by Mya Brossoit

The College of Professional Programs is proud to feature EWU MS Organizational Leadership Alumna, Alissa Muñoz. 

Muñoz currently works as Interim Executive Director for the Community Colleges of Spokane, and Corporate & Continuing Education Division. Alissa completed her M.S. in Organizational Leadership  degree in October 2023, and celebrated this accomplishment by walking in Eastern’s commencement ceremony this June.

Alissa testifies to the remarkable benefits the program has offered her in her career. As an Interim Executive Director, she tells of the countless lessons and tools she has learned to implement in her career.

I was able to draw on current working experiences in every class of the program. I found that to be the most exciting part!

Muñoz loved the various ways she could relate to the content of the classroom in her everyday life. Not only was she able to dive into ideas she is familiar with, but expand her perspectives in a new and invigorating way.

I also loved that this program pushed me to think outside the box to solve unique problems, it was like I was tapping into part of my brain that was never open before!

Though she found much excitement in her school work, the road was not all smooth during the journey. In the midst of being a mother, wife, student and employee, Alissa shares her challenges in balancing various responsibilities throughout her life. Yet through it all, her support system and husband partnered with her in influential ways so that she could accomplish her academic goals.

Alissa recognizes Samantha Armstrong Ash and Brian Davenport as faculty members who encouraged and helped her every step of the way. She remains forever grateful for their generous support and encouragement during her time at Eastern.

As both an undergraduate and graduate alum, Alissa has grown very fond of Eastern and all the university has to offer. Specifically, Muñoz enjoys the small town EWU is located in, the convenient class sizes, and cheerful football games that occur on Roos Field. She deeply appreciates EWU and all the wonderful memories it has brought her!

Muñoz advises other students considering this graduate degree to boldly take the step in applying and beginning the masters program. Though starting can be the most challenging part of the process, she states, “you will be so proud of what you accomplish in the end!”

As the College of Professional Programs, congratulates Alissa Muñoz for all her hard work and accomplishments!

Dr. Bill Shaw (Accounting) and Dr. Brian Davenport (Organizational Leadership), along with community partner Ms. Ana Fortson (Spokane County Superior Court), received the award for Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and Learning for their presentation “Test Driving Career Through Community Engagement: A Guardianship Auditing Project”.  The Award for Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and Learning is a recognition for excellence in a scholarship of community-based teaching and learning. Presenters in this area explored how their teaching and students’ work in the community helped to advance outcomes for our neighborhoods or around critical-issue areas.

Dr. Beth Halaas (Social Work), Dr. Bipasha Biswas (Social Work), along with community partner Dr. Rumyana Kudeva (Spokane Regional Health District), received award for Excellence in Community-Based Research for their presentation “Co-Constructing Strategies for Addressing Structural Inequality in Refugee and Immigrant Communities (SSIRI) in Spokane, Washington”.  The Award for Excellence in Community-Based Research recognizes a community-based research. Award recipients advanced a project applying disciplinary expertise to a problem in the community in order to address and solve a critical issue.

See the link below for the event program:

CEI 2023 Program