Verla Kwiram: A legacy of service and impact

Verla and her husband, Alvin Kwiram, both served the university as trustees over multiple terms; Verla between 1994-2000 and again between 2000-2006 and Alvin for the terms of 2010-2016 and 2016-2020.

In 2015 the Verla Rae Kwiram Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award was established at La Sierra. It is granted each commencement to a faculty member who has led undergraduate students to success through excellence in teaching that encourages students to an open range of ethical and intellectual inquiry.

Verla attended La Sierra University as a student for two years, graduating in 1964 with a degree in chemistry. She had previously studied violin and voice for two years at Newbold College and at the Watford School of Music in the United Kingdom, and spent her freshman year at Walla Walla College in 1958-59.

Verla was part of the La Sierra College orchestra that performed a Christmas concert in 1962 at the Glendale City Church in California. After the performance she met Alvin. The couple married in 1964 before moving to Boston where Alvin joined the faculty of the Harvard University Department of Chemistry. Meanwhile, Verla pivoted her career track and pursued a Ph.D. in English literature at Boston University, completing coursework before the couple’s move to Washington in 1970.

In 1964 the Kwirams joined with likeminded advocates of progressive discourse on Adventism’s future through spiritual connection, conversation and study, and launched the New England Adventist Forum. This group, for which Verla identified hundreds of potential participants, including graduate students, young professionals and others, served as the precursor to the Association of Adventist Forums (AAF) which formed three years later, linking discussion groups around the country. AAF (now AF) is the publisher of Spectrum magazine, a digital publication offering podcasts, newsletters and a quarterly print journal which was originally launched in 1969.

“We were trying to make the church more transparent and responsive to a new and rapidly growing generation pursuing not only undergraduate degrees but advanced graduate degrees in virtually every field,” Verla said in an interview with the Green Lake Foundation Newsletter in 2021.

Dr. Larry Geraty, La Sierra’s president emeritus and his wife, Gillian, were among those joining forces with the Kwirams and others in giving life and momentum to the forum program. At the time, Larry was a Ph.D. archaeology student at Harvard University. Also Charles Teel, former La Sierra theology professor and his wife, Marta were part of the core group. The founding group also included the late Roy Branson, one of the primary movers and shakers, as well as Jim Londis, Carol Peterson and Ann Parish.

“The Adventist Forum owes a lot to her as the sparkplug that got it going,” Larry is quoted as saying, reflecting on Verla’s contributions.

In 1982, the Association of Adventist Women (AAW) was formed out of the Association of Adventist Forums, with Verla’s strong support. She eventually served as its president between 2003 -- 2008. Her many influences and contributions included pushing for the association’s recognitions and outreach to encompass Adventist women internationally.

She also formed an endowment through the Green Lake Foundation to assist AIDS-orphaned girls in Kenya, helped fund an orphanage in Thailand, and raised funds through AAW for the benefit of women in Kenya, Cuba, Swaziland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

During the 1970s, the Kwirams moved across country to Seattle where Alvin took a position with the University of Washington and became chair of the Chemistry Department and later the UW’s Vice Provost for Research. The couple joined the Green Lake church where Verla served as one of the first female elders, participated on multiple committees, and hosted numerous church events and meals in the family’s home. She also organized significant events for the University of Washington at the Kwiram home including hosting 75 Korean academics and renowned figures such as Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling.

Along with her organizational abilities and connection skills, she proved her business acumen through leading the Kwiram family real estate venture, The K Group, in Washington State.

After becoming La Sierra’s president in 1993, Larry invited Verla to serve on the university’s board. “I asked her to serve as a trustee because she was a successful businesswoman. She always did her homework, advocated for faculty, and was conscientious about her service,” Larry says.

Among Verla’s contributions to the university was her advocacy for retaining the La Sierra University’s farm property, and with President Geraty’s help, that led eventually to retaining and leasing a portion of the farm property which has provided important revenue over the years and helped create the university endowment.

“The Kwiram’s support of our institution has been steadfast, and we are deeply grateful for the many ways in which they have championed La Sierra over the years,” said La Sierra University President Christon Arthur. “Verla’s legacy of advocacy for women and the marginalized, for the future of the church, for education and the pursuit of excellence are core to who we are as a university and will continue to deeply inspire us. We hold up her family and many friends in our prayers.”

Verla’s recognitions for her service, advocacy and impact include the AAW’s Woman of the Year award in 2002 and the Charles E. Weniger Society for Excellence medallion in 2017, awarded jointly to her and her husband for the couple’s service to the Adventist church, Adventist education and their communities.

Over the years, Verla became a strong voice for women and the disenfranchised and is quoted in the 2005 AAW newsletter president’s message stating, “It is imperative that Adventist leaders and members speak forcefully against the marginalization of any class of people, including the marginalization of women, physical and sexual abuse of women, and structural deprivation of women, which can limit women’s ability to use their God-given gifts in service within the church structure.”

Verla Rae Michel Kwiram was born on August 7, 1940, and spent her early years in the Pacific Northwest. Her father, Raymond S. Michel served as a pastor during Verla’s youth before starting an innovative medical services business, United Medical Labs in Oregon, offering rapid and low-cost diagnostic procedures worldwide, and eventually employing 1,500 people.

Verla is survived by her devoted husband, Alvin; son, Brandt; daughter, Sidney; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for May 31, 2026, at the Green Lake Adventist Church in Seattle, Washington. A livestream is available at https://greenlakesda.org/services/channel/.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Association of Adventist Women at https://www.associationofadventistwomen.com