Leadership

Baydaa Alshatee

WA-SEN North Region Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her

Baydaa is a first-generation student who started her college journey at Everett Community College, where she earned an associate’s degree in Journalism. She then transferred to Western Washington University, where she is now focused on furthering her education in Law, Diversity, and Justice. This shift in her academic path reflects her desire to work in a field where she can actively contribute to promoting equality, inclusivity, and social justice. She is eager to learn and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share her commitment in creating a more equitable society. Baydaa is deeply passionate about addressing various social issues with a focus on poverty, class equity through an intersectionality lens, and empowering women through education. By participating in WA-SEN, she hopes to contribute to a brighter future for students, enabling them to access the education they deserve and empowering them to overcome obstacles on their educational journey. The opportunity to make a positive impact alongside others who are equally passionate about education is what truly excites her about being a part of WA-SEN.

Fun fact: I am an avid bookworm who loves to read any book I can get my hands on. Lately I’ve been reading historical fiction.
A favorite book from childhood: Fancy Nancy
Mornings fueled by: Coffee, Taylor Swift/Audiobooks

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

Athaliah Ioane

WA-SEN Eastern Region Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her

Athaliah is a sophomore at Whitworth University. She is an Act Six scholar double majoring in Poli Sci and Community Health. Athaliah feels passionate about the lack of adequate housing and access to healthcare her community faces. She would like to address the lack of support services for those living on the streets battling with their mental health. Athaliah is excited for the opportunity to have conversations with various state legislators, to share her story, and to hear the story of other Washington students.


Fun Fact: My favorite show is Onepiece.
Favorite Childhood Book: Give Yourself Goosebumps Series.
Mornings Fueled by: The Holy Spirit.

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

Hennessy Rodriguez

WA-SEN King Region Coordinator 
Pronouns: She/Her

Hennessy started her college career as a running start student in high school. She graduated with her associates degree from Yakima Valley College. After that, she transferred to the University of Washington and is now pursuing a degree in Community, Environment, and Planning, a small cohort in the College of the Built Environment. She is passionate about advocating for underprivileged individuals to have the opportunity to pursue a higher level education and is interested in the environmental aspects of biodiversity, such as waste management and ecosystem restoration. She first became interested in the idea of working with WA-SEN because of its mission to help students advocate for themselves in their academic journey and its ability to give students a reliable resource as they navigate the world of higher education. Hennessy is excited to help other students succeed in their higher education journey and influence all people to pursue higher education if they believe that is what’s best for them.

Fun Fact: I love fishing for walleye on the Columbia River!
A Favorite Book From Childhood: The Junie B. Jones series
Mornings Fueled By: My dog is a big motivation for me to get me up in the morning along with my bowl of cereal.

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

Ryan Bennett

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

Ryan is a Junior at the University of Puget Sound, pursuing a BFA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Politics and Government. He is passionate about University Housing, Work Study programs, and Climate sustainability on campuses. What excites Ryan the most about WA-SEN is the ability to provide an opportunity for direct communication between legislators and students of Washington state and he can’t wait to go out and get more involved on campuses across the south sound

Fun fact: I was a Ballet dancer for 10 years
A Favorite Book From Childhood: I can play The opening riff to “Never Meant” by American Football
Mornings fueled by: Strong coffee and loud music

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