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Staff

Janelle Sordelet wearing a large hiking backpack, standing on a trail high in the mountains.

Meet Janelle Sordelet, Academic Administrative Assistant

Janelle is an U.S. Air Force veteran with an associate in dental assisting, bachelor’s in humanities, and master’s in business administration. She moved to Pullman in 2018 with her family after her husband received a job with Sweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Her hobbies are running, biking, kayaking, backpacking, and sewing. Outside her hobbies, she volunteers for Whitman County Fire District #12.
Miles McKeown stands in front of the entrance to the Chemistry Building.

Meet Miles McKeown, IT Tech Assistant I

Miles is a freshman at WSU studying computer engineering. He moved from East Wenatchee, where he worked as a hardware/software technician for the Eastmont School District. He graduated from Perry Technical Institute in Yakima, Washington, in 2021 with an associate of applied science degree. Miles provides hardware and software support for the WSU chemistry department.
Juniper Marsh.

Meet Juniper Marsh, Stockroom Attendant

Juniper joined us early in the year after a move from Kansas with wife, Mel. She enjoys computers, spending time painting, and building with Legos. Juniper has a strong passion for animals and hopes to work in a related field someday.

Staff Awards

Nikki Clark, an asset to the Department of Chemistry, received the Employee of the Year Award for 2023. She is dedicated, passionate, and hard working. Nikki has been with us since September 2005 as our Undergraduate Coordinator. Her role includes working with undergraduate courses and making sure all the TA positions are filled and operating smoothly. Her responsibilities extend to areas beyond this encompassing the multitude of tests the undergraduate courses administer over the course of each semester.

Staff Time in Service

  • Lauren Hatley (2012–2022)—10 years
  • Yoshi Kodama (2000–2012 & 2015–2023)—20 years
  • Ryan Rice (2008–2023)—15 years
  • Jett Bingman (2018-2023)—5 years

Berkman presenting Clark with award in front of a crimson backdrop with the WSU logo.
Left to right: Cliff Berkman and Nikki Clark
Kodama, Hatley, and Bingman holding their awards in front of a crimson backdrop with the WSU logo.
Left to right: Yoshi Kodama, Lauren Hatley, and Jett Bingman
Berkman presenting Rice with award in front of a crimson backdrop with the WSU logo.
Left to right: Cliff Berkman and Ryan Rice

Farewells

This past October, we said goodbye to Kyle Reece as he moved to Georgia to begin the next chapter of his life. Kyle joined us as a stockroom worker in September 2021. His primary responsibilities were preparing reagents and maintaining equipment for our 100-level chemistry courses, and for two years, he proved he was as adept at dispensing chemicals as he was at dispensing jokes. He also participated in experiment development and was tremendously helpful in making our students’ lab experiences much better. Best wishes, Kyle, we’ll miss having you here!

Due to a planned move, Sarah Oesch Miller said farewell to the Department of Chemistry in early fall 2023.