Provost’s Featured Faculty Member Recognition

September 7: Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka and Blake Galbreath

Provost Chris Riley-Tillman is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka and Blake Galbreath as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka is a Scholarly Assistant Professor in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication on the WSU Pullman campus. She notes, “Students are the best part about teaching at WSU. The diverse perspectives each student brings create a vibrant classroom community – it’s always exciting to see. Watching students evolve into skilled professionals and thoughtful individuals is truly the best part of teaching. I would not be able to do it without the community of the support from the Edward R. Murrow College, AFW, the LIFT program and friends and family.”

Blake Galbreath is the Assistant Head of Library Systems and Technical Operations in the Libraries on the WSU Pullman campus. He notes, “As a librarian at WSU, I enjoy facilitating research and outreach throughout our state and across the globe. I love working with data and information systems to make access to the world of knowledge as seamless as possible for our students and faculty who are conducting informed and impactful research.”

Please join Provost Riley-Tillman in thanking Professors Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka and Blake Galbreath for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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August 31: Sarah Fincham, Julian Dodson, Blythe Duell, Leeann Hunter, and Hillary Mellinger

Provost Chris Riley-Tillman is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Sarah Fincham, Julian Dodson, Blythe Duell, Leeann Hunter, and Hillary Mellinger as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Professors Julian Dodson, Blythe Duell, Leeann Hunter, and Hillary Mellinger, in the College of Arts and Sciences partnered in a pilot program aimed at integrating mental health support into undergraduate classes. As part of a broader initiative, the program focuses on creating educational spaces that promote student well-being. Techniques like interactive quizzes, storytelling, and reflection helped reduce student anxiety and increased their awareness of faculty and university support, enhancing the educational experience across WSU’s campuses.

Sarah Fincham is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Nursing on the WSU Spokane Campus. She notes, “Teaching in the College of Nursing at WSU has given me the chance to help others learn while continuing to learn myself; it has meant having the opportunity to help students gain knowledge and skills they can use to give back to their communities, provide for their families, and achieve their career goals.”

Please join Provost Riley-Tillman in thanking Professors Sarah Fincham, Julian Dodson, Blythe Duell, Leeann Hunter, and Hillary Mellinger for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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2023-2024 Featured Faculty Members

November 17: Mark O’English and Rocio Sotomayor

Provost Elizabeth Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Mark O’English and Luz Rocio Sotomayor as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Mark O’English is a University Archivist in the Libraries on the WSU Pullman Campus. He notes, “I love working with students and researchers through the Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, helping them to connect with history via primary sources. Little makes me prouder than seeing our shared stories brought back to life through the work of our students, and seeing our alums and elders connecting via those projects.”

Luz Rocio Sotomayor is a Teaching Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences on the WSU Vancouver campus. She notes, “Teaching at WSU Vancouver has allowed me to actually learn: learn about my students, their joys and struggles; about community and strategies to support each other inside and outside the classroom. As Program Leader for the Math Department and Chair of CEDI, my goal is to create a welcoming and safe environment for my students and the whole campus community.”

Please join Provost Chilton in thanking Professors Mark O’English and Luz Rocio Sotomayor for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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November 4: Craig McConnel and Victoria Reibenspiess

Provost Elizabeth Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Craig McConnel and Victoria Reibenspiess as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Craig McConnel is an Associate Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine on the WSU Pullman Campus. He notes, “I teach veterinary epidemiology to second-year veterinary students and my research is focused on cattle health and well-being. Students are family and I consider myself extremely lucky to have so many “kids” who I get to watch develop into the next generation(s) of veterinarians.”

Victoria Reibenspiess is an Assistant Professor in the Carson College of Business on the WSU Pullman campus. She notes, “Teaching at WSU is a privilege and a chance for me to inspire the next generation of Cougs by exploring our increasingly digital world alongside them and positively impacting our communities. I am grateful to be a part of their academic journey and excited to witness them achieve great things in the future.”

Please join Provost Chilton in thanking Professors Craig McConnel and Victoria Reibenspiess for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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October 14: Holly Henning and Darrell Jackson

Provost Elizabeth Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members.  It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Holly Henning and Darrell Jackson as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Holly Henning is an Associate Professor in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences on the WSU Pullman Campus. She notes, “It is an honor to bring my previous experience as a facilitator and leadership development professional into the classroom where I help my students connect with WSU’s land grant mission, and a broad range of careers in agriculture and food systems. As the Swantz Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning, and a member of the WSU Teaching Academy, I work with other faculty to promote teaching excellence and the student success.”

Darrell Jackson is a Scholarly Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences on the WSU Spokane Campus. He notes, “His passion for teaching future pharmacists and physicians comes from my ability to not only reach the students sitting in front of me; but knowing the impact these students will have on their communities. My stroke research also inspires me because of its importance on stroke victims and their families; and specifically, the high morbidity and mortality rates among the Latino and African American populations.”

Please join Provost Chilton in thanking Professors Holly Henning and Darrell Jackson for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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September 23: Jeff Walls

Provost Elizabeth Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Jeff Walls as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Member.

Jeff Walls is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education on the WSU Spokane Campus. He notes, “I love teaching at WSU because my students are thoughtful, committed educational leaders who are working to make schools better throughout Washington. If I do my job well, it makes it easier for them to improve outcomes for kids all over the state.”

Please join Provost Chilton in thanking Professor Walls for his exemplary contributions to WSU!

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September 16: Colin Criss and Holly Whittenburg

Provost Elizabeth Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Colin Criss and Holly Whittenburg as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Colin Criss is a Scholarly Assistant Professor in the Honors College on the WSU Pullman Campus. He notes, “WSU has become an intellectual home for me thanks to my students, my colleagues, and the community. It has allowed me to continue to write poems and think about poems in communion with poets and poetry readers. Through organizations like Blood Orange Review, Zine Club, and the Palouse Review, I have been able to be a part of the strong publishing community here at WSU.”

Holly Whittenburg is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education on the WSU Pullman Campus. She notes, “Teaching at WSU is about working alongside educators to create and sustain meaningful inclusive experiences for students with disabilities … in other words, to become agents of change. My research investigates ways to improve employment outcomes for students with disabilities. I am also co-principal investigator and faculty advisor for WSU ROAR and co-director of the Washington Transition Program.”

Please join Provost Chilton in thanking Professors Colin Criss and Holly Whittenburg for their exemplary contributions to WSU!

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September 9: Janet Peters and Tracy Simmons

Provost Chilton is delighted to recognize outstanding contributions by WSU Faculty Members. It is a pleasure to introduce Professors Janet Peters and Tracy Simmons as today’s Provost Featured Faculty Members.

Janet Peters is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. Professor Peters emphasizes that teaching at WSU means a great deal to her. She states, “Teaching is the opportunity to inspire the next generation, cultivate lifelong curiosity, and impact our communities. WSU students possess remarkable potential, and I’m privileged to play a role in their educational journey! I love that WSU is my home!”

Tracy Simmons is a Scholarly Assistant Professor in the Murrow College of Communication on the WSU Pullman campus. She notes, “WSU’s Murrow College gives me the opportunity to work with the next generation of our nation’s journalists. I couldn’t ask for a more fulfilling job. I specialize in religion reporting and lead the college’s Religion Reporting Project, while also participating on a research team studying how COVID has had an impact on churches nationwide.”

Please join Provost Chilton in thanking Professors Janet Peters and Tracy Simmons for their exemplary contributions to WSU!