WHITMAN OUTDOOR JOURNAL
The Founding Team
The WOJ was founded in 2022 by members of the class of '25 (pictured on the left) and supported by a group of Whitman students. The WOJ is recognized by and funded in part by the Associated Students of Whitman College (AWSC).
The Current Team
The WOJ is now staffed by a wonderful group of current students who dedicate an extraordinary amount of time each semester to keep the publication running smoothly.
Our Team
Co- President & Head of Copy Editing
Leah Barnes
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Ski, hike, and be on the water!​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
McCall, Idaho
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
This past summer, I worked on a lynx conservation project in the North Cascades. Not only did I get to explore insane backcountry, but I was able to make an impact on Canada Lynx populations firsthand. I met the coolest people and had a blast spending my summer outside!
Co- President & Head of Outreach
Sophia Freeman
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Hiking and backpacking!!​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Anywhere in the Wallowas!
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Attempting to summit Matterhorn with two friends Freshman year during a crazy rain turned snow storm. We ended up turning around just 2 miles from the top and had to hitch hike back to our car.
Head of Social Media & Copy Editing
Xeni Laliotis
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Backpacking, skiing, climbing (and eating pb bananas)​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Lake Tahoe, CA
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
I did a NOLS course in Alaska, and spent 28 days backpacking in the Northern Talkeetna Mountains which was INSANELY beautiful and life-altering.
Head of Finance
Monyati Alsabbagh
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Walking, journaling, spending time in nature​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Northern forests of Jordan
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
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Head of Layout
Sydney Sohn
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Aside from the usual (hiking, camping, swimming, scuba diving), I find joy in brushing my teeth anywhere with a good view!​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
My favorite place to be outside is anywhere near or in the water - oceans, rivers, lakes, you name it!
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
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Head of Visual Media
Rosie Tunny
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Go backpacking! And anything on the water.​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
The Adirondacks
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
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Layout Team
Gus Colwell
he hates hiking
Layout Team
Emma Foley
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
hike and watch sunsets!​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Anywhere with a good view (and no horseflies!)
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Growing up having a forest in my backyard, so much forts to build, frogs to find, and trees to climb!
Layout Team
Owen Harro
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Rock Climbing and Hiking​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Cascade Mountains
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Waking up at 4am to hike Borah Peak in Idaho with my best friend.
Layout Team
Mia Evans
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Whitewater rafting, skiing, and hiking.​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Mt. Blue Sky, Colorado.
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
My favorite memory of being outside is cliff jumping with friends on the Rogue River!
Copy Editing Team
Theo Rollman
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Provoking bees to attack me before I dodge and introduce them to my backhand. I also like skiing, backpacking, and climbing.​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Joshua Tree NP
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Getting evacuated by float plane during a canoe trip in the canadian wilderness. We were surrounded by wildfires and got flown out.
Copy Editing Team
Ava Jelinek
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Hike, ski, walks with my dog​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
A green, mossy rainforest like something out of a story
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Where I grew up there’s always snow by Halloween. One year, though, the night of Halloween was as warm as summer. My cousins and I ran around in the dark with glow sticks, ignoring our parents’ calls to come inside.
Outreach Team
Ella Harrington
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Ski, run, hike!​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
The PNW or Alaska!
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Making cinnamon rolls on a beach next to a glacier!!
Outreach & Visual Media Teams
Madi Rokop
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
Hike, climb, swim​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Desolation Wilderness in California but really anywhere there is a body of water
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
Backpacking with friends and my doggies!
Social Media Team
Elspeth Cockroft
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
I love to go swimming in the ocean and walk along the beach! I also love to go hiking with my dogs!​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
I love to be at the beach and on hiking trails in the PNW.
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
My favorite memory of being outside is hiking on weekends with my dad and my dogs on the Port Gamble trails. We would go rain or shine, whenever we had time. I loved talking with him about anything or hiking in silence and just enjoying each other's company and the beautiful forests around us.
Social Media Team
Rebecca Mize
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
I love downhill skiing, backpacking, and lake days​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
Skiing powder in the mountains​
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
One of my favorite memories was watching the U.S. Ski Team race the World Cup in Sölden, Austria, after my team finished our training session in Stubai. It felt surreal to see the athletes I’d always looked up to competing right in front of me, a once in a lifetime experience.​
Visual Media Team
Rogan Deptula
Favorite Outdoor Activities:
My favorite things to do outdoors are, to photograph Wildlife, Hike and Bird Watch​
Favorite Outdoor Location:
My Favorite place to be outside would be on either a river or a mountain
Favorite Outdoor Memory or Story:
My favorite memory outside would be capturing awesome photos of a coyote in a nature reserve.