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WA-SEN Alumni Spotlight: Where are they now?

2024-25 Student Coordinators

Kayla Hoy & Becca Tibbetts

WA-SEN North Region

WA-SEN Student Advisors will oversee this region for the remainder of the 2024-2025 academic year. If you are a student from the North Region looking to get involved with WA-SEN or have questions about upcoming events and opportunities please email north@wa-sen.org.


Campuses in Region: Bellingham Technical College (42nd), Cascadia College (1st), Edmonds College (32nd), Everett Community College (38th), Peninsula College (24th), Olympic College (35th), Shoreline College (32nd), University of Washington- Bothell (1st), Western Washington University (40th), Whatcom Community College (40th), Washington State University- Everett (38th), Skagit Valley College (40th), Washington Student University- Everett (38th).

Contact

Nanako (Nana) Irisumi

WA-SEN Eastern Region Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her

Nanako is a second-year student at Washington State University (WSU) studying International Business. In her first year of college, she joined her campus’s Japanese Student Association, where she was elected to a cabinet position for Public Relations. This year she will also be interning for the International Center, where her role is to create a safe space for international students on campus. In her free time, she enjoys playing intramural volleyball and going to K-POP choreography class. Nanako is passionate about mental health and family support advocacy. She believes in the importance of information being distributed properly and equally so everyone is knowledgeable of the support systems and resources available to them. This will be Nanako’s first experience with formal advocacy and is excited to learn more about the process and the possibilities of growth when working with a team.

Fun Fact: Nanako is half Japanese, half Hong Kongese, and has her Chopstick Certification 🙂


A Favorite Book : She usually reads Japanese novels and Manga, but her favorite childhood book is Madeline’s Great Adventure, and I SPY.


Mornings Fueled by: Thinking of the next great food she will eat…

Campuses in Region: Big Bend Community College (13th), Eastern Washington University (6th), Gonzaga University (3rd), Spokane Community College (3rd), Spokane Falls Community College (6th), Washington State University – Pullman (9th), Wenatchee Valley College (12th), and Whitworth University (7th).

Contact Nana

Richie Martinez

WA-SEN Columbia Region Coordinator
Pronouns: He/Him

Richie is a Senior at Columbia Basin College studying Cyber Security. He started with WA-SEN in the fall of 2022 as a campus liaison and joined the program in the winter of 2023 as the Columbia Regional Coordinator before taking some time to travel for other internships. He participates in his campus’s Cyberhawks Cybersecurity Club and is an avid collector of cool things. Richie is passionate about topics of textbook and industry certification affordability and the need for adequate funding for higher education.

Fun fact: Richie enjoys archery and nature photography.


A favorite book: The Hobbit


Mornings fueled by: One cup of Starbucks coffee.

Campuses in Region: Centralia Community College (20th), Clark College (49th), Central Washington University (13th), Columbia Basin College (16th), Heritage University (14th), Lower Columbia College (19th), Walla Walla Community College (16th), Whitman College (16th), Washington State University- Tri-Cities(8th) Washington State University- Vancouver (17th), Yakima Valley College  (14th/15th).

Contact Richie

Kassandra Cardenas

WA-SEN King Region Coordinator 
Pronouns: She/Her

Kassandra is a Junior at the University of Washington studying Computer Science with a minor in Neural Computation and Engineering. She is a part of AVELA, WashPIRG, Synaptech, I2 Intelligence, and Headstarter on her campus. Kassandra is passionate about the boundaries in technology and medicine, the gap between minority groups attending and completing some form of higher education, and basic needs issues such as affordable housing and food. When she’s not solving world problems, she likes to read and explore new places. What excites Kassandra most about being involved in WA-SEN is working with a team of like-minded individuals passionate about making the world a better place.



Fun Fact: Kassandra has two dogs; Ruby and Coco!


A Favorite Book: The Setting Sun


Mornings Fueled By: Breakfast and coffee. She’ll eat anything and drink some coffee with it.


Campuses in Region: Bellevue College (41st), Green River College (47th), Highline College (33rd), Lake Washington Technical Institute (45th), North Seattle College (46th), Renton Technical College (11th), Seattle Central College (43rd), Seattle Pacific University (36th), Seattle University (43rd), South Seattle College (34th), University of Washington- Seattle (43rd).

Contact Kassandra

Jordan Verkh-Haskell

WA-SEN South Sound Region Coordinator
Pronouns: They/Them

Jordan is a Senior at the University of Puget Sound, pursuing a degree in Computer Science. They are involved with several clubs on campus, including Board Games Club, Anime Club and Taiko Club. They are passionate about making sure everyone has the opportunity to get the education they need to make the life they want for themselves, and that money, race, or gender is not a barrier to that education. What excites Jordan most about being involved with WA-SEN is the opportunity to strive for the goals and mission of the program and help make a difference bigger than they could make on their own.


Fun fact: Jordan started playing taiko after studying Japanese for a year. He says it is a very fun activity and a great way to get some frustration out after classes.

A Favorite Book: He reads a lot, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but he’ll go with Harry Potter.


Mornings fueled by: “Mornings aren’t real, but if I really have to get up early, chocolate is a good solution.” – Jordan Verkh-Haskell

Campuses in Region: Bates Technical College (27th), Clover Park Technical College (29th), Evergreen State College (22nd), Pierce College- Puyallup (25th), Pierce College- Fort Steilacoom (28th), Pacific Lutheran University (29th), Saint Martin’s University (22nd), South Puget Sound Community College (22nd), Grays Harbor College (19th), Tacoma Community College (28th), University of Puget Sound (27th), University of Washington- Tacoma (27th).

Contact Jordan

Student Advisors

Washington Student Engagement Networks (WA-SEN) is funded through a private foundation grant administered by Independent Colleges of Washington. The association’s vice president Kris Gonzales supports the day-to-day programming and priorities of WA-SEN, working closely with the College Promise Coalition on shared priorities.