Gifts supporting graduate research expand educational and professional opportunities for students in all disciplines and are critical for our future. Graduate students drive original research and discovery, deepen our understanding, and inspire, teach, and mentor our undergraduates.
Western needs your help to ensure these bright scholars have the funding they need to thrive, grow as scholars, and complete their research.
The first $1000 in gifts to the Graduate School on Give Day will be generously matched dollar for dollar by David and Bahareh Patrick.
Gifts to the Graduate School Fund directly support graduate student research, field experiences, and professional development opportunities by funding travel, conference registration and fees, and materials purchases.
The Dean Ross Endowment established by Dr. J. Alan & Dorothy C. Ross supports graduate student travel enabling scholars to present their work at professional venues, develop professional connections, and share, discuss and debate new ideas in their scholarly communities.
The Dean Ross Endowment allows Western graduate students to present papers at professional meetings and conferences, display works of art at national and international exhibitions, and to perform, direct or produce within professional performing arts venues. Such experiences are vital opportunities that often mark important milestones in their professional development.
LiAn Noonan, MS Candidate in Biology LiAn Noonan (she/her) is a first-year grad student of Biology who studies endemic alpine flora in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades. Noonan is a recipient of the Fraser & Hodgson Family Fellowship and the WWU Graduate Research Award for her thesis project entitled, “Continuity of Floristics in the Alpine Zone of the Cascade-Sierran Axis: Is there a Continuum?” Noonan is interested in whether flora from the Sierra Nevada have the potential to migrate in response to climate change.
At the heart of Noonan’s research is an interest in conservation efforts on behalf of alpine endemic flora. Noonan says understanding flora’s capability to migrate is crucial for conservation efforts because they’re not capable of adapting in time to survive climate fluctuations. So, identifying potential regions of conservational priority for these endemic species is a big step in the right direction.
Noonan hopes to continue her work in conservation by extending her research with a follow-up study on dispersal barriers. Her faculty advisors are Instructor Mike Williams and Dr. Ben Miner, and Dr. Matthew Zinkgraf.
Hannah Hennig (she/her) is a second-year graduate student of chemistry who focuses on the development and characterization of photothermal catalysts. Specifically, Hennig’s research is centered around a reaction that satisfies a critical step in the production of solar fuels: optimizing the light-to-chemical energy efficiency of catalytic systems used in the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Hennig is a recipient of both the WWU Graduate Research Award and the WWU Washington Space Grant Consortium Summer Research Award in 2021—a 10-week summer fellowship funded by NASA—for her thesis project, “Nickel Phosphide Photocatalyst Development for CO2-Derived Solar Fuels.”
During her fellowship last summer, Hennig’s research was focused on studying different combinations of catalyst and support materials to gain insight on their respective roles in determining photothermal catalytic properties. She will present her findings this spring at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Conference and WWU’s Scholar’s week.
Hennig is a member of the Bussell Group, a surface and materials chemistry-focused research group supervised by WWU Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Mark Bussell. Hennig says that Dr. Bussell fosters a collaborative work environment rooted in real-world applications and has been an excellent mentor in both research and writing. Hennig also recently received the WWU Ross Travel Grant, which supports graduate student travel for professional opportunities. Hennig says, “It’s an awesome program that will cover the cost of airfare to the ACS conference in San Diego!”
Between her undergraduate and graduate studies, Hennig worked in environmental analytical laboratories and developed a love for instrumentation and a deep appreciation for what she calls “the nitty-gritty parts of analytical work.” After graduating, she plans to return to industry with a focus on characterization and instrumental analysis.
Peter Miterko (he/him) specialized in participatory action research with a focus on permanent supportive housing.
Miterko credits Dr. Sean Bruna, WWU Professor of Anthropology, with much of his growth and success in his graduate research. Bruna’s Medical Anthropology Lab was an important space for Miterko, who says, “I want to stress that Sean really helped me get through the ups and downs in my research—he pulled me through.” During his time at WWU, Miterko notes that “really everybody in the anthropology department was very accessible and supportive.”
One method Miterko used in his thesis research is photovoice, an innovative, multimodal approach to qualitative research that uses photography to promote positive social change. Miterko conducted semi-structured interviews, asking participants to take photos and tell stories about those photos to show their experience and identify issues that are most important to them. Miterko gathered the participants' photography and stories to use as data, but the photos were also displayed in a downtown Bellingham gallery, then later in the permanent supportive housing program where Miterko’s research was originally conducted.
Miterko also says his MA in anthropology made him industry-ready, and he transitioned into working locally in homelessness and housing after graduation. He now works for Skagit County Health Department on their housing team, which has fortunately been able to procure extra funding for housing projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, one non-profit he works with, Skagit Connections, recently procured a mobile shower for individuals who don’t have access to that resource.
Not only has Miterko's time in grad school at WWU been practical in terms of his employability, but his research has received a lot of attention as well. In March 2020, the journal Housing and Society published an article from Miterko's thesis entitled “Resident identified strengths and challenges of project-based permanent supportive housing program implementation in a small metropolitan county.” A second article from his thesis, "Reframing sense of community with photovoice: perspectives from residents of a permanent supportive housing program who have experienced chronic homelessness," was just published in the Journal of Community Practice.
Like many social sciences, anthropology serves as a snapshot into the human experience. Making anthropology relevant and practical has been part of Miterko’s mission. In his current role, he supports local homeless and housing service providers in Skagit County. Most recently, he's been a part of the county’s emergency response to flooding in the area.
When you support the Graduate School,
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Rank | Prize | Area of Support | Donors |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $1,000 | WWU Volleyball | 132 |
2 | $1,000 | Ice Hockey | 127 |
3 | $1,000 | Accounting Department | 106 |
4 | $1,000 | Men's Rowing | 102 |
5 | $1,000 | Marketing Program | 93 |
6 | Women's Soccer | 71 | |
7 | Psychology | 61 | |
8 | College of Business and Economics | 60 | |
9 | Scholarships & Student Success Funds | 56 | |
10 | The Fairhaven Outback Farm | 55 | |
11 | Computer Science | 51 | |
12 | Men's Soccer | 48 | |
13 | Cross Country & Track and Field | 45 | |
14 | Woodring College of Education | 45 | |
15 | MSCM & Operations | 43 | |
16 | Women's Basketball | 41 | |
17 | Chemistry Department | 39 | |
18 | Water Skiing Team | 36 | |
19 | Behavioral Neuroscience | 35 | |
20 | Geology | 31 | |
21 | Anthropology | 30 | |
22 | Donate to Fairhaven Here! | 29 | |
23 | English Department | 28 | |
24 | WWU Racing | 26 | |
25 | Music Department | 26 | |
26 | Men's Ultimate (DiRT) | 26 | |
27 | Linguistics | 25 | |
28 | History Department | 25 | |
29 | International Business Program | 23 | |
30 | MBA Program | 23 | |
31 | Biology | 23 | |
32 | Young Democrats of WWU | 23 | |
33 | Rowing (Women's Varsity Crew) | 22 | |
34 | Marine and Coastal Science | 21 | |
35 | Men's Lacrosse | 20 | |
36 | Journalism | 20 | |
37 | Women's Ultimate | 20 | |
38 | WWU Child Development Center | 20 | |
39 | Sailing Team | 19 | |
40 | Western Libraries | 19 | |
41 | Health and Human Development | 19 | |
42 | Finance Program | 19 | |
43 | Economics | 18 | |
44 | Mathematics | 18 | |
45 | The College of the Environment's Available Funds | 18 | |
46 | College of Fine and Performing Arts | 17 | |
47 | Help Build A Coast Salish Longhouse At WWU! | 17 | |
48 | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Program | 17 | |
49 | Western GAP Scholarship | 17 | |
50 | Speakers in Schools Fund - Give Day Challenge! | 16 | |
51 | Communication Sciences and Disorders | 16 | |
52 | Sociology | 16 | |
53 | Women's Rugby | 16 | |
54 | SEA Discovery Center | 16 | |
55 | Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programs | 15 | |
56 | Men's Basketball | 15 | |
57 | College of Humanities and Social Sciences | 15 | |
58 | Modern and Classical Languages | 15 | |
59 | Education Abroad | 15 | |
60 | College of Science and Engineering | 14 | |
61 | Student Emergency Fund | 14 | |
62 | University Honors College | 14 | |
63 | Theatre Arts | 14 | |
64 | Viking Athletics | 13 | |
65 | The Ray Wolpow Institute (RWI) | 13 | |
66 | Club Wrestling | 12 | |
67 | Physics and Astronomy | 12 | |
68 | AS Clubs | 12 | |
69 | Elementary Education Department | 12 | |
70 | The College of the Environment | 12 | |
71 | Men's Ultimate Teams | 12 | |
72 | Millie Johnson Puzzle Hunt | 11 | |
73 | Political Science | 11 | |
74 | International Student Support | 11 | |
75 | Graduate School | 11 | |
76 | Engineering and Design | 10 | |
77 | Institute for Energy Studies | 10 | |
78 | Men's Rugby | 10 | |
79 | Center for Canadian-American Studies | 10 | |
80 | Career Services Center | 10 | |
81 | Management Information Systems | 10 | |
82 | Advanced Technology Engineering Facility | 10 | |
83 | Environmental Science | 10 | |
84 | Marion Van Nostrand Scholarship | 9 | |
85 | Diversity in Geoscience Club | 9 | |
86 | Design Department | 9 | |
87 | Woodring Equity & Diversity Programs | 9 | |
88 | LGBTQ+ Western | 8 | |
89 | Student Technology Center's Booster Fund | 8 | |
90 | Fairhaven College Opportunity Scholarship | 8 | |
91 | WWU Swim Team | 8 | |
92 | Women's Ice Hockey | 8 | |
93 | Decision Sciences | 8 | |
94 | Communication Studies | 8 | |
95 | Other | 7 | |
96 | Western Symphony Orchestra Spain Tour 2023 | 7 | |
97 | Global Humanities and Religions | 7 | |
98 | WHOLE - AS Food Pantry | 7 | |
99 | Support Black Students In STEM | 7 | |
100 | Compass2Campus | 7 | |
101 | Women's Lacrosse | 7 | |
102 | WWU Psychology Counseling Program | 7 | |
103 | Women's Volleyball Sport Club | 7 | |
104 | Happy Club | 7 | |
105 | Salish Sea Institute | 6 | |
106 | Institute for Critical Disability Studies | 6 | |
107 | Dance | 6 | |
108 | WWU Club Baseball | 6 | |
109 | Music Department Scholarships | 6 | |
110 | Figure Skating | 6 | |
111 | Environmental Sciences Department | 6 | |
112 | Art and Art History Department | 6 | |
113 | Dr. Renee Collins Scholarship for Black Women | 6 | |
114 | Environmental Studies Department | 6 | |
115 | Associated Students General | 6 | |
116 | Institute for Watershed Studies | 5 | |
117 | Institute for Environmental Toxicology | 5 | |
118 | The College of the Environment Annual Scholarships | 5 | |
119 | WWU Alumni Association Scholarship | 5 | |
120 | WWU Equestrian Team | 5 | |
121 | Parents and Families | 5 | |
122 | CBE Professional and Career Readiness Program | 4 | |
123 | Women's Golf | 4 | |
124 | Athletes to Educators | 4 | |
125 | Secondary Education & MIT | 4 | |
126 | Education Leadership | 4 | |
127 | Human Services | 4 | |
128 | Planned Parenthood Generation Action Club | 4 | |
129 | Department of Philosophy | 4 | |
130 | WWU SACNAS | 4 | |
131 | Woodring Hardship Scholarships | 4 | |
132 | AMSEC - Materials Science | 4 | |
133 | WWU Club Golf Team | 4 | |
134 | Bellingham Rotaract Club | 4 | |
135 | Joann Otto Microscope Endowment Fund | 3 | |
136 | Uche Ugwoaba Computer Science Scholarship | 3 | |
137 | CBE Diverse Students Opportunity Scholarship | 3 | |
138 | WWU Hip Hop Dance Team | 3 | |
139 | Geography Program | 3 | |
140 | Men's Water Polo | 3 | |
141 | Science, Math and Technology Education | 3 | |
142 | Men's Golf | 3 | |
143 | Western Stands for Racial Equity Fund | 3 | |
144 | Environmental Education | 3 | |
145 | Climate Innovation Fund | 3 | |
146 | Women's Water Polo | 3 | |
147 | Adoptees Alliance | 3 | |
148 | Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 | |
149 | WWU Speech and Hearing Clinic | 3 | |
150 | Cybersecurity Club | 3 | |
151 | Alpha Kappa Psi Omega Beta | 3 | |
152 | Christman Challenge | 3 | |
153 | Nursing | 3 | |
154 | Student Economics Association | 3 | |
155 | Named Scholarships | 2 | |
156 | WISE Scholarship | 2 | |
157 | Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education | 2 | |
158 | Shannon Point Marine Center | 2 | |
159 | The Broad Reach Endowment | 2 | |
160 | Alma Clark Glass Scholarship for STEM | 2 | |
161 | Vernon Damani "Dr. J" Johnson Scholarship | 2 | |
162 | Jose S. Velasquez Memorial Scholarship | 2 | |
163 | Judo Club | 2 | |
164 | Brent Golden Memorial Scholarship | 2 | |
165 | NeRDS | 2 | |
166 | Palliative Care Institute | 2 | |
167 | Advanced Technology Engineering Facility | 2 | |
168 | East Asian Studies | 2 | |
169 | Opera Club | 2 | |
170 | KUGS Scholarship | 2 | |
171 | Fairhaven Outback Farm | 2 | |
172 | Society of Professional Journalists | 2 | |
173 | Western Gallery | 2 | |
174 | The Wesley Club at WWU | 2 | |
175 | WWU Food Recovery Network | 1 | |
176 | Lillie Mae Witherspoon Minority Scholarship | 1 | |
177 | College of the Environment | 1 | |
178 | Grace Miller-Dunbar Award | 1 | |
179 | Mars Lab Fund | 1 | |
180 | Kradjan Family Admissions Scholarship | 1 | |
181 | Patrick L. Monahan Scholarship | 1 | |
182 | Uche Ugwoaba Men's Soccer Scholarship | 1 | |
183 | Gregory and Elizabeth Grant Scholarship Endowment | 1 | |
184 | Freeride Ski and Snowboard Team | 1 | |
185 | Center for Pacific Northwest Studies | 1 | |
186 | Department of Management | 1 | |
187 | WWU Girl Gains | 1 | |
188 | WWU Outdoor Center | 1 | |
189 | High Intensity Club (Kpop Dance Cover) | 1 | |
190 | Cheerleading | 1 | |
191 | Emily Lang Memorial Scholarship Fund | 1 | |
192 | The Leslie Lingley Memorial Student Fund | 1 | |
193 | Equestrian Team | 1 | |
194 | Men's Volleyball | 1 | |
195 | Climbing Team | 1 | |
196 | Business and Sustainability Program | 1 | |
197 | Cozy Club | 1 | |
198 | Freeride Ski and Snowboard Club | 1 | |
199 | Environmental Justice Scholarship | 1 | |
200 | Honoring Women in Sport and the Impact of Title IX | 1 | |
201 | AS Professional Women's Association | 1 | |
202 | Chinese Student Association | 1 | |
203 | Japanese Student Association | 1 | |
204 | NAMI on Campus WWU | 1 | |
205 | Nancy Bluestein-Johnson Peninsulas Scholarship | 1 | |
206 | Rocky Spencer Memorial Scholarship | 1 | |
207 | Stephanie Bowers Endowed Scholarship | 1 | |
208 | Student Emergency Fund | 1 | |
209 | WWU Fly Fishing Club | 1 | |
210 | WWU Tennis Club | 1 | |
211 | Campus School Legacy Scholarship | 1 | |
212 | Womxn of Color Empowerment Scholarship Fund | 1 | |
213 | Student Outreach Services | 1 | |
214 | Lakewood | 1 | |
215 | Bellingham Review | 1 | |
216 | Elliot Scott Memorial Scholarship | 1 | |
217 | Exercise Science Lab | 1 | |
218 | Stephen Senge Fund for Teaching Innovation | 1 | |
219 | Thaddeus & Lois Price Spratlen Fund for Diversity | 1 | |
220 | Wakeboarding Team | 1 | |
221 | WWU Queer-Con | 1 | |
222 | CBE Investment Management and Scholarship Fund | 1 | |
223 | Hillel of WWU | 1 | |
224 | Opera Club | 1 | |
225 | Student Services and Programs | 1 | |
226 | Undocumented Student Support / The Blue Group | 1 | |
227 | Veteran Services | 1 | |
228 | Chess Club | 1 | |
229 | WCE Promise Scholarships for Students of Color | 1 | |
230 | College of Business and Economics | 0 | |
231 | College of Humanities and Social Sciences | 0 | |
232 | College of Science and Engineering | 0 | |
233 | Athletics | 0 | |
234 | Scholarships, Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives | 0 | |
235 | Programs/Centers/Institutes | 0 | |
236 | Club Sports | 0 | |
237 | Student Clubs | 0 | |
238 | College of Fine and Performing Arts | 0 | |
239 | Woodring College of Education | 0 | |
240 | Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies | 0 | |
241 | Western on the Peninsulas | 0 | |
242 | Vietnamese Student Association | 0 | |
243 | Mens Volleyball | 0 | |
244 | Psychology Club | 0 | |
245 | Cycling | 0 | |
246 | Sustainability Engagement Institute | 0 | |
247 | Kinesiology Club | 0 | |
248 | The National Society of Collegiate Scholars | 0 | |
249 | Pacific Islander Student Association | 0 | |
250 | WWU Swing Kids | 0 | |
251 | Professional and Continuing Education | 0 | |
252 | Learning Environment Action Discovery (LEAD) | 0 | |
253 | Adult and Higher Education | 0 | |
254 | Early Childhood Education | 0 | |
255 | Rehabilitation Counseling Program | 0 | |
256 | Living Snow Project | 0 | |
257 | Academy for Lifelong Learning | 0 | |
258 | Arts Enterprise and Cultural Innovation | 0 | |
259 | Bellingham Order of the Saber | 0 | |
260 | Bennerstrom Prize | 0 | |
261 | Bradley F. Smith Internship Program | 0 | |
262 | Brian K. and Lori L. Burton Fund for Innovation | 0 | |
263 | Campus Recreation | 0 | |
264 | Caregivers and Parents | 0 | |
265 | Carl H. Simpson "Bridging" Fund | 0 | |
266 | Children's Literature Conference | 0 | |
267 | Chuckanut District of WSFGC Scholarship | 0 | |
268 | Communication Club | 0 | |
269 | Cycling Team | 0 | |
270 | Dina Benedetti Scholarship Endowment | 0 | |
271 | Disability Studies Steering Committee (DSSC) | 0 | |
272 | Donald B. McLeod Scholarship Endowment | 0 | |
273 | Dr. Elena Pereyra Peach Award Scholarship | 0 | |
274 | Dr. Lina Zeine Scholarship | 0 | |
275 | Endowed Professorship in Jewish History | 0 | |
276 | Ethnic Student Center | 0 | |
277 | Filipino-American Student Association | 0 | |
278 | Frank Punches Memorial Endowment Fund | 0 | |
279 | Fresh Water Ecology | 0 | |
280 | Global Ambassadors | 0 | |
281 | Harry Potter Club | 0 | |
282 | Health and Community Studies | 0 | |
283 | Hearing Aid Bank | 0 | |
284 | Ingrid Stahlbrand Kassler Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
285 | James B. and Angela Rhoads Scholarship | 0 | |
286 | Jamie Foland-Tseng Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
287 | Jolene Sanchez Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
288 | Khmer Student Association (KhSA | 0 | |
289 | KM Fund for Holocaust and Genocide Studies | 0 | |
290 | Manis Family Scholarship | 0 | |
291 | Mary Morrison Family Music Scholarship Endowment | 0 | |
292 | Matthew Gaphni Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
293 | MK Advantages of Learning Differently Scholarship | 0 | |
294 | Morse Leadership Institute | 0 | |
295 | Mountain Environments Research Institute | 0 | |
296 | Music Library | 0 | |
297 | Native American Student Union | 0 | |
298 | Net Impact WWU | 0 | |
299 | Norma Hall-Alice Stout Memorial Endowment | 0 | |
300 | Occam's Razor - Student Academic Journal | 0 | |
301 | Office of Sustainability | 0 | |
302 | Pre-Dental | 0 | |
303 | Pre-Med Club | 0 | |
304 | Pre-Optometry Club | 0 | |
305 | Prim Scholarship for Diversity and Inclusion | 0 | |
306 | Psychedelic Club | 0 | |
307 | QueerCon | 0 | |
308 | Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education | 0 | |
309 | Resource Center | 0 | |
310 | Rich and Stephanie Bowers Endowment | 0 | |
311 | Running Club | 0 | |
312 | Ruth S. Cox Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
313 | Sandberg Scholarship | 0 | |
314 | Shaw Gynan Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
315 | SINI-HHA | 0 | |
316 | Small Business Development Center | 0 | |
317 | Sociology Club | 0 | |
318 | Softball | 0 | |
319 | Special Collections | 0 | |
320 | Special Education | 0 | |
321 | Studebaker Family Student Success Fund | 0 | |
322 | Student Ambassador Scholarship | 0 | |
323 | Student Employee Recognition Program | 0 | |
324 | Students for Socialist Revolution | 0 | |
325 | Tabetha Fox Clark Scholarship | 0 | |
326 | Ted Pratt Scholarship | 0 | |
327 | The College of the Environment Graduate Programs | 0 | |
328 | The College of the Environment on the Peninsulas | 0 | |
329 | The Collège of the Environment Access Scholarships | 0 | |
330 | The Jazz Project Scholarship | 0 | |
331 | The Journal of Educational Controversy | 0 | |
332 | The Planet - An Award Winning Student Publication | 0 | |
333 | Timothy Crossan Memorial Fund | 0 | |
334 | Vassdal Design Scholarship | 0 | |
335 | Wakeboard Team | 0 | |
336 | Washington Campus Compact | 0 | |
337 | Western Community Outreach | 0 | |
338 | Western on the Peninsulas Scholarship | 0 | |
339 | Wheelchair Basketball | 0 | |
340 | Willis Ball Memorial Scholarship | 0 | |
341 | WWU Life Drawing Club | 0 | |
342 | WWU National Science Teachers Association Chapter | 0 | |
343 | WWU Retirement Association | 0 | |
344 | WWU Student Chapter of NSTA | 0 |
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