Alumni
Ha’aheo Auwae-Dekker, Film and Media '22, had their film, Malihini (2021), included in MOMA’s Festival of Non Fiction Film and Media in NY in February as part of Doc Fortnight. The film explores Ha’aheo’s relationship with their mother and issues of diasporic Kanaka identity.
Colina Bruce, MNPL ’15 and Noir Lux Candle Company CEO has partnered with Starbucks on a new product launch, the new Seattle Community Capsule Collection, which will be on sale exclusively at the Roastery. The set of three candles has been in development for nearly a year and complement the flavors of some of the roastery's newest coffees. The box includes blackberry, citrus, and cream inspired fragrances. Learn more here.
Kymberly Evanson, BA, Foreign Language and University Honors '99, was confirmed as a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington. Judge Evanson was nominated last year to the position by President Biden.
Erin Grant, BA, History '15, a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, has been named the inaugural Assistant Curator of Native American Art at Portland Art Museum. “As an Indigenous scholar and museum professional, I have always strived to be the bridge connecting institutions and their audiences to the worlds and cultures they reflect. I am guided by community collaboration and outreach methodologies. As I seek more growth opportunities, I am eager to continue my work in the prioritization of Native voices and to contribute my voice on a bigger scale at the Portland Art Museum.”
Vinnie Hobbs, Communication and Media ’09, edited Dua Lipa’s new video, Dance the Night, the first single released off the Barbie soundtrack, Barbie: The Album. He also edited the official music video for KaRoL G’s Watati which features Aldo Ranks, also included on the soundtrack. Read more here.
Katie Kepler, MACJ '23 and former SPD Research Analyst was hired as an officer/recruit with the Seattle Police Department
Josh Merchant, French 2020, The Kansas City Beacon’s local government reporter; read their latest story. After graduating from Seattle University, Josh attended Columbia Journalism School, earning a master’s degree in investigative journalism. Josh has contributed reporting to The Seattle Spectator, The South Seattle Emerald and THE CITY in New York.
Shawn Richard-Davis, BA Criminal Justice ’83, was recent featured in a PBS/StoryCorp interview with her son, Jerrell "RellBeFree" Davis. As part of the collection, Pain and promise: remembering the fight for school integration, Richard-Davis talks about her experiences in education, including time at Seattle University.
Rebecca Saldana, BA Theology and Religious Studies and Humanities ‘99, is running for Washington Department of Natural Resources Lands Commissioner. She is featured in recent stories by News from the States and South Seattle Emerald.
Benjamin Shelton, Ecological Studies '06, was appointed General Counsel for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
Allison Terenzio, English/Creative Writing ‘20, was named Executive Director at Treasure Valley Children's Theatre.
Megan Torgerson, MFA Arts Leadership ‘20, returned home for a recent episode of her podcast, "Reframing Rural, and talked about it in "Podcast tells and examines story of rural Montanans. The podcast was the centerpiece of Torgerson’s summary project.
Students
Elaria Zakhary and Eden Sedgwick received the 2023-24 Blume Criminal Justice Scholar Award. The award goes to an undergraduate and graduate student whose academic work, research, and/or service advances scholarship and practice at the intersection of criminal justice and mental health. The award is named after Ann and Bruce Blume. Blume Criminal Justice Scholars receive a $2,500 Award for the 2023-24 academic year, are included on ther list of Blume Criminal Justice Scholars, and serve as student leaders on the department’s advisory committee for the 2023-24 academic year.
Elaria Zakhary is a senior in the undergrad program in the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics pursuing a BA with specialization in Criminology and Criminal Justice Theory. Elaria is an Egyptian first-generation college student. Elaria volunteers at the probation office in Bellevue, WA. Through her work in probation, Elaria was given the opportunity to work firsthand with those viewed as criminals. She realized as she had more and more encounters with probationers, that the stigma associated with being convicted of a crime is far from the truth and that these individuals are humans recovering from past mistakes, many of whom have mental health needs. Working with individuals under mandatory probation, specifically individuals convicted of domestic violence, Elaria learned about risk assessment and resources offered to probationers including Domestic Violence Moral Resonation Therapy (DVMRT) to build their cognitive abilities and moral reasoning. Viewing the impact of DVMRT and its effectiveness in reducing recidivism, motivated Elaria to pursue a career in rehabilitation focusing on mental health needs of formerly incarcerated to help individuals rejoin their communities and have a lower chance of reconviction. Elaria currently works as a Seattle University Crime & Justice Research Center Research Analyst for the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans and the Before the Badge Longitudinal Evaluation.
Eden Sedgwick is a second-year student in the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) program, specializing in Investigative Criminology. Eden is interested in conducting research on the importance of law enforcement responses to mental health crises. She believes it is imperative that everyone, regardless of what they are going through, is understood and treated with compassion, especially by members of law enforcement. She hopes her work can help bridge the gap between research about mental health and the actions of practitioners in the criminal justice system. After graduation, Eden is planning on pursuing a career in law enforcement with the Seattle Police Department. By joining law enforcement, she intends to bring empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of what it is like to live with substance use disorders and mental illnesses into her interactions with members of the Seattle community. Eden currently works as a Seattle University Crime & Justice Research Center Research Analyst with the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans.