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CAS in the Media Arts and Sciences Media Headlines

History professor Katy Whalen named Libraries’ Excellence Award winner

Katy Whalen.
Whalen

Washington State University History Professor Katy Whalen has been named the 2022 recipient of the WSU Libraries’ Excellence Award.

The award recognizes a non-library WSU faculty or staff member who has shown consistent support for the WSU Libraries. Recipients are chosen based on encouraging students to use the libraries; personal use of the libraries; personal support of or contributions to the libraries’ collections or services; interaction and cooperation with library faculty; and service on library-related committees.

The Excellence Award program began in 1980, honoring C. Gardner Shaw of WSU’s Department of Plant Pathology as the first recipient. Some 35 faculty and staff have received the honor.

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Lisa Guerrero named WSU Pullman vice chancellor for equity and inclusive excellence

Lisa Guerrero.
Guerrero

Lisa Guerrero has been named the inaugural vice chancellor for equity and inclusive excellence for WSU Pullman, effective July 1, 2022.

Guerrero joined the Washington State University faculty in 2004, and has served as associate vice provost for equity and inclusive excellence for the last two years. As part of that role, she has led WSU’s faculty cluster hire in “racism and social inequality in the Americas.”

“It is critical that we have strong, dedicated leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion at our flagship campus,” said WSU Pullman Chancellor and Provost Elizabeth Chilton. “Dr. Guerrero’s strong experience and leadership make her uniquely qualified for this role. I’m looking forward to working with our equity leaders in Pullman and across the WSU system and building on the important foundation that has already been laid.”

Guerrero has served in several roles at WSU, starting as an assistant professor and advancing to associate professor in 2010. She served as director of the Graduate Program in American Studies from 2012-17, and chair of the UCORE committee from 2013-2018. Guerrero earned promotion to professor in 2020.

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WSU Jazz Big Band wins DownBeat magazine award for virtual recordings

The Washington State University Jazz Big Band is the winner of the Graduate College Large Jazz Ensemble (asynchronous) Award from DownBeat magazine on the basis of virtual recordings made by the band while WSU was online only.

DownBeat is the most important journal in jazz, often called the “Jazz Bible.” DownBeat Student Music Awards are national in scope, awarded to top jazz programs from around the country. The WSU recordings submitted to DownBeat are included on the Jazz Big Band’s latest CD, “Jazz During Lockdown,” which is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, wsurecordings.com and other online sites.

Greg Yasinitsky.
Yasinitsky

As WSU Regents Professor and Coordinator of Jazz Studies, Greg Yasinitsky, said “WSU has won a number of DB awards over the years, but this one is particularly sweet since I am retiring this spring. This award is a great tribute to our outstanding students and faculty in the School of Music.”

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Ten seniors recognized for excellence

Each year, 10 graduating seniors from Washington State University are recognized for excellence in several areas: academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service, and visual and performing arts. Six students in CAS are among WSU’s top 10 of 2022.

The WSU Alumni Association and Student Alumni Ambassadors coordinate the 80-year tradition of honoring these outstanding students, who are nominated from across WSU’s six campuses.

A selection committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students chose the winners based on criteria that fit each category.

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WSU Features

WSU announces Smith Teaching and Learning Grant recipients for 2022

Five Washington State University faculty proposals for Smith Teaching and Learning Grant awards have been approved for funding.

Projects this year were sought that address WSU’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA), and focus on specific areas that improve student learning through innovative practices.

“The five projects funded by Smith grants will literally impact the student success and academic progress of hundreds of WSU students, and we are impressed by the innovative ideas advanced by all of the applicants,” said William B. Davis, interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement. “We will look forward to seeing the progress on, and the results from, these projects, with final reports due in August 2023.”

In CAS, Faculty applying as principal investigators on the awarded grants are:

Sonia Lopez-Lopez.
López-López

Sonia López-López: “Spanish 308 for Heritage Speakers”
It involves the creation of a 300-level Spanish language course for students who speak Spanish fluently, having learned it at home, but whose competency might be limited due to a lack of formal understanding of the language. The course could help students gain better writing skills in their native tongue and contribute to their higher academic success.