Whitworth University Board of Trustees Elects Two New Members
November 14, 2018
The Whitworth University Board of Trustees is honored to welcome two new members, Shelly O’Quinn and Josh Hug. Both Whitworth alumni, they were elected during the board’s meeting in October.
Shelly O’Quinn
Shelly O’Quinn ’97 is chief executive officer of Innovia Foundation headquartered in Spokane, managing almost $130 million in assets funding charitable causes working to transform lives and communities in 20 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
Born and raised in Spokane, O’Quinn graduated from Whitworth with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. She went on to complete her MBA in 2001 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
O’Quinn quickly established herself as a community leader in Spokane. She has served as the director of family services for Habitat for Humanity and as the director for education and workforce development for Greater Spokane Incorporated. She was elected in 2012 to the Spokane County Board of Commissioners and served almost five years before stepping down in 2017 to lead Innovia Foundation.
“I’m so excited to welcome Shelly to the Whitworth board,” President Beck A. Taylor says. “Shelly is a strong and established leader in our area, she is a proud Whitworth alumna, and she will bring wise and experienced counsel on all areas related to public policy.”
O’Quinn has represented Spokane on more than 20 regional and statewide boards and commissions, including as the chair of public policy for the Independent Colleges of Washington. She enjoys the many activities the area has to offer and spending time with her two sons, Ryland and Iain.
“I am honored to be elected to the Whitworth Board of Trustees,” O’Quinn says. “It is a privilege to serve and give back to the institution that laid a solid foundation for my life and career. Whitworth is an innovative and respected university, committed to its students, faculty, alumni and our community, and I look forward to working collaboratively to fulfill the mission and goals of this world-class institution of learning.”
Josh Hug
Josh Hug exemplifies what it means to be a successful entrepreneur and graduate of Whitworth University. Hug graduated with a B.S. in computer science and mathematics in 2000. He is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Remitly, Inc. in Seattle, the largest independent digital remittance company in the United States.
In 2006, just five years before joining Remitly, Hug co-founded Shelfari, a social media website that allowed users to build virtual bookshelves and socially interact around the books they enjoyed. Amazon invested $1 million in Shelfari four months later, and in 2009 acquired Hug’s company.
"Whitworth helped me hone a foundation that has had an undeniable impact on my success as a leader,” Hug says. “I'm honored to give back and support Whitworth's mission."
Hug’s commitment to service did not end at Whitworth. He is a volunteer for Heroes of the Nation, one of Kenya’s largest orphanages, which houses and educates nearly 500 children.
“Josh is a consummate Whitworthian. He has built businesses and served his communities with a passion for excellence and a heart for others,” President Taylor says. “Josh will serve our board and the Whitworth community with his energy, passion and love for mind-and-heart education.”
Whitworth runs deep in the Hug family. Josh’s brother, Caleb, graduated from Whitworth in 2004. His sister-in-law, Kendra, is a 2003 alumna, and his grandmother Virginia graduated from Whitworth in 1944.
Josh and his wife, Celeste, stay busy taking care of their four young children.
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Scott McQuilkin, vice president for institutional advancement, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4386 or smcquilkin@whitworth.edu
Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu
Shelly O’Quinn
Born and raised in Spokane, O’Quinn graduated from Whitworth with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. She went on to complete her MBA in 2001 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
O’Quinn quickly established herself as a community leader in Spokane. She has served as the director of family services for Habitat for Humanity and as the director for education and workforce development for Greater Spokane Incorporated. She was elected in 2012 to the Spokane County Board of Commissioners and served almost five years before stepping down in 2017 to lead Innovia Foundation.
“I’m so excited to welcome Shelly to the Whitworth board,” President Beck A. Taylor says. “Shelly is a strong and established leader in our area, she is a proud Whitworth alumna, and she will bring wise and experienced counsel on all areas related to public policy.”
O’Quinn has represented Spokane on more than 20 regional and statewide boards and commissions, including as the chair of public policy for the Independent Colleges of Washington. She enjoys the many activities the area has to offer and spending time with her two sons, Ryland and Iain.
“I am honored to be elected to the Whitworth Board of Trustees,” O’Quinn says. “It is a privilege to serve and give back to the institution that laid a solid foundation for my life and career. Whitworth is an innovative and respected university, committed to its students, faculty, alumni and our community, and I look forward to working collaboratively to fulfill the mission and goals of this world-class institution of learning.”
Josh Hug exemplifies what it means to be a successful entrepreneur and graduate of Whitworth University. Hug graduated with a B.S. in computer science and mathematics in 2000. He is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Remitly, Inc. in Seattle, the largest independent digital remittance company in the United States.
In 2006, just five years before joining Remitly, Hug co-founded Shelfari, a social media website that allowed users to build virtual bookshelves and socially interact around the books they enjoyed. Amazon invested $1 million in Shelfari four months later, and in 2009 acquired Hug’s company.
"Whitworth helped me hone a foundation that has had an undeniable impact on my success as a leader,” Hug says. “I'm honored to give back and support Whitworth's mission."
Hug’s commitment to service did not end at Whitworth. He is a volunteer for Heroes of the Nation, one of Kenya’s largest orphanages, which houses and educates nearly 500 children.
“Josh is a consummate Whitworthian. He has built businesses and served his communities with a passion for excellence and a heart for others,” President Taylor says. “Josh will serve our board and the Whitworth community with his energy, passion and love for mind-and-heart education.”
Whitworth runs deep in the Hug family. Josh’s brother, Caleb, graduated from Whitworth in 2004. His sister-in-law, Kendra, is a 2003 alumna, and his grandmother Virginia graduated from Whitworth in 1944.
Josh and his wife, Celeste, stay busy taking care of their four young children.
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Scott McQuilkin, vice president for institutional advancement, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4386 or smcquilkin@whitworth.edu
Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu
