Words of Wisdom from Amber Ebarb ’03
|
Feature by: Casey Brown, Managing Editor
|
On May 21, 2023, Whitman College alum Amber Ebarb ’03 stood in front of the Class of 2023 and delivered the 137th Commencement address. It was 20 years, nearly to the day, after receiving her own Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology on the Memorial Building stage.
It was Ebarb’s first time returning to campus—and in her years away she has been standing up for and supporting the interests of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and communities.
Following Whitman, Ebarb began her career with an advocacy group founded in 1944—the National Congress of American Indians in Washington D.C.—taking on more significant roles over the years. Ebarb, herself, is an Alaska Native and enrolled citizen of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes.
While working, she also earned her Master’s in Public Policy with honors and a focus in public budgeting and finance from The George Washington University.
In 2019, Ebarb made the move to the U.S. Congress. She began as a legislative assistant on the Alaska Native and Rural Affairs portfolio for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). In January 2023, she was named the Minority Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs by Murkowsi who is the vice chair of the committee.
“I never would have thought I’d have the honor of working in the Senate, helping staff the very committee that has jurisdiction over Indian Affairs,” Ebarb says.
Read more.
|
|
|
Welcome New Staff Members
|
Please join us in welcoming the following new Whitman employees who started in July:
|
- Ilse Spiropoulos, Marketing and Communications Fellow for the Career and Community Engagement Center
- Timothy Golden, Visiting Professor of Philosophy
- Jonathan Simons, Assistant Director for Career Mentoring Programs
- Erika Greenup, Theatre and Dance Office Manager and Harper Joy Theatre Box Office Manager
- Tony Aceves, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Services
- Micaiah Newman, Residence Director
- Tina Niemeier, Custodian
- Sydney London, Campaign Communications Fellow
- Natalie Auth, Post Office Assistant
- Helen Whited, Administrative and Events Assistant
- Connie Duran-Gomez, Admission Officer
- Daniel Bloor, Admission Officer
- Janet Adams, Administrative Assistant for Development
- Mary Schmerer, Mailing Coordinator
- Colton Doering, Accounting Coordinator
- Halley Munoz, Assistant Director of Security
|
Staff Employment Opportunities
|
Whitman College is currently hiring for the following staff positions:
|
|
|
Student Supervisor Update Next Week
|
There will be an information session for supervisors of students on Wednesday, August 9 at noon in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom (RSVP in advance). The session is for supervisors with two or more semesters of supervising experience and will cover institutional changes that are taking place over the next 12 months and information on inclusive hiring practices and workplaces.
|
Elite Swim Clinics on August 19 & 26
|
Whitman Swimming will host day clinics for competitive swimmers on August 19 and 26 at Harvey Pool in the Baker Ferguson Fitness Center. Led by Assistant Swim Coach Stuart Vickery, the clinics will run from 8:45 a.m. to noon and are available to swimmers ages 9 and up (registration form). See attached flyer for more information.
|
Volunteer for Opening Day
|
If you would like to help welcome our newest students and their families to campus, please sign up to volunteer on Opening Day, Wednesday, August 23. Opportunities include helping with check-in, traffic control, move-in assistance and more.
|
Power and Privilege Symposium is Hiring
|
The Power & Privilege Symposium is designed to make space for conversations about structural oppression and how they manifest themselves on Whitman campus, in the Walla Walla community and beyond. The 2023–2024 Power & Privilege Symposium is currently hiring for two Programming Directors, two Operations Directors and one Marketing and Communications Director. Positions start in late September 2023, finish in early May 2024 and come with a $1,000 stipend for the year. The application form is now open! Questions? Email Executive Director Brandon Martínez Serrano ’24.
|
|
|
Whitman Today is now on Instagram! Follow @whitman.today for news, announcements, and bonus content.
|
|
|
Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
|
|
|
“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.
|
|
|
Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
|
|
|
|
