Faculty and Staff

Rob Holm

Chair, Department of Technology
(509) 527-2713 | rob.holm@wallawalla.edu

Education: M.S. Purdue University, 2006; B.S. Walla Walla College, 1996

Bio: Professor Holm has always loved cars. He graduated from WWC in 1996 and immediately went to work for BMW of Bellevue where he became their main diagnostic technician and trainer of new technicians. In 2000, he then moved with his family back to Walla Walla where he worked for Blue Ridge Aircraft Service as an aircraft mechanic. Professor Holm began his teaching career at Walla Walla University in 2003 and has been in charge of the automotive program here ever since. He is an ASE certified Master Mechanic with Advanced Engine Performance certification, a BMW Certified Mechanic, and has FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic certification. In 2006, Professor Holm earned his Master's degree in Technology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. His research centered around four-year automotive technology programs in the U.S. and their curricula. Rob is married to Megan, also a graduate of WWU. Between the two of them, they have four boys. In Rob's limited spare time, he enjoys waterskiing, motorcycles, golf, piano, flying, and high-performance cars.

Teaching Areas: Internal combustion Engine Theory, Manual Drive Trains and Axles, Electrical systems, Engine Rebuilding Lab, Engine Performance, Suspension and Steering Systems, Climate Control Systems, Automatic Transmissions, Advanced Engine Performance, High Performance Engine Tuning, Body Electronics and Computer Systems, Internship, and Colloquium.

Shawn Dietrich

Director of Aviation
(509) 527-2323 | shawn.dietrich@wallawalla.edu

Education: B.S. Aviation Technology Walla Walla University, 2001

Bio: Shawn earned his CFI in 1999, and graduated from Walla Walla University in 2001 with a B.S. in Aviation Technology. He joined WWU as faculty from 2005-2012. Surprisingly, unlike most Flight Instructors, he's learned to enjoy teaching lecture classes over flight instruction...especially upper division courses. He also enjoys developing relationships with students, watching them grow in knowledge and skill, and seeing them achieve their career goals. He's still excitedly waiting for the day one of his former students is the flight crew on an airline flight.

He's worked as a company flight instructor (or Training Captain), for 4 different Part 135 Operators (Air Carrier using smaller aircraft) training professional pilots. He's also trained professional pilots in several types of turboprops and jets for non-air carrier flight programs.

Shawn enjoys spending time with his family (2 daughters Emma & Lily, and wife Heather), they are his most valued hobby. They enjoy camping, boating, and traveling together.

Josie Henderson

Instructor of Graphic Design and Product Design
(509) 527-2712 | josie.henderson@wallawalla.edu

Education: M.A. in Cinema, Religion, and Worldview, Walla Walla University, 2020; B.A. in Communications with a Journalism & PR concentration, Walla Walla University, 2018

Areas of interest: Screenwriting, story structure, historical character research, magazine design, poster design

Stan Holm

Aircraft Maintenance Manager
(509) 527-2323 | stan.holm@wallawalla.edu

Education: A&P/IA Colorado Aero Tech,1976

Bio: Stan was most recently self-employed as the owner of Blue Ridge Aircraft Service in Walla Walla before joining the WWU aviation team. Prior to working at Blue Ridge Aircraft, he was employed by Computer Networking Service as a corporate pilot and mechanic. Prior to that, he was employed as shop foreman at Flightcraft in Seattle who was the Beechcraft dealer for the Northwest.

Stan grew up in the tropics, the son of missionary parents in Indonesia. He has traveled extensively throughout his life, even being rewarded with a tour of duty in Vietnam, courtesy of the taxpayer.

Jefre Humbert

Instructor of Product Design
(509) 527- 2717 | jefre.humbert@wallawalla.edu

Education: B.S. Walla Walla University

Bio: Jefre’s formal education is varied. He has a B.S. in Elementary Education and minors in Biology, Math, and Industrial Arts. Jefre’s passions are teaching, product design, and manufacturing. He has started a couple of companies that create custom molds, as well as developing software for various schools. Jefre has a great attitude towards teaching and combined with his industry knowledge on computer aided design and manufacturing he is a great addition to the Product Design program.

Tonia Jeffery

Administrative Assistant
(509) 527-2767 | tonia.jeffery@wallawalla.edu

Bio: Tonia is a time traveler due to her love of history. In the current era, she is actively involved with her church's Pathfinder club. She also enjoys reading and sewing.

Kris Margart

Instructor of Technology
kristopher.margart@wallawalla.edu

Nathanael McCoy

Instructor of Product Design
(509) 527-2212 | nathanael.mccoy@wallawalla.edu

Bio: Nathanael was born and raised in Idaho and educated in Washington. Some time spent outside of these two states was in the northwest mountains of Texas, and yes, there are mountains in Texas…and several weeks, his favorite, in the Rocky Mountains of Canada.

35+ years have been spent in the AG Aircraft Industry working for companies that manufactured the “first” successful Guidance Sys for Ag Aircraft. The Bridgeport Mill and a “Cadillac” Lathe were his close “friends” and with their help he gained all of his knowledge in metal working.

Currently, his “loves” are fine craftsmanship in wood, metal, and fabric/leather. Cycling has been a life-long pursuit and being in the mountains is the high point of any week. Being active is his passion and whether by wheel, sole, or oar, he is all in!

Last but not least, he honors the Creator of the Universe for His Guidance and imparted Wisdom experienced through the “snap shot” of my life set down here— the credit goes to Him for any successes.

Jacob Patterson

Instructor of Technology
jacob.patterson@wallawalla.edu

Education: B.S. Walla Walla University, 2017

Bio: Jacob teaches the main sequence of CAD courses for the Department of Technology. He has worked professionally with CAD for over five years in the mechanical design industry and is currently working as a Project Manager at Key Technology. Jacob is passionate about deep diving into a variety of disciplines in his free time. He enjoys cooking, playing pickleball, and working on house projects with his wife and their pup.

Darryl Penney

Flight Training Manager
(509) 527-2723 | darryl.penney@wallawalla.edu

Education: Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic,1988

Bio: Darryl was most recently employed By Andrews University as Assistant Chief Flight Instructor for the past 10 years. He joins the WWU Aviation Team having held his Instructor certificate for 41 Years. After so much time teaching Darryl thinks teaching people to fly is “NEW EVERY DAY”!

Logan Seibold

Instructor of Product Design
(509) 527-2695 | logan.seibold@wallawalla.edu

Education: B.S. Walla Walla University, 2021

Bio: Logan was born and raised in Kansas. He enjoyed working at camp during the summers. He had some involvement with ASWWU and worked as a TA for the Department of Technology for most of his college career. He wants to nurture a creative community in the CTC and a welcoming learning environment where all his students learn to see the world and think like designers.

Logan likes climbing, hiking, swimming, and running, and generally anything that pushes his physical fitness or challenges him in a healthy way. One of his favorite subjects is film—He loves learning about the filmmaking process and the dozens of artistic disciplines it takes to tell a story on-screen. He also like reading, and he's trying to read more books this year. Generally he likes creating and making things, most often in a visual medium. Listening to music, especially folk and bluegrass, is a great source of joy for him, so he is trying to learn guitar.

Teaching Areas: Product design

James Veverka

Instructor of Technology
(509) 527-2714 | james.veverka@wallawalla.edu

Education: B.S. Walla Walla College, 2007

Bio: Professor Veverka discovered his love for teaching here at WWU when he instructed a course as part of his senior project while earning his degree in Technology with the concentration of Automotive Service. After graduation, he began his career as an automotive technician at Marque Motors in Portland, OR. There he specialized in Porsche, Audi, VW, and BMW repair. His job was primarily performing service and repairs as a BMW technician, but he also enjoyed working on classic cars and a large portion of his time was spent on air-cooled Porsches from the 1950s through the early 1990s. In 2010 he became and Career and Technical Education instructor at South Medford High School teaching Automotive Service and Welding. He remained there until 2019 when he started a new Auto and Welding program on the north Oregon coast in Warrenton. In 2023 he returned to the WWU Technology Department as assistant professor of Automotive Technology. He is married to Teresa who graduated from WWU with her M.S.W. in 2010. They have two boys and enjoy spending their spare time in the woods camping and riding dirt bikes together.

Teaching Areas: Internal combustion Engine Theory, Manual Drive Trains and Axles, Electrical systems, Engine Rebuilding Lab, Suspension and Steering Systems, Climate Control Systems, and Automatic Transmissions.

Dan Wolcott

Instructor of Technology
dan.wolcott@wallawalla.edu

Bio: Dan has spent most of his life working in and around construction. For the past 34 years he wakes up, still looking forward to work. Working for himself at Sheridan Woodworking, Dan builds custom cabinetry and furniture. Recently, Dan got the opportunity to teach what he knows to students as they develop their minds for a degree and a job. He considers teaching to be the highlight of his working week. He feels that he is blessed by God and the University to trust him with the task