Human Resources Team
Feel free to visit us during our normal office hours! Whether you are a current employee or just starting the hiring process, our staff are here to assist you and answer your employment questions.
Give us a call! (509) 527-2820
Keri Self
Director of Human Resources
(509) 527-2302 | keri.self@wallawalla.edu
Bio: Keri is a 2003 B.S. graduate of Walla Walla University. She has experience as an academy residence dean, office manager, patient accounts specialist, human resources assistant and associate HR director. She earned her HR certification with the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) in 2000 and volunteers as the college relations director for the Blue Mountain Human Resources Management Association (BMHRMA). Keri and her spouse have three children and in their spare time, they enjoy hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, learning, exploring and trying new foods.
Josette Robinson McDonald
Associate Director of Human Resources
(509) 527-2141 | josette.mcdonald@wallawalla.edu
Bio: Josette was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, and is a proud graduate of the Northern Caribbean University and the Florida International University with her degrees in business. She earned her HR certification with the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) in 2024 and has worked with the Government of Jamaica for 20 years in various HR roles, with her last role being the Director of Human Resources at the Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency, before she migrated to the United States in 2019. She relocated from New Jersey to Walla Walla in 2022.
She will tell you that she is strategically placed and divinely enabled, and that God has been her guide throughout her professional career. Her philosophy: “Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children” (-EGW). The sky, therefore, is not my limit; there are other galaxies for me to explore. My explorations are divinely enabled, thus my “happiness does not consist in past-times and amusement, but in virtuous activities” (-Aristotle). “I am what I do repeatedly” (-Aristotle) – and so, I am cognizant of the fact that “excellence is not a singular act but a habit,” (-Aristotle) cultivated through an intimate relationship with the Creator, God."
Dorene Hackett
Human Resources Generalist
(509) 527-2820 | dorene.hackett@wallawalla.edu
Bio: Dorene joined the Human Resources team in 2024, bringing a decade of experience at Walla Walla University. She most recently served as the assistant director for off-campus housing and earlier as an academy registrar. With an M.B.A., a B.S. in Organizational Behavior and Management, and experience in various business roles and academic support, Dorene brings a well-rounded understanding of business practices, education, and program development.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Dorene and her husband, Michael, returned to the region from Lodi, California, in 2013. They have two daughters, Dru and Hope. In her free time, Dorene enjoys church activities, cooking, researching her family’s genealogy, and exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
As a devoted member of the WWU community, Dorene values the culture, sense of belonging, and the inspiring faculty and staff who motivate her every day.
Ligia Holmes
Risk Management Officer and Title IX Case Manager
(509) 527-2402 | ligia.holmes@wallawalla.edu
Born in Costa Rica, Ligia C. Holmes is a third-generation Seventh-day Adventist whose life and ministry reflect an unwavering commitment to faith, education, and service. After graduating from the Adventist University of Central America (UNADECA) in Alajuela, she began her denominational service at the Centro Educativo Adventista de Costa Rica in Hatillo, San José.
In 1991, Ligia immigrated to the United States, where she continued to pursue both her academic and spiritual calling. She earned a Bachelor’s degree and later a Master’s degree in Social Work in Queens, New York. In 2019, she completed her Doctorate in Business Administration from Montemorelos University.
Throughout her academic journey—like many women who balance home, motherhood, career, and education with grace and courage—Ligia raised two young children while working full-time at the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering faith reflect both her personal strength and the collective perseverance of women who continue to pursue their God-given purpose in every season of life.
Her service has extended far beyond the classroom and office. A passionate advocate for mission and ministry, Ligia has participated in outreach projects both within and beyond North America. She has also contributed to The Toronto Messenger, including her article “Seventh-day Adventist Christian Education: A Modern-Day Ark of Safety for Our Children.” In addition, she has written devotionals featured in various women’s ministry publications, sharing messages of hope, healing, and faith with readers around the world.
Ligia’s life stands as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and sustaining grace. She is deeply grateful for the many miracles He has performed in her life and lives in joyful anticipation of Christ’s soon return and the promise of eternal life.
Guided by her favorite scripture, Romans 12:2, Ligis is passionate about inspiring others to live with purpose and spiritual clarity in challenging times. She believes that through the transforming power of Jesus Christ, God renews our minds, strengthens our faith, and empowers us to be overcomers—by His blood, grace, and mercy—and to never cease sharing His goodness with everyone we encounter.
Tara Wyrembelski, MS
Radiation Safety Officer
(509) 527-2148 | tara.wyremblski@wallawalla.edu
Bio: Tara was raised just outside of Louisville, Kentucky and eventually graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in geology. Her and her husband, Steve, an engineer, met while attending graduate school together at Michigan Technological University. They have two boys and have lived in the Walla Walla area for more than 12 years. In her spare time, Tara enjoys all sorts of stitching projects, building miniatures, and hanging with her family and pets. Every year her family takes a trip back east to visit family and friends and this has allowed her children to see a lot of the country already.