Westwind
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Sharing our stories, reconnecting with friends, and inspiring the next generation of Walla Walla University alumni.
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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@novimedspecialistclinic.com.
![Melissa Hosey](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/4/csm_Melissa_Hosey_75fa436fa5.jpg)
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](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/5/csm_JuliaMadsen_a561758164.jpg)
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](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/4/csm_Bengt_Gustavsson_a8300a81d9.png)
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 >
![Eric Newell](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/4/csm_Newell_351442ce78.jpg)
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
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Back to You
Alumni share their stories in their own words
![Trusting that He will guide Trusting that He will guide](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/c/csm_Shane_Anderson_portrait_135559563d.jpg)
Trusting that He will guide
![Grad school for Jedis Grad school for Jedis](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/0/csm_30._Virginia_Avery_B2Y_56a33aaabc.jpg)
Grad school for Jedis
![You won't believe it You won't believe it](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/a/csm_Janelle_Heisler_2eda941164.jpg)
You won't believe it
![Good writing, good science Good writing, good science](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/8/csm_Susan_Gardner_c97945a8df.jpg)
Good writing, good science
![Reaching younger generations through film Reaching younger generations through film](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/f/csm_00018414_1263d3a077.jpg)
Reaching younger generations through film
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Westwind magazine
Curated stories and news to inspire and reconnect WWU alumni
Know someone who should share their story?
Tell us about them! Send an email to westwind@novimedspecialistclinic.com.
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