Faculty
Carrie Chema
Carrie Chema teachs photography courses with a focus on art. In addition to teaching, they are the Head of Instructional Photography supporting the work of Photoland. Their creative research is rooted in personal narrative and explores issues related to environmental justice, grief, hope, and spirituality. In addition to photography, their work includes elements of fiber arts (beading, embroidery, weaving), graphic design, illustration, video, and installation.
Member of the Board of Directors: Community Print, Olympia Washington, Society for Photographic Education. Educational information: M.F.A., Photography and Digital Media, University of Miami, 2014; B.A., Studio Art, Georgetown University, 2010.
Faculty
Greg Mullins
Greg Mullins is a Member of the Faculty at The Evergreen State College, where he has taught gender and sexuality studies, human rights, and literature since 1998. Honored by multiple grants and awards, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya and a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil. He served Evergreen as Library Dean from 2015-2025. A passionate champion of Evergreen’s inquiry-based education, Greg gains inspiration from former students with thriving careers in education, government, social services, non-profit leadership, law and many other fields.
Staff
Beth Leimbach ’94
Organic Farm Manager
Beth Leimbach attended Evergreen from 1990-1994, receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Organic Agriculture and Natural History. After studying Ecological Agriculture with Pat Labine and Russ Fox, Beth participated in one of the first organic agriculture programs led by Farm Manager Pat Moore.
Since then, Beth has been working on and managing small farms in Thurston County: 9th Heaven Herbs & Vegetables with Greener alum Debbie Leung; a “Master Gardener” at the Nisqually Tribe; the Farm Production Manager at a non-profit called Left Foot Organics that provided employment and training to people with disabilities and at-risk youth; Farm Manager at GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty) founded by alums Kim Gaffi and Blue Peetz; and a season with Kirsop Farm (alum Colin Barricklow). Beth returned to Evergreen in 2015 part-time as Assistant Farm Manager and became the full-time manager in 2020.
In addition to her passion for organic agriculture, Beth has also devoted time to her love for the arts through music and theatre. She’s been a long-time member of The Heartsparkle Players (founded by alum Debe Edden), and active member of The Olympia Peace Choir.
Staff
Laura VerMeulen
Director House of Welcome
Laura is enrolled in the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. She is Gaanax.ádi clan, youngest daughter of Pearl Peratrovich of Klawock, Alaska. Previously Laura served as the assistant director of the House of Welcome from 1999-2021 and financial aid counselor and director of student employment from 1994-1999. Prior to that she worked in Multicultural Affairs at Kansas State University, and assistant dean of the University Graduate School at Indiana University-Bloomington. Laura has a master's degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University, and a B.A. in sociology, also from Indiana University.
Emeritus Faculty
Sean Williams
Sean Williams lives and breathes music and writing. She teaches ethnomusicology—the study of music in cultural context all over the world—and plays over 30 musical instruments. Her written work focuses on the many ways in which music and culture intersect: through spirituality, urbanization, food, immigration, gender, language, and politics.
Additional Speakers
- Ambrose Ambrose ’24, Evergreen Staff
- Gail Dillon-Hill ’19, Evergreen Staff - Photography Lab Supervisor
- Tom Womeldorff ’81, Emeritus Faculty