District honors Apostolidis

Whitman College Professor Paul Apostolidis received the Southeast Washington Association of School Administrators Community Leadership award June 12 at the organization’s annual banquet in Richland. Apostolidis is professor and T. Paul Chair of Political Science at Whitman College. Superintendent Mick Miller recommended Apostolidis for this award based on his coordination of the community-based research program "The State of the State for Washington Latinos."

“I can't thank WWPS enough for this recognition, which means a great deal to me,” said Apostolidis. “I have always felt incredibly lucky and privileged that the work I do gives me the chance to interact with, and learn from, so many individuals in our schools – from teachers and administrators, to staff members, parents, students, and volunteers. I'm grateful that so many of these people have been receptive to the research my students and I have done, especially when we raise difficult issues about complex problems."

"The State of the State for Washington Latinos” program collaborates with community organizations to identify, analyze and address social and political problems of public significance. Whitman College student researchers gather and analyze data, over the course of one semester, to probe the reasons behind racial-ethnic inequalities and the efforts of programs intended to diminish them.

Whitman College students conduct a semester-long program of public outreach to bring the research findings and recommendations to policy makers, organization leaders and the public at large. Apostolidis has been on faculty at Whitman College for 17 years. Since Apostolis founded "The State of the State for Washington Latinos in 2005, the program has yielded 65 separate studies.

“The students led by Paul Apostilidis have made a profound difference in Walla Walla Public Schools through their ongoing research,” said Superintendent Mick Miller. “In many cases they have given voice to the voiceless and have told many very important stories. Our goal is to provide a school environment that is culturally competent and one in which all children can thrive and, candidly, we are not there. However, Paul’s work has helped us move closer to our goal.”

Apostolidis was raised in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He graduated with a Politics major from Princeton University in 1986. He later received his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University in 1993 and 1996, respectively.