Steel House | University of Idaho


Board of Directors


The newly elected board of Steel House Inc. is run by alumni of Steel House. Members of Steel House Inc. need NOT have been residents of Steel House. However, to hold an office, a board member must have lived in the house at least two semesters.

Each of the current board members was a resident of Steel House. They have varying educational degrees from the University of Idaho and offer a wide range of skills from bookkeeping, accounting, taxes, and administration, to web design and news writing. Current residents of Steel House work closely with board members to ensure that the house runs efficiently.

We are looking for additional board members to assist with the next phase of Steel House. Our biggest need at this time is to have a member of the board that’s good a fundraising. Although we are applying for several grants, we are learning how to raise funds on our own. See tab marked "The Project" for more information. If this interests you, please send an e-mail to president, Del Hungerford at here To help with fundraising, those who are work with fundraising do not need to live in or around Moscow.

Here's an introduction to the current officers of Steel House Inc:

President, Del Hungerford lived in Steel House from 1978-1981. In addition to acting as president of the board, Del is the House Administrator for the residents. She works closely with the “Women of Steel” by functioning as an advisor and “live out” house director. Del is a fourth generation Vandal and is currently teaching for the Lionel Hampton School of Music.

Del received her Bachelor of Music from the U of I in 1983. She then went on to receive a masters degree in music at Yale University and then her doctorate at the University of Washington. Del also teaches at Washington State University and Whitworth University (Spokane, Washington), and is a free-lance performer throughout the Inland Northwest. In addition to college teaching, Del has taught in numerous public schools and continues to be active in public school settings.

Treasurer, Sue (Smalley) Chen lived in Steel House from 1978-1981. She holds a degree in Interior Design from the U of I. She used her degree with Mervyn’s in Seattle as the designer for window displays. From there, Sue went on to work at the University of Washington in the Marketing and Licensing department. We are glad to have Sue back at the U of I as the new Director of Marketing and Licensing!

Muriel Vermaas Oaks lived in Steel 1961-65. She graduated from UI with Medical Technology degree and worked in that field for ten years in Pasadena, CA, Washington, DC, and Pullman. She earned a PhD in Education at WSU and has worked in administrative positions there since 1983, coordinating distance education and continuing education programs.

Corresponding Secretary, Tecla Guerra Blood lived in Steel House 1964-1968. She received her bachelor degree in Music Education in 1969. She taught in McCall and Boise Idaho. She married a farmer and moved to Potlatch area in 1973. She taught piano lessons, sings and plays piano at her church, and for various musical functions and events. She worked for the Palouse, Washington school District for twenty years as both an elementary secretary and substitute teacher. She raised two sons and has two grandchildren. She has also been a 4-H leader, and volunteer at the Potlatch school. She is now retired.

In 1956, Bookkeeper, Arleen Westfall Pence entered the University of Idaho and lived in Hayes Hall her freshman year. In 1957 she moved into Ethel Steel House until January, 1959, when she married Ned Pence, a major in forestry. Arleen graduated in 1960 with a Business Education degree. Arleen’s first teaching job was in Cle Elum, Washington. In 1966, Ned and Arleen moved back to Moscow, Idaho, to obtain their Master’s degree in each of their fields. By the fall of 1967, Arleen had her first Idaho teaching job in Emmett, Idaho. Arleen and Ned moved several times in Idaho and then 1980 moved to Petersburg, Alaska, for ten years. Arleen has fifteen years of teaching experience, eight years of school administration experience and then eighteen years learning to be a forest technician as well as the business manager for the family forestry consulting business. In 1990, they moved back to Moscow, Idaho, until present pursuing the forestry consulting business. Arleen is currently the Executive Vice President of Idaho Forest Owners Association, the state treasurer for Idaho Women in Timber, and currently on the Board of Directors for Steel House Inc. as well as being a tax preparer for H&R Block. Arleen and Ned have a son and daughter plus seven grandchildren.

Recording Secretary, Betty Thiessen Meloy lived in Steel House from 1959-1962 and was President spring semester of 1962. She married N. Douglas Meloy September 1, 1962. They lived at Potlatch until Betty graduated in 1963 with a Home Economics degree in Food & Nutrition and Education & Extension. Betty then attended and graduated from Oregon State University in 1973 with an M.S. in Clothing, Textiles & Related Arts. She worked as a dietitian at Gritman Memorial Hospital, taught high school at Deary, Asotin, WA, Culdesac and Nezperce, and was the extension educator for University of Wyoming in Crook Co., and WSU in Grant/Adams Co. Betty and Doug have one daughter, Michelle, who also lived at Steel House from 1987-1990. They have two grandchildren. Betty retired in 2006 from WSU Extension and moved back to the ranch she grew up on south of Lewiston. She joined the Ethel Steel House Board in May 2009.

Other Board members...

Carolyn Ravenscroft Smith lived in Steel from fall 1962 until December 1964 and graduated from the U of I in 1966 with a degree in Mathematics. She also received a Masters of Arts in Teaching (Math emphasis) in 1985 and works now as a Senior Instructor of Mathematics at Washington State University. Carolyn spent intervening years with a family of four and volunteer work as a 4-H and Campfire leader.

Heather Frazier lived in Steel 1987-1989. She graduated from the University of Idaho in 1992 and 1995 and was in the first class to receive a "Family & Consumer Sciences" degree. Heather married a local guy so she stayed in Moscow... She worked in advertising for several years and is currently working with merchandising companies in Moscow/Pullman and Lewiston/Clarkston areas. She has two children, a thirteen-year old son and a three-and-a-half-year old daughter. Heather is interested in keeping Steel House alive and thriving on the UI campus. Her mother lived at Steel House and two of her high school home economics teachers lived there, and were and influence in her living at Steel.

Rachel Stemach is a 1999 Bachelor's graduate from the College of Art & Architecture, and attended University of Idaho from 1995 through 1999. Rachel and her friend since childhood moved into Steel house in 1996, and this decision became possibly one of the best things about her college experience. She lived at Steel House the next three years, and was the House Vice President and Historian during her final thesis year.

After graduation, Rachel spent four great years in New England learning the architectural trade through large commercial and public projects and historical preservation. Returning to her hometown of Bend, Oregon in 2003, she fine-tuned those professional skills at a small, local firm. She presently makes up one-half of the newly created firm, Ambient Architecture LLC, in Bend. Rachel holds architectural licenses in Oregon (2007) and Idaho (2010), is NCARB-certified, and is a LEED accredited professional.

Like many of Steel House's residents, Rachel came from a low-income family, and was able to attend college based primarily on scholarships, grants and reduced-housing fees. She was shocked to learn about Steel House's closing in 2007, and feared it was the end of what was an amazing era for college-bound women at University of Idaho. She is delighted to know that Steel House still has a future existence possible, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the House alive and thriving.

Rachel and her husband, Stacey, own Ambient Architecture in Bend, Oregon. She thoroughly enjoys swimming, biking, and music, as well as renovating the historical home owned with her husband.