Whitman Stories

Whitman Connect is an exclusive virtual platform for the Whitman community to mentor students and recent graduates, sharing experiences and professional guidance.

Baker Weilert-Pekar shares insights on his role as Whitman’s Director of Debate and Forensics—including what makes Whitman students special to coach and mentor.

Whitman College welcomes award-winning poet Derrick Austin for the 2023-2024 Visiting Writers Reading Series.

Whitman College has long been known for its robust Outdoor Program and adventurous outings. Two current students—Harrison Whittemore ’25 and Arden Hunt ’25—are leading a team who have trekked into new territory on campus with the creation of a slick four-color print magazine, The Whitman Outdoor Journal.

Don’t let the simple sign fool you! Whitman College alums provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Personality Lab, where they gained valuable skills, self awareness and leadership experience while carrying out fascinating research with Psychology professors.

Roger Amerman ’80 is a Choctaw beadworker who brought his expertise to the Marvel series "Echo." Now he's returning to Whitman as the O'Donnell Visiting Educator in Global Studies for Spring 2024. Amerman will teach a new course delving into the paleo-history, history and ethnogeology of salmon-centric Tribal Peoples in the southern Columbia River Plateau.

Whitman College President Sarah Bolton announced the appointment of Dr. Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak as the college’s next provost and dean of the faculty. Joining Whitman on July 1, her responsibilities will include oversight of the development of the academic program, hiring and supporting faculty, and overseeing accreditation and assessment.

Whitman College students in the new Human-Centered Design (HCD) concentration will have access to additional experts thanks to a generous $100,000 gift from the Lawrence Parke Murphy Trust. This gift to the college’s Upward Together campaign will fund an exciting designer-in-residence program beginning in the 2024–2025 academic year.

Associate Professor of Psychology Erin Pahlke discusses what she's learned from decades of research in “Should White Parents Have the Racism Talk with Their Kids?” with the Atlanta Black Star, the largest black-owned digital publication in the United States.

Kimberly Rolfe, Co-Director of the Career and Community Engagement Center, shares insights on integrating career exploration and development programs throughout campus to support students and young alumni.

Students in the First Year Seminar Games learning community spent their first semester at Whitman learning about the philosophical and psychological aspects of socializing through playing games. It is part of Whitman’s First Year Seminars which are designed to immerse students in deep thought and transformative conversations while helping students gain the skills needed to succeed in college.

Xiaoze Xie’s exhibition, “PANORAMA: Cantos Unfolding,” at Whitman's Sheehan Gallery provided the backdrop for employees from Walla Walla's Providence St. Mary Medical Center to process some of the emotional and physical stress created by the COVID-19 pandemic.