JIM BROTHERTON
Technical Writer

From his home office, Jim processes and packages questions, sending them to multiple translators and then documenting how administrators answer them. Jim sets up and configures various features of a business software product called Microsoft Dynamics AX. Day in and day out, he asks questions.

“My success in this career is due, in part, to the experiences and the mentoring relationships I had at Western. There is a language you learn on the job, a world of on-going discourse, when you teach English Composition 101, when you study the world of literature or literary theory, when you join the editorial crew on one of the literary journals, and when you learn how to provide constructive feedback in a writers’ workshop.”

GABE GALINDA
Attorney at Law

Graduating from W.W.U. in 1997 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Gabe later attended the University of Arizona College of Law and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2000. Gabe is currently an associate with the Seattle firm of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC, specializing in Indian law and commercial litigation. He also serves as President of the Northwest Indian Bar Association.

"I use writing skills every day and all day," he said. "The manner in which you present information is as important, if not more important, than the substance of the information you seek to convey."

Gabe identified his technical writing course at Western as the most important course he took as an undergraduate student. He said failing to demonstrate sound writing skills can cause people to discount what one is saying, and even damage a person's credibility. For more information about Gabe Galanda, visit: www.wkg.com and www.nwiba.org.

STAR HANG NGA RUSH
Interim Dean at
Bellevue College

"My time at WWU showed me that writing and reading well could be more than an end unto itself. It could be a way to serve and affect my world. I gained confidence as a thinker and a writer, a person who could translate thoughts into actions, ideas and feelings into words, and see and explain structures and patterns. Undergraduate writing classes required precision, lyricism, and vivid imagery. Poetry is a manifesto of systemic thought; I think about, use, and refer to the intricacies of form, structure, and the patterns of rhyme and reason every day of my working life."

"I am indebted to my WWU mentors for modeling passion and commitment to the field of teaching, learning, and the world of words and images, because it makes possible, for me, a professional life of meaning that I can share with others."

MEGAN CLARK
Novelist

After graduating from Western, Megan went on to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California’s professional writing program, further going on to complete her first novel. After meeting her agent at a Portland writers' conference, she landed a two-book deal with Kensington Books, N.Y. Her second book, released in August 2009, is a novel-length version of a short story she had first brought to Kate Trueblood’s workshop. Megan never gave up on that story and continued to work on it on and off for years, remembering Kate’s comments, until it was published.

WILL ROACH
Systems Engineer at
Cisco Systems

Will Roach graduated from W.W.U. in 1998 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. He was hired a week before graduation by Active Voice Corporation, which was later acquired by Cisco Systems. He currently works in a technical lead position for Cisco on their Unity system. As part of a team, he troubleshoots voice mail systems in large networks. Mr. Roach has also written, produced, and directed several plays. He has been published by Rain City Projects, and is currently writing a screenplay.

"The ability to articulate and communicate effectively is what they were most interested in," he said, referring to his employment with Active Voice Corp. He attributes his ability to excel at Active Voice, and later Cisco, to three key skills: the ability to deliver informal informative talks, the ability to write technical documents, and the ability to clearly communicate while dealing with critical accounts.

Mr. Roach said his English background and communication skills have been vital to his advancement. "A lot of people have technical skills, but being able to communicate effectively with both clients and staff really sets a person apart."

AMANDA HILL
Assistant Professor of
Composition & Rhetoric

After graduating last spring from WWU’s Master’s in English Studies Program, Amanda moved to Seattle to begin a new position as the Interim Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition in the Humanities and Sciences at Cornish College of the Arts. She teaches writing courses and serves as the College’s Writing Center Coordinator. As a teaching assistant in the first year writing program, Amanda worked closely with Donna Qualley and Cathy McDonald.

"Their mentorship often took the form of collaborative inquiry, creating opportunities for me to participate in collective pedagogical decisions. Faculty members’ dedication to grad students’ development on all fronts leads them to be accessible and open to students who are pursuing a variety of professional goals and scholarly emphases. From them I have learned that mentorship is a relationship-based endeavor, one that need not be defined by shared disciplinary fields or even pedagogical theory.”

KATE LEBO
Arts Organizer

Two years after graduating from Western with a creative writing degree, Kate landed a full time job as a development associate and volunteer coordinator for the Hugo House, the Northwest’s premiere literary arts center.

“I would have been just a speck on their hiring committee’s radar if I hadn’t already hung around the house the previous year, mentoring young writers, helping with special events, and finding a home in my newly adopted city of Seattle by volunteering for one of its celebrated non-profits. Volunteering didn’t just change my working life, it made me part of a community of writers. Now I’m paid to mentor other volunteers as they look for ways to participate in our community. I love my job.”

“Mentorship wasn’t a word that I often heard in the halls of the Humanities Building, and it wasn’t the title of an internship or a class, but it was everywhere in all the ways that counted. The opportunity to mentor is an opportunity to say thanks to my teachers. But most importantly, mentoring is an opportunity to learn. I know I’ve been a good mentor when I feel like I’ve learned more from my mentee than I ever could have taught them.”

KYLE JENSEN
Assistant Professor of English at
University of North Texas

Following the completion of his doctoral degree at Illinois State University, Kyle joined the faculty at the University of North Texas as a tenure-track assistant professor of English. He specializes in the field of rhetoric and composition studies with an emphasis on composition pedagogy, new media, contemporary critical theory, and deception rhetoric.

Kyle’s dissertation, A Counter-Proposal for Process: Toward the Development of Online Writing Archives, challenged the predominant approach to research and instruction in composition studies and process theory in order to assert a more philosophical approach to research and instruction, which understands writing as a complex phenomenon that is central to exploring the human condition. He is currently the online editor of JAC: A Journal of Rhetoric, Writing, Culture & Politics, which you can find at www.jacweb.org.

“The English Studies curriculum at WWU was foundational to my growth as a scholar and teacher. It certainly prepared me to make an informed decision about the value of doctoral programs that place a similar emphasis on interdisciplinary research and instruction.”

MOLLY RIDDELL
Technical Writer at
Gambro BCT

Molly Riddell graduated from W.W.U. in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology/Psychology and a minor in English. She had always enjoyed writing and took technical communication courses at Western to improve her skills. After completing these courses, she realized that she wanted to become a professional writer. After graduating from Western she enrolled at the University of Colorado (Denver) and began working on graduate certification in Technical Communication. Shortly into her program, she was hired by Gambro BCT, an international company specializing in blood component technology. Selected from nearly 100 candidates, she felt her communication skills and writing portfolio were probably what got her the job.

“Some of the best skills you can have are communication skills. They will always be in demand,” she said.

As a member of the Technical Publications team, her writing tasks include developing and editing operator’s manuals, training materials, and letters to customers. She works with four other writers who are responsible for project management, translation of materials, and promotional writing.

“We have a lot of autonomy in our group. We don’t collaborate on specific projects, but work cooperatively by editing each other’s work and exchanging ideas,” she said.

As a benefit of employment, Gambro supports her continuing education by providing full reimbursement of her tuition and books.

ALANNA TRITT
Administrative Assistant

Shortly after graduating with a B.A. from Western Washington University’s Creative Writing program last June, Alanna headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“I had often dreamed of living in Santa Fe, so I took a chance and moved prior to securing a job. The situation could have been disheartening, given the town’s competitive job market, but I had been taking advantage of the student employment opportunities at Western. I had worked as Editor-in-Chief of Jeopardy Magazine as well as Coordinator of the Sexual Awareness Center. These positions taught me to be diplomatic, resourceful, and resilient. Technical writing classes taught me how to write strong application materials. Finally, many faculty members had given me advice or references. Within a month I found a job as an administrative assistant for a museum exhibit design firm.”

DOUG HYLDAHL
Criminal Defense Attorney

Doug Hyldahl completed his major in English at W.W.U. and graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in English. He then attended the University of Washington's School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1983. He began his law career working with the Quinault Indian Nation and later with the firm of Shepard & Abbot of Everson, Washington. He joined the Whatcom County Public Defenders Office in 1987 where he has practiced law for the last sixteen years. Mr. Hyldahl will begin private practice again in March 2003 as a founding partner of Lester & Hyldahl.

"It's hard to divorce English skills from the practice of law; it's part and parcel of everything you do when you're building a case," he said. "Writing helps me put together my argument. I believe the ability to cogently write helps in the ability to cogently speak," he said.

Doug remembers an assignment in college when he had to analyze the poetry of William Blake and write in concrete terms about abstract ideas. He said this was one of the experiences that gave him confidence that he could practice law.

"It's pretty simple to take concrete facts in the real world and think about them critically-once you've analyzed Blake that becomes very easy," he said.

He suggests for those interested in trial law the best majors to take would be English and theatre.

"Trial law is essentially telling a story and is all about communication." Studies in English develop the ability to communicate verbally, and the study of theatre could really help in communicating non-verbally.

VALERIE NYBERG
Assistant Project Director at
Iowa City Community School District

Since her years at Western (BA 99, MA 04), Valerie has been pursuing her Ph.D. in the Language, Literacy & Culture program at the University of Iowa.

Beginning in 2005, she started working with a summer enrichment program for African American high school students, The Academy in Cedar Rapids in Iowa. Now, Valerie directs a similar program, The Institute for Higher Learning, which promotes the development of a healthy identity and sense of belonging, increasing academic growth and achievement through self-directed, intensive study of African American history and literature as well as math and science. Link: http://www.uiowa.edu/~obermann/gradinstitute/

Valerie is currently with the Iowa City Community School District as the Assistant Project Director of the Safe Schools, Healthy Students Grant.

“The lessons and perspectives I learned while at Western were invaluable to helping me develop a more global perspective. Without the warm welcome and support I received from the English Department, I would not be here.”

TERESA HERTZ
Co-owner of
Blossom Childcare and Learning Center

Teresa Hertz graduated from W.W.U. in 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in English Education 4-12. She later returned to Western to earn a second teaching endorsement in reading K-12. She began teaching as a substitute after graduation and found full-time work with Lummi High School, where she taught for four years.

In September 1997, Ms. Hertz and her partner, Maureen Young, began planning the opening of Blossom Childcare and Learning Center. They opened the center on June 1, 1998.

"My English skills enabled me to develop a business plan, write the Center's literature, and create a pre-registration packet which led to us being 70 percent full before we even opened our doors. When all you have is a vision, the literature you provide is really important."

"For a person with any inkling that they want to ever be their own boss, a background in English is ideal. You can always hire an accountant, but for communicating with staff and clients, English skills are essential."

PAUL LINHOLDT
Professor of English at
Eastern Washington University

A Professor of English at Eastern Washington University, Paul has a position that includes an environmental studies component. His special interest – ecological criticism, or ‘ecocriticism’ – is an interdisciplinary field that looks at the nexus of literature, culture, and the environment. Paul’s most recent research concerns a series of paintings commissioned by the Bureau of Reclamation to celebrate its massive dam projects in the American West. You may view the kind of work he does by clicking here.

“Studying with Annie Dillard at WWU kick-started my interest in the greening of American literature. She inspired us, motivated students in an incendiary sense, as though sacred flames were pouring from her head. My affiliation with WWU over the course of two degrees – and a post-Ph.D. stint as a lecturer – shaped me forever as a scholar, writer, teacher, and citizen of the world.

MATT RAGER
Tenure-Track
Community College Professor

Matt graduated from WWU in the spring of 2007 with a Master’s degree in English. He is currently a full time member of Whatcom Community College’s English Department, where he has taught composition, literature, and creative writing courses. In addition to his teaching duties, Matt has continued to write creatively. In the last year he has had short stories published in Boston University’s AGNI, and the online literary journals Word Riot and Pindeldyboz.

“When I was at Western, one of the biggest surprises was how quickly I found myself more than comfortable in the classroom.”

“This quarter I am working with a student who is writing a novel, and another who is reading and writing about Infinite Jest. The opportunity to offer support and guidance as they dive headlong into what they are passionate about, and what they find intellectually meaningful, has been a hugely rewarding experience.”

JORDAN HARTT
Director of Programs for
Port Townsend Writers' Conference

"What I see most often as Director of the Port Townsend Writers' Conference is that reading and writing changes lives. As an undergraduate studying literature and creative writing from 1997-2001 at Western, the books I read transformed my life as much as travel did."

"We are not the same people as after we read Hamlet, Things Fall Apart, La casa de los espiritus, or the epic narratives of pre-colonial Africa. We develop understanding and empathy; we see the world through the eyes of others, and we develop the ability to make culturally, socially, and individually formed decisions toward a sustainable future."