Provost’s Featured Faculty Member Recognition

2022-2023

Provost and Executive Vice President Elizabeth Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members during the fall 2022 football season.

• September 3, 2022, vs. University of Idaho
  • Ashley Hernandez-Hall, 4-H Assistant Professor, Snohomish County Extension Office
  • Kristine Kuhn, Associate Professor, Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship, WSU Pullman
• September 17, 2022, vs. Colorado State University
  • David Luftig, Libraries, WSU Pullman
  • Jennifer Thigpen, Associate Professor, Department of History, WSU Pullman
• September 24, 2022, vs. University of Oregon
  • Ben McCamish, Career-Track Assistant Professor, School of Engineering and Computer Science, WSU Vancouver
  • Wendy Raney McCann, Scholarly Assistant Professor, Murrow College of Communication, WSU Pullman
• October 1, 2022, vs. University of California
  • Chris Connolly, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology, College of Education, WSU Pullman
• October 27, 2022, vs. University of Utah
  • Soobin Seo, Associate Professor, School of Hospitality Business Management, Carson College of Business, WSU Everett
• November 12, 2022, vs. Arizona State University
  • Boel Fransson, Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, WSU Pullman
  • Ryan Learn, Scholarly Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, WSU Tri-Cities
• November 26, 2022, vs. University of Washington
  • Ayesha Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, WSU Spokane
  • Jaime Bowman, Interim Clinical Education Director for Family Medicine, Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU Spokane

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2020 – 2021

Provost and Executive Vice President Elizabeth Chilton was delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members.  The 2020-2021 Featured Faculty were recognized during a virtual recognition event on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.  The recognition event can be viewed by clicking here.

• Carson College of Business
  • Beau Barnes, Department of Accounting
• College of Agricultural, Human, & Natural Resource Sciences
  • Patricia Kuzyk, School of Economic Sciences
• College of Arts and Sciences
  • Ruth Gregory, Digital Technology and Culture Program
• College of Education
  • Kristin Lesseig, Department of Teaching and Learning
• College of Nursing
  • Kevin Stevens, Center for Clinical Performance & Simulation
• College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Christina Buchman, Department of Pharmacotherapy
• College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Samantha Gizerian, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience
• Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
  • Luis Manriquez, Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences
• Honors College
  • Lydia Gerber
• Libraries
  • Talea Anderson
• Murrow College of Communication
  • Amanda Boyd, Department of Strategic Communication
• Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
  • David Drake, School of Design and Construction
• WSU Everett
  • Gordon Taub, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• WSU Global
  • Mary Garcia, Department of Human Development
• WSU Tri-Cities
  • Vanessa Cozza, Department of English
• WSU Vancouver
  • Adenike Otoikhian, Department of Chemistry

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November 24: Julie Akers

Interim provost Bryan Slinker is delighted to recognize professor Julie Akers as the Provost Featured Faculty Member for Saturday’s football game against Oregon State.

Akers is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy.

“To me, teaching is the ultimate way to give back to your profession,” Akers says. “My goal is to develop strong leaders who are passionate about patient care and are active participants in the profession. I focus on the legislative and regulatory process, patient care services, and supporting their development as change agents. I serve on several local, state, and national committees and boards focused on policy and advocacy as well as conduct research related to community pharmacists providing direct patient care services, ensuring access to quality care throughout Washington State.”

Please join Interim provost Slinker in thanking Akers for her exemplary contributions to WSU!

November 16: Rebecca Cooney and Lois James

Interim Provost Bryan Slinker is delighted to recognize professors Rebecca Cooney and Lois James as Provost Featured Faculty Members for the November 16 football game against Stanford.

Cooney is a clinical associate professor in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

“I began my career in professional communications more than 23 years ago, but nothing has been more rewarding than teaching,” Cooney says. “I believe that students learn best when they are informed, confident, and free to explore. My best teaching experiences are the ah-ha moments when a student reveals a new talent or masters a new technology. My joy comes from their discovery.”

James is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing.

“I’m exceptionally proud to be part of the WSU community,” James says. “My research on the effects of shift work and sleep restriction have allowed me to teach our nursing students fatigue-management skills to cope with the challenges of shift work and long work hours. Providing our students with these tools has been an area of great passion in my career.”

Please join interim provost Slinker in thanking Cooney and James for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

October 19: Erica England and Viveka Vadyvaloo

Vice Provost Laura Hill is delighted to recognize professors Erica England and Viveka Vadyvaloo as Provost Featured Faculty Members for the October 19 football game against Colorado.

England is a First-year Experience Librarian. She emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to her.

“I am one of the fortunate few at WSU to interact with many of our first-year students across a vast range of disciplines,” England says. “One of my main goals when working with students is to ignite the realization that research is fun, especially when they’re pursuing their passions. I am privileged that I can help all students thrive and be a part of the community that fosters their success.”

Vadyvaloo is an Associate Professor in the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health.

“My research at WSU enables me to pursue fundamental questions about how the pathogen that caused the devastating Black Plague is transmitted through the bite of a flea,” she says. “In this backdrop, and that of the Allen School’s mission, I focus my teaching on inspiring students to make novel discoveries that advance our understanding of infectious diseases.”

Please join Vice Provost Hill in thanking England and Vadyvaloo for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

September 21: Steve Austin

Provost, Mitzi Montoya is delighted to recognize professor Steve Austin as the Provost Featured Faculty Member for the Cougars’ football game against UCLA on Sept. 21.

Austin is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Design and Construction.  Austin emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to him.

“I love teaching landscape architecture and design at WSU,” Austin says. “It is immensely gratifying to be able to share my experiences with students as I help them learn by providing service to communities in the Northwest. It is also very rewarding to be around bright, passionate people who are committed to making the world a better place.”

Please join Provost Montoya in thanking Austin for his exemplary contributions to WSU!

September 7: Ofer Amram and Francene Watson

Provost Mitzi Montoya is delighted to recognize professors Ofer Amram and Francene Watson as Featured Faculty Members for the Sept. 7 football game against Northern Colorado.

Amram is an assistant professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the director of the Community Health and Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory.  Amram emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to him.

“My research and teaching in the field of spatial epidemiology aims to highlight and redress geographic and social inequities in health, particularly in Eastern Washington,” Amram says.

Watson is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

“Teaching has always centered on community—the importance of engaging in honest, critical dialogue, and building authentic relationships,” Watson says. “As a colleague in the College of Education, I have this honor and privilege every day working with future K-12 public school teachers, together committed to creating a more socially just, sustainable and joyful world.”

Please join provost Montoya in thanking Professors Ofer Amram and Francene Watson for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

August 31: Omar Cornejo and Annie Lampman

Provost Mitzi Montoya is delighted to recognize professors Omar Cornejo and Annie Lampman as Provost Featured Faculty Members for the Cougars’ football game against New Mexico State.

Cornejo is an assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences.  Cornejo emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to him.

“I have the opportunity to increase our understanding of the genomic basis of host and pathogen evolution, as well as the genomic impact of domestication on species,” says Cornejo. “Teaching at WSU allows me to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to take our newly generated knowledge in wonderful and unanticipated directions in the future.”

Lampman is a scholarly associate professor in the Honors College.

“Being a faculty member at the WSU Honors College—one of the first Honors programs in the country—has been the most rewarding career I could have imagined,” Lampman says. “I have the privilege of working with colleagues and students alike who value inclusion, mindfulness, creativity, and excellence, and who together are working to build a better future for all of us.”

Please join Provost Montoya in thanking Cornejo and Lampman for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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2018 Featured Faculty Member Archives

Featured Faculty hear the cheers at Martin Stadium

Provost Dan Bernardo welcomed 13 WSU faculty members to home football games throughout the fall for the Featured Faculty recognition.

“Our land grant mission is ultimately carried out by our faculty and we’re pleased to be able to recognize their contributions in front of our fans in Martin Stadium,” notes Bernardo.

This season’s honorees embody the tremendous teaching and mentorship that are trademarks of our faculty members across the University.

Mauricio Featherman took the field with his daughter, who is now a senior in high school and was just three months old when he started his career at WSU. Minutes later he was getting kudos from Japan, as former Cougar basketball standout Josh Hawkinson and his family got word of the honor and sent their congratulations.

“Some people took a photo of the scoreboard with our photo on it and texted him in Japan,” says Featherman, who mentored Hawkinson when he was an MBA student in 2016-17. “Josh felt connected back to Pullman and I heard from his parents later that day. That was special.”

Kiwamu Tanaka caught Cougar fever this season and thoroughly enjoyed his time at Martin Stadium for homecoming.

“It was a really precious opportunity,” says Tanaka, a faculty member in plant pathology since 2014. “When I came to WSU I was naïve about the Pac-12 (conference), but this year I was checking the scores every week. This year was phenomenal.”

For sociology professor Christine Horne, the thrill of taking the field won’t soon be forgotten.

“It was fun to be on the field and feel all that Coug energy,” Horne says.

Congratulations to the Provost’s Featured Faculty members for 2018.

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November 23: Damianne Brand-Eubanks and Karl Olsen

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize Damianne Brand-Eubanks and Karl Olsen as Featured Faculty Members for the November 23 football game against Washington.

Brand-Eubanks is a clinical assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences located in Yakima.

“As a graduate of WSU, I am excited to teach where I first fell in love with pharmacy,” she says.  “As a faculty member on the Yakima extension campus, I focus my passion for teaching and learning on access to and opportunities within rural healthcare. Shared learning enables me to gain as much knowledge and drive for innovation as I attempt to impart in my student pharmacists.”

Olsen is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

“Teaching at WSU has been extremely fulfilling because WSU’s land-grant mission and my perspective on teaching align in adding a practical education to the students,” Olsen says. “It is my pleasure to challenge students on a daily basis and prepare them to be an asset to the communities around our state, throughout the nation and across the globe.”

Please join Provost Bernardo in thanking. Brand-Eubanks and Olsen for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

November 17: Gwen Hoheisel and Hamid Rad

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize Gwen Hoheisel and Hamid Rad as Featured Faculty Members for Saturday’s football game against Arizona.

Rad is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at WSU Vancouver.

“Teaching for me means making a difference for my students, their future career, and results in our contributions to the fellow human beings,” Rad says. “Quite honestly, the time I spend in the classroom is the best part of my workday.”

Hoheisel is a regional extension specialist based in Prosser.

“Coming from generations of public servants, I value the opportunity to work at WSU and reinforce the mission of land-grant universities where equality and partnership among research, extension, and teaching is critical,” Hoheisel says. “I love Extension because it ensures that teaching occurs outside the classroom and that learning is a two-way street between us and the growers.”

Please join Provost Bernardo in thanking Drs. Gwen Hoheisel and Hamid Rad for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

November 3: Chris Dickey

Provost Dan Bernardo is pleased to recognize Chris Dickey as the Featured Faculty member for Saturday’s football game against California.

Dickey is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Music.

“Teaching at WSU means I get to help inform, guide, and shape who our next generation of musicians and educators will be,” Dickey says. “I work in an environment where we challenge and support students to push them to places they never thought possible. For me, my students make WSU an endearing community.”

Please join Provost Bernardo in thanking Dr. Chris Dickey for his exemplary contributions to WSU!

October 20: Amy Meredith and Tandi Ngwenyama

Provost Dan Bernardo is pleased to recognize Amy Meredith and Tandi Ngwenyama as Featured Faculty Members for Saturday’s football game against Oregon.

Meredith is a clinical professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

“My greatest contribution has been to start a camp for children with severe communication disorders, called Camp Candoo,” Meredith says. “My colleague, Nancy Potter and I have been running this two-week camp each summer since 2013. It offers an ideal clinical training experience for our graduate students training to become speech language pathologists (SLPs) and provides much needed speech therapy for kids with childhood apraxia of speech. SLPs from around U.S. and Canada have come to observe so that they can start similar programs of their own.”

Ngwenyama is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. “My goal is to encourage students to think independently and creatively,” Ngwenyama says. “I teach our students to be fluid, dynamic and adaptable to a diverse range of changing clinical contexts. I promote the development of critical thinking, testing new ideas and discuss the challenges of caring for critically ill patients in the real world.”

Please join Provost Bernardo in thanking Drs. Amy Meredith and Tandi Ngwenyama for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

September 29: Cheryl Gunselman and Kiwamu Tanaka

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize Cheryl Gunselman and Kiwamu Tanaka as Provost Featured Faculty Members for the Sept. 29 football game against Utah.

Gunselman is a Manuscripts Librarian.

“Teachers everywhere know the transformational power of discovery,” Gunselman says. “If you help a student to make the right discovery at the right time, suddenly everything changes. This magic happens at WSU every day, and it happens often in Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, where students engage in original research, working hands-on with amazing collections.

“As the manuscripts librarian, I love fostering that process of discovery, watching the irresistible power of natural curiosity at work.”

Tanaka is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology.

“I always feel grateful for the opportunity to interact with energetic students who are eager to learn and grow,” Tanaka says. “They encourage me and inspire me at the same time. With superior students and other wonderful faculty and staff, we are able to perform world-class research. I am fortunate to be a faculty member at WSU”

Please join Provost Bernardo in thanking Cheryl Gunselman and Kiwamu Tanaka for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

September 15: Mel Haberman and Christine Horne

Provost Dan Bernardo is pleased to recognize professors Mel Haberman and Christine Horne as Featured Faculty Members for the Sept. 15 game against Eastern Washington.

Haberman is a professor and executive associate dean in the College of Nursing at WSU Spokane.

“Teaching provides me with the privilege of partnering with superior faculty and staff to serve the next generation of nurse clinicians, scientists and educators,” Haberman says. “Teaching lets me serve and mentor students by making learning challenging, fun, and interactive.”

Horne is a Professor in the Department of Sociology.

“Teaching is an opportunity to help students develop knowledge, skills and habits that will serve them well as they seek to contribute to their communities, raise families, and pursue careers – all in a rapidly changing world,” Horne says. “I love the energy students bring and their desire to build a meaningful life.”

Please join provost Bernardo in thanking professors Haberman and Horne for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

September 8: Mauricio Featherman and Stacey Hust

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize professors Mauricio Featherman and Stacey Hust as Provost Featured Faculty Members for the Cougars’ game against San Jose State on September 8.

Featherman is a clinical associate professor in the Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship Department. He is a technology-centered business professor who enjoys lighting up student’s enthusiasm for technology, and transferring business, technology, and management skills.

Hust is an associate professor in the Department of Strategic Communication. Hust emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to her.

“As a first-generation college student, I am honored to be a faculty member at a university that values its land grant mission,” Hust says. “In the Murrow College the experiential and professional opportunities we offer our students ensure they are well-prepared to succeed in the competitive communication industry, while also instilling in them a commitment to improving the daily lives of their fellow Washingtonians.”

Please join Provost Bernardo in thanking Mauricio Featherman and Stacey Hust for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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2017-18 Featured Faculty Member Archives

Nov. 4: Sena Clara Creston and Jacob Murray

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize professors Sena Clara Creston and Jacob Murray as Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for the Nov. 4 football game against Stanford.

Creston is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Fine Arts at WSU Tri-Cities.

“As a professor, I value the opportunity to work with students from diverse backgrounds that are professionally oriented and creatively motivated,” she says. “My initiative working on interdisciplinary art projects has been embraced by multiple colleges and units on campus resulting in three major projects: The Umbrellaship, The Huminal and The Machinescape.”

Murray is a clinical assistant professor and program coordinator for the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at WSU Everett.

“It’s an honor to work for WSU, being able to help build a brand-new campus and teach courses that I am passionate about is a dream come true,” Murray says. “It has been an excellent experience helping to shape a program from the ground up and bringing more crimson and gray to the west side of Washington.”

Oct. 21: Aaron Whelchel and Laura Wintersteen-Arleth

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize professors Aaron Whelchel and Laura Wintersteen-Arleth as Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for the Oct. 21 football game against Colorado.

Whelchel is an instructor and academic advisor in the Department of History at WSU Vancouver.  “I am very lucky to have the opportunity to interact with our students both as an instructor and advisor,” Whelchel says. “Teaching in our Roots of Contemporary Issues program gives me the chance to see our students grow from their first steps in the WSU experience to fantastic scholars ready to apply their knowledge to their world. My motivation stems from their dedication!”

Wintersteen-Arleth is a senior instructor in the College of Nursing.  “I love being a RN and get great joy and satisfaction being a part of the journey our students take to fulfill their dreams of serving others as RNs,” Wintersteen-Arleth says. “I went into nursing so I could teach and work in the community and I am grateful to WSU for allowing me to reach my goals and to have an impact on our future healthcare providers.”

In addition to Wintersteen-Arleth’s impact, her husband Roger was a strong advocate and supporter of WSU. He had Parkinson’s disease and would visit nursing and pharmacy classes to talk about life with Parkinson’s and let students do a complete assessment of him with and without his deep brain stimulator on. Roger passed away a year ago from complications of Parkinson’s. His devotion to WSU did not end with his death. He willed his body to WSU’s cadaver laboratory to ensure future students could learn more about Parkinson’s and become knowledgeable providers.

Sept. 29: Steve Hines and Radha Nandagopal

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize Steve Hines and Radha Nandagopal as Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for the Sept. 29 football game against USC.

Hines is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology.  “I am very aware that my most likely impact in this world is through my teaching and my students,” Hines says. “If I have a legacy, it is here. And I know how incredibly fortunate I have been to teach veterinary students in WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. My students inspire me on a daily basis.”

Nandagopal is a clinical assistant professor in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.  “Teaching at WSU and being a part of building our state’s second public medical school has been incredibly rewarding,” Nandagopal says. “I was fortunate to learn from great faculty at WSU myself as a first-year medical student, and now count some of them as my colleagues. I am excited to use the latest educational methods to help our students develop into empathetic, compassionate physicians who care for all of us throughout the state.”

Sept. 23: John Clarke and Deb Nelson

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize John Clarke and Deb Nelson as the Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for Saturday’s football game against Nevada.

Clarke is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.  Dr. Clarke emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to him.  He states, “I chose to be in academics because of the fulfillment I receive from teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists and pharmacists. One of the ways I am able to do this is through our research identifying factors in inter-individual variability that increase the risk of altered drug exposure and toxicity.”

Nelson is an instructor in the Department of Human Development.  “I have taught in the department since 1999,” she says. “Teaching has provided an opportunity for me to not only provide subject matter to students, but to also mentor and guide them. We often maintain those relationships after they graduate. It is great to develop positive relationships with first semester students and those getting ready to graduate!”

Sept. 16: Tom Salsbury and Steve Saunders

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize Tom Salsbury and Steve Saunders as the Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for Saturday’s football game against Oregon State.

Salsbury is an associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Salsbury emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to him.  “Teaching at WSU means that I get to work with some of the most dynamic, passionate, creative, and inspiring young people anywhere,” Salsbury says. “I know that these amazing people will soon be teachers and leaders who make a difference in their schools and communities. This makes teaching at WSU the best job in the world!”

Saunders is an assistant professor in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering.  “There isn’t a better job than influencing the next generation of engineers here at WSU,” Saunders says. “My students motivate me to be the best instructor and researcher I can be and I strive to help mold them into the best engineers. I do that by bringing examples from my laboratory and industry into the classroom.”

Sept. 9: George Jiang and Dee Posey

Provost Dan Bernardo, is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. George Jiang and Dee Posey are the Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for Saturday’s football game against Boise State.

Jiang is a Professor in the Department of Finance & Management Science.  “Teaching at WSU has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Jiang says. “As a faculty member, the most exciting part of our job is welcoming a new group of excellent students who are eager to learn. The conversations I have with students not only help motivate my teaching in the classroom but also inspire me with novel ideas for research.”

Posey is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology.  “Teaching is my passion,” Posey says. “I want to make Psychology approachable and exciting for my students. My strategy is to make active learning a major component of the class. I have conducted research on the effectiveness of this method and found that students perform better when active learning is employed in the classroom.”

Sept. 2: Chad Kruger and Jessica Willoughby

Provost Dan Bernardo is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU faculty members. Chad Kruger and Jessica Willoughby were the Provost’s Featured Faculty Members for the Sept. 2 football game against Montana State.

Kruger is the Director for the Northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center in Mount Vernon, the Puyallup Research & Extension Center and the Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources. Kruger emphasizes that research at WSU means a great deal to him.  “As a 5th generation member of a Washington farm family, the opportunity to serve as a WSU faculty member is a dream come true,” Kruger says. “Most recently, 40 multi-disciplinary colleagues from WSU, the University of Idaho, Oregon State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture joined together over a three-year period to compile and synthesize recent research advances as well as economic and other practical considerations to support the region’s wheat farmers as they make decisions relating to productivity, resilience, and their bottom lines.”

Willoughby is an Assistant Professor in the Murrow College of Communication.  “I love being a Coug,” she says. “As an alumna, I feel a strong connection to the University community. I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm and excitement for communication with students. My research examines how communication can improve health attitudes and behaviors, which can benefit individuals and communities.”