Justene Merriman

any pronouns
Coordinator for Fundraising Marketing

About

What am I doing here

To really simplify it, I do fundraising for WWU.

I work in University Advancement.

What does that mean?

I create and execute marketing campaigns that invite gifts to Western, and I manage crowdfunding at Western. A lot of what I do involves coordinating across University Advancement teams and other Western staff, faculty, students and ambassadors, as well as with vendors. Sometimes I help with related projects that affect a person's experience with Western.

University Advancement is a division of Western which works to advance the institution. This division exists seamlessly with The Foundation for WWU & Alumni: a non-profit organization that is separate from the institution but solely dedicated to supporting Western with philanthropy. Gifts to Western are processed by the foundation. Gifts fund scholarships, research, class supplies, student activities, and programs which enhance student success and address their basic needs.

What have I done here

I've helped raise a lot of money! All the money I fundraise goes to the benefit of Western students. Campaigns I've worked on enlisted outreach from leaders like President Sabah Randhawa, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Dr. Sislena Ledbetter, and student/athlete Bec Bennett with her incredibly inspiring story for We Love WWU Day. More recently, I coordinated WWU Give Day 2026 which broke a fundraising record and surpassed our goals by raising over a million dollars. In VikingFunder, I've helped set up projects for athletics, student clubs, projects in honor/memory of a person special to Western, and opportunities to send students on trips for their classes. I have also begun improving the processes for everyone involved in making these campaigns successful.

With the evolution of AI, I have partnered (and continue to) with people of all opinions throughout Western to explore, discuss, and research AI: all the good, bad, ugly and beautiful aspects of it. I advocate for responsible use that stops the slop, and maintains authenticity and human well-being. Through focus groups and discussions, I've influenced standards and guidelines at WWU, WSU, and regional businesses.

Before a restructure in 2025 that got me into fundraising, I spent about 12 years as the Multimedia Designer for the College of Fine and Performing Arts. In that role, I consulted and collaborated with faculty, staff, students, guest artists and contractors to ensure their work was represented by the CFPA in a high quality, consistent, and inclusive way. I worked closely with the Manager of Marketing and Special Events. As a team of two, we created all of the official publicity for The College of Fine and Performing Arts and its departments, as well as the Western Gallery. I designed a ton of communication materials and swag, edited videos, wrote articles, included multilingual translations, designed and built and overhauled websites. I managed compliance and quality across the college on branding and inclusive communications. I championed the college into leadership in technical, legal and ethical standards. I also streamlined our internal workflows and processes for the best outcome in staying ahead of schedules, prolific output of projects, and sustaining a high standard of quality.

WWU Recognitions

Before working at Western, I spent 15 years in commercial printing at what is still the largest printing facility in Bellingham. There I fixed customer files for better print quality, worked with enormous, expensive machines to capture files onto plates for the presses and to finish products in Bindery, and learned insider tips straight from the press operators. I automated workflows and wrote standard operating procedures, trained new and experienced coworkers, created educational and marketing materials for customers, managed the company website, and eventually managed Prepress for a while (Western whisked me away). I also visited K-12 schools throughout Whatcom County to teach students, teachers, and parent helpers about printing and how to design their yearbooks for the best outcome. During all this I had a freelance business on the side doing graphic design, fine arts, writing, and event coordination.

What kind of person am I

I'm a Bellingham native, from a blended family with wildly different backgrounds and perspectives from all over the continent and islands of North America. I simultaneously grew up on a floral farm in the county, and in a Graphic Design studio near downtown. In both places I tended plants and animals (wild and domestic), drew on the walls relentlessly, drew on the computers (digitally), assisted in design and marketing projects, and helped in other parts of the business. 

I am constantly in the midst of multiple creative and fix-it projects of all genres, whether they strike a need or fancy. I've painted wall murals, published poetry, made hats and jewelry, built my own e-bike, repaired my own car (which I've been driving since 2004), made improvements to furniture, turned a deck into a catio, turned a dull cubicle into a cozy private office, made a personal library of nature and wildlife photography, and grown indoor plants to 5ft wide and 25ft tall. I have often been called a "Disney princess" for all the wildlife I've befriended, and animal whisperer. I pause to smell the flowers, high-five the trees, splash in puddles, and I love walks.

I also volunteer at Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility committee and the Governance & Personnel committee. Wherever I work, my goal is to improve the experiences of underrepresented individuals, streamline systems, learn, teach, and spread kindness.

Portrait description

Justene's chin and cheek rest thoughtfully on one hand, eyes pointed diagonally up to the side, with a slight smile. The position of a rainbow tapestry in the background makes it look almost as if it's being manifested out of Justene's head.