Student Spotlight
WGSS Student is New Trustee
"Western’s Board of Trustees is the governor-appointed group tasked with providing oversight of the university, and each year a new student is appointed to serve as the student trustee, representing WWU’s student body.
The student trustee fulfills the same function as all other trustees, focusing on the needs of students, staff, faculty, and community members, albeit through the unique lens of the current student experience.
The student trustee for the ‘25’26 academic year is Ashlynn Tibbot, a senior from Milton pursuing a double major in Women, Gender and Sexuality, and English..." - WWU News, Thompson
Congratulations to Violet Smith on being selected as the 2025 Outstanding Graduate
Violet Smith is an exceptional WGSS student and ambassador. In their classes they stood out and their senior research project, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Desire to Perform Gender Differently, earned them a Scholars Week award. Violet also served the Bellingham community as an Intern for Whatcom Youth Pride, an organization that puts on PRIDE Parade and Festival. As the liaison between Western the community, Violet was instrumental in organizing a celebration for over 1500 LGBTQIA+ youth and youth allies.
Congratulations to Celeste Eydt on being selected as the 2024 Outstanding Graduate
Celeste quickly adapted to WWU despite arriving as a transfer student during the ongoing disruption of the pandemic. Celeste was dedicated, engaged, and ever improving their analyses in WGSS courses. She excelled across her WGSS courses and even took a few more WGSS classes than were required to complete their degree. Outside of the classroom, Celeste was involved in student activism in support of trans students, applying her WGSS education beyond reading and research. We were honored to have had Celeste as a WGSS major and are excited for her bright future.
Congratulations to Emma Wansley on being selected as the 2022 Outstanding Graduate
Emma was named the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Outstanding Graduate for 2022 because of her stellar academic record and commitment to putting women of color feminist perspectives to work towards social justice. Emma is a double major in WGSS and Psychology who never backs down from an intellectual challenge. The selection committee was impressed by many of Emma's accomplishments but was particularly excited about her Scholars Week poster session on trap feminism and Black female empowerment. We have been so lucky to have Emma in the program over the past few years and can't wait to see the amazing things she will do with her WGSS education after graduation.
Congratulations to Skylar Tibbets on being selected as the 2021 Outstanding Graduate!
Skylar is the 2021 WGSS Outstanding Graduate because of her intellect, her passion for learning, and her talent at working with others. Skylar is a double-major with English and an Honors student, too. She seems to have impressed just about every faculty member who had the privilege of working with her. Her GPA is phenomenal and everything she does suggests great promise for the future. As the faculty member who nominated her wrote "Skylar is an outstanding WGSS student [who] wrote excellent papers and presentations on the importance of intersectionality and LGBTQ+ rights." We are very proud to have Skylar Tibbetts as the WGSS Outstanding Graduate.