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Sharing our stories, reconnecting with friends, and inspiring the next generation of Walla Walla University alumni.

Links to the latest alumni news.

Your stories in your words.

The latest magazine and
previous issues.


Seen and Heard

WWU alumni in the news

Have you or a fellow WWU alumnus been in the news? We want to celebrate with you.
Your career milestones are an inspiration to current and future WWU students.
Send your news links to westwind@huakangbook.com.

Melissa Hosey
2007 | Nursing

Melissa Hosey was recognized in Becker's Hospital Review: 141 Women to Know in Health IT. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hosey took steps to revolutionize the health system, initiating a digital journey, achieving short-term staffing goals and laying the groundwork for a long-term staffing model moving forward. She overhauled the system's talent acquisition strategy and expanded in-house staffing technology to manage recruitment and retention.
Read more >

 

Julia Madsen
2022 | Education


In the summer of 2023, Julia, a transitional kindergarten teacher in Redlands, California, was invited to participate in an episode of Let’s A Make a Deal where she won $4,400. Julia is using her winnings to buy classroom supplies. 

 

Bengt Gustavsson
2013 | Business, pre-physical therapy

Bengt Gustavsson was appointed President of the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation, and will lead the hospital's development programs aimed at enhancing clinical services and community health programs.
Read more >

 

 

James Newell
1970 | Business

Eric Newell
2003 | Business

James and Eric Newell were recently a part of a historic return of ceremonial items to the Sinte Gleska in South Dakota. In 1879, their family had been gifted beaded moccasins, a buckskin shirt and pants, and the eagle-feather headdress of Chief Spotted Tail (Sinte Gleska). As a sign of respect, James and Eric returned the gifts to the fifth-generation descendant of Chief Spotted Tail, who in turn has gifted the items to the South Dakota History Museum. The governor of the state of South Dakota has proclaimed that week as "Sinte Gleska & Newell Friendship Week," in recognition of the long-lasting friendship between the two families. 


Read more news about WWU alumni



Back to You

Alumni share their stories in their own words

by Becky St. Clair ’05, mass communications

by Shane Anderson ’94, theology

by Virginia D. Avery '22, social work (M.S.W)

by Janelle (Pierson) Heisler '12, '15, health promotion and nursing

by Susan (Sanders) Gardner '70, English


Westwind magazine

Curated stories and news to inspire and reconnect WWU alumni


AlumNotes
Walla Walla University alumni as well as current and former faculty and staff are invited to submit AlumNote information to be included in Westwind.

In Memory
Family members of deceased alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to submit obituary information to be included in Westwind.

Westwind staff
Editor:
 Kelsi Nash
Student staff writers: Emma Dodds, Hailey Werner