Honor/Award

Crimson Spirit Award: Sheryl DeShields

Sheryl DeShields, secretary senior in the Department of Psychology, received the September 2018 Crimson Spirit Award. DeShields’ colleagues honored her for her noteworthy extra efforts and commitment to the unit. One nominator described her as “the heart and soul of our talented and close-knit department.” Another noted she is “outstanding in every way. I have […]

Psychology professor named Group Psychologist of the Year

David Marcus, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology, was named Group Psychologist of the Year by the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy (Division 49). The award recognizes Marcus’s fundamental contributions to the understanding of how people behave within the groups to which they belong and how they are […]

Long journey of WSU’s newest student regent

Jordan Frost was a sophomore at Kent-Meridian High School when a teacher, Andrea McCormick, handed him a packet of materials to run for student body president. She already had filled them out. “You just need to sign your name,” she said. Later, she gave him a Washington State University hoodie, “which was really the first […]

STEM mentoring program earns national award

The prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring recently bestowed upon WSU’s Team Mentoring Program in Washington, D.C., has brought about immense pride, increased interest in the program, and an opportunity to provide input on the nation’s strategic plan for STEM education. Manuel Acevedo, director of WSU’s Multicultural Student Services and […]

Crimson Spirit Award: Fran Meserve

Fran Meserve, principal assistant in the School of Music, is the Crimson Spirit honoree for July 2018. Presented by WSU Human Resource Services, the award recognizes faculty and staff who provide superior customer service to their peers, colleagues, and students. Ms. Meserve’s nominator says, “She does not hesitate to follow up with colleagues and students […]

Chemistry prof to lead PAC-12 Academic Coalition

Amy Nielsen, clinical assistant professor in chemistry and executive secretary of the WSU Faculty Senate, has been elected to a three-year term as executive director of the PAC-12 Academic Leadership Coalition. The mission of the PAC-12 Academic Leadership Coalition is to improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of each member school’s shared governance organization and to […]

Artist named an Oregon Hallie Ford Fellow

The Ford Family Foundation has named Avantika Bawa, associate professor of fine arts, as one of five Oregon Hallie Ford Fellows in the Visual Arts for 2018. The foundation praised Bawa for her work “at the intersection of geographic, architectural and cultural differences in landscape, influenced by minimalism with an emphasis on reductive form, modularity […]

Arts & humanities faculty awarded 2018 fellowships

Seven College of Arts and Sciences faculty received WSU Arts and Humanities Fellowship awards through a program funded by the Office of Research. “These grants showcase the range and innovation of creative and humanistic work at WSU,” said Todd Butler, chair of the fellowship review committee. “These faculty are taking on challenging questions and demonstrating […]

Spanish instructor recognized for community language project

Cassandra Gulam, senior instructor of Spanish language and culture at WSU Vancouver, received the 2018 Excellence in Community-Based Learning award from the Community Engagement Institute at Gonzaga University for her project entitled, “Language Learners in the Community: Partnering with Safety-Net Medical Clinics in Clark County.” The review board specifically applauded Gulam’s attention to including her partners […]

Remembering sociology pioneer James Short

James F. Short Jr., professor emeritus of sociology and one of Washington State University’s longest-serving and most distinguished faculty members, passed away on May 13, 2018, at the age of 93. Internationally respected for his expertise and understanding of group dynamics and sociological risk factors, his groundbreaking research into the conditions under which violence, delinquency, […]