Eastern Magazine | Fall 2015

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI RECOGNIZED

PLUS

Full Circle | Jim Murphy

Women in the Arts | Picken and Nafé

A Budding Business | Cannabis in Washington

Man on a Mission | Paul Green

up front

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Mission Statement: EWU expands opportunities for personal transformation through

excellence in learning.

Dear Alumni and Friends:A new academic year! This is always an exciting and inspirational time. Students and faculty return to campus, fall weather nips at our noses, and the calendar fills up with a host of events and activities. This fall is particularly thrilling for me as I start my second year as EWU’s 26th president.

People sometimes ask whether those of us who work at EWU “get the summer off.” Yes, we all try to take some vacation time, but the summer months nonetheless remain busy: we plan extensively and creatively for the new academic year; we welcome thousands of students for camps and fall orientation programs; we put on significant events such as the Red Tie Gala. And, of course, we continue to offer classes in Cheney and Spokane as well as online and in other locations around the state.

This summer, we continued to focus on how to improve student experiences through advising and mentoring as well as our First-Year Experience program. We continued planning for a renovated Pence Union Building and a new science building. We polished a major campus sustainability plan, and we continued to develop innovative pathways for students to achieve a degree.

We also continued to plan for expanded scholarship fundraising. The legislative session ended in June with support for public university students and their families: tuition to be reduced by 5 percent in 2015-16 and by an additional 15 percent in 2016-17. However, even with this good news, scholarships for many EWU students remain essential to their success.

I am delighted that, this fall, we are launching Inspire Awesome, the scholarship campaign for EWU students. With the assistance of thousands of EWU alumni and friends around the globe, we will significantly increase much-needed support for our awe-inspiring students.

This new academic year will be pivotal for EWU as we continue to enhance opportunities for students, faculty and staff and strengthen connections with friends and partners throughout the state and around the world.

Thank you for your love and support for EWU. Together we will continue to build on the successes of this remarkable university.

Mary CullinanPresident

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features

departmentson the coverA close-up of the

coveted 2015 EWU Alumni Award trophy

2 up front 4 letters to the editor 6 on the road 8 eastern etc. 32 faces & places 37 class notes41 in memoriam 42 final thoughts 43 events calendar

13 Red Tie Gala EWU Foundation honors benefactors and beneficiaries of alumni generosity 14 2015 EWU Alumni Awards Outstanding alumni recognized

18 Full Circle Jim Murphy returns to his alma mater to chair the EWU Board of Trustees

20 Women in the Arts Ellen Picken and Valerie Nafé make an impact on the local cultural scene 24 A Budding Business Alumni at the forefront of Washington’s newly legalized cannabis industry

30 Man on a Mission Paul Green shared the great outdoors with students, community

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Letters to the editor

Regarding the Alumni Mag 2015 spring – Craftsmanship is sometimes hard to discover, but when you look close-up, viewing it as a total package, it becomes apparent. Let’s put it on a ten (10) scale 1 poor and 10 excellent. I don’t know where to put the 11+.

Bob Short ‘61 Col (Ret) USAAlbuquerque, New Mexico

I’m thinking the following could be of great interest to former students who had the privilege of taking communications/RTV classes from Dr. Howard E. Hopf from 1963 to 1988.

Considered a dynamo by his students, he reminded me of an erudite little banty-rooster espousing his knowledge and wisdom with an assured strident demeanor. His classes had zeal and were so entertaining students would bring friends in just to witness. And, the doctor loved it.

Now, former students can take one final bombastic class – a public relations class recorded probably around 1980. A long-lost cassette resurfaced and is now on You Tube, titled “Dr. Howard E. Hopf Tribute.”

The clip (www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpldcTlYTEg&feature=youtu.be) features Howard’s lecture and discussion intermixed with former students’ humorous observations captured at an event honoring him shortly after his passing around 1989.

If you knew Dr. Hopf, you’ll treasure this reprise.

John Maynard ‘70Seattle, Washington

EDITORKANDI CARPER ’05

ART DIRECTORRYAN GAARD ’02

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJEFF BUNCH ’88, KANDI CARPER ’05, DAVE COOK, DAVE MEANY

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERSSTEVE BATEMAN, SAM BUZBY '07

COPY EDITORS JEFF BUNCH ‘88, KANDI CARPER '05

PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID LANE, PAT SPANJER ’80, JEFF BUNCH ‘88, ERIC GALEY '84, LARRY CONBOY

EDITORIAL BOARDSTEVE BLEWETT ’69, CASSIE DEVANEY ’96, KORY KELLY '98,KARENE GARLICH-LOMAN ’03, ‘98, NICK LAWHEAD ’07, LISA LEINBERGER ’98, KAYLA NORTHROP ’08, ROBIN PICKERING ’03, ’97, NANCY TSUTAKAWA ’70

VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT MICHAEL WESTFALL

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ADVANCEMENTLISA POPLAWSKI ’01, ’94

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONSTERESA CONWAY

EWU ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT TOM CAPAUL ’97, ‘94

CONTACT USEMAIL: [email protected]: 509.359.6422WRITE: EASTERN MAGAZINE, 102 HARGREAVES, CHENEY, WA 99004-2413

EASTERN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED FALL, WINTER AND SPRING BY EWU MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, AND IS MAILED FREE TO ALUMNI OF RECORD IN THE UNITED STATES. VIEW THIS AND PREVIOUS ISSUES ONLINE AT WWW.EWU.EDU/EASTERNMAGAZINE.

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5EASTERNTHE MAGAZINE for Eastern Washington University Alumni and Friends


write to usSend your letters or notes to [email protected] or to Eastern magazine, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004. Letters are edited for clarity, style and length. Please include your full name and address.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpldcTlYTEg&feature=youtu.be

Jenae Yri | Master of Science - Biology 2015-16 Swartz Biotechnology Graduate Scholarship Recipient

Be Awesome. Give Today: ewu.edu/inspireawesome

When you contribute to EWU scholarships, you inspire and motivate students like Jenae to succeed.

Join us as we inspire our students to grow into the leaders and professionals of tomorrow.

write to usSend your letters or notes to [email protected] or to Eastern magazine, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004. Letters are edited for clarity, style and length. Please include your full name and address.


A. April Whitten ’84, visited Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, in June.

B. EWU alumni in New York. L-R: Jeff Mitchell ’96, Chan Erdman ’96, Atom Duszynski ’97, Terry Falk ’97, Anthony Hundt ’97. Also pictured Teresa Duszynski and Becki Hundt.

C. Don Nelson ’65, and grandson Will Bratt, at the Patton Museum, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

D. Dan Kallen ’85, wife, Lisa (Suinn) Kallen ’85, and daughter, Kira, an EWU visual design student, outside Grimes, Iowa, in June.

E. John Hotchkiss ’74, Rich Harris ’75, Dennis Murray ’74, ’98, Dave Chandler ’74, ’80, Don Meserve ’75 and Mike Pratt ’73, met at Stehekin on Lake Chelan in August – something they’ve been doing since the ’70s.

F. Victoria Dreher ’16, and her mom, Naoma ’77, visited Paris in June. Naoma lives in Salida, California, where she is a teacher.

G. Colleen Finney ’91, visited Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in Monterrey, California. She is a teacher in Folsom, California.

H. James Alford ’97, ran the inaugural Tahoe Half Marathon in South Lake Tahoe.

I. Dee Caputo ’91, and Diana Vinci at a remote geothermal pool on the way to a European trip. Dee is a senior planner for the Washington State Department of Commerce.

J. Brianna (Vande Kamp) Randall ’13, Danielle Casper ’06 and Angela (Scott) West ’06, celebrated the 4th of July in Vancouver, Washington.

K. Bryce Luiten ’09, at the summit of Mount Shasta in California in July. This year he’s also climbed Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Rainier, Mount Lassen and Mount Whitney.

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Where will Eastern magazine be spotted next? You are invited to send photographs holding up the latest issue. Include some information about yourself with your submission. We may not be able to publish every submission. Extras will be posted on the Eastern magazine Facebook page and on the magazine’s website. Send to [email protected] or Eastern Magazine, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2413.

on the road with eastern magazine

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L. Joel San Nicolas ’89, with his daughter, JoJo, with the University of Hawaii Women’s Volleyball coach, Dave Shoji.

M. Denise Cherryholm ’89, and Paula Saucier ’75, vacationed on the Rhine at Kinderdijk UNESCO.

N. Israel Jerry Ornelas ’08, ’00 and his daughter, Marissa, pictured at the Missoula Smokejumpers Visitor Center. They competed in the Missoula Half Marathon in July.

O. Troy Handwerk ’05, son, Luke, and wife, Rachel, at a Diamondbacks game in Phoenix. They live in Peoria, Arizona.

P. David Stebor ’82, at the U.S. Open, held at Chambers Bay Golf and Country Club in June. He served as a marshal for the 8th hole.

Q. Arden Furukawa ’91, visited San Francisco. She is the regional admissions advisor for EWU in the western Washington area.

R. Judie Engel ’85, visited Valdez, Alaska, in August.

S. Alan Hale ’98, went to Japan in July. The photo was taken along the ascent of Mount Fuji.

T. Vic Robert ’62, visited St. Petersburg, Russia, on a cruise with his wife, Julie. He retired in ’92, after 29 years of teaching and coaching, but is still farming the family farm near Colfax.

U. Robb Raymond ’92, Yome Hong ’00, and their families completed a seven-day, 149-mile canoe trip on the Upper Missouri River from Fort Benton, Montana, to the James Kipp Recreation Area.

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Master of Public Administration Program Accredited Eastern Washington University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program has been accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) for 2015-22, reflecting EWU’s commitment to quality public service education. In place since 1974, this is the first time Eastern’s MPA program has been accredited. This makes it part of a global community of more than 190 graduate programs in public service that have their quality validated by NASPAA. Eastern’s MPA program is designed to provide widely varied educational opportunities in the fields of public and not-for-profit management. More than 50 percent of recent graduates have gone on to work at some level of government.

Volunteers Take Summer Service Plunge Teams of volunteers representing Eastern fanned out around three communities as part of the new Summer Service Plunge. Each team had up to 25 volunteers, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. They took on community projects in Colville, Colfax and Walla Walla to show EWU’s commitment to developing meaningful connections with small-town communities around the region. “It was a hot and rewarding day at the three EWU Plunge sites. I was particularly taken by the enthusiasm of the alumni who participated in this community effort,” said Mike Westfall, vice president, University Advancement. In Colville, volunteers worked with Habitat for Humanity Colville Valley Partners to assist with building two townhouses. Colfax volunteers lent a hand to the Colfax Parks Department as it tackled various projects throughout the city, including assembling new playground equipment at Schmuck Park as well as general cleanup and construction of a free library structure. EWU volunteers in Walla Walla helped the Blue Mountain Council with restoring a local park, maintaining a community garden maintenance and painting anti-graffiti sealant on neighborhood murals.

If you want to volunteer for alumni events and activities, sign up at alumni.ewu.edu/volunteer.

Summer Service Plunge, Walla Walla, Washington

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Veteran Support Renewed President Mary Cullinan and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WSDVA) Director Alfie Alvarado-Ramos put their signatures on the “Partners for Veteran Supportive Campuses” certificate in May.

This memorandum of understanding was first signed in April 2010. With new leadership at both Eastern and the WSDVA, this was an opportunity to reconfirm the university’s commitment to support more than 600 veterans, service members and their families on campus.

Eastern has received the GI Jobs Military Friendly School recognition five straight years, putting it in the

top 15 percent of colleges in the nation in service to student veterans. In 2012, the university opened the Veterans Resource Center to provide student veteran support services.

EWU Wins Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Cup Five years after first winning the award, Eastern has again won the Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Cup presented by Red Lion Hotels for the 2014-15 school year. The cup was presented at the Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff in Park City, Utah, in July. The Eagles won a tiebreaker with runner-up Montana State, while two-time defending champion Northern Arizona was third. The Presidents’ Cup reinforces the Big Sky’s dedication to the academic side of the student-athlete experience. Overall athletic success is combined with team grade-point averages, academic progress rates and all-conference performers with GPAs of at least 3.0. “There is a tremendous amount of credit that is due to our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration for winning this award for a second time,” said Eastern Athletic Director Bill Chaves, who was also at the helm when EWU was victorious in the 2009-10 school year. “First and foremost, it validates the hard work they put forth toward academics, but also in the community, and on the courts and fields of competition. This culminates a year that will go down as one of the most successful all-around seasons in our Division l era.”

eastern etc.PUB Redesign ApprovedPence Union Building (PUB) is EWU’s community center. It’s where students have gathered for decades to meet, eat, study and wait for Spokane Transit Authority buses.

In 2014, the Associated Students of Eastern Washington University (ASEWU) and university leaders developed a proposal to redesign the building to make it more usable and responsive to the needs of today’s students. In February, students voted in favor of supporting a fee for the remodeling project.

The PUB was built in 1970 and is named for Omer O. Pence ’46, an Eastern alumnus and faculty member. It was built with cast concrete and brick walls and very small windows – the trend at the time.

In 1995, a 57,000-square-foot addition to the PUB nearly doubled its size, adding more open space, computer labs, additional dining and meeting rooms. However, no significant renovations were made to the original facility. The redesign will address infrastructure deficiencies, such as mechanical systems, roof and skylights.

The new PUB will be designed to improve traffic flow and reduce wasted space. It will have a fresh, open design, improve energy utilization and sustainability, increase dining, social and recreational offerings for students and enhance revenue-generating operations.

The projected cost of the project is $35 million and will be financed through quarterly student fees. The design development phase will be completed and presented by Perkins + Will the first week of October. Construction is scheduled to begin late spring 2016, with completion of the project scheduled for fall quarter 2018.

PUB architectural renderings


Student Trustee NamedWashington Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Eastern Washington University senior Mariana Garcia as the student representative to the EWU board of trustees. Her term was effective July 1 and will continue through June 30, 2016.

A 2011 graduate of Granger High School in the Yakima Valley, Garcia has been very active in promoting diversity at Eastern, serving as the Diversity Outreach Representative of the Associated Students of EWU as well as president of M.E.Ch.A.

“EWU has been a beacon of hope for me,” said Garcia, who is the first in her family to attend college. “I appreciate its affordability and its mission to expand opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning. EWU has given me the tools to accomplish my goals. I am excited to work with the board of trustees to help all students succeed.”

In April, Garcia presented research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) at Eastern. She has also helped organize several campus events to advocate for higher education for all students and hosted a radio show on KYRS Community Radio in Spokane. She will graduate in June 2016 with a BA in international affairs.

eastern etc.Hall of Fame The 15th EWU Athletics Hall of Fame class will be honored Oct. 10, in Cheney. This year’s class includes Randy Buss, Kathleen Nygaard, Dean Adams, Gary Glasgow and Randy Carruthers, along with the 1966 baseball team. Randy Buss ’73, BA accounting, finished his basketball career with five school records. As a team in 1972, Eastern set school records of 2,610 total points and 90 points per game – something that stood for 43 years until broken by EWU’s NCAA Tournament team in 2015 (2,820 points). Nicknamed the “Magic Buss,” he went on to play professionally three years in Belgium. He settled down in Minok, Illinois, just 100 miles from his hometown of Shannon. Kathleen Nygaard ’04, BA marketing, was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference first team selection (2002-04) and EWU’s first Kodak/WBCA All-America finalist as an All-Region 7 selection in 2004. She was also selected twice as a member of the Big Sky Conference’s All-Tournament team (2003-04) and earned Academic All-America second-team honors as a senior. She scored 1,466 points and had 754 rebounds in her four-year career. Dean Adams ’67, BA physical education, was a highly honored football player for Eastern and was a runner-up finisher at the national championships in track and field before embarking on a career as a collegiate athletic trainer. Originally from Manson, Washington, he lettered in football in the 1964 and 1965 seasons. He served as an athletic trainer at the universities of Hawaii and Oregon. He was selected by the Eastern Athletic Department to the “100 for 100” All-Time Football Team in 2008 to commemorate Eastern’s 100th year of football. Gary Glasgow ’74, ’69, MEd, BA mathematics education, earned All-Evergreen Conference honors all four years he played baseball at Eastern (1965 to 1968). He helped Eastern win the EvCo title in 1966 and NAIA District 1 championships in 1966 and 1967. After beginning his teaching and coaching career at Toutle Lake High School, he returned to Medical Lake in 1971 and remained there until his retirement in 1998. He coached baseball for 30 years, and also coached football and basketball and served as athletic director from 1995-98. Randy Carruthers ’69, BA physical education, was a three-time NAIA All-American in gymnastics, and won the NAIA Championship in the long horse vault in 1967. Carruthers was gymnastics coach at Portland State University in Oregon from 1972 to '81. He received a service award from the NCAA for his contributions to NCAA Division I gymnastics, was a nationally certified judge and served at various national championship Olympic qualifier events, the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle and the Pac-10 championships. The 1966 baseball team will be inducted on the 40th anniversary of that team’s Evergreen Conference and NAIA District 1 titles under the direction of Hall of Fame head coach Ed Chissus. During the spring of 1966, Eastern broke eight school records. In addition, Ruth Van Kuren and her late husband, Lawson Van Kuren ’66, will be recognized for their 40 years of involvement with track and field, including 30 years as Eastern officials. They will be the recipients of the Eastern Hall of Fame Service and Contribution Award.

The induction breakfast and ceremony will start at 8:30 a.m., Oct. 10, at the Pence Union Building. The public is invited to attend; the cost is $20 per person. Guests must register in advance at goeags.com/hallfame/hallfame. Inductees will also be honored at halftime of EWU’s football game against Cal Poly (kickoff is at 1:05 p.m.) and at EWU’s volleyball game against Portland State at 6 p.m.

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http://www.goeags.com/hallfame/hallfame


Commencement 2015Eastern’s Commencement was held June 13, at Roos Field. This year, the university had 2,856 undergraduate and 556 graduate students eligible to attend Commencement. Creative writing alumnus Shawn Vestal ’08, ’05, was the keynote speaker for the event. In addition to his work as a columnist for The Spokesman-Review, Vestal is an award-winning author. He received acclaim for his first book, Godforsaken Idaho, published in April 2013. It was the winner of the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, which honors a debut book that “represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise.” Vestal plans to publish his first novel next spring. The ceremonies this year also featured student (now alumni) speakers Paul Reilly ’15, ’12 and Isaiah Ratliff ’15. Reilly is a Florida native who graduated from EWU with an undergraduate degree in biology in 2012 and now with an MS in biology. He is a recipient of the 2013 Schwartz Biotechnology Scholarship and was recognized as the 2014 Biology Graduate Student of the Year. As an ethnobiologist, he enjoys spending time thinking about the relationships between the natural world and people, and encouraging others to increase their wellness by embracing ancestral health techniques. Ratliff is a graduate of Spokane Valley’s East Valley High School. During his four years as an undergraduate, Ratliff majored in electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics. He was the chair of EWU’s student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In 2015, he was recognized by the Africana Studies Program with a “Keeper of the Dream” award, which honors the achievements of students from diverse ethnic backgrounds who are involved in research or service initiatives focusing on people or communities of African descent.

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Commencement keynote speaker Shawn Vestal

Alumni’s Eagle Van Hits the RoadThe EWU Motor Pool’s 2002 Chevy Astro Van isn’t what it used to be. No one will miss this on the road! Decked out in a splashy Eagle4Life vehicle wrap, supplied by the EWU Alumni Association, the van made its maiden voyage to Eugene to host several alumni events as the Eastern Eagles took on the Oregon Ducks in the football season opener Sept. 5. The vehicle wrap was designed by Sam Buzby ‘07, communications consultant for Eastern’s Marketing & Communications Department. It seemed only fitting since Buzby designed the Eagle4Life logo as well. Look for the van at various alumni events all year long.

The Eastern Washington University Foundation held its annual Red Tie Gala celebration to honor benefactors and beneficiaries of alumni generosity. This year’s gala, held July 24, at The Davenport Hotel in Spokane, was the first for President Mary Cullinan since her arrival at Eastern last year. The inspirational evening was filled with firsthand accounts by scholarship recipients, a moving performance by a music student and an overall celebration of the Eagle spirit. Daniel and Margaret Carper were honored with the first President’s Philanthropy Award for their substantial long-term commitment to the success of EWU students. There were several announcements at the gala, including the news that the EWU Foundation raised a record $5.5 million in private fund support during the fiscal year.

The generosity of EWU donors, both of spirit and financially, never ceases to

amaze me,” said Mike Westfall, EWU vice president, University Advancement and executive director, EWU Foundation. “It was another record-breaking year that

directly impacts Eastern students.

In addition, details were announced regarding a variety of new initiatives, including the “Inspire Awesome” scholarship campaign first outlined by President Cullinan at her investiture in May. Videos shown at the Red Tie Gala featured alumni, staff and faculty articulating the vision for efforts such as an on-campus “Living Building” Sustainability Center, the Eastern Arts Alliance and the Gateway Project.

President Mary Cullinan with Heather Raven Forrest Fruscalizo (top) and with EWU Board of Trustees Chair Jim Murphy ’65 and his wife, Jill


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The annual EWU Alumni Awards Gala took place on May 30 at the Spokane Convention Center – highlighted by themes of service and community.

The individual award nominees all reflected those values; through and through, the group members represent what it means to be an Eagle4Life. “Like the awards themselves tonight is about inspiration, hard work, sacrifice, service and commitment,” said Lisa Poplawski, director of Alumni Advancement at

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Eastern. “Tonight we celebrate the individuals and organizations who reflect these values. We are so proud to call them Eagles, and we are honored to celebrate their accomplishments.”The individual honorees were Bill Simer, Lifetime Achievement; Pam Sloan, Alumna of Service; Alicia Kinne-Clawson, Inspirational Young Alumna; Jerry Mellick, Exceptional Military Service; and Daniel & Margaret Carper, Presidential Philanthropy Award. Itron was recognized as the Organization of the Year. The Greek Values and Service awards were given to Brian Lynn and Thea Loucks. Nominations for the awards took place in December, and in March, a committee of alumni volunteers individually reviewed the nominations and selected the winners.

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BILL SIMER '78, BA PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING

Bill Simer, CPA, is a 1978 graduate of EWU with a BA in professional accounting – a local boy who has done well and given back to his community. Simer is a partner of Eide Bailly, which recently merged with his former firm of McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest. Bill has built a stellar professional reputation working with closely held businesses all the way up to larger companies, providing tax and financial advice to these businesses and their owners. Bill’s record of community service demonstrates his total commitment to the organizations he serves. He has been involved at the leadership level with the Spokane Symphony/Fox Theater/Fox Theater Endowment; his commitment to those organizations spans more than 10 years. In addition to his longtime involvement with the Eastern Washington University Foundation board, he is also a leader in the Washington Society of CPAs and the Inland Northwest Community Foundation. Bill joined the EWU Foundation Board in 2007, and has held the positions of secretary, vice-chair and chair (2012 to 2014) as well as numerous committee assignments. “Bill does not fit the profile of what many would consider the introverted CPA – the bean counter with the green eye shade,” said friend Gordon Budke, noting that Simer is a “natty dresser and accomplished race car driver” with several classic racing cars. “Bill and wife Renee (also an EWU alum, with a BA and MA in education) are a team committed to the vision of what Spokane can really be.”

Brian Lynn ’98, Thea Loucks ’07, Pam Sloan ’96, Alicia Kinne-Clawson ’07, Bill Simer ’78, Jerry Mellick ’67 and Rich Christensen, Itron

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JERRY MELLICK, U.S. ARMY LT. COL. (RET.) '67

Jerry graduated from Eastern Washington State College in 1967 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) and remains a vital connector of the EWU military community. Jerry held many leadership positions within the ROTC program, which has had an indelible impact on Jerry’s life and career. He continues to give back to the program. After college, Jerry went on to become a decorated Senior Aviator and Lt. Col. in the Army. He retired in 1993, after 25 years in the Army’s Aviation and Acquisition business. Since his retirement, Jerry has immersed himself in helping others. He has chaperoned three World War II veterans to Washington D.C. with the Honor Flight program and has volunteered hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars supporting the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Sky Soldiers. Jerry has been instrumental in helping to establish the Veterans’ Resource Center (VRC) on the EWU campus and in putting together Military Appreciation days at EWU football games. “Jerry’s connections within the military, veteran and EWU communities have created an incredible synergy, which has supported numerous ideas, projects and initiatives at Eastern Washington University,” said VRC Director Dave Millet. “He has been a leader and stalwart in supporting generations of EWU alumni who served or continue to serve their country through his passion for the university, his embodiment of selfless service to others, and his loyalty to the military and EWU.”

PAM SLOAN '96

Pam graduated from EWU in 1996, with a master of social work degree. Combined with her earlier expertise in nursing, she has utilized her degree to fight for the services and human dignity of vulnerable and underserved elders living in poverty with multiple chronic health conditions. Pam's journey in serving elders began in the 1970s when she worked for Spokane Mental Health. There, she designed and implemented the first aftercare program for persons over 60 with serious mental illnesses – a program that eventually became nationally recognized. From 1987 to 1997, she directed the Spokane Mental Health urgent care program that became the prototype crisis response model for the state of Washington. However, what may be most recognized is her involvement in the co-creation of the Gatekeeper Program – a nationally and internationally recognized program that trains persons who have regular contact with elders, assisting them in identifying individuals who may have emotional and mental difficulties. Since 1997, she has directed Elder Services in Spokane. She is a recognized leader, accomplished supervisor, public speaker, fundraiser and teacher who is a role model for social work students. She continues to give back the to the university as a mentor for those in the program today. “Pam has been a key faculty member in our program,” said Maria Hernandez-Peck, PhD. “She has brought incredible knowledge from the field to her classes, which has greatly benefited and inspired our students.”

ALICIA KINNE-CLAWSON ’07

Alicia and her family moved from Orange County, California, to Spokane during the summer of 2004. Alicia didn’t know anyone on the Cheney campus, but fate allowed her to receive a personal tour from then-president Stephen Jordan. She was sold on EWU from that moment and immediately invested herself in the university. In 2005, Alicia was elected to serve as student body president at Eastern Washington University. As ASEWU president, she played a key role in the development of the $27 million student recreation center. The government major went on to be elected twice as ASEWU president. At the time, she was the first two-term student body president to serve at EWU. She continues to work toward her lifelong dream of becoming a university president and seeks out as many opportunities as possible to better understand how universities operate, and the constraints and opportunities within higher education. She is passionate about higher education and represents the interests of her alma mater in the Washington Legislature as the assistant director of government relations at EWU. Alicia is a director on EWU’s Alumni Board and is a board member of Graduate Washington (2012-present). “When I came to Eastern I liked it. When I got involved, I fell in love with it,” Alicia once said. She’s still of that mind, stating “I have the greatest job in the world talking about Eastern every day.”


DANIEL AND MARGARET CARPERDan Carper graduated from Eastern in 1972 with a BA in sociology. Margaret also attended EWU before earning a BA in sociology from the University of Washington. The Carpers are valued members of the EWU Foundation family. They first began giving to Eastern more than 20 years ago with a $100 general fund donation in response to a telefund call. The Carpers have since made a substantial and ongoing commitment to support the success of students at Eastern. EWU President Mary Cullinan honored the Carpers by presenting them with the first Presidential Philanthropy Award. “The Carpers make a great team – as they formed the Daniel and Margaret Carper Foundation, which they manage together to support various charitable and educational entities,” said Cullinan. Over the years, the Carpers have enriched the Eastern community and its students in a myriad of ways, including funding 10 full scholarships for students in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences and Social Work; funding the Jeffers S. Chertok Endowed Professorship; and sponsoring the Carper International Speaker Series, which has brought some of the most engaging speakers to Spokane the past five years, including Bart Ehrman, Robert Sapolsky and Jared Diamond.

RICH CHRISTENSEN, SENIOR VP, ITRON

Itron’s beliefs include “Instilling Excellence, Investing in Communities, Embracing Diversity and Teamwork and Enabling Sustainability,” all of which make it an appropriate recipient of the Organization of the Year award. In 2000, Itron launched a new brand identity with the title, “Knowledge to Shape Your Future.” Itron has been partnering with Eastern for years to help students succeed in many ways, whether it’s helping students at the Career Services Office find their career through mock interviews, career fairs and internships or by helping to train the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. “I can’t imagine a better fit for a partner of Eastern Washington University since EWU is about doing the same thing for our students,” said EWU’s Mike Westfall. “Thank you Itron for all that you do for EWU and the communities in our region. As the VP of Advancement, I have witnessed your continued commitment to the Eastern family. We are so thankful for your support.” Being a visionary supporter is what Itron does best. Most recently, it has become a supporter of one of the university’s latest initiatives, The Sustainability Center, which is EWU’s quest to build a structure that qualifies for a Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification on campus. It is only fitting since Itron is a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water. Itron provides comprehensive solutions that measure, manage and analyze energy and water around the globe.

BRIAN LYNN '98 THEA LOUCKS '07

Two EWU alumni who have gone above and beyond in their support of the Eastern Washington University Greek community and dedicated themselves to living their fraternal values were honored at the Alumni Awards ceremony. ’98 BRIAN LYNN, chapter advisor and lifelong member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and ’07 THEA LOUCKS, chapter advisor for and lifelong member of Alpha Omicron Pi, were selected for the difference they make in the lives of EWU students. “They know that advising college students not only takes a sense of humor, compassion and a willingness to make a difference, but also consistency and firmness – all of which go a long way in building trust while mentoring students,” said Stacey Reece, EWU director of student activities. “They maintain a balance between being approachable and enforcing policies, helping the students they work with become better men and better women. It is clear that fraternal values have not only impacted the life of these recipients, they have driven them to continue to make a difference in the lives of others.” While many alumni volunteers burn out from working with fraternity/sorority chapters within a few years, Thea and Brian have had a consistent presence with the chapters they advise for a number of years. Everything these advisors do positively impacts the students in the EWU community in a lasting way.

Full ircleBy Jeff Bunch ‘88

The way Jim Murphy tells it, he was never a candidate to be voted “Most Likely to Succeed” when he started college. Yet he’s seen nothing but success since that time.

EASTERN: FALL 201518

“There were a couple of professors (in the political science department) at Eastern who really directed me. I wasn’t the greatest student in the world,” admitted Murphy, who initially attended WSU and Columbia Basin College. “I went out to Eastern and those guys made me into a student. I ended up getting darn good grades and ended up being able to get into law school.” Murphy grew alongside his alma mater over the next few years. He graduated from law school in 1973, just as the former Eastern Washington State College was coming into its own. He has been an enthusiastic EWU supporter in the community for a number of years, but believes he can have an even greater influence as board chair. He wants to continue the outreach to stakeholders in Spokane and eastern Washington that has been a key area

of focus for President Cullinan in her first year.“I think there’s an obligation to continue that

process and seek new opportunities that might exist,” Murphy said. “I would encourage us to partner where we can (such as with community colleges)."

In times of tight budgets and growing enrollments, infrastructure capacities can be strained: however, he’s encouraged by the recent success of EWU to secure funding for an expanded science building. STEM and related fields present a beneficial economic opportunity for students and industry.

One thing is clear: When Murphy believes in something he pursues it wholeheartedly. He wasn’t comfortable practicing law and not addressing societal needs that he identified while sitting on the bench, in venues such as the Spokane Drug Court. So, he set out to try and change the world around him. “I think those sort of things push you out into the community to do something extra-judicial and take care of some of those problems,” he said. “So, I guess the years of putting myself out there to deal with things like that have led to it continuing today.” He has also taken a lifelong affinity with track to serve at the highest levels of U.S. Track and Field (USTAF), a role that started more than 30 years ago when he volunteered to help at his son’s track meet. He has since been an official for U.S. Olympic Trials, the Olympics and the NCAA Track & Field Championships. He is the chair of the USTAF’s Law & Legislation Committee and has heard doping cases internationally for 20 years. He is the U.S. member on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which hears high-profile doping cases. One of his more recent cases involved the fallout from the activities of Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal Service cycling team. The lengthy case, held in London, involved USPS team doctors and officials. “It was a fascinating case,” he said. “It ruined a lot of careers and was a sad deal, but I think it had an impact on cycling. So, I think that’s a good thing.” Improving things around him is a legacy Murphy would be honored to leave. He’s been focused on that simple mission his whole adult life. “Leave the world a better place than you found it,” he stated. “That’s not an easy thing to do. What impact a person can make on society is pretty minimal in the normal course of things. So, taking the opportunities to deal in things that I can impact, I want to be successful in impacting those and hopefully it will result in better lives for individuals – maybe a better institution for those affected by those I’m part of.” E

Murphy ’65, BA government, is the incoming chair of the EWU board of trustees, and he has had an impressive legal career as a public servant. He stepped down from the bench in 2003, after more than two decades as a judge in Spokane County. He then opened and ran a mediation and arbitration firm with a former colleague for nearly a decade in what could have been a final chapter. However, as he settled into retirement earnestly, that’s when things really started to become more adventurous. His wife of 47 years, Jill, suggested he may want to keep busy in retirement or he might find himself unsatisfied. His record corroborates that point of view; doing nothing isn’t Murphy’s style. So, he did what he’s always done: look for ways to give back. Murphy has volunteered for his community and profession over the years in too many ways to list, but he’s consistently stood up for the environment, justice and protection of society’s most vulnerable members, and he’s tried to keep a level playing field in sports. In addition to leadership roles in nearly every professional organization to which he’s belonged, Murphy has a broad swath of activities in his personal life. A proud Irish descendant, he’s a founding member of Spokane’s Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. He’s also served groups as diverse as The Lands Council, Spokane Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) and the Spokane Regional Justice Commission. They are all causes near and dear to him, but his status as an alumnus and longtime supporter is what prompted him to pursue an appointment to the EWU board of trustees. As Murphy begins the third year of his board term, he is ready to succeed outgoing chairwoman Jo Ann Kauffman on the body that guides EWU’s direction. Murphy sees great things happening at EWU and wants to ensure they continue. “It’s fun to be part of that and to see where they’re going with projects now like STEM,” said Murphy. “(President Cullinan) has made a major focus this year of enhancing our diversity, recognizing we have become the go-to university for first-generation students, many coming out of Hispanic families in the central basin of Washington.” Murphy has also been part of the board’s efforts to promote sustainability and socially responsible investing. He also wants to see EWU continue its trend of record enrollment numbers. “I think, based on watching that growth, it gives us a reason to expect that growth should continue,” said Murphy." We serve as a real model for regional universities – in this state, and in all states, really.” Murphy’s passion is clear, but he told the crowd at last fall’s holiday luncheon that he couldn’t have envisioned himself in such a high-profile leadership role for his alma mater when he attended 50 years ago. However, his life was transformed at Eastern. Murphy came to Eastern on a path, but without a purpose. His father was a career law enforcement officer and wanted his son to become a lawyer. Murphy obliged his dad’s wishes, but initially treated his time at EWU as a mere stop on the way to his goal of attending Gonzaga University’s School of Law. Murphy first had to learn some life lessons that would provide him a solid foundation.

We serve as a real model for regional

universities – in this state, and in all states, really.


EASTERN: FALL 2015

Ellen Picken has always loved open spaces. So, it’s not surprising that for a decade of her adult life she thrived in a remote portion of northeastern Washington. Now, the emerging artist and EWU alumna (’03 BFA art) is using the skills and life lessons gained from her rural apprenticeship to master her work in urban environments. “Space is very important to me. I think that’s why I like architecture. I respond very strongly to space,” Picken said, who works in a variety of mediums. “I think my psychological state (and creativity) has to do with how my body feels physically.” Picken says different spaces, colors and sounds trigger varying stimuli – ones that vary greatly depending on the intended setting for her art. If a work is displayed in a crowded or noisy locale, she builds space into the piece; the format of a painting depends on whether it will be experienced in a public gallery or a private residence. In the past two years, Picken has excelled at a pair of mural projects – a challenging medium that requires a unique artistic approach. In creating one of those, a mural for the Sorrento Hotel garage in Seattle over this summer, Picken had to envision multiple perspectives from which her work would be viewed. It was important that the work resonated with all of those who would view it, not just herself. “There are many voices that aren’t heard – and art is one way to express a personal experience – but not on a wall,” Picken said. The project was a watershed for her career. It was awarded to her as part of an open competition as she was experiencing another professional high. Picken became program manager for the Spokane Arts Commission this summer. That means she will help to influence public art projects and programs in her hometown. Like many artists, the backstory of Picken’s life is meandering, yet intentional. When Picken arrived on the Cheney campus more than a decade ago, she wasn’t

By Jeff Bunch ‘88

Alumnae Ellen Picken and Valerie Nafé are living their passions and utilizing their EWU experiences to make an impact on

their local community through innovative arts and cultural efforts.

20

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looking to become an artist. Instead, art found her and it has never let go. When she made her way to the art program, she found a mentor in Professor Tom Askman, who provided a foundation for her life and career. In a twist of fate, it turns out Askman had years before reviewed Picken’s artwork among a group of sixth graders and had written a note stating that he hoped to teach her one day. “He was old school about getting to know yourself first; a lot of introspection was important in his way of teaching. When you make something, you need to reflect on it,” said Picken. “There was a lot of self-reflection that he asked of his students. The department overall was very conceptually based. They tried to push the students stronger in their ideas, rather than their technical skills.” Picken, always intellectually curious, responded well to the approach. Her experience at EWU made her think a lot about where she was in life and where she wanted to go. She has since lived with purpose, working with a local conservation group, before moving to rural Ferry County, Washington, for a decade where she was able to spend a lot of time experiencing the outdoors, doing nonprofit work, and holding a job as a mail carrier. She subsequently lived with a group of nuns in Idaho. Those experiences were liberating for her, as she didn’t feel pressure to produce art, and instead, focused on her journey, as well as those of others. “I didn’t have to keep up with anyone else. It allowed me to enjoy the process and not worry about the outcome,” said Picken, who has been the recipient of several grants and fellowships, including a 2013 Vermont Studio Center residency. Picken moved back to Spokane and re-enrolled at EWU in the visual communication design program, learning graphic design to complement

her skill set. Now she is fully emerged in the process of art, which involves placing oneself out there physically and emotionally. It’s clear that she’s comfortable in her skin. “I think, as far as artwork goes, you have to have empathy for yourself. Just be nice to yourself; that way you can be nice to other people,” said Picken. “You have to trust yourself. That’s definitely important for me to make artwork.” Picken says she still recalls the advice in a Joseph Campbell book that Askman encouraged her to read at EWU in which Campbell advises readers to “follow their bliss” without fear. It’s what Picken has always done and it’s working. “When you let things flow naturally, they fall into place,” she said with a smile. “No matter what you do, it’s always going to be a struggle so you might as well enjoy the struggle.”

Photos courtesy Ellen Picken

verified that needs exist on many levels in West Central. Since the neighborhood is already served by a longtime community center and other state and local entities, she spent more time doing outreach and building partnerships to help those in the neighborhood. “I have a passion for that; I grew up underserved for resources,” said Nafé. At Eastern, Nafé studied in the social work program, where she learned the value of “making a difference.” She first worked in skilled nursing care, then on the front line of the mental health system seeing “eye-opening stuff,” before eventually moving into a role as a regulator in the nursing care field. Nafé eventually found her calling as an investigator and quasi-prosecutor of those who take advantage of vulnerable adults. “I absolutely loved it… just something about it, a strong sense of justice and truth-telling,” she said. Yet as she left the long-term security of state employment to start up an entity with a strong mission but no clear path to sustainability, she was undaunted. “Life is too short for fear, except for roller coasters and parachutes – I’m afraid of both,” says Nafé, who instead enjoys riding motorcycles, paddle boarding, walking, gardening and reading in her spare time. She loves being a part of the neighborhood and is enjoying the career change, as her prior work definitely took a toll. She says it’s nice to “do something happy” while making a positive impact. While she personally understands the journey of the disadvantaged, she also wants to make sure that her efforts give everyone an equal opportunity. The holistic centerpiece of Spark is a “Human Library,” based on the concept that all people are living resources with “rich histories and passions waiting to be shared.” The role of Spark is to “connect those people and share the wealth of their collective gifts.” “Nothing really exists like it in the United States,” Nafé points out. It’s the type of mission Nafé has always taken on – pursuing her passions, bringing others along. E

EWU alumna Valerie Nafé ’91 is a study in resiliency and the pursuit

of professional conviction. Growing up in a challenging environment in Southern California, Nafé’s neighborhood library was a place of refuge and exploration. She lived in Oceanside, California, but her life wasn’t reflective of the affluence that was prevalent throughout much of the greater San Diego area. It was that in-the-shadows experience that eventually led Nafé to pursue a social work degree at Eastern. It was also part of the motivation that led her to a career protecting society’s most vulnerable people as an investigator for the state of Washington. Nafé now finds herself pursuing those same ideals in a completely unexpected way: unforeseen, yet right in line with her character. Nafé is the founding executive director of the new Spark Center in downtown Spokane’s Kendall Yards neighborhood. The multi-use neighborhood, situated along the north bank of the Spokane River, is a combination of retail, residential and public spaces. The setting of the upscale development – which has been in the works for years – is a contrast not unlike that of San Diego County where Nafé grew up. Kendall Yards is adjacent to one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in the city, West Central, something that is front-of-mind for Nafé. The disparity is something that was evident right away to Nafé when she began working for developer Jim Frank as a consultant on the project. Frank wanted to make the best use of a pair of retail spots in the core of the neighborhood that would be funded by his foundation. Nafé was convinced that an innovative community center was the answer. Her recommendation gave rise to a vision of what is now the Spark Center, a multifaceted cultural center that is also home to INK, a nonprofit arts organization co-founded by EWU alum Jess Walter ’87. Both organizations hosted open houses in August and the space is already bustling. In its infancy, Spark seems to be filling the role Nafé describes, “A modern, urban library of the future – where libraries are small, vibrant community gathering places, accessible – an integral piece of the community fabric.” Nafé is herself filling many roles on a daily basis, from the most mundane to the most visionary. It is a big lifestyle change for Nafé, who is wrapping up a career of helping to prosecute bad actors even as she begins a new one. “It wasn’t one moment, but a series of moments,” Nafé said. “I was very vested in what I did and enjoyed what I was doing. It just felt like the right timing.” Her busy lifestyle and professional background led her to vet the Kendall Yards project and interview Frank. She not only found a home in the community but also a consulting gig, which later led to a permanent role for her in the fledgling community. “The first thing I did (as a consultant) was put on my boots and walk the neighborhood,” said Nafé, who talked with a variety of community leaders as she

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15-MKT-509

prevent producers from being retailers. Guy said that the WSLCB set up the business model this way to prevent money laundering and to prevent products with issues from leaving the facility. There are other differences as well.

“Outside of Washington, people can grow their own – several plants,” said Guy. “It’s not unlike brewing your own beer. They’re not going to be growing a large enough quantity that it’s going to interfere with the legal business. There is a marked difference between the stuff you grow in your backyard and a high-grade indoor product like we produce.”

Because recreational cannabis remains illegal according to federal laws, banking regulations through federally insured banks have been an obstacle to some producers and retailers.

“Fortunately Numerica, and one other credit union, are working with funds from I-502 businesses,” said Guy. “When we got our bank account we gave them all the same paperwork that we gave the state. They wanted to know who we were, and where we got our money. They’ll come and do audits of our facility and our finances so that they feel comfortable working with us.”

Grow Op Farm’s security is impressive. People off the street don’t just walk in to look around. Guests come in by invitation only. Once inside, they sign a visitors’ log and receive a badge. Security cameras are everywhere – partly because state regulations require it, and partly for loss prevention and general security.

Guy, 39, grew up in Covington, Washington, and earned his associate degree from Green River Community College in Auburn

Legal marijuana is the fastest growing industry in the United States, according to The ArcView Group, a cannabis-industry research firm that puts the size of the marijuana market at $3.5 billion in 2015. Another study by a pro-marijuana group said the industry, if fully legalized across the country by 2020, could be worth $35 billion each year.

Washington’s cannabis business is highly regulated by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). The state issues four types of licenses. You can be a producer, a processor, a producer/processor or a retail licensee.

The Producer/ProcessorOne of Washington’s top cannabis producer/processor companies

is Grow Op Farms, located in Spokane Valley. Eastern graduates are among the 87-plus employees at the year-old business.

Andrew Guy ’06, BA economics, is the vice president of operations at Grow Op Farms. Under his direction, the business has flourished.

A gentle giant of a man, Guy is proud to show off thousands of marijuana plants in various stages of growth. The plants are bathed in an elaborate lighting and ventilation system that he designed. He is an expert on soil, fertilizers and cloning plants to produce a superior product.

“There’s so much going on here in Washington; we’re really at the forefront of all of this,” said Guy. “Colorado was a little bit ahead of us in some ways but I think we’re pushing past them.”

The model is different between the two states. In Colorado, retailers can sell their own products. In Washington, there are regulations that

Budding BusinessA

When Washington voters passed initiative I-502, legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana, an entire new industry sprung to life in the Evergreen State. Several Eastern alumni are venturing into this gold-rush-type endeavor that promises big returns on early investments.

BY KANDI CARPER ’05


Budding Business There’s so much going on here in Washington;

we’re really at the forefront of all of this. Colorado was a little

bit ahead of us in some ways but I think we’re

pushing past them.-Andrew Guy

Andrew Guy ’06, VP of Operations, Grow Op Farms25EASTERN: FALL 2015

before transferring to EWU. While at Eastern, he served as ASEWU vice president. He said that one of the most valuable and transferable skills he acquired at EWU were people management skills. ASEWU taught him how to get seemingly impossible things accomplished.

In his role as vice president, by working with the student union, faculty and the university’s administration, he was instrumental in bringing controversial speakers to campus, including Ward Churchill and Ron Jeremy. “The Ward Churchill controversy even made Bill O’Reilly’s show,” said Guy. “Ron Jeremy (an adult entertainment personality) was ‘pretty tame.’ He actually gave a really interesting speech.”

Guy is forthcoming that he was involved in the cannabis business before it became legal. “I have always enjoyed cannabis,” said Guy. “My uncle taught me how to grow it, but since everything was illegal I tried to steer myself in other directions. Eventually, with the advent of medical marijuana laws and the easing of the penalties I found it more attractive as a way to earn an income and to be able to do something that I loved. It’s important for me to make sure that people have a good, safe product that they can enjoy.”

The plants grow in a tightly controlled environment. Even though construction is ongoing throughout the building, cleanliness is imperative. All employees wear scrubs, sometimes changing their clothing several times a day.

Eastern alum Jess Wamre ’05, BA interdisciplinary studies, is somewhat of a Jack-of-all-trades at Grow Op Farms. He oversees a few key accounts as well as assists in the growing of the product.

Argyle Baukol ’03, BA interdisciplinary studies, has one of the

most important jobs at Grow Op Farms. She is the manager of the mother room. An herbalist, she trims and feeds seedlings, nurturing them to adulthood. After graduating from Eastern, she earned a degree from Bastyr University, an alternative medicine university in Kenmore, Washington. Baukol says that it’s important for her to provide quality plants that can enhance the health and well-being of consumers.

On the business side, Nancy Drinkard ’11, BA accounting, plays a key role in keeping the business running efficiently. Originally from Medical Lake, Washington, the 34-year-old uses her accounting degree in many ways including creating spreadsheets and formulas for sales forecasting and keeping inventory of all products coming in and going out.

The growth potential of this new market and the chance to be part of history are what attracted her to Grow Op Farms.

Drinkard said that the best part of the job is the people and the atmosphere. “I love being able to come to work and have a family-like atmosphere, where all 87 of us are working as one big team and turning out quality product for our customer base.”

Wholesale SalesJohn Patrick Wilson ’02, BA interdisciplinary studies,

knew at age 10 that he would be in sales one day. “When I was a kid, I idolized my dad,” said Wilson. “I still do at age 38. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. He was a top-notch salesmen for Ralston Purina for 40 years and an EWU grad, too.”

Wilson is the vice president of sales at Grow Op Farms. Shortly after graduating from EWU, he landed a corporate job with Nestle USA. Over the years, he earned multiple promotions. He was able to work firsthand with the national sales team and rub elbows with the regional directors, executive VPs and the brand managers for the largest food company in the world.

“I was lucky to have learned so much about strategy, execution, setting goals and planning from a very senior-level perspective,” said Wilson.

After nine years with Nestle, he received another promotion, but this one involved relocating to L.A. He and his wife were torn about this relocation and luckily, he landed a job with PepsiCo and was able to stay in Spokane. “During the past 13 years, I made a decent living and it was hard to beat some of the perks of the job,” said Wilson. “Little did I know this was all about to get shaken up.”

Wilson has been friends with Grow Op Farms’ primary owner, Rob McKinley, since they were teenagers.

In the fall of 2013, McKinley asked Wilson to stop by; he had a business proposition for him. “My jaw dropped when he told me what he was up to and asked if I wanted in,” said Wilson. “My immediate response was a resounding hell yes! If you have an opportunity to go into business with someone as successful as Rob, you do it. The trickier part was selling my wife on the idea of a 360-degree career change as well as an investment of virtually our entire nest egg in a still largely taboo

It’s important for me to make sure that people have a good,

safe product that they can enjoy.

Argyle Baukol ’03, Nancy Drinkard ’11 and Jess Wamre ’05

-Andrew Guy


industry. It wasn’t an easy sell, but now she is very thankful how this has worked out for our family.”

Once Grow Op Farms was built and licensed, they had 400 pounds of marijuana ready to go and they needed retailers.

“In January, I took a week of vacation and loaded up our van and hit the west side of the state cold-calling on store after store, from Arlington to Olympia,” said Wilson. “I think you would be hard pressed to find another I-502 producer/processor that has more collective business acumen than we do. Once we got our brand on the shelves of some stores on the West Side, it didn’t take long for the phone to start ringing. Retailers, who I called and emailed in December, who never responded to me, are the same ones calling me now begging for our products. Unfortunately for them, there is so much demand for Phat Panda (Grow Op Farms’ brand) they are on a waiting list with 50 other retailers who we cannot service because we can’t grow enough pot.”

Wilson says that now, new retailer acquisition is the easiest part of his job; it’s keeping the other 50 retailers happy and well stocked that requires a bit of finesse.

“Ninety-five percent of what I do is all coordinated via phone and email. My days of being on the road are now spent behind the desk. We do occasional meet-the-grower days with select retailers where I need to travel, but other than that, I’m home every night and it’s wonderful after a 13-year career filled with up to 50 percent travel.”

Wilson admits that the cannabis business is still a bit taboo with a portion of the population.

“As you might imagine, it took some time to muster the courage to

tell my family – who are all pretty conservative – that I was leaving my job for a pot farm business we dumped our life savings into. They were a bit shocked initially, but have remained supportive. After they toured the farm and saw our monthly numbers, they were able to see the big picture. Once I had my extended family’s full support, my lingering doubts and reluctance to tell people about what we do swiftly fell away. If my family can have an open mind then a pretty good number of people out there will too.”

Retail Sales It’s a Friday afternoon and folks are getting ready for a relaxing

summer weekend. Two golfing buddies, a graying baby boomer and a couple of giggling, tattooed female Millennials make their way to Satori, a retail store that sells all forms of legal cannabis and smoking instruments at a busy strip mall in north Spokane. Satori is one of Grow Op Farms’ retail partners.

The store sits alongside an H & R Block office, a Domino’s Pizza and a Kids Kut hair salon. This is no back-alley business.

The store’s owner, Justin Wilson, earned both his MBA and undergraduate business degrees from Eastern in 1998 and 1995 respectively. He graduated magna cum laude both times and was a member of Delta Sigma Pi, one of the largest professional business fraternities in the country.

“I went to WSU my first year, against my DECA teacher’s wishes. He wanted me to go to Eastern because he loved the business school out there. I tried to go to a big school but I didn’t like it."

I think you would be hard pressed to find

another I-502 producer/processor that has

more collective business acumen than we do.

John Wilson ‘02, VP of Sales, Grow Op Farms and Andrew Guy ’06, VP Operations, Grow Op Farms

-John Wilson


Since 1997, shortly after his 25th birthday, Wilson has earned a living circling around the edges of the cannabis business. He is the owner of Piece of Mind, a retail business that sells smoking appliances, functional glass art, or what most people refer to as high-end glass bongs and pipes.

Piece of Mind’s website tells the history of Wilson’s first venture into a counter-culture business. “After scraping together their short life savings and student loans, they rolled the dice. A rundown building in an alleyway behind a local pub is where they landed. Now in its 18th year of operations, the OG Piece of Mind store remains an underground icon in the Spokane Valley. The second location in North Spokane was established in 2000. Shortly thereafter, Piece of Mind stumbled its way to Seattle, finding a home in Fremont.”

A sophisticated entrepreneur, Wilson now owns additional Piece of Mind stores in the U-District and Lake City in Seattle, ones in Tacoma, Missoula, Anchorage and Bend, Oregon, along with one conveniently located next to the Satori store.

Wilson, 43, is married with two children, a 14-year-old daughter, Sekya, and a seven-year-old son, Satori. Yes, his son and his cannabis store are both named Satori, a Buddhist word for awakening or sudden enlightenment.

“Satori spoke to me – the fact that our culture and our government finally have had an awakening to allow us to be adults and, short of hurting someone else, allow us to make ourselves happy,” said Wilson.

Wilson said he’s been around cannabis customers for years and understands the culture and the retail market surrounding it. “I also like that, from a purely business standpoint, I would have control of my own destiny. Being in retail you have options, you can stock your shelves the way you see fit and it’s not as reliant on growing a plant that I’m not that savvy about.”

Satori has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The large reception area is decorated with fun artwork, sleek black leather furniture and a couple of Buddhist-like shrines. After ID is carefully checked (no one under 21 is allowed) customers move to an interior room, well stocked with buds, edibles, concentrates, tinctures and accessories. Knowledgeable “budtenders” help customers find just the products they’re looking for.

For now at least, the big money is in the retail side. They are able to set prices based on supply and demand. Wilson said eventually that will change. Especially if the state approves more licenses for retail stores. He said it’s not unrealistic to think that someday cannabis will be sold at Costco, Wal-Mart or 7-Eleven stores, much like alcohol is now.

“I feel like we’d always have our niche, much like specialty wine or craft beer stores do even though you can buy beer and wine everywhere. When my kids are grown and my grandchildren are grown, they won’t know that it (cannabis) was ever illegal. It will be similar to the story of prohibition. Alcohol wasn’t available for a while and now you can buy it almost anywhere.“

Wilson understands that even though recreational cannabis is legal, there’s still a bit of a taboo around it. "I like to enjoy wine and I’ll do that freely around my kids but if I’m going to smoke, I don’t do that around them, even with me being in this industry,” said Wilson.

Wilson believes that new methods of consuming cannabis – things like vape (vaporizing) pens, similar to electronic cigarettes, will probably make it less taboo than maybe lighting up a joint or a bong.

And the future of the cannabis business? Wilson sees cannabis in clubs and bars in the near future and eventually – maybe five to 10 years – as infused edibles on menus in restaurants.

If for some reason it all disappears tomorrow, Wilson will land on his feet. He’s a diversified businessman with commercial real estate ventures and property management gigs on the side.

As of now, however, the sky is the limit in the cannabis business. In addition to the money, one of the most rewarding aspects of Wilson’s new business has been the variety of new clients he’s met.

“I have to say I’m really impressed with the people who come in here. It’s the 21-year-old newbie. It’s 80-year-old men. It’s a wide variety – especially initially; we saw a huge number of older baby boomers. One guy came in on his cane, a veteran who told me he’s waited 47 years to try it. He didn’t smoke it because it was illegal. He had two buddies coming in from across the county to partake with him. He was almost in tears and so was I.” E

Justin Wilson ’98, ‘95, Owner, Satori


How to communicate at EVERY Stage in Your Career Oct. 8, 2015

Holiday Social Nov. 12, 2015

Speed Networking Feb. 11, 2016

Take Control of Your Financial Future March 10, 2016

Be Fiscally Awesome April 14, 2016

More information and registration for YPN programs is available online at alumni.ewu.edu/events.

Part social hour and part career booster, EWU Young Professionals Network events are the perfect place to meet fellow alumni, while getting insider career advice.

Join us from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Locations vary.


Man on a Mission

By Rich Landers

Paul Green ’74, isn’t bragging when he recalls his early 1970s stint as a student in Sutton Hall and says, “I was a standout.”

Among the other students bunking in the dorm filled with Vietnam War-era veterans, the Air Force survival instructor had a rare advantage: “I knew exactly what I was there for. I knew what I wanted to do. That blew everybody away.”

Green, 66, retired this summer after 40 years as a professor of Outdoor Recreation at Eastern Washington University. “I got what I wanted,” he said.

Smitten with the great outdoors as a boy growing up in Florida and hooked on climbing as a teen, Green began carving his niche as a mountaineering and rafting guide. His true calling came clear while serving in Vietnam.

“I was just in from the field and was told to be a driver for university professors who were there for secret research,” he said. “I was used to a lot of rough talk and F-bombs, but these guys were articulate, smooth and smart. I wanted to be like that.”

He sought guidance from higher-education instructors, including the late Jim Black at Eastern. “He gave me a list of 60 things I needed to accomplish to get a college position, including getting published,” Green said. “So I started knocking them off.”

Green enrolled at Spokane Community College before earning a BA in Recreation and Park Administration from Eastern. He bagged his master’s degree in outdoor education at the University of Northern Colorado, and completed his doctorate at the University of Oregon.

“Paul knew students had to start from the ground floor in outdoor recreation, too,” said Matt Chase, who helped teach EWU kayaking classes before becoming co-chair of the Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation. “They couldn’t just jump into a supervisory position without learning the entry-level skills like backpacking and rafting and working in the field.”

EWU’s Outdoor Recreation curriculum during Green’s tenure started from a basic level.

Paul Green Shares the Great Outdoors with Students

“When I came in 1975, the school had a trip to Upper Priest Lake, half hiking, half canoeing. The group had to make a 3-by-3-foot rock oven for cooking with fire and coals. It was old-school maximum impact camping. That’s all changed to leave no trace.

“Part of our goal is to educate students to educate the public about the outdoors.”

Wearing a Chouinard oiled-wool sweater, wool knickers and knee socks, a bearded Paul Green was still struggling for respect in 1978 as he defended his proposal for an outdoor recreation major at EWU.

“I’d been at Eastern for nearly three years, but this was the time to make my case before the Faculty Senate and I didn’t have time to change.” He had just returned from leading students on a mountaineering field trip. “I certainly wasn’t in the faculty Men’s Club. They wore ties back then; and they shaved.”

Despite objections to a curriculum that turned mountains into classrooms and backpacks into school supplies, Green’s arguments prevailed. Along with balls and gym equipment, the Physical Education,


Health and Recreation Department would also need tents, kayaks and carabiners.

“The first rafts we used were $87 Kmart specials with wood frames we made,” he said. “In some cases if we didn’t have enough paddles we’d pick up lumber and I’d carve one in the field with a machete.”

Students in those early rafting classes wore wool sweaters and pants rather than wetsuits.

“We’ve had remarkably few accidents considering that we taught things like rock climbing, whitewater rafting and winter survival,” he said. “The most accidents we had involved mountain biking. I was writing up five incident reports a quarter. I quit teaching that.

“In most cases, we’re working with novices,” he said, recalling a student from Chicago who strayed from the group while backpacking in the Bitterroot Mountains.

“She yelled, ‘Bear! Bear!’ A couple of (graduate assistants) and I ran her way. Sure enough, there, with her rag wool sock in its mouth, was a huge marmot.”

That’s just one among dozens of teaching moments Green noted from his work in training students for outdoors-related jobs.

“Recreation management is widely versed,” Chase said. “Students have gone on to the private sector, the tourism industry, municipalities, the military, working with nonprofits like the YMCA or opening their own businesses.”

Green’s students open to packing guns have gone on to be Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers and park rangers.

Eastern’s program will certainly evolve from the one that’s been shaped by Green as new people take over, Chase said. But he helped blaze the trail of acceptance for outdoor recreation as a viable academic choice for students.

“(Green) and people like Paul Petzoldt were among the initial cadre to come online in academic circles with research on the value of outdoor education to the industry and what outdoor recreation means to the economy,” Chase said.

Green’s insight into recreation trends and public opinion spread from the university to the community.

He said he volunteered, with the help of his students, to lead more than 3,000 youth-at-risk and physically challenged youth on adventure activities during his tenure at Eastern.

He conducted a survey and research that paved the way for grooming cross-country ski trails at Mount Spokane State Park.

His legal research led to the acquisition of property for John H. Shields Climbing Park, better known as Minnehaha Rocks near Upriver Dam.

Steamboat Rock and Sun Lakes state parks were expanded after Green documented that unregulated camping was damaging riparian areas, fish, and wildlife habitat in the channeled scablands.

Green helped Washington lawmakers write a bill that set standards for whitewater river guides after a drowning in the Wenatchee River.

He started the outdoor program for Fairchild Air Force Base. “ The Air Force saw it as an investment in safety,” he said. “These are young adventuresome people.”

He said the Cheney-Spokane area, with the river and mountains nearby, has been an ideal venue for practicing his career for more reasons than one.

“My car broke down when I was a student and I had to do crowd control for the safety of all the people who stopped to help me,” he said. “Growing up in Miami, that would have been like asking to get shot. Eastern has been a great base camp for what I do.” E

She yelled, ‘Bear! Bear!’ A couple of

(graduate assistants) and I ran her way.

Sure enough, there, with her rag wool sock in its mouth,

was a huge marmot. -Paul Green ’74

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1. Young Professional Network, May 14, Spokane

2. Alumni Association Board Retreat, May 31, Spokane

3. Commencement, June 13, Cheney

4. Summer Plunge, Small Towns Community Service Day, July 18, Walla Walla

5. EWU Day at Woodland Park Zoo, July 25, Seattle

6. EWU Day at Silverwood Theme Park, Aug. 14, Athol, Idaho

7. Eastern Eagles took on the Oregon Ducks, Sept. 5, Eugene, Oregon

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6. MVP Football Body Suit-$19

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About the collectorsWhen EWU professor Walter

Powers and his wife Myrtle,

a teacher, saw Norman

Rockwell’s, The Spelling Bee in

a Seattle gallery around 1970,

it reminded them of their

own grade school experience

and spurred them to build, in

just one decade, one of the

largest collections of Norman

Rockwell original signed

lithographs in the world.

Now retired and generous

supporters of EWU student scholarships, Walt and Myrtle Powers

have donated a significant set of lithographs from their collection

to the EWU Foundation. Sales of these prints directly benefit

student scholarships.

EWU Alumni have an exclusive opportunity to purchase lithographs

from this extraordinary collection. But hurry, the inventory is selling

quickly! And, because of the Powers’ generous donation, 100

percent of your purchase supports student scholarships at EWU.

Visit ewu.edu/rockwellprints to reserve your original Norman

Rockwell signed lithograph.

Learn more about Walt and Myrtle Powers and their collection at

their website at www.rockwellcollector.com.

Pictured right: Teacher’s Pet, 1972, Lithograph (181/200) Pulled at

Edmond et Jacques des Jobert and Atelier Fernand Mourlot, Paris

France. Original drawing commissioned, 1952. Advertisements with

this image appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, Time Magazine

and Newsweek in 1952 and 1954.

Own A Piece of HistoryAlumni can own original Norman Rockwell art and help EWU students graduate!

EASTERN: FALL 201536

http://www.rockwellcollector.com

37

8 EMAIL YOUR NOTES TO [email protected].

class notes

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’15 Mohamed F. Alsaid, BA finance, has joined Etailz Inc. as an

international onboarding coordinator. He previously worked for EWU.

’15 Charles S. Murchy, BFA, visual communication design, won a “Student Gold" Addy Award in the Book design (full) category for his BFA project, Worth, at the District XI awards.

’15 Lindsey C. Wells, BA visual communication design, has been hired by Range as a design artist.

‘15 Sam Wolkenhauer, BA mathematics, BA economics, has been hired by the Idaho Department of Labor as the regional labor economist for five northern counties in Idaho. At EWU, he did work for the Community Indicators website for Spokane, which provided relevant data to improve local, private and public decision-making.

’14 David F. Flood, MBA, has been named vice president of lending

for Spokane Teachers Credit Union. He was previously director of consumer lending for three years. He first joined STCU in 2000.

’14 Jessica Hand, BAE secondary mathematics, has been hired as a high school math teacher at the new College Place High School in College Place, Washington.

’14 Hannah Peterson, BA marketing, has been hired by Etailz as a compliance/lead generation associate.

’14 Tessa R. Svennungsen, BA finance, has joined Etailz Inc. as an accountant. She previously worked at Fruci & Associates P.S.

’13 Jacob M. Garretson, BA outdoor recreation, Airman 1st Class,

graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.

’12, ’08 Miranda Larson, BA visual communication design,

communication studies, and Chris Larson welcomed baby girl, Kate, in July. Miranda is the marketing and communications manager at Spokane Civic Theatre.

’11 Jason Beasley, MBA, has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by the

Spokane Journal of Business. Beasley is the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Magnuson Hotels Worldwide.

‘11 Micah Bockstruck-Martinez, BA interdisciplinary studies, has completed his MEd with an emphasis in student affairs from Iowa State University.

’11, ’08 Tracy Kuhn, DPT, BS exercise science, a physical therapist at Apex Physical Therapy for the past four years, will manage the new clinic at Fairways Plaza in Spokane.

‘11 Martin T. Mitzlaff, BS technology, and ’11 Rachel Seagrave, BFA visual communication design, married March 14. Their bridal party consisted of six other EWU Alumni, Chris Crissman, Jessie Podolinksy (Giamona), Libby Nelson (Butterfield), Kelli Marston, Shane Niles and Ann Crissman (Grochowski).

’10 Asa M. Bradley, MFA creative writing, has been selected one of this

year’s Woman of Achievement winners by the YWCA of Spokane.

’10, ’08 Jessica Vignali, MSW, BSW, and ’10 Nicole Moya, BA studio art, were married Nov. 7, 2014. Jessica is a licensed clinical social worker in California.

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Alums Win Emmy AwardVeteran newscaster Sean Owsley ’92, and recent graduate Mikayla Daniels ’15, were part of a team from KHQ Television in Spokane that earned a Northwest Regional Emmy Award for its on-the-scene coverage of last summer’s Carlton Complex wildfires in north central Washington. Owsley served as the anchor for the award-winning effort and Daniels was an editor. The award was presented in June. Daniels, who has worked at KHQ the past three years while attending school, handled the task of editing footage shot by the team as it was sent back to the studio from the scene. Daniels is good at multi-tasking. She was managing 16-hour days filled with work, family and doing good work in EWU’s Film Program prior to graduating in June. As an older, nontraditional student and single mother, Daniels says it took a supportive university community and a lot of hard work to get her degree while graduating with a high GPA. Daniels is now part of the first cohort of the innovative Stephens College Low-Residency MFA in Television and Screenwriting program, based in Hollywood. Owsley is a graduate of EWU’s journalism program. He hosts a show, Invest Northwest, which has hosted EWU President Mary Cullinan and Athletic Director Bill Chaves as guests this year. He’s also co-anchor of the KHQ’s weekday morning program, The Wake Up Show. Owsley said he owes his career to his mentor at Eastern, former Journalism Department chair and EWU alumnus Steve Blewett ’69, who gave him the guidance he needed early in his career, including help securing an internship for Owsley in his senior year on the morning show he’s now hosted for more than a decade.

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EASTERN: FALL 2015

http://www.khq.com/category/150895/invest-northwest

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class notes

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EASTERN: FALL 2015

You shop. Amazon gives. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the EWU Alumni Association every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3198226, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to our Alumni Association. You use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.

’09 Jeff Hess, BA accounting, has joined Keller Williams Realty as an

agent. He was in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years and formerly worked as a revenue agent for the IRS.

’09 Andrew L. Lindsay, BA HR management, has joined Range NW’s Coeur d’Alene team as production manager.

’09, ’07 Stephanie Oakes, MFA creative writing, BA interdisciplinary studies, has had her first novel, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, published by Dial Books. Oakes is a library media instructor at the Libby Center in Spokane. Her second novel, The Arsonist, is being published next year.

’08 Raelynn (Chaffee) Cramer and Benjamin Cramer were married

in July 2014, in Star, Idaho. They welcomed daughter Gabrielle in May 2015. The family resides in Boise, where Raelynn works as a graphic designer .

’07 Benjamin H. Rascoff, BS communication studies, has been

hired as an associate attorney on Winston & Cashatt law firm’s litigation team in Spokane.

’06 Jason Alvarado, BS computer science, graduated

with his master’s in public administration from Evergreen State College in June.

‘06 Lisa Hagstrom, BA English, married Ryan Flinchbaugh, March 22, in Waimanalo Bay, Oahu. Lisa is the social marketing manager for Microsoft Press. They live in Seattle.

’06 Julie Marr, MA English literature, has been accepted to the PhD program in English literature at the University of Kent, Canterbury, England.

’06 Kellie Robinson, BA health services administration, has been hired by the Center of Occupational Health & Education Community of Eastern Washington as health services coordinator. Previously, Kellie was the administrative service manager at Unify Community Health.

’06 Denielle Waltermire-Stuhlmiller, BA social work, has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by the Spokane Journal of Business. The 34-year-old is the owner of Simply Northwest, one of the last locally owned specialty shops in Spokane.

’05 Gina M. Lanza, BA interdisciplinary studies, a

Famers insurance agent, has been named a “Championship agent” for her outstanding achievements and customer service.

’03 Fianna M. Dickson, MS communication studies, is the

new senior marketing and communications specialist at Inland Northwest Health Services. She was previously with Confluence Health in Wenatchee and she was the director of public relations for the Hope Heart Institute in Seattle for seven years.

’03, ‘87 Danette Driscoll, MEd, BA education, has been named executive director of Spokane HOPE School. She has more than 20 years of experience in K-12 education, including 10 years as a district administrator.

’02, ’94 Daneen Berry-Guerin, BA education, BA business, has

been appointed dean of Workforce Education at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington. She has served as business/business information management instructor at the college since 2005.

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https://smile.amazon.com/

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SURVEY of NEW GRADUATES coming JANUARY 2016. Your feedback impacts FUTURE EAGLES!

ewu.edu/careers

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’02 Celina M. Brennan, BA mathematics education, has been hired by Cheney Public Schools as the principal of Salnave Elementary School, where she has taught for nine years. She recently completed EWU’s principal certification program.

’02 Randall Fink, MA music, retired from Shadle Park High School with the distinction of being the longest-serving choir director in the history of the school. Fink, a 1972 graduate of Shadle, began teaching music there in 1983.

’02, ’99 Brian R. Robertson, MA and BA history, has accepted a tenure track professorship in diplomatic/military history and modern Vietnam at Texas A&M University, Central Texas.

’01 Megan D. Brown, BSW, has earned her juris doctorate from San Joaquin

College of Law. She lives in Clovis, California.

’00 Jessica Kirk, BA Spanish, has been promoted to manager of

Eastern Washington PTAC for Greater Spokane Inc. She was previously in GI’s membership development division for three years.

‘99 Lisa Crockett, BA English, graduated with a doctor of business

administration degree from the University of Liverpool, England, which is ranked in the top 1 percent of higher education institutions worldwide. She became the first graduate of the doctoral program.

’99 Richard “R.J.” Merritt, BS communication studies, has been named president and general manager of KREM (CBS) and KSKN (CW) in Spokane. R.J. has been advancing the local media group for the past 15 years, most recently as director of sales and marketing.

’98 Vicki M. Smith, BA government, a trial attorney and

partner with Portland law firm Bodyfelt Mount LLP, has become a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). She joined Bodyfelt Mount in 2002, and became a partner with the firm in 2009.

’96 Meg Demand, BS biology, is the development manager

of the distinguished events for Coaches vs. Cancer at American Cancer Society in Spokane. She has experience in sales and operations and previously worked for two top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

’96 Daryl Muranaka, MFA creative writing, had his first poetry collection, Hanami, published by Aldrich Press this spring, and a chapter book, The Minstrel of Belmont, this summer from Finishing Line Press. He lives in Bedford, Massachusetts.

’93 Rick Biel, MA history, has completed a course of study in

retirement planning and earned the Chartered Retirement Planning counselor designation from the College for Financial Planning. He is a financial adviser with Biel Investment Management in Spokane.

’92 Aaron Zwanzig, BA mathematics, has accepted a job as project engi-

neer with Integrus Architecture. He is a licensed civil engineer in the state of Washington.

’91 Ken A. Larsen, BA social science education, has been appointed by

Gov. Jay Inslee to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. He is a vice president for Banner Bank, Ninth Avenue Branch in Walla Walla, Washington.

’90 Mathew Plank, BA government, is the new director of development

and capital campaign for HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake, Washington.

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Film Adaptation Screens in Toronto Actresses Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood lit up the screen in the film adaptation of Eastern alumna Jean Hegland’s acclaimed novel Into the Forest, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September. The story centers on sisters struggling to survive after the collapse of society in the not-too-distant future. Hegland’s novel, published in 1998, was set in Northern California, with the teen siblings living in a forest home more than 30 miles from the nearest town. In 1984, Hegland earned her master’s degree in rhetoric and teaching of composition from Eastern. In September, she also released her newest novel, Still Time (Arcade Publishing), about a Shakespeare scholar descending into dementia. Hegland, who for many years lead poetry sessions at a memory care facility, “became very interested in imagining what it might be like to have the plays as a sole lens with which to try to make sense of the world.” And so, John Wilson, a Shakespeare scholar struggling with dementia, was conceived. Hegland was born in 1956 and grew up in Pullman, Washington. Hegland has taught in the English Department at Santa Rosa Junior College. She is proud of the many students she has been able to work with who have gone on to become successful writers, and equally proud of the many others who have expanded their skills and deepened their appreciation of writing on a more personal level. She and her husband live in Healdsburg, California.

EASTERN: FALL 2015

class notes

’90 Charlie Thurston, BA business, has taken the position of PGA Head Professional at the Links Golf Club in Post Falls, Idaho. Previously, he was PGA Director of Instruction at Spokane Country Club.

’89 Russell D. Heaton (Maj., Retired), BS biology, retired from the Army

National Guard Commander 992 VFW Post in Walla Walla. He and ’88 Anne (Toney) Heaton, BA communications, have been married for 26 years.

’86 Lisa Suinn Kallem, radio and television, has won her third Emmy

Award, this time as editor of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Luther Cressman: Quest for First People, winner for 2015 Best Documentary-Historical. She has been with OPB since 1986. Her husband, ’84 Dan Kallem, BA R-TV, is a front-end designer/developer with health care provider ZoomCare, and daughter Kira Kallem currently attends Eastern as a visual communications and design major. They’ve lived near Ridgefield, Washington, for the past 20 years.

’85 Keven Frandsen, BA education, has been named principal of

University High School in Spokane Valley. He previously worked as interim principal of the high school.

’85 Collette C. Leland, BA history, is a shareholder at Winston & Cashatt Lawyers. She has been named a “Rising Star” by Washington Law & Politics Magazine and one of Spokane’s “top lawyers” by Spokane/Coeur D’Alene Magazine.

’84 E.L. “Bud” Backer, BS technology-design, has been

selected by the board of fire commissioners as Fire Chief at East Pierce Fire & Rescue for Bonney Lake, Washington. He has held several leadership positions around the state, including as deputy chief for Eastside Fire & Rescue, Issaquah, Carnation, North Bend, Sammamish, King FD 10 and 38, Washington.

’84 Cheryl K. Simpson, MSW, received the Idaho Quality of Life Coalition 2015 Lifetime Impact Award for Committed Leadership in End-of-Life Care. She was a founder of the Coalition in 2003, and was instrumental in bringing advances in care at the end of life to Idaho.

’83 Bonnie M. Tapscott, BA journalism, has joined Mood Media

as an account executive. She has three decades of sales experience and was previously with hibu and Emerald Outdoor Advertising.

’75 Edmond Bruneau, BA journalism, was a former Easterner editor (1972-

73) and has been the president of an advertising and marketing firm, Creative Consultants, since 1980. His musical group, Robot Raven, has released a Greatest Hits CD, available on amazon. com, cdbaby.com, iTunes and bostonbooks.org.

’73 David K. Thundereagle, BA natural science, has been appointed as

tribal administrator for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. He has nearly four decades of experience, having previously served as tribal administrator for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi of Michigan, and the Bishop Paiute Tribe of California.

’72 Margie (Fanciullo) Douglas, BA physical education, retired after a

42-year teaching career. She worked her entire four-plus decades at Waitsburg (Washington) schools.

’65 Lyle Wirtanen, BA history, received the 2015 "Esto

Perpetua Award” from the Idaho State Historical Society. The award honors individuals for their professional accomplishments, public service, volunteerism and philanthropy related to the preservation of Idaho’s heritage.

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in memoriam

’12 Joel T. Knigge, age 31, died June 1, Spokane, Washington

’09 Jodi L. Thompson, age 31, died April 14, Spokane, Washington

’08 John S. Delbridge, age 30, died June 12, Connell, Washington

’01 T.J. Smith, age 38, died April 28, Spokane, Washington

’95 Patrick Heald, age 57, died June 27, Brawley, California

’91 Cecilia Gaeta, age 51, died April 24, Wenatchee, Washington

’86 Judith E. Himber, age 79, died July 12, Eugene, Oregon

’85 Virginia A. Coonelly, age 69, died April 18, Sequim, Washington

’85 Adelia Garza, age 52, died July 7, Yakima, Washington

’84 Blake T. Vergon, age 75, died May 25, Spokane, Washington

’83 Rich L. Runyon, age 64, died May 7, Cheney, Washington

’82 Michael D. Jones, age 55, died July 1, Republic, Washington

’81 Cliff Luden, age 58, died May 30, Sammamish, Washington

’80 Betty J. Bartlett, age 78, died May 29, Seattle, Washington

’80 Marc Lindsey, age 59, died May 31, Moscow, Idaho

’78 Tracy A. Smith, age 58, died Sept. 22, 2014, Spokane, Washington

’77 Lori J. Finley, age 59, died June 19, Veradale, Washington

’74 Kathleen E. Julian, age 62, died April 22, Spokane Valley, Washington

’73 James R. Dunham, age 62, died July 12, Spokane, Washington

’72 Helen N. Dorman, age 86, died June 15, Spokane, Washington

’72 Ronald R. Snyder, age 71, died June 5, Spokane, Washington

’71 Glenn W. Boling, age 82, died May 21, Cheney, Washington

’71 Col. Eddylou Donovan, age 64, died April 25, Spokane, Washington

’70 Robert J. Davis, age 70, died July 10, Pullman, Washington

’70 Donald C. Shook, age 81, died July 4, Kennewick, Washington

’70 Guy H. Stone, age 70, died March 16, Phoenix, Arizona

’69 Neil E. Kottwitz, age 79, died May 4, Phoenix, Arizona

’68 Gerald W. Bannon, age 69, died April 23, Spokane, Washington

’68 Keith A. Church, age 72, died May 29, Lewiston, Idaho

’67 Tom A. Hamm, age 69, died May 28, Portland, Washington

’66 Lawson W. Van Kuren, age 73, died June 26, Cheney, Washington

’65 Mario A. Ghislieri, age 75, died April 11, Vancouver, BC

’65 Sharon K. McMullin, age 73, died June 1, Spokane, Washington

’61 Jimmie B. Morlan, age 84, died April 24, Bellingham, Washington

’60 Russell C. Gray, age 99, died May 3, Visalia, California

’59 Lyle E. Balderson, age 84, died May 23, Spokane, Washington

’58 Joseph W. Culler, age 90, died May 8, Chewelah, Washington

’56 Robert N. Morgan, age 87, died March 18, Vancouver, Washington

’54 Garth H. Turner, age 89, died May 7, Spokane, Washington

’53 Gilbert A. Bachelor, age 83, died April 30, Corvallis, Oregon

’53 Donald E. Minnich, age 84, died July 15, Walla Walla, Washington

’52 James Scott Wright, age 84, died March 25, Healdsburg, California

’43 Raymond H. Hunt, age 94, died July 11, Kennewick, Washington

’42 Robert G. Stoelt, age 95, died April 24, Kirkland, Washington

Faculty & Staff’87 Sister Mary Noreena Carr, PhD, died April 30, at age 93. She was Professor Emerita from EWU’s Department of Education from 1996, having concluded 55 years of active teaching.

Professor John Duenow died May 27. He retired from the Music Department in 1999, after 29 years of service.

Anna Dvorak, PhD, died in a climbing accident on Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains on July 7. She was an assistant professor of geography/GIS. She had been with the university since September 2013.

Steven Stumph died April 17. He retired from EWU in February 2003, with 31 years of service in the university’s Grounds Department.

Mary Shields Wilson, age 91, died July 18 in Spokane. She was appointed by Gov. Dan Evans to Eastern’s board of trustees in 1968. She served on the board through October 1982. In her obituary it reads, “Mary loved spending the night in a dorm with students and going to classes with them the next day. She quickly became well known and well loved by the entire university. Spokesman-Review staff writer Dorothy Powers wrote a column about Mary’s dedication to her community and noted her unique manner: 'Somehow she manages a rare combination of charm with candor.' The family requested that in lieu of flowers, gifts be sent to Providence Sacred Heart Foundation, EWU Foundation or the Junior League of Spokane.

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final thoughtsFrom Lisa Poplawski, director of Alumni AdvancementI’m standing beside the historic Herculean Pillars. Dedicated in 1915, this marks its 100th birthday. The story of its creation is one I love to tell every year at the annual Pass Through the Pillars event in which hundreds of new freshmen enter, signifying the beginning of a new journey. Why this particular spot? I’m glad you asked. In 1912, a devastated community stood and watched their beloved Showalter Hall burn to the ground. Immediately, alumni and students began brainstorming about creating a memorial using granite from the charred building. With permission from the board of trustees, a committee and vision became one of Eastern’s first fundraising campaigns. Led by alumni and students, they would soon have the monies to bring their symbol of hope and new beginnings to reality. And just like the day in 1915 when the Pillars were dedicated, faculty, staff and current students come together in celebration - cheering and throwing out high-fives to welcome in the next generation of alumni. The Pillars are the perfect place to share my final thoughts for this issue of the magazine. Wait for it … Inspire Awesome! Yes, you. Twenty-five years ago this year, I began my journey at Eastern ready to conquer my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. Like many of you, I didn’t graduate with the degree I came here seeking; however, my experience was far more impactful than I could have imagined. And like you, I am so proud and thankful for the education I have received. Every day, I am blessed to come to this campus and witness greatness. It is happening in every meeting room, classroom and building. I don’t have to go far from my office in Hargreaves Hall to be inspired by thoughts, ideas, projects and dreams. That being said, awesomeness does have limitations. For our students (and for many of you) it is the reality of choosing “real life” versus staying in school. Regional schools in the state of Washington collectively have an average graduation rate of 30 percent. That is not “awesome.” Eastern Washington University wants to be the leader in increasing that percentage. One of the ways we are doing this is by kicking off the Inspire Awesome Scholarship Campaign this fall with the distinct goal of keeping our students in school. If a student and family has entrusted us with their journey our goal is to help remove obstacles forcing them to leave before their diploma is in their hand. It was radical in 1912 for alumni to ask fellow grads to pledge no less than $5 to help pay for the architectural plans and creation of the Herculean Pillars. But they did! I ask that each of you consider being radical too. One hundred years later, and as a fellow alumna, I would be honored if you would pledge no less than $5 a month ($60/year) or purchase a personalized brick for the Pillars walkway to support “radical awesomeness.” I have no idea what radical awesomeness looks like, but if it supports student scholarships, I am all in!

Inspire Awesome: ewu.edu/inspireawesomePass Through the Pillars: ewu.edu/brick

EASTERN: FALL 2015

events calendarJoin your fellow alumni and friends at these exciting events. For ongoing events and information, visit alumni.ewu.edu, follow Alumni on Facebook and Twitter, or send your email to [email protected].

For a calendar of all athletic events, visit goeags.com. For more information and to register for events, visit alumni.ewu.edu or call 888.EWU.ALUM.

EASTERN: FALL 2015 43

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Red ZoneTheThe

Where Eagle Fans Get Fired Up!

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3EWU Volleyball

vs. Idaho(Reese Court)

8YPN Event, How to

Communicate at Every Stage in Your Career

(Spokane)

9College of Business and Public Administration’s 50th Anniversary Gala

(Cheney)

10EWU Football vs. Cal Poly

Hall of FameCancer Awareness

EWU Alumni Red ZoneCBPA 50TH Anniversary

Celebration(Roos Field)

17Library Oktoberfest

(JFK Library)

30CSTEM

10TH Anniversary Computing & Engineering Building and

Programs(Cheney)

31EWU Football vs. Weber StateEWU Alumni Red Zone Watch Party

(Roos Field)

5Bonfire, Pep Rally

and Bed Races

7EWU Football vs. Northern Arizona

Military AppreciationASEWU 100 Year Reunion/Reception

EWU Alumni Red Zone

12YPN Event

Holiday Social(Spokane)

13-19EWU Theatre

presents Pocatello (Cheney)

14EWU Football at Montana

EWU Alumni Pregame(Missoula, MT)

21EWU Football vs.

Portland StateEWU Alumni Red Zone

(Roos Field)

23Men’s Basketball

at Seattle(Seattle)

HOMECOMING WEEK 2-7

mailto:[email protected]

University AdvancementEastern Washington University102 Hargreaves HallCheney, WA 99004-2413

Non Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDEastern Washington

University

EASTERN Magazine

SAVE THE DATEHOMECOMING

NOV. 2-7

alumni.ewu.edu@ewuathletics | GOEAGS.COM

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Eastern Magazine | Fall 2015

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Transcript of Eastern Magazine | Fall 2015