Meet the new Wenatchee Valley College faculty

Media Contacts: Libby Siebens, executive director community relations, 509.682.6436 (Mon. – Thurs.)

October 26, 2015

		First Row: Kelly Anderson, Janna Goodyear, Rene Baca, Will Kraske Second Row: Rebecca Hargrove, Andrea Goodwin, Micky Jennings, Tria Skirko Third Row: Katie Lantau, Ariahna Jones

 

Wenatchee Valley College welcomed almost a dozen new faculty members to the Wenatchee and Omak campuses this fall. The faculty are filling a variety of new and vacant positions in both professional/technical and transfer divisions.

Kelly Anderson will teach adult basic education courses in the new High School 21+ program through the WVC Transitional Studies department. Prior to WVC, she worked for two years at Green River College in Auburn implementing the HS21+ program. She also has ten years in correctional education at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen. Kelly has bachelor's degrees in apparel and textiles, and social sciences from Washington State University and a master's degree in technology in curriculum from Lesley University.

Janna Goodyear teaches developmental education. Prior to WVC, Janna worked at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque as a developmental English and ABE instructor. She has a bachelor's in English from North Carolina University and master's in rhetoric and writing from the University of New Mexico.

Rene Baca is the new Spanish faculty member who came to WVC from Las Vegas, New Mexico. He has also worked as a Spanish instructor at New Mexico Highlands University and at the Washington State University Extension Office. Rene has bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in Spanish from New Mexico State University.

Will Kraske has been hired as a math faculty member on the Omak campus. He has a bachelor's degree in engineering physics from the University of Maine, a master's in physics from the University of Maine, a master's in cross-cultural track from Columbia International University and a doctor of ministry degree from Columbia International University. Will and his wife moved to Washington state from the east coast in 1991 to work in ministry and have lived in Omak ever since. He has tutored high school students in math for over 24 years. For four years, he has led a pre-college research class at Omak High School and has taken students to the National American Indian Science and Engineering fair to present their research. He taught math part time at WVC at Omak for six years prior to being hired full time.

Rebecca Hargrove teaches English courses at the Wenatchee campus. She has a bachelor's in humanities from Lubbock Christian University and a master's in English from California State University. Much of her studies focused on multicultural and minorities' literature. Rebecca is thoroughly involved in the Wenatchee Valley community: she taught English on a part-time basis at WVC for five years, worked as a Member Services Director at Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce and North Central Home Builders Association, and is co-chair of the Cashmere Royalty Selection Pageant. She and her husband, Steve Vradenburg, make their home in Monitor with their three children.

Andrea Goodwin is a WVC alumna who is now a temporary full-time medical assistant instructor. She has a transfer degree from WVC and is working on a bachelor of science degree in healthcare administration. She has worked as a part-time instructor for the medical assistant program since 2005.

Micky Jennings teaches in WVC's new machining program. He was born and raised in Walla Walla and has lived in Yakima and Omaha, Neb. He has an associate degree in precision machining from Walla Walla Community College and work experience in tool and die, prototype and job shop machining. "The first wave of students will be graduating from the [WVC] machining program this year, and I'm excited to be part of their success," Micky said.

Tria Skirko is the electronic services librarian for both campuses. She earned a bachelor of arts in humanities from Western Washington University, a Washington Teaching Credential from Heritage University, and a master's in library and information science from the University of Washington. Tria grew up in Omak and spent her early years in her mother's restaurant and her dad's tree surgeon business. As a result, she understands the importance of small businesses to her community and endeavors to serve those businesses through her work on the Omak Chamber of Commerce Executive Board and as a partner in The Vintage Faire. Tria said she is thrilled to contribute to and work for one of the most important educational opportunities in her community, WVC.

Katie Lantau is a WVC alumna who teaches in the medical laboratory technology program. She has a technical degree in medical lab technology from WVC and bachelor's in biology from Central Washington University. Katie completed an internship at Sacred Heart Medical Center and then worked at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Wash., before returning to CWU for her master's degree in biology. She enjoys traveling and landscape photography, for which Washington provides an abundance of locations.

Ariahna Jones is the new physical education and outdoor recreation faculty. She has a bachelor's degree in natural resource management from Western Washington University and a master's in water resource management from McGill University. Ariahna grew up in Tonasket, Wash., and has spent the past 10 years working in a variety of outdoor education and natural resource management settings. She has been a river guide and naturalist, outdoor and international leader, a wilderness therapy instructor and, most recently, she worked in Wenatchee School District's Science Resource Center. "We are in the middle of a shift in the regional economy and community sentiment, with outdoor recreation playing a major role in employment and healthier lifestyles for a more sustainable future," Ariahna said. "This is an exciting time, and I am thrilled to be with Wenatchee Valley College at the forefront of this movement."