WSU Tri-Cities

Marketing and Communications

	Melissa O’Neil Perdue Marketing Manager moneil@tricity.wsu.edu 509-372-7319 East Building, Room 244 Melissa O’Neil Perdue joined Washington State University Tri-Cities in March 2007 as the Marketing and Promotions Manager. She previously worked at the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Wash. She was a reporter from 1991 through 2000 covering city government, K-12 education and business. Melissa transferred to the Herald’s marketing department in spring 2000, where she handled the newspaper’s promotions, community relations, branding and events. Melissa grew up in Portland, Ore., and graduated magna cum laude from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., with bachelor degrees in communications (print journalism) and business administration. She is on the Leadership Tri-Cities board of directors and a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities Class IX (2003-04), and previously served on the Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation board.
	Kari Tutwiler Communications Coordinator tutwilerk@tricity.wsu.edu 509-372-7323 East Building, Room 220 Kari Tutwiler joined Washington State University Tri-Cities in July 2012 as the Communications Coordinator. She is part of the Marketing and Communications Department within the Office of Advancement and Regional Development. She has a strong background in higher education, including positions at WSU Pullman, the University of Idaho, and the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Kari previously served as the marketing/training officer for a federal grant with the Montana State Department of Public Health and Human Services, moving to the Tri-Cities when the grant ended in 2009. She most recently managed the financial education program for Gesa Credit Union's Marketing Department. Kari grew up in a military family and traveled extensively. She obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from Utah State University and a Master of Arts degree in Speech Communication from Eastern Illinois University.
	Heather Willoughby Graphic Designer hwilloughby@tricity.wsu.edu 509-372-7318 East Building, Room 220 Heather Willoughby joined Washington State University Tri-Cities in July 2007 as Web and Graphics Coordinator. She previously worked at the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Wash in the advertising department. Before working at the Tri-City Herald Heather worked as a graphic designer at a small firm in Richland, WA. Heather grew up in Kennewick, Wash. and graduated from Western Washington University in 1997 with a bachelors degree in Fine Art.
	Kristin De La Rosa Web & Graphics Assistant kdelarosa@tricity.wsu.edu 509-372-7333 East Building, Room 220 Kristin joined Washington State University Tri-Cities in September 2012 as the Web and Graphics Assistant. She previously worked at Orion Network Solutions in Kennewick, Wash., as a web programmer and graphic designer, providing web support for the National Weather Service. She was the student intern for the WSU Tri-Cities Marketing team from 2009 to 2011. Prior to that she worked as an advertising designer and newsroom copy editor at the Tri-City Herald from 2006 to 2009. Kristin grew up in Kennewick, Wash. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Eastern Washington University in 2006, then summa cum laude from WSU Tri-Cities in 2010 with a second bachelor's degree in Digital Technology & Culture.

Marketing and Communications, 2710 Crimson Way, Washington State University Tri-Cities, Richland WA 99354-1671, 509-372-7319, Contact Us