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| Cunningham |
PULLMAN, Wash. – It has been 30 years since Melannie Denise Cunningham earned her bachelor’s degree in general studies from Washington State University. Since then, she has held key positions in the U.S. Navy, City of Tacoma and Washington state government.
She will return to the Pullman campus as keynote speaker for the Multicultural Student Services (MSS) graduation ceremony 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 6, in the Schweitzer Event Center.
Cunningham was recommended by John Fraire, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment.
“She is someone who can share with students a different perspective of WSU – a perspective from a different generation,” said J. Manuel Acevedo, MSS director. “I am excited to hear her talk about what has contributed to her success.”
Cunningham has owned her own public relations company and is associate director of admission and coordinator of multicultural recruitment at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash.
“I will speak about understanding the core of who you are, what you are passionate about and staying true to that passion,” Cunningham said. “By doing so, the right people will come, the right job or project will come, incredible opportunities will come … you just have to be ready.”
She intends to remind students not to underestimate the relationships they have made at WSU and the profound impact they can have on the rest of their lives.
Also speaking will be Julie Kane, an attorney for the Nez Perce Tribe and a member of the WSU Ku-Au-Mah Alumni Chapter. She will officially welcome the graduates as new alumni of WSU.