excited to be the Community Engagement Leader for Community Projects for the 2024-25 school year! I am helping to plan and orchestrate major community engagement events, including the Walla Walla Family Gift Drive during the winter holidays, and the Tri-College Community Day in the Spring. During my time at Whitman, I have volunteered, worked as the co-leader of the Food Justice Project, and served as the Leader for Community Partnerships. I am so happy and grateful to continue growing with the Community Engagement team in my current role. Please reach out to me with any questions: communityprojects@whitman.edu.

Hello! My name is Dori Buttleman (she/her) and I am a Senior majoring in BBMB with minors in Sociology and Math. Since my first year at Whitman, I have been involved in community engagement, and this year I’m really excited to have the opportunity to be the Community Engagement Leader for Data and Research. The past few years, I have been a volunteer for the Friends Program, leader of the Buddy Program, and the Community Engagement Leader for Non-Profit and Community Partnerships! Through these different roles, I have been able to spend time with people and organizations outside of Whitman, which has been a really fun and meaningful part of my time at Whitman. This year, I’m hoping to use what I have learned, along with additional data and research, to help expand and improve our wonderful programs even more! Please reach out to me with any questions or ideas: cedandr@whitman.edu.

Hello! My name is Jonathan, and I am a Junior History major here at Whitman College! I began my community engagement journey prior to coming to Whitman when I joined a youth group that provided me with extensive training on community organizing, mutual aid, and strategies for combating oppressive systems. During my time at Whitman, I have been involved in a wide variety of Community Engagement experiences, including the Storytime Project, the Buddy Program, volunteering at the GAC food pantry, organizing voter registration drives on campus, and getting involved with a wide variety of community events and initiatives. Most recently, I served as co-program leader for the Stream Team. Walla Walla is an amazing place to learn, live, and grow, and I am excited to continue supporting students in getting connected to the community. In my role as Community Engagement Leader for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Volunteer Recruitment, I will be working closely with our program leader team, community partners, DEIA professionals, volunteers, and other stakeholders to ensure that our programs are accessible and inclusive for all students. I will also help to lead and support our volunteer recruitment efforts. One of my favorite parts of being part of the Community Engagement Team is getting to support our volunteers as they navigate the processes of finding their place in the community. If you are excited about getting involved in Walla Walla, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! My work email is cedei@whitman.edu, and I invite you to reach out to me at any time. I look forward to working together to continue building strong, meaningful, and equity-centered relationships between Whitman and the greater Walla Walla community!

Hi there! My name is Natalie Lundberg, I use she/her pronouns and I am a Senior majoring in Brain Behavior and Cognition. I am the current Student Leader for Education Partnerships which means I work closely with the leaders of our school-based programs (StoryTime Project, the Friends Program, and Friends Rock Program) and with the Walla Walla Public Schools, Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountains, and Friends of Children of Walla Walla. I am so excited to continue my involvement with the Walla Walla community, and I hope to spread that excitement among volunteers here at Whitman and the Community Engagement team! If you have any questions for me or want to chat about our educational partnerships please don’t hesitate to email me at stuleadk-12@whitman.edu.

Hi! I’m Sara Marshall (she/her), a Politics and Environmental Studies major with a minor in Hispanic Studies at Whitman College. Throughout my time here, I’ve deeply enjoyed engaging with the community through various organizations and events. I have a particular passion for food justice, having formerly led the Food Justice Project. My community work includes collaborations with the Blue Mountain Action Council, the Blue Zones Project, the Blue Mountain Humane Society, and serving as an RA for the Community Service Co-op Interest House. These experiences have solidified my appreciation for community involvement and collaboration, a field I aspire to work in.These roles have allowed me to connect with people and organizations beyond Whitman, which has been a meaningful cornerstone of my time at Whitman. This fall semester, I am excited to take on the role of Community Engagement Leader for Marketing and Professional Community Partnerships. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned to further enhance our programs. I believe lasting social transformation has to begin in one's own community before broader change can occur. If you want to chat about community engagement in Walla Walla, marketing, or professional development, please feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas at ceprodev@whitman.edu!

Hello, everyone! I’m Carlie Johnson, the Marketing and Professional Development leader for Spring 2025! I’m a sophomore here at Whitman College, and I’m excited to work with you this Spring Semester. If you want to know about me, I’ll clue you in: I’m a big fan of community service with the CCEC, as well as all things environmental/outdoors! I’m a big reader, rafter, and hiker. I love to learn, so I’m thrilled to step into this new challenge. I can’t wait to get started! Please feel free to reach out to me at ceprodev@whitman.edu.

Hi everyone! My name is Abd, and I am currently a student at Whitman College, where I serve as the leader of the Food Justice Project. Our initiative is focused on fostering a more just and equitable food system in Walla Walla by working with community partners to address issues such as food access, food sovereignty, workers’ rights, sustainable agricultural practices, and equitable resource distribution. Through these efforts, we aim to make a lasting impact on food justice, especially for those most vulnerable in our community.

I joined the Food Justice Project as a leader, and it quickly became a cause I am deeply passionate about. Seeing firsthand how critical it is to provide support for local food banks and meal programs, keeping me motivated to take on a leadership role to help expand our efforts. I’m proud to work alongside volunteers and organizations like the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Warehouse to coordinate initiatives that make a tangible difference.

Our activities range from packing food boxes for local pantries to preparing meals for elementary school students who rely on free or reduced lunch programs. These small, consistent actions contribute to the larger goal of creating a fairer and more resilient food system. Volunteering with us is flexible, requiring anywhere from 1-3 hours per week depending on your availability, and there are a variety of opportunities to get involved.

If you’re interested in joining the Food Justice Project, learning more about food justice, or finding ways to contribute to our mission, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at rahmouna@whitman.edu or foodjustice@whitman.edu. We welcome new volunteers year-round, and I’d love to chat about how you can get involved in making a difference in our community!

Hi there! My name is Bella and I’m a senior ES-Politics major who is incredibly excited to work with the CCEC as the Food Justice Project leader!

The Food Justice Project partners with local organizations to address food insecurity in the Walla Walla community. Volunteering with the FJP in the past has always been a deeply meaningful experience and I’m so excited to share that joy with you all this year! 

If you’re interested in learning more or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at foodjustice@whitman.edu! 

My name is Andrea Diaz-Garcia! I am a Hispanic Studies Major and a Dance minor! I was born and raised here in Walla Walla and transferred in from Walla Walla Community College so I am looking to graduate with the Class of 2025! I am a part of Unidos Affinity Group and had the pleasure of being President last year but am excited about being social media manager this year! I had the pleasure of being the student leader for Friends Rock last semester and am even more excited to be its current student leader this year! We work with the after school program from the Walla Walla Public School district to get kids from the 21st Century program on campus and into the Rock Wall, along with introducing them to different parts of Whitman!

I am so excited for this opportunity and for all the amazing memories that are to be made this year! To learn more about Friends Rock, please reach out to me at friendsrockww@whitman.edu.

Hi everyone! My name is Mavie (she/her). I’m a senior majoring in Sociology. This year, I’m happy to be the leader of Story Time Program. By volunteering with Story Time, you will go to local elementary and preschools once a week to read books for the students there. I started as a volunteer for Story Time since my very first day at Whitman. It was one of the best parts of my freshman year. I want more students to experience the same opportunity and memory with Story Time like I did. If you are interested in Story Time or have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at storytime@whitman.edu.

Hi! My name is McKenna McShane (she/her). I am a junior geology-chemistry combined major with a passion for environmental chemistry! I am on the leadership team for the Salmon Conservation Club which focuses on activism and education around salmon and salmon habitat restoration and protection. I am so excited to join the stream team this fall and continue working in the Walla Walla area in riparian environments. My role includes connecting Whitman students and community members to local nonprofits and projects in the area focusing on wetland mitigation, riparian repair, and stream restoration. If you are interested in our program or volunteering please reach out to me at my email streamteam@whitman.edu.

Hi everyone! My name is Sofie Nyssen, I am a junior Geology major and Economics minor and I will be one of the Friends Program leaders for Fall 2024. The Community Engagement and volunteer programs at Whitman have played a major part in making me feel at home in Walla Walla. As a freshman, I started volunteering with the StoryTime Project. With StoryTime, I got to explore off-campus and meet new Whitman students and community members. During the 2023-2024 school year, I was the StoryTime Project leader and learned more about Whitman’s role in the community through volunteer coordination and participating in more CCEC events and programs. I love working with Whitman’s CCEC team and am so excited to lead the Friends Program with Benitha this Fall!

If you have any questions about the Friends Program or being a CE Leader, please feel free to email me at friends@whitman.edu!

Hi Everyone! My name is Benitha Tumukunde, I use she/her pronouns and I am a sophomore planning to major in biology. I look forward to being the Friends program leader for Whitman community engagement program for the 2024 fall semester, working with the incredible team and growing my participation in various activities that connect Whitman and the Walla Walla community. If you have any questions for me, I would be happy to have a chat, my work email is tumukunb@whitman.edu.