Joe Hewa, PhD
Director | Scholarly Assistant Professor
Joe is a passionate and experienced leader who thrives when working collaboratively, exploring new ideas and connections with curiosity and creativity. Taking a mindful and values-based approach both personally and professionally, he is committed to developing partnerships and programs that make a transformational impact with students, faculty, and staff at WSU and in the broader community beyond. Joe worked for nonprofit and community organizations in youth development before transitioning to higher education, where he excels in the classroom and in facilitating professional development programming. His educational background includes a master’s in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and a PhD in communication with an emphasis on community-based participatory research (CBPR) from Washington State University.
Mary Kay Patton, JD
Scholarly Assistant Professor
Mary Kay is dedicated to the project of nurturing the human spirit as an essential dimension of leading a rich, full, meaningful life. In so doing, she supports individuals and teams in taking values-based committed action from a place of presence and mindfulness. She delights in designing and delivering workshops, trainings, and retreats, all with the intention of shifting and deepening one’s relationship with our true nature. Mary Kay is a gifted facilitator, writer, educator and advocate. Over the past 15 years, Mary Kay practiced civil and criminal law in both public service and private practice. Fueled by her experience in conflict resolution, social justice, and mediation, Mary Kay now focuses her professional efforts on personal and organizational transformation. Mary Kay nurtures her own personal development and sense of wonder through yoga, skiing, and hiking. An Idaho native, Mary Kay has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Idaho.
Anna Whitehall, MA
Scholarly Associate Professor
Teaching students didn’t seem a likely path early on in Anna Whitehall’s undergraduate studies after not getting into the College of Education at Western Washington. But after receiving her B.A. in psychology and working as a director of an after school program, she returned to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Human Development from Washington State University and received an opportunity. Shortly into the program, Whitehall was offered to be a TA for HD 205 where she fell in love with the concepts, which helped her make positive changes in her own life incorporating her values of compassion, accepting yourself and trusting in a bigger sense. Anna now teaches HD 205 and provides customized leadership workshops and support for the CTLL’s Tidal Leadership Certificate Program. Her research interest involves the implementation and evaluation of theory-based, large scale prevention and well-being programs in real-world settings with university students. Even though a lot of her work involves analyzing data points, she said she gains the most value from teaching her students. “Helping students discover, develop and implement their best selves, there’s no formula for that,” she said.