July 28, 2025 

         

Pictured above: Hillary Conner, Nate Suhr, Julie Smith, and Gretchen Aguilar.

The Wenatchee Valley College Board of Trustees awarded tenure to several faculty at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The faculty members were recognized at an end-of-year celebration in June.   

Hillary Conner teaches in the exercise science program at WVC. “I love helping students grow and realize their full potential,” she said. “As a first-generation college student and WVC alumna, I was blessed to have mentors and faculty who believed in and supported me-changing the trajectory of my life. I feel honored to pay that generous gift forward, equipping and serving WVC students for their future academic pursuits and careers. My students teach and humble me every day; this could take the form of posing a difficult question or demonstrating courage and resiliency as they overcome challenges and persevere.” 

Julie Fitch became a part-time faculty member in the Transitional Studies at WVC in 2013. She later became the Transitional Studies coordinator in 2020, and then a faculty member in 2023. “I love working at WVC because I believe that community colleges are integral in strengthening the communities they serve and in providing students with the educational and career training opportunities that will help them advance their lives,” Julie said. “And we have the best students at WVC—strong, amazing, and hardworking. It is so inspiring to work with them each day.” 

Nate Suhr is a radiologic technology faculty member and clinical coordinator who joined WVC in 2022. “I love teaching at WVC because it allows me to connect with a part of the community that I usually have no exposure to. I have learned from all students on campus that they want to feel more connected and that being here provides them with the opportunity to improve their community starting with themselves,” Nate said. 

Kristen Baltz’s work as a traveling nurse brought her to Central Washington Hospital (now Confluence Health) in 2017. Wanting to become an educator in hospital-based education, she completed WVC’s RN to BSN program in 2022. Shortly after graduating, she interviewed for and received a faculty position in the WVC Nursing program. “Being able to grow and graduate new nurses here at WVC is special—I get to ensure that our community is cared for by strong, capable, and caring nurses that are homegrown,” Kristen said. “My students teach me every day that through hard work, resilience, and a steadfast grip on your dream, anything is possible. Welcoming them into the most trusted profession is the best feeling in the world." 

Julie Smith also teaches in the WVC Nursing program. “I love working here at WVC with nursing students. Nursing school is tough—it requires a lot of grit and determination from students, and they rise to the challenge! It is so inspiring to see them work so hard to achieve their dream,” Julie said. “I also know that in a small community like ours, my past, current, and future students will likely be caring for me, my family, and friends when we are not well. It's a true honor and privilege to see them grow into the amazing nurses they're going to be.” 

Francisco “Frank” Sarmiento-Torres is an agriculture faculty member, a WVC alum, and an alum of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). After graduating from WVC, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology from Washington State University Tri-Cities. Frank was an assistant horticulturist at Olsen Bros. and a research assistant at the Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research Commission before joining WVC. He now works alongside his father, Francisco Sarmiento, who is also a WVC alum. “Earning a tenured position is a great honor,” Frank said. “To me, it symbolizes a promise to every student who comes to our campus that we, as tenured faculty, are committed to providing the highest quality education, equipping each student with the tools to succeed, and representing Wenatchee Valley College with pride.” 

Gretchen Aguilar returned to WVC Omak to become a professor in the nursing program—a program that she graduated from in 2003. After earning her associate degree in nursing, she continued her education at Western Governors University and Gonzaga University, earning a Master of Science in Healthcare and Leadership and a Master of Science Nursing. “I am super excited about earning a tenure position at Wenatchee Valley College in Omak; it is an incredible honor,” Gretchen said. “I absolutely enjoy working with the amazing nursing faculty and support staff. They are so driven and compassionate about taking nursing students and growing them into nurses. As for the students, their commitment to learning and serving others inspires me every day, and I feel proud to be part of their journey and part of this supportive, rural community.”  

Dr. Branwen Schaub, who was born and raised in Wenatchee, joined the WVC Math Department in 2021 after completing her doctorate in Mathematics from Oregon State University. She has served as a MESA program faculty sponsor and co-adviser of the WVC STEM Club. “I love teaching at WVC because our students make the mathematics come alive!” Branwen said. “Looking at an algebra equation by itself can be boring to me, but having a conversation with a student on why the algebra works, trying to put myself in their shoes and figure out what misconceptions they might have, seeing the lightbulb moment click! I could do that all day. Our students are curious, hungry to learn, and passionate about improving their lives through education. It's an honor to be with them every day.” 

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington and delivers relevant, innovative, and experiential educational opportunities for thriving and healthy communities. Visit our website, wvc.edu. 

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses: 

To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445, title9@wvc.edu. 

To request disability accommodations: Student Access Manager, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.