Thursday, November 17, 2022

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust awarded herpetologist and Professor of Biology Kate Jackson the Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award for 2022. The honor was announced at the 31st Annual Murdock College Science Research Conference in Vancouver, Washington.

 

The award recognizes senior faculty members with established research programs and includes $20,000 of funding to support student-faculty research. Jackson won for her “internationally recognized work to advance scientific knowledge of herpetology, snakes and snakebite in Africa and to mentor the next generation of scientists.” 

 

“Receiving the Lynwood Swanson research award, it’s so surprising–my colleagues and I do this kind of research with students and engage in scientific research without ever expecting that it will be formally recognized, so it’s wonderful and surprising to have that happen,” Jackson said. 

 

The theme of this year’s conference, co-hosted by Lewis & Clark College, was “One Earth, One Community, Enriched by Science.” In addition to Jackson, a delegation of Whitman students and faculty as well as President Bolton attended to celebrate their research accomplishments. 

 

Read an expanded version of this article.

Noteworthy

At the Mahaffey Memorial Tournament hosted by Linfield University, Whitman’s Debate and Forensics team continued their inaugural forensics season with outstanding performances. Taegan Wilson '23 placed fourth in after dinner speaking, Alexa Grechishkin '25 placed fourth in open impromptu speaking, and in open duo interpretation, Heidi Adolphsen '23 and Jas Liu '24 placed fifth. Sophia Pilling '26 also advanced to the octofinal round of junior IPDA. Whitman Debate and Forensics will finish the semester at a virtual tournament held the first weekend of December.

For Whitman employees, the 2023 open enrollment is from Friday, Nov. 18 to Friday, Dec. 2. Watch this video to learn more about benefit changes. Have questions? Virtual and in-person Q&A sessions are available:

• Thursday, Nov. 17: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Human Resources (MEM 104)
• Friday, Nov. 18: 9-11 a.m., Human Resources (MEM 104)
• Monday, Nov. 21: 1-2:30 p.m., virtual

• Monday, Nov. 28: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., virtual

To obtain enrollment forms through BambooHR or to receive more information, please contact hr@whitman.edu or call 509-527-5173.

Yesterday, 240 COVID-19 boosters and 60 flu shots were administered at Cordiner Hall. If you received your COVID booster please remember to fill out the COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Attestation Form.

 

As a reminder, the college is requiring all eligible students, faculty and staff to be up-to-date on their vaccinations as defined by the CDC, which includes receiving the most-recent bivalent booster, by the end of the calendar year.

The Freedom Songs 2022-2023 concert will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Harper Joy Theatre. The theme this year is "Freedom Sings: The Art is Our Resistance." If you want to perform or model for the fashion show, please email Emmanuel Sakala or Marina Balasanyan by Monday, Nov. 28. If you want to submit art pieces (poetry, essays, photos, paintings, etc.) to the Freedom Songs Zine, email Diana Issa by Monday, Nov. 21.

Whitman College seeks nominations of students focused on civic engagement, particularly in: Housing & Food Insecurity, Academic Engagement, Medical & Mental Health, and Environmental Stewardship. These students will be nominees for both the Newman Civic Fellowship and the Washington Campus Coalition Student Civic Leader Award. Nominations are due by Thursday, Dec. 1. For more information for award details and to nominate a student, visit the Community Engaged Student Leadership Award Nomination form.

The HEDS Campus Climate Survey is open for students. This anonymous survey asks students for their perceptions of Whitman’s campus climate, perceptions of how Whitman supports diversity and equity, and about experiences with discrimination and harassment. Students, check your email for the survey link.

Daily COVID-19 Update

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, no one with Whitman access tested positive for COVID-19. 

 

Please continue to follow all our campus COVID-19 protocols to help prevent transmission. If you have any symptoms that may be COVID-19 or know that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please be tested. Additional masks and rapid test kits are available in the front entryway at the Welty Student Health Center during normal operating hours. 

Have an event you'd like to share 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 times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time. 

 

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 should be 125 words or less. The deadline is 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.

 

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