The Ross Travel Grant has been funding WWU graduate student travel for more than three decades

If you’ve ever been to a conference, academic or otherwise, you know the kind of immersive, social power these opportunities carry with them. Western’s first Dean of Graduate Studies J. Alan Ross understood this too.  

In 1995, Ross established the J. Alan and Mrs. Dorothy C. Ross Graduate Student Award Fund, and later, the Dean Ross Endowment to continuously fund those awards, which has helped WWU graduate students travel the world to present research and connect with professional peer groups and mentors for more than 30 years. 

A 1936 Western graduate with a degree in education, Ross received his master’s degree and doctorate from Yale University. His expertise was in psychology and school administration. He joined Western’s faculty in 1942, left to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II and returned to Western in 1946. In 1959, Ross became Western’s first dean of Graduate Studies and later served as interim president in the spring of 1975. He retired in 1976 after 34 years at Western.  

David Patrick, Western’s dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for research, says the opportunity to attend a major conference or scholarly meeting has always been one of the most important professional experiences any graduate student can have.  

“Over decades, the Dean Ross Travel fund has supported graduate students from every discipline and major to travel around the United States and beyond, presenting their work to colleagues, learning from international experts, making professional connections and getting their foot in the door. The fund has helped make so many wonderful stories possible,” Patrick said. 

WWU graduate students can apply for the Ross Travel Grant to present research at conferences; exhibit works of art; or perform, direct or produce work in professional performing-arts venues. Students can also apply for the grant for valuable networking and mentorship opportunities outside of the Western community. The fund continues to accept donations and people give back to it every year. 

Recent recipients of the Ross Travel Grant have used it to travel to conferences across the United States, in Spain, Australia, Estonia, Austria, Italy, British Columbia and more. We caught up with a handful of current students and alumni to learn about their experiences traveling with the Ross Travel Grant.  

Vivian White, ’24, bachelor’s degree, and ’25, master’s degree in computer science 

White used the Ross Travel Grant to attend the 2025 International Conference on Learning Representations Workshop on Scientific Methods for Understanding Deep Learning in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

White said her favorite part of the trip was learning about other people’s research, presenting her paper “Learning Stochastic Rainbow Networks” with WWU Associate Professor of Computer Science Kameron Harris, and engaging in discussions with other researchers at the conference. But the excitement didn’t stop there for White.  

“Since I was in the process of submitting doctorate applications at the time of the conference, and several professors I wanted to work with were attending as well, I had the opportunity to meet up with them for informal Ph.D. interviews, and now I live in Vancouver where I’m in a doctoral program!” White said.   

Mattie Horne, ’25, master’s degree in geology 

Horne used the Ross Travel Grant to go to the National Science Teaching Association Conference in Philadelphia and give a talk on geoscience education.  

Horne presented her work on creating and testing an educational lab activity in WWU Geology 101 courses and in high schools and middle schools across the country. Her findings showed that this activity, centered on measuring and observing 3D-printed fossils, significantly improved student understanding of paleontology and geology.   

“I learned so much from experienced educators at this conference — through talks, poster presentations, booths and more — and I got to present my first talk ever, which was great practice for my master’s thesis defense later that spring,” Horne said.  

Horne is now finishing a master’s program in the Richard Gildner Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. She is getting certified in grades 7-12 earth and space science and did her student teaching this past year at a high school in Brooklyn and a middle school in Queens. Horne said she’s excited to begin teaching high school science in New York City this fall.  

Gunnar Guddal, ’16, bachelor’s degree, and ’18, master’s degree in environmental science 

Guddal used the Ross Travel Grant to travel to Rome to present research at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry European Conference.  

“Traveling to Europe to share my research was a defining moment in my personal and professional life. It was my first international trip, and I couldn't have done it without the Ross Travel Grant,” Guddal said. 

Guddal presented his work on pairing a novel air quality sampling method with machine learning to better understand hazardous emissions in an underserved community.  

“My favorite part of the trip was meeting the foundational researchers behind my graduate thesis work and learning about emerging technologies, which really made me stand out when I landed my career job only five months later,” Guddal said. “I also made friends with some Czech and French toxicologists, who I’m still in touch with today!”

Guddal still lives in Whatcom County with his wife and twin daughters. He’s now a senior scientist at Anchor QEA in Bellingham, Washington, where he performs statistical analysis and simulation modeling to advance environmental assessment and remediation, including local projects within sightline of Western.

“All the opportunities at Western, including the Ross Travel Grant, allowed me to start a family and my career here,” Guddal said. 

Kelsey Tribble, ’25, master’s degree in English studies 

Tribble is a playwright, and more than one of her plays saw the stage during her time as a grad student at Western. You can read more about her play “The Silent Zoo,” which premiered at New Prospect Theatre last summer in Bellingham.  

As managing editor of Bellingham Review, an international literary journal run by WWU’s creative writing and English studies grad students, Tribble was awarded the Ross Travel Grant to go to Los Angeles for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference. While there, Tribble hosted a table to promote Bellingham Review and associated grad programs. 

“My favorite part of the trip was the way it made the literary world start feeling less like an abstraction. I met so many people who are following different types of literary paths, including working in translation, teaching, publishing, editing and of course, writing!” Tribble said.  

Tribble recently directed a 10-minute play as part of Idiom Theater’s 48-Hour Festival and is now at work on a new play and writing grants for Pickford Film Center.

Brianna Benner, ’24, bachelor’s degree in environmental science 

Benner is an environmental science grad student at Western who used the Ross Travel Grant to attend the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Conference in Portland, Oregon, with her advisor, Professor of Environmental Science Ruth Sofield.  

While there, Benner presented a poster on evaluating iron nanogeochemistry along the Nooksack River.  

“This conference gave me the opportunity to attend talks by experts, learn about the newest research developments in environmental chemistry and connect with students and professionals who are doing similar research in the field,” said Benner. “I also enjoyed connecting with my peers outside of the school environment. The society hosted a fun night at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and of course when in Portland, one must visit Powell’s Books.” 

Jacob Massine, ’08, bachelor’s degree, and ’10, master’s degree in English studies 

Massine used the Ross Travel Grant to attend the 31st Annual Meeting of the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Association.  

While there, Massine presented a paper challenging a prevalent view at the time that the first chapter of Olauda Equiano’s autobiography was a fictitious fabrication, instead arguing that it could plausibly have been grounded in actual experience. 

“This experience furthered my general development as a scholar and fortified my CV, while also exposing me to other scholars whose research was beneficial at the time. To this day, I remain grateful for the experience provided by this grant,” Massine said. 

Allie Spikes covers the WWU Graduate School and Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies for University Communications. Reach out to her with story ideas at spikesa@wwu.edu.