Faculty and staff profiles

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Getting to know Helen Morgan Parmett

Title: Assistant professor in the Communication Department

What do you love most about your department?: “Everyone makes a big effort to respect each other. Everyone is open and transparent about decision-making processes, and I think that helps foster a sense of collegiality.”

Years at Western: This is her first year.

Originally from: Grew up in Connecticut and lived 10 years in Vermont. Did her graduate work in Minnesota.

Getting to know Karen Stout

Title: Professor in the Communication Department

What do you love most about your department? “How collegial we are with each other. We really respect each other so we can get the work done for the organization.”

Years at Western: 13th year

Originally from: Kent. Attended Kent-Meridian high school then University of Puget Sound for undergrad.

Hobbies: Hanging out with her kids, playing piano bass guitar, and quilting.

Getting to know Marli Williams

[ Editor's note: If you see Marli on campus today, please wish her a happy 30th birthday! ]

Title: Academic support coordinator in Student Outreach Services and coordinator of the Western Outdoor Orientation Trip (WOOT!) Program.

Getting to know Kristina Luce

Title: Assistant professor in the art department

What do you love most about the art department?: “The collegiality. Everyone is very supportive, and encouraging of creativity, both on the part of the students and between each other.”

Years at Western: First year at Western

Originally from: Cincinnati, Ohio

Hobbies: “Not many right now, as new faculty there isn’t any free time—if walking the dog is a hobby maybe that counts?“

Getting to know Teri Hall

Title: Program coordinator for the WWU theatre and dance department

What do you love most about your department? “The drama. Well, no, not really. Truthfully, I love the creativity and the students are so enthusiastic about the curriculum offered.”

Years at Western: First year at Western. Previously worked at Whatcom Community College.

Originally from: Washington state

Getting to know Deb Currier

Deb Currier, an associate professor in the theatre and dance department at Western Washington University, is the director of "Deception Pass: An American Story," on stage in the WWU Performing Arts Center through Feb. 3.

WWU Communications and Marketing intern sat down with Currier earlier this week.

Years at Western: 11th year teaching at Western

Originally from: Riverside, Calif., then graduate school in Oregon and now in Bellingham

Dave Doughty retires after 43 years at Western

After working at Western Washington University for 43 years, Assistant Police Chief Dave Doughty has retired. Doughty came to Western as an undergraduate student from Nebraska in 1968 with plans to major in music education, but due to scheduling errors, he ended up unable to begin the program his freshman year. Doughty worked that year for the Associated Students as a student sound technician, and in the summer of 1969, he began working as a student security officer (now known as the Green Coats) for four years.

Western's Katy Frank delivers clean floors, fine art

In the tidy, colorful living room of her house on St. Paul Street in Bellingham, Katy Frank carefully lays out a couple dozen images she’s cut from magazines. Desert landscapes. A zebra. Trees in the throes of autumn. A hand leaving a bloody print on frosted glass.

She steps back and studies, searching for the pieces missing from her half-finished collage. As she works, she explains the mindset behind her choices as an artist.

Math instructor creates interactive online algebra textbook

Eric Kean, the viola instructor/math lecturer at Western Washington University who developed content for pre-calculus and AP statistics iPhone apps last year, has two more things to add to his resume: Web developer and textbook author.

Staffer's journey to commencement lasts 32 years

When summer commencement arrives on Aug. 20, few students will have waited longer to turn the tassel than one soon-to-be alumna, Western senior Ruth Hackler.

Hackler, who works as an administrative assistant in the Department of Psychology, will receive her B.A. in Psychology—about 32 years after taking her first class at the university.

Make no mistake—she is far from being a slacker.

“It really did not take me 32 years to finish,” she says with a laugh.