Whitman Stories

Whitman College has a force in chemistry computing. Associate Professor of Chemistry Dalia Biswas is changing how science is taught and explored at Whitman—through her research and as part of an elite national faculty network. See how Biswas and Whitman are helping students and faculty harness the power of computational tools across disciplines to keep up with rapid changes in the sciences.

As part of the Upward Together launch weekend, President Sarah R. Bolton moderated a panel of inspiring alumni who spoke about “Finding Success and Purpose in a Changing World” in front of a large crowd, including many students, at Chism Recital Hall in Whitman’s Hall of Music.

Meet three Whitman College alums who received the prestigious Truman Scholarship, which supports graduate studies in public service. More than a decade later, the skills and values they learned as Truman Scholars and at Whitman still shape their unique careers.

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.