Whitman Stories

Jim Russo, an associate professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB) at Whitman College and an expert in infectious diseases, talks about the importance of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The head of research and development for Pharma-Tech Lab, NOVAVAX, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, Gregory Glenn '77 and his team have joined scientists all around the world who are committed to fast-tracking a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.

The Whitman politics major and 2018 graduate of the Yale School of Management is kick-starting his career with the formation of Blue Wood Capital, a search fund aimed at acquiring a business he will lead as CEO.

This spring's summer job fair is going virtual. A smaller, in-person fair was held in early March, but throughout the spring, employers and organizations looking for volunteers, interns or paid employees will set up virtual info sessions through the SEC. The events will be held on Handshake, Whitman’s online platform for jobs an internships. The virtual info sessions make it easy for students finishing the semester remotely to still connect with opportunities.

Whitman College received a new $900,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the Northwest Five Consortium’s initiative entitled “Revitalizing the Humanities in the Pacific Northwest through Community Engagement.”

Graduating senior Andy Burnstein ’20 has advice for Whitman College students coming behind him: Get involved in the community. Register to vote in Walla Walla. Give back through local organizations. Be part of the city and culture. “Many Whitman students feel separate from the community, which is really unfortunate,” Burnstein said.

In March 2020, Whitman College, Friends of Children of Walla Walla and the Walla Walla Public School District (WWPS) signed a new letter of understanding to consolidate and strengthen two different mentoring programs to better serve — and reach more — children.

The NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament sectional round games set to be hosted by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine will be held without spectators due to concerns surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Three Whitman College students are being honored this spring for their outstanding contributions to the college and the greater Walla Walla community through the Campus Compact Presidents’ Civic Leadership Awards and Newman Civic Fellowship programs.

Sposato intends to reinvigorate the 54-year-old publication as a voice for the growing city that has been his longtime home. In a social media post, he said he is buying the magazine “because I do not want it said that in the years when my generation came of age, that Seattle lost its voice. I believe Seattle’s best days lie ahead and Seattle magazine will tell the stories that shape our city for generations to come.”

Blagov identified indicators of antisocial personality disorder (sometimes referred to as sociopathy) including egocentrism, callousness, manipulativeness, lack of empathy, impulsivity and fearlessness.

What is an ally? Who decides? And at what point does allyship become more about the status of being “in” with an affinity group then it does about using your privilege to elevate and protect it? Is the concept of “allyship” itself broken and harmful to those wanting to build coalitions that will advance a more equitable society? These were just some of the many questions that students, staff and faculty at Whitman College grappled with during the 2020 Power & Privilege Symposium on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.