1970s
Tim Mellin (’72 Comm.) joined the St. John Bosco High School radio and online broadcast crew as a stringer and is a replacement color commentator for Prep Sports Network after covering local high school sports events following his retirement from the Los Angeles County Health Department in 2017. Mellin was a medical and legal document processor and inspector with the department. He did advance local publicity for the Keith Jackson Rose Bowl memorial service and statue unveiling in 2019 in Pasadena, California.
Ted Baseler (’76 Comm.), retired CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Auction of Washington Wines. The auction is one of the top five charitable wine auctions in the United States. Over his 34 years in the business, Baseler worked tirelessly to develop the state’s wine industry while also giving back through public service, and his work led to the establishment of the Wine Science Center at WSU Tri-Cities in 2015.
Gina Smith (’78 Int. Des.) is an associate landscape architect for SPVV Landscape Architects in Spokane. Smith is responsible for designing, estimating, and managing the development of landscapes for governmental, commercial, and educational commissions. Her recent projects include Peperzak Middle School for Spokane Public Schools, West Village Park for the City of Richland, and Skyline Elementary School for Mead School District.
1980s
Robert Schiffner (’81 Const. Mgmt., ’87 MBA) is the recipient of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 2023 Champion of Justice Award, which recognizes individuals who defend constitutional rights and endeavor to ensure justice and due process for those accused of crime. Schiffner worked as a prosecuting attorney in Grant County, Washington, until he was terminated for speaking out against contract defense attorneys failing to meet with clients and file motions while carrying caseloads of more than 600 felonies. Schiffner now works in criminal defense. He also began traveling the world to broaden his perspective, visiting over 29 countries and seeing the effects of poverty and suffering around the world. He worked to build a preschool and kindergarten for the children of the Rose of Charity Orphanage and local low-income children in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Eventually, he added a five-acre garden to supplement the orphanage and the local food bank.
Les Wong (’86 PhD Ed. Psych.) is interim president of Connecticut College. Previously, Wong was president of San Francisco State University and Northern Michigan University and interim president of the University of Southern Colorado. He has been a member of the Connecticut College Board of Trustees since 2019 and will resign as trustee to serve the Board in an ex officio capacity.
Cathy Fulkerson (’88 MA Anthro.) is one of Western Nevada College’s 2023 emeritus recipients, retiring from her position as research and effectiveness director. Fulkerson became WSU’s director of institutional research in 2007 after starting as a student data analyst. She moved back home to Nevada in 2010, becoming the institutional research and effectiveness director at Great Basin College and later at WNC in 2013, serving both institutions from 2014 to 2018.
Sally (DeChenne) Bryant (’89 English, Busi.) is CEO of Bryant Group, an executive search firm and one of the top 2,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. She started a fund-raising consulting firm, DeChenne Company/Philanthropy Consulting, in 2001, where she served university clients for six years.
Rena Carlson (’89 DVM) is president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Carlson has held different AVMA leadership roles for more than 10 years, and she has served as a veterinarian at Idaho State University for 24 years.
1990s
Steven Marks (’93 MS Vet. Sci.) is the founding dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University. Previously, Marks was associate dean and director of veterinary medical services and clinical professor of emergency and internal medicine at North Carolina State University.
Cheryl Oliver (’99 Elem. Ed., ’09 MEd) was appointed to Pullman Regional Hospital’s Board of Commissioners, replacing C. Michael Murphy. Oliver is associate dean of professional programs at the Carson College of Business. She also serves on the WSU Global Campus Academic Council and the Women in Business Education International Network. Previously, she was a chairperson of the YMCA of the Palouse’s Board of Trustees and cochair of Citizens for Pullman Schools.
2000s
Mark Gottschalk (’03 History) is dean of Learning Commons at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas. Previously, Gottschalk was director of libraries at South Plains College for four years. He is a mentor for the Texas Accelerated Library Leader Class of 2022 and is active in the Texas Library Association.
Jennifer Robinson (’05 PharmD) is vice president for interprofessional education at WSU Spokane. Previously, she was associate dean of professional education and has worked for the university since 2006.
Jered Cottell (’08 Const. Mgmt.) is project manager at Rafn Co., a Bellevue-based general contractor. He has worked at Rafn for 10 years and is leading the Nook at Northaven Apartments project in Seattle.
John Skadorwa (’08 Busi., ’09 Soc. Sci., ’11 MBA) is chief operating officer at Kwik Lok Corp., a Yakima-based company. Previously, Skadorwa served as a program management director on Blue Origin’s BE-4 Rocket Engine Program in Kent, Washington. He has more than 25 years of experience in industries including the military, construction, energy, aerospace, and manufacturing.
2020s
Cedar Cunningham (’22 Finance) is competing for a place on the US Olympic rowing team for the 2024 Olympic Games. He rowed for Cougar Crew, earning Pac-12 All-Conference team honors and American Collegiate Rowing Association first team All-American honors.
Spencer Walker (’22 Finance) is a donor experience officer for athletics in Boise State University’s Division of University Advancement. Previously, he served as a development assistant for WSU Athletics and as a special events and operations intern at the University of California Irvine Athletics Department.