Alumni President's Alumni Council

The Westmont Alumni Council is made up of diverse, highly accomplished alumni who span generations and the nation. This group serves as advocates of the college. They represent a broad spectrum of individuals who bring various gifts, abilities, passions, and perspectives to the council. All members must have attended Westmont for at least one semester. Appointed members meet four times a year. One member of the council will serve a three-year term as a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees.

During these meetings, members are called upon to learn and think strategically about issues that impact alumni, students, and the future of the college. The council is encouraged to provide thoughtful, relevant feedback and make recommendations concerning a variety of matters that might impact the Alumni Association and the College, including career connections, alumni engagement, opportunities for alumni, methods to grow enrollment, and strategic planning. In addition, the council will provide feedback in the selection of our annual alumni award candidates. 

GOALS OF THE ALUMNI COUNCIL:

  1. Support the Mission of the College
    1. Provide opportunities for our alumni to continue to be Thoughtful Scholars
    2. Provide opportunities for our alumni to be grateful servants
    3. Provide opportunities for our alumni to be faithful leaders
  2. Build a Strong Alumni Network
    1. Provide resources and events to educate and connect
    2. Facilitate opportunities for our alumni to create career opportunities for students and each other.
    3. Work to build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders and the broader Westmont community
      1. Help promote Westmont to prospective students and families
  3. Foster Loyalty and Pride
    1. Recognize annually outstanding alumni and their achievements, fostering a sense of pride in our alma mater
    2. Create events that provide opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and the university, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
    3. Update alumni on university news, events, and developments to keep them engaged and connected.
Matt Blick
Matt Blickendorf ’08 (Carmel, IN)

Emergency Physician at Medical Associates LLP

Emergency Physician and Director of Physician Assistants at Medical Associates LLP, a partnership of 45 emergency physicians employing 50 PAs with 250,000 annual patient visits in Indianapolis. A 2008 Westmont graduate with degrees in Anthropology and Biology, Matt’s strategic focus to develop a strong sense of group culture has drastically reduced PA turnover and burnout in medicine’s most burnout-prone specialty.

Courtney Desoto
Courtney DeSoto ’98 (Santa Barbara, CA)

Owner/ Private Fiduciary at Channel Islands Fiduciary Group

Founder and Owner of Channel Islands Fiduciary Group. As a private professional fiduciary, Courtney serves as a crucial decision-maker for estate planning and trust documents. Her work frequently involves navigating complex assets and sensitive family dynamics, all while prioritizing advocacy and the wishes of her clients. Courtney is also the proud mother of two daughters, one of whom is a current Westmont student.

Daniel Lew
Daniel Lew ’09 (Colorado Springs, CO)

Family Physician

Daniel spent the first ten years of his medical career in the Army, moving around the globe from one assignment to the next.  His interest in other peoples, countries, and cultures—originally cultivated at Westmont—finally blossomed while he was stationed in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  He now works as a family physician in Colorado Springs.  But it is likely that someday, the waves and the warmth will call him back home to the west coast.

Janelle Marshall
Janelle Marshall ’01 (Midlothian, VA)

Director of Pathways to Arts & Humanities at Virginia’s Community College System

Director of Pathways to Arts and Humanities for the Virginia Community College System and directs the Mellon Pathways to VCU Program. She previously served as a Communication Studies Department Chair and has over 16 years of higher education teaching experience. Her experience as a first-generation student at Westmont empowered her to work in supportive programs that serve and empower underrepresented students and is currently pursuing her Ed.D in Higher Education Leadership to continue that work.

Taisa S.
Taisa Skovorodko ’07 (Santa Barbara, CA)

Physical Therapist at Sansum Clinic

After graduating from Westmont in 2007, Taisa went on to get her Doctor of Physical Therapy. She returned to Santa Barbara and has been practicing at Sansum Clinic for the past 10 years, specializing in pelvic floor PT. She is excited to be part of the president’s alumni council as Westmont was not only a part of her academic journey, but also a big part of her life because her dad is a long time Westmont employee.

Zach Sheely
Zach Sheely ’04 (Sacramento, CA)

Farmer/ Entrepreneur- Autonomous Tractor Solutions at Kingman Ag.

Partner and co-founder of Kingman Ag, providing retrofit solutions for fully autonomous tractors and their implements. Co-founder of Agworld Inc., the global leader and most adopted comprehensive farm management software, acquired by Semios Biotechnologies in 2021. Fourth-generation farmer, agriculture technologist, and opera singer. 

Ryan Zoradi
Ryan Zoradi ’08 (San Francisco, CA)

Principal at Patamar Capital

Principal at Patamar Capital, an impact venture capital firm investing in early stage startups globally. Ryan leads Patamar’s California-focused investment strategy and is the Founder of the Atet Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on empowering university students with a unique in-office asset management apprenticeship.