Meet the team

WSU Vancouver Office of Admissions

These admissions counselors specialize in working with first-year and transfer college students and are passionate about their work. They wake up every morning thinking of ways they can help you achieve your goals through becoming a VanCoug.


Laura Arellano-Karki

Laura Arellano-Karki

Admissions Counselor

Email: laura.arellano@wsu.edu
Call or text: 360-727-0604


Jocelin Gallardo

Jocelin Gallardo

Admissions Counselor

Email: jocelin.gallardo@wsu.edu
Call or text: 360-727-0646


Kim Hiatt

Kim Hiatt

Lead Admissions Counselor

Email: hiattk@wsu.edu
Call or text: 360-342-9017


Spencer Vaughn

Spencer Vaughn

Admissions Counselor

Email: spencer.vaughn@wsu.edu
Call or text: 360-727-0527


Jason Yi

Jason Yi

Campus Director of Admissions

Email: jason.yi@wsu.edu
Call or text: 360-727-0481


Student Ambassadors

Our Student Ambassadors are a group of outstanding students selected to represent WSU Vancouver to prospective students, their families and our community. Schedule a campus tour today!


Kyle Effinger

Kyle Effinger

Student Ambassador

Greetings! My name is Kyle Effinger, and I am a fourth-year student at WSU Vancouver. I plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in history, then enter the master’s in teaching program to become a high school history teacher. I want to serve the community by educating students about the past. I began my journey through higher education as a Running Start student at Clark College while attending Battle Ground High School. After securing my general associate degree in 2022, I transferred to WSU Vancouver. WSU Vancouver’s proximity to my home enabled me to save a lot of money that would otherwise have been spent on housing. Plus WSU Vancouver has a wonderful environment with amazing faculty (the history program holds some of the best). I am very pleased to attend such a great university, and spending my time as a student ambassador makes it even better. Go Cougs!


Yesenia Garcia-Esparza

Yesenia Garcia-Esparza

Student Ambassador

Hello, everyone! I am Yesenia Garcia-Esparza, a fifth-year student majoring in history with a minor in comparative ethnic studies. I graduated in 2019 from Fort Vancouver High School’s Center for International Students. I chose WSU Vancouver because of its smaller classes, where students have the chance to establish good relationships with their professors. My professors at WSU Vancouver have shown me many opportunities, such as getting involved in student clubs and student employment. I am currently the president of the history club, as well as a proud Student Ambassador. I am very happy to be surrounded by the support and resources of WSU Vancouver. Go Cougs!


Jennifer Huggins

Jennifer Huggins

Student Ambassador

Hey, Cougs! I am Jennifer Huggins, a fourth-year transfer student at WSU Vancouver, majoring in psychology with a minor in human development. I chose this school because it is close to home and is a well-known university. Since attending WSU Vancouver, I created a study group for one of my classes. Now we are all friends, and we stay connected even though we no longer have classes together.


Abbigail Struthers

Abbi Struthers

Lead Student Ambassador

Hi, all! My name is Abbi! I am a third-year student at WSU Vancouver studying business administration with a double major in finance and accounting. I started here two years ago, and I am excited to finish next spring. Once I have my degree, I will work a couple of years in beginning finance work, likely as a bookkeeper, and then take my CMA exam. Once I pass that exam, I will start work full-time at a firm in town. I chose WSU Vancouver because it is close to home. In my initial college search, being close to home was not a priority for me. But after visiting this campus, I knew that this place was the right fit. The gorgeous scenery and views are a bonus. I consider myself an outdoorsy person, so walking the trails that surround campus gives me a great break from my studies.


Christina Tran

Christina Tran

Student Ambassador

Hi, friends! My name is Christina Tran, and I am a third-year student majoring in biology. I started at WSU Vancouver as a first-year student and have grown to love the campus more each year. I plan to use my degree to work in the health-care field in the hopes of becoming a physician assistant. I chose WSU Vancouver because of its great programs, resources and opportunities—such as internships in different departments, the ability to connect with our professors one-on-one, the opportunity to get involved with research on campus and more. I love that WSU Vancouver is a welcoming home for every community. As a first-generation student, I am beyond grateful to attend a university that strives to provide a strong support system for every student’s academic career. I am excited to work as a student ambassador with such a great team for a great university. Go Cougs!


Kaden Weber

Kaden Weber

Student Ambassador

Hello! I’m Kaden Weber, a third-year, first-generation student. I graduated from Washougal High School and started at WSU Vancouver as a first-year student. I am excited to be an ambassador this year! I’m studying history to obtain my bachelor's degree and then plan to move on to my master's in teaching so I can teach high school students. I chose WSU Vancouver because it is close to where I live, and I enjoy the small-classroom feeling. As a student, you can build an effective connection with the professor and other students in the class. Last summer I went to Rome, Italy, on the Study Abroad program. The program gave me a chance to use what I’ve learned from textbooks in one of the most ancient cities on Earth. Go Cougs!


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