Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 8/15/23 The following individuals recently joined the Washington and Lee employee workforce.
Nick Alden, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry – The College
Nick Alden, visiting assistant professor of chemistryQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical/biomedical engineering from Virginia Tech. I then decided to take a gap year and work at a company named Kollmorgen as an applications engineer. After working there for a little over a year, I attended Penn State University where I conducted research and maintained teaching roles as I earned a Ph.D. in bioengineering.
Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I love all kinds of outdoor activities and sports, which makes Lexington a great place to take an amazing position like this. I really enjoy hiking and camping. I am excited to work on such a beautiful college campus, and to be so close to family and friends again.
Q. Anything in particular that you are looking forward to in your time at W&L?
I am really looking forward to engaging students in the work I used to be so heavily involved in, and to renew my own sense of adventure when it comes to academic and research endeavors.
Kaitlyn Cordero, Cook – Dining Services
Kaitlyn Cordero, dining services cookQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am currently studying horticulture at Utah Valley University and love to design and create floral arrangements. I married my husband just over a year ago and am looking forward to our new adventure here in Virginia.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I absolutely love to read and spend time outdoors hiking or camping. I also enjoy drawing, painting, sewing, and am teaching myself how to crochet.
Darleny Garcia, General Services – E-Café
Darleny Garcia, E-Café general servicesQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I attended Rockbridge County High School. I am married with four children.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I love to sing!
Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I love to hike various trails and I love to fish.
Javonna Lansdown, Assistant Athletic Trainer – Athletics
Javonna Lansdown, assistant athletic trainerQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am from Berryville, Virginia where I attended Clarke County High School. I graduated from Christopher Newport University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in biology, and I earned a master’s degree in athletic training from James Madison University.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I like to unwind by going to the gym, playing volleyball, or reading books. I love to travel and explore new places and try new things.
Q. Best advice anyone has ever given you?
“Be scared and do it anyway … be under-qualified and get in the room anyway … be messy, imperfect and unsure, and show up anyway … comfort is the enemy of growth so get uncomfortable.”
Jayson Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and Director of the Connelly Center for Entrepreneurship – The Williams School
Jayson Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for EntrepreneurshipQ. Tell us a little about you and your background.
My wife and I have four kids and are both volunteer backpack leaders for the Sierra Club. We are moving from Chicago, Illinois, where I currently teach in the College of Computing, School of Design at DePaul University. My background is in game and product design.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
Hiking, backpacking, cycling, playing board games and playing guitar or piano.
Q. Anything in particular you are looking forward to at W&L?
The close campus community, teaching in a smaller liberal arts setting and meeting all the students!
Amanda Price, Assistant Director of Admissions – Admissions
Amanda Price, assistant director of admissionsQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in California and then my family moved to the gorgeous mountain town of Bend, Oregon. I graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and obtained a master’s degree in postsecondary, adult and continuing education from Portland State University.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I enjoy spending time with my man and going on mini-adventures to see the surrounding area – maybe visit a winery or brewery. Last year, I started taking golf lessons and this year I’m determined to brush up on my Spanish speaking skills. My sister married a wonderful man from Peru and I’d love to be able to converse with him in his native tongue.
Q. Anything else you want to share?
I instantly fell in love with the speaking tradition, which is something I’ve always tried to practice in my own life. It’s wonderful to see that it is part of the culture here at W&L!
Bryant Priester, Associate Director of Admissions and Director of International Recruitment – Admissions
Bryant Priester, associate director of admissions and director of international recruitmentQ. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I love to travel. I have visited at least 60 countries so far and I have lived in two countries.
Q. Anything in particular you are looking forward to at W&L?
W&L offers a great liberal arts education. I look forward to the opportunity to introduce the university, region and American style education to students who would have not otherwise known about W&L.
Q. Anything else you want to share?
I have finally completed the television pilot that I have been working on for several years!
Dallas Terry, Utility Worker – Dining Services
Dallas Terry, dining services utility workerQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am generally pretty quiet and shy, but will open up when I’m comfortable. I also smile a lot. I have four siblings, two sisters and two brothers.
Dawn Wilcox, Nurse Practitioner – Student Health Center
Dawn Wilcox, nurse practitionerQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and a post-master’s certificate in family nurse practitioner. I have been a nurse for more than 20 years in obstetrics, post-surgical care and interventional radiology. I served in the United States Air Force for seven of those years, which allowed me to travel and experience living in Japan! I was born right here in Lexington, but moved around throughout my life. I am the mother of three boys, the oldest of which is a “Rat” at VMI this fall.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I love reading and my most recent interest has been in the Preston & Child Pendergast mystery series. I also love football – in particular the Georgia Bulldogs. My husband is from Georgia and I have adopted UGA as my team over the years.
Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I enjoy going on the Chessie Trail with my boys. It’s an ideal place to walk or swim in the river.
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