A new book by Cougar football head coach Mike Leach is described as a readable history of Geronimo that also offers practical life and business advice gleaned from the Apache warrior’s leadership approach.
“Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior” (Gallery Books; hardcover $26) will go on sale May 6. Leach wrote it with Buddy Levy, clinical associate professor of English at WSU.
The book examines the strategies, decisions and personal qualities that made Geronimo a success. “Much of his genius can be ascribed to old-fashioned values such as relentless training and preparation, leveraging resources, finding ways to turn defeats into victories and being faster and more nimble than his enemy,” according to a news release from the publisher.
The WSU jazz studies program in the School of Music was recognized at the recent 2014 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho.
WSU saxophonist Michado Mijiga was selected from soloists on the festival’s College Day to perform at Hamp’s Club that evening. He also competed and was chosen as a featured soloist with the Lionel Hampton Youth Jazz Orchestra in the final evening’s concert.
The WSU Jazz Big Band, under the direction of Greg Yasinitsky, professor and director of the school, was selected to present an invited performance during the evening Young Artists Concert.
Two members of the CAS community will receive 2013-14 President’s Employee Excellence Awards at the Celebrating Excellence Recognition Banquet, part of the WSU Showcase annual celebration of faculty, staff, and student achievement on March 28.
The awards recognize civil service and administrative professional staff for outstanding contributions in work quality, efficiency, productivity, problem solving, work relations, and community service.
Kris Boreen
Kris Boreen, budget and finance manager for the Department of Physics and Astronomy, served in a number of WSU administrative and finance manager positions before landing in physics and astronomy two years ago. Since then, she has helped the department find optimal ways to invest resources, reduce expenses, identify resource needs and manage a complex budget. She asks questions, suggests options, provides answers and hammers out solutions, sometimes working late into the night and on weekends.
Boreen brought “an infusion of positive can-do energy” that helped improve staff morale. She cares about the success of the university, department, faculty, staff and “most definitely the students,” said a nominator.
Sisouvanh Keopanapay
Sisouvanh Keopanapay, academic coordinator in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, supervises about 40 interns working in Pullman-area courts and police departments and creates other innovative ways for students and faculty to connect with each other and with the justice community. After she revamped her department’s internship program, it added 25 students in two semesters, said one nominator.
Keopanapay coordinates a variety of tasks efficiently and creatively, including institutional research. She initiated a study abroad program and mentors other advisers. She also advises about half of the department’s undergraduates and “her evaluations are always at the top of the charts,” said a nominator.
Watch the slideshowThe College of Arts and Sciences held an inaugural Appreciation and Recognition Social to honor faculty and staff for their service to the educational, scholarly and outreach mission of the college and university. Fourteen individuals received awards and certificates. Four graduate students also were recognized for their achievements.
Outstanding undergraduate seniors were honored at a separate event on May 3 (see story here).
Heather Cochran, administrative professional staff and academic coordinator for the Department of Psychology will receive the President’s Employee Excellence Award at the 2013 Celebrating Excellence Recognition Banquet on March 29.
Her broad experience and thorough knowledge of resources available to help students succeed at WSU and beyond contribute to her expertise as an outstanding advisor. She insists that advisees learn to “navigate the system” on their own to enhance their professional development and personal growth. She helps students construct multi-year plans to get the most from their time at WSU – a remarkable undertaking, considering that she advises upwards of 450 students.
Cochran cares about students and the challenge to help them figure out the “right fit” so they can make the most of their talents and interests. She is energetic, good-natured, receptive to feedback and collaborative with co-workers.
Cochran will be honored alongside four other outstanding WSU employees at the banquet, part of the Washington State University Showcase annual celebration of faculty, staff and student achievement.
