Walla Walla University leadership team
Walla Walla University is led by the university president, the president’s Cabinet, and the Board of Trustees. The president and vice presidents lead the day-to-day management and direction of the university, and the president receives this authority from the university Board of Trustees.
Three times a year, the president and vice presidents meet with the Board of Trustees to advise that governing body regarding university matters. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall government and welfare of the university, including matters regarding faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The board is also responsible for selecting the university president, determining the major goals of the university, and approving university budgets.
As a Seventh-day Adventist university, members of the Board of Trustees include regional leaders of the Adventist church as well as church members elected to terms of service on the board.
Alex Bryan has led the university as president since 2024.
Learn more about the Board of Trustees.
President's Cabinet
Alex Bryan
President
(509) 527-2121 | alex.bryan@wallawalla.edu
Senior executive assistant to the president
Jaimie Derting
(509) 527-2121 | jaimie.derting@wallawalla.edu
Education: M.Sc., Albany Medical College; D.Min. George Fox University; M.Div., Andrews University; B.A., Southern Adventist University.
Previous Experience: Senior vice president, chief mission and philanthropy officer, Adventist Health; Senior pastor, Walla Walla University Church; President, Kettering College; Associate pastor, Collegedale Church; Pastor, New Community Church.
Family: Alex and his wife, Nicole, have two children: Audrey and William.
Pamela Cress
Vice president for academic administration
(509) 527-2431 | pam.cress@wallawalla.edu
Executive assistant to the vice president for academic administration
Cheri Wolcott
(509) 527-2431 | Fax: (509) 527-2103 | cheri.wolcott@wallawalla.edu
Education: Ph.D. Andrews University; MSW Walla Walla College; BSW Walla Walla College
Previous Experience: Dean of the School of Social Work and Sociology; Professor of social work
Paul Rhynard
Vice president for financial administration
(509) 527-2570 | paul.rhynard@wallawalla.edu
Education: MBA, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business; B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in finance, Walla Walla University; CFA charterholder
Previous Experience: Director of the Master of Business Administration program, Walla Walla University; Owner of FOG Wellness; CEO, Wilkinson Baking Company; chief strategy officer, Russell Investments; executive vice president, Joshua Green Corporation; consultant, McKinsey & Co.; former member of the WWU Board of Trustees, serving a total of 14 years.
Family: Paul and his wife have three sons and live in Walla Walla.
Gayla Rogers
Vice president for advancement and alumni engagement
(509) 527-2815 | gayla.rogers@wallawalla.edu
Education: M.A. California State University, Chico; B.S. Walla Walla College
Previous Experience: Director of Student Financial Services, Walla Walla University; Education Financial Specialist, Oregon Conference of Seventh day Adventists; Oregon Conference Education Business Management; Land acquisition, development, and residential construction.
Matthew Fitting
Vice president for student life
(509) 527-2049 | matthew.fitting@wallawalla.edu
Executive assistant to the vice president for student life
Sharryl Toews
(509) 527-2511 | Fax: (509) 527-2674 | sharryl.toews@wallawalla.edu
Education: B.S. in Exercise Science, Emphasis in Education, Pacific Union College
Previous Experience: Dean for Undergraduate Life and Associate Dean for Student Life, Andrews University; Chief Administration Officer, Solid State Operations; Vice Principal and Head Dean, Gem State Adventist Academy; Assistant Dean, Monterey Bay Academy.
Family: Matthew and his wife, Patricia, have twin daughters, Aubrey and Autumn.
Jodi Wagner
Vice president for marketing and enrollment services
(509) 527-2772 | jodi.wagner@wallawalla.edu
Administrative assistant to the vice president for university relations
Traci Irving
(509) 527-2772 | Fax: (509) 527-2397 | traci.irving@wallawalla.edu
Education: B.A. in Mass Communication with emphasis in Journalism with minors in Business and English, Walla Walla University
Previous Experience: Director of Client Planning and Strategy Services, Coffey Communications; Client services representative, Coffey Communications; Copy editor, Coffey Communications
Family: Jodi and her husband, Jeff, have three children: Katie, Jenna, and Nikolas.
Preston Carman
Chair of the faculty / Associate professor of computer science
(509) 527-2084 | preston.carman@wallawalla.edu
Education: Ph.D., University of California, Riverside; M.S., University of California, Riverside; MBA, La Sierra University; B.S., Walla Walla University.
Howard Munson
Associate vice president for academic administration
(509) 527-2395 | howard.munson@wallawalla.edu
Academic services specialist
Abby Rigby
(509) 527-2395 | Fax: (509) 527-2130 | abby.rigby@wallawalla.edu
Education: Ph.D. Washington State University; M.A. U.S. History from Portland State University; B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Major-U.S. History, Minor-Biblical Archaeology Honors Program, Walla Walla College
Previous Experience: Professor and department chair, Pacific Union College; Associate professor, Pacific Union College; Assistant professor, Pacific Union College; Instructor, Washington State University; Teaching Assistant, Washington State University; Instructor, Pacific Union College; Instructor, Walla Walla College; Graduate Assistant, Portland State University.
Family:
Howard and his wife, Brenda, have two sons.
Jonathan Duncan
Associate vice president for graduate studies
(509) 527-2421 | jonathan.duncan@wallawalla.edu
Academic services specialist
Glenda Ewer
(509) 527-2374 | glenda.ewer@wallawalla.edu
Education: Ph.D. Mathematics, Indiana University; M.S. Computer Science, Indiana University; M.A. Mathematics, Indiana University; B.S. Mathematics, Walla Walla College; BA Computer Science, German, Walla Walla College.
Eric James
Associate vice president for financial administration
(509) 527-2104 | eric.james@wallawalla.edu
Education:
B.S. Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting, Walla Walla College; C.P.A. Planned Giving and Trust Services certification
Previous Experience: Staff auditor, General Conference Auditing Service; Senior accountant and director of accounting, Walla Walla University.
Family: Eric and his wife Kristelle have two children.
Cheris Brewer-Current
Assistant to the president for learning and care
(509) 527-2903 | cheris.current@wallawalla.edu
Education: MSW Walla Walla University; Ph.D. Washington State University; M.A. Washington State University; B.A. Southern Adventist University.
Previous Experience: DSW program director, Walla Walla University; Director of the Donald Blake Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture; Professor in the School of Social Work and Sociology
Nicole Bryan
Events coordinator
nicole.bryan@wallawalla.edu
Education: Bachelor of Arts in English, Walla Walla University; Master of Education in School Counseling, Georgia State University.
Previous Experience: Administrative assistant and community recreation coordinator for the health and physical education department at WWU; Community counselor, psychiatric hospital adolescent therapist, school counselor, and high school English teacher.
Family: Nicole and her husband, Alex, have two children: Audrey and William. Her family enjoys travel, hiking, and time with extended family.