Carolyn B. Thurston has lived in Ellensburg for over two decades. As a nontraditional student at CWU, she earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in English and has since worked professionally at CWU for over ten years. She began her career as the English Specialist in the Academic Skills Program, where she was the primary instructor in the developmental English program. For the next five years, Carolyn worked in Student Support Services (TRiO) as an academic advisor. Now, in her capacity as STAR Director, Carolyn continues to do what she loves best--work with students to help them transition into college, succeed academically, and graduate with the degree of their choosing. Carolyn devotes much of her spare time to alternative conflict resolution, trains mediators for the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties, and is currently serving as President of the governing Board of the DRC. She also loves hiking, camping, and spending time in the outdoors with her daughter, Cassie.