Transformational Change Initiative
LIFT Faculty Fellowship
Learn. Inspire. Foster. Transform.
Since 1890, the faculty at Washington State University have demonstrated a strong commitment to educating students. Our faculty are passionate about their work in classrooms, research settings, and one-on-one with WSU students. This commitment to and passion for education are what drive us to continuously improve the WSU student experience.
The LIFT Fellowship (Learn.Inspire.Foster.Transform.) is designed to support instructors in this work. We use teaching methods that have been shown to improve students’ engagement, connection, and learning, to decrease course withdrawal and fail rates, and to increase retention.
Learning outcomes
After participating in LIFT Faculty Fellows will be able to transform their courses using methods that have been shown to increase student engagement, connection, and learning. Through participation in LIFT, faculty will:
- Develop knowledge of theory and research related to active learning approaches and brief behavioral interventions
- Apply active learning techniques and brief behavioral interventions in their classes
- Support and be supported by colleagues who share their commitment to student success
Application overview
We are currently inviting WSU faculty system-wide to join our tenth cohort of LIFT Fellows.
Applications are due by March 21, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific). The application includes the following questions, which we recommend applicants prepare in advance in a Word document to cut and paste into the online application.
- What does success look like for your students?
- What have you done, or what would you like to try, to create an environment that supports success for your students?
- How do you hope that participation in LIFT will help you as an instructor?
- LIFT Fellows are required to integrate a LIFT teaching practice in academic year 2025-26. Will you be able to meet this requirement? Why or why not?
Commitment to participate in the LIFT Faculty Fellows Program
Once accepted to the program, LIFT Faculty Fellows join an intensive learning environment as they explore and integrate evidence-based active learning and behavioral interventions in their teaching plans. LIFT Faculty Fellows agree to completing the following activities by May 15, 2026:
Date-specific meetings and trainings
- Attend the LIFT Cohort 10 2-day training on the WSU Tri-Cities Campus May 22–23, 2025.
- Complete readings and pre-reflections in preparation for in-person training.
- Complete all LIFT evaluations.
- Attend at least two of the pedagogical trainings offered by the Transformational Change Initiative, Learning Innovations, WSU Teaching Academy, or CVM Teaching Academy (other campus-specific options may be substituted with approval).
- Complete a Classroom Implementation plan detailing how you will use active learning approaches to incorporate at least one LIFT teaching practice in your classroom (e.g., resilience, social belonging, mindfulness, self-compassion, growth mind-set).
- Meet at least three times with your Peer Mentoring Pod.
- Attend a peer observation and/or co-mentoring training session.
- Participate in a peer observation of teaching.
- Complete a final progress report.
Additional information about these requirements will be offered by the LIFT team via email, during the training, and at subsequent times throughout the year. We work diligently to make sure you are on track and successful.
Upon completion of the program
We recognize that LIFT involves a substantial time commitment which will be recognized with:
- $2,000 PAP for completing all LIFT Faculty Fellow requirements including the adoption and implementation of at least one brief behavioral intervention in an active learning style related to connection/social belonging, values/value-based decision-making, mindfulness/self-compassion or growth mindset/resilience.
- A certificate of completion.
- A letter of thanks, copied to your department chair and dean.
Faculty members highlight value of LIFT
Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital
“The training program was very useful for me and I certainly learned a lot from it. The lectures and assignments were flexible and I did not feel overwhelmed by it. The team organized it really well, and gave us several opportunities to discuss our plans and activities. Also, the scholarship was much appreciated.
The highlights of the training for me were:
– Learning how to be more mindful of oneself, of the teaching (content), and more mindful of the students and their impressions/perspectives.
– Plan and gradually execute active learning without having to change your entire course overnight. You can take your time and implement one small change at a time.
– The peer observation activity was my favorite homework of the program, and I learned a lot from observing my colleague.
I highly recommend the LIFT program, not only for junior faculty, but for those who want to stay current on teaching strategies.”
Krista R.A. Nishida, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry
“The LIFT program has gotten a lot of us in chemistry implementing and researching additional things to benefit the students and their learning, so it was a very much appreciated opportunity. Thanks, again to the LIFT team!”
Current LIFT Trainers
WSU Pullman
Mary Kay Patton
Human Development & Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership
Mary Kay Patton, J.D., is dedicated to nurturing the human spirit as an essential dimension of leading a rich, full, meaningful life. In so doing, she supports LIFT faculty in taking value-based committed action from a place of presence and mindfulness. Patton is a gifted facilitator, writer, educator and advocate. She was instrumental in designing the LIFT program and is convinced that its success is in large part due to the translation of evidence-based interventions into a playful, engaging and experiential training; thus elevating and reimagining the role of quality classroom teaching at land-grant institutions.
An Idaho native, Mary Kay has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Idaho.
Anna Whitehall
Human Development & Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership
My purpose in life is supporting others in discovering and developing their best selves. My position as both a professor and LIFT trainer have allowed me to live into that purpose every day. As a LIFT Fellow and LIFT Trainer I have found the evidenced based approaches that we need to make our teaching come alive and support our students on their journey to their best selves. Social belonging, growth mindset and resilience are just some of skills we all need to be our best selves and LIFT brings those to life for faculty and their students. I find such joy in seeing students have an ah-ha moment or working with a faculty member to fit the puzzle pieces of their discipline and LIFT together. I am excited to live into my purpose with a student-centered learning community.
Kara Whitman
School of the Environment
Many students entering college have not yet fully developed their learning skills, nor gained the confidence to self-direct that learning, and propose novel ideas and solutions. Students at this stage in their education are also in a time of transition and are particularly susceptible to influences that will shape the mindset that will guide the type of learner they become, the skills that they acquire, and the experiences that they have during their time at the University and beyond. LIFT provides the evidence as well as ideas for approaches to enhance student self-confidence, sense of belonging, and provide a structured process to transform and/or enhance each student’s approach to growth, learning, and problem solving. I am very excited to be a LIFT Trainer and look forward to building a larger collaborative community of student-centered teachers!
WSU Tri-Cities
Janet Peters
Psychology
As a teacher, I strive to engage, challenge, and spark intellectual curiosity in my students. In a perfect world, I would accomplish those goals within each course, class session, and assignment. But the reality is that teaching, good teaching, is hard. Maybe that’s why I’m passionate about it, because I like the challenge and complexity of the problem. I enjoy analyzing my classes for areas of improvement, scrutinizing my grading and course policies, developing new projects, and evaluating my own performance. But, like anyone else, I get stuck. After participating in the LIFT program as a faculty fellow, I was re-energized with fresh ideas to incorporate into my most difficult courses. Now, as a LIFT trainer, I am thrilled to be able to work with other faculty who want to positively impact their students through empirically supported interventions. I love the collaborative nature of the LIFT program and am happy to share my experiences and resources with anyone interested.
LIFT Faculty Fellows 2021
| Name | WSU Campus | College | Department |
| Kersten Bergstrom | Tri-Cities | CAS | Biological Sciences |
| Christina Chacon | Tri-Cities | Nursing | Nursing |
| Jia Cheng | Pullman | VCEA | Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Georgina Cox | Vancouver | CAS | Biological Sciences |
| Ameera Fayad | Tri-Cities | Nursing | Nursing |
| Robert Franklin | Tri-Cities | CAS | History |
| Sarah Guess | Pullman | CVM | Veterinary Teaching Hospital |
| Khan Md Ariful Haque | Pullman | Business | Finance and Management Science |
| Ben Ladd | Vancouver | CAS | Psychology |
| Xingqiu Lou | Pullman | CAHNRS | Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles |
| Renee Magnan | Vancouver | CAS | Psychology |
| Philip Morgan | Pullman | Education | Kinesiology |
| George Newman | Vancouver | CAS | Physics and Astronomy |
| Matt Peck | Pullman | CAHNRS | NIH Protein Biotechnology Training Program |
| Catherine Perillo | Pullman | CAHNRS | Crop and Soil Sciences |
| Michael Pumphrey | Pullman | CAHNRS | Crop and Soil Sciences |
| Jamie Rice | Pullman | VCEA | Design and Construction |
| Bonnie Sarkinen | Tri-Cities | Nursing | Nursing |
| Yuxin Zhang | Tri-Cities | VCEA | Mechanical Engineering |
LIFT Faculty Fellows 2020
| Name | WSU Campus | College | Department |
| Bob Zeng | Everett | VCEA | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
| Christa Abdul-Karim | Pullman | CAS | Anthropology |
| Alana Anderson | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Liz Aust | Pullman | CAS | Sociology |
| Jessica Bilek | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Nandita Biswas | Pullman | VCEA | Mechanical and Materials Engineering |
| Susan Collins | Pullman | CAS | Psychology |
| Lynn Dils | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Ken Faunce | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Jamie Flathers | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Traci Gillig | Pullman | Communication | Strategic Communication |
| Anne Marie Guerrettaz | Pullman | Education | Teaching and Learning |
| Will Hall | Pullman | CAS | Mathematics |
| Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka | Pullman | Communication | Strategic Communication |
| Kasee Hildenbrand | Pullman | Education | Kinesiology and Educational Psychology |
| John Hinz | Pullman | CVM | Molecular Biosciences |
| Nancy Irlbeck | Pullman | CAHNRS | Animal Sciences |
| Dipra Jha | Pullman | CCB | Hospitality Business Management |
| Jane Kelley | Pullman | Education | Teaching and Learning |
| Laura Kuhlman | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Amrita Lahiri | Pullman | CCB | Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship |
| Yen-I Lee | Pullman | Communication | Strategic Communication |
| David Martin | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Leone Musgrave | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Erika Offerdahl | Pullman | CVM | Molecular Biosciences |
| Sylvia Omulo | Pullman | CVM | Global Animal Health |
| Jeb Owen | Pullman | CAHNRS | Entomology |
| Melissa Parkhurst | Pullman | CAS | Music |
| Wendy Raney | Pullman | Communication | Journalism and Media Production |
| Lauren Reed | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Michael Ritter | Pullman | CAS | Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs |
| Geoffrey Ruzicki | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Amanda Stahl | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | School of the Environment |
| Dana Algeo-Nichols | Spokane | Medicine | Speech and Hearing Sciences |
| Cindy Brigham-Althoff | Spokane | Nursing | Nursing |
| Kevin Fiedler | Tri-Cities | CAS | Mathematics |
| Yimo Liu | Tri-Cities | CAS | Biology |
| Shirley McIntosh | Tri-Cities | Nursing | Nursing |
| Sarah Roley | Tri-Cities | CAHNRS/CAS | School of the Environment |
| Tanja Burkhard | Vancouver | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| JoAnn LoSavio | Vancouver | CAS | History |
| Samantha Reisz | Vancouver | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Lisa Vickers | Yakima | Nursing | Nursing |
LIFT Faculty Fellows 2019
| Name | Campus | College | Department |
| Brianna Valliere | Everett | CAHNRS | Food Science |
| Corrie Wilder | Everett | Communication | Marketing & Communications |
| Mark Billings | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | School of the Environment |
| Blythe Duell | Pullman | CAS | Psychology |
| Eman Elturki | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Sharon Fraser-Allen | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Megan Hall | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Emily Harmon | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Laci Hubbard-Mattix | Pullman | CAS | Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs |
| Michelle Kistler | Pullman | Communication | |
| Sue Lani Madsen | Pullman | VCEA | Architecture |
| Robert McCoy | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Julie Menard | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | School of the Environment |
| Brenna Miller | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Wannaporn Phipps | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Kathleen Rodgers | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Michael Salamone | Pullman | CAS | Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs |
| Eugene Smelyansky | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Alexander Spradlin | Pullman | CAS | Psychology |
| Raymond Sun | Pullman | CAS | History |
| David Torick | Pullman | VCEA | Mechanical & Materials Engineering |
| Lisa Waananen Jones | Pullman | Communication | Journalism & Media Production |
| Kayla Wakulich | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | School of the Environment |
| Sarah Whitley | Pullman | CAS | Sociology |
| Brett Bell | Tri-Cities | CAS | History |
| Shannon Calderone | Tri-Cities | Education | Educational Leadership |
| Gina Cronrath | Tri-Cities | Nursing | Nursing |
| Brigit Farley | Tri-Cities | CAS | History |
| Rhonda Hammond | Tri-Cities | CCB | Hospitality Business Management |
| Maria Moscatelli | Tri-Cities | Education | Teaching and Learning |
| Meagan Lobnitz | Vancouver | CAS | English |
| Mark Stephan | Vancouver | CAS | Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs |
LIFT Faculty Fellows 2018
| Name | Campus | College | Department |
| Jacob Murray | Everett | VCEA | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
| Lucrezia Paxson | Everett | COMM | Communication |
| Soobin Seo | Everett | CCB | Hospitality Management |
| Caitlin Bletscher | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Shira Broschat | Pullman | VCEA | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
| Chris Cooney | Pullman | COMM | Communication |
| Rebecca Cooney | Pullman | COMM | Strategic Communication |
| Christine Curtis | Pullman | COMM | Communication |
| Lee Daffin | Pullman | CAS | Psychology |
| Anne Drobish-Shahat | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Dave Evans | Pullman | CAS | Biological Sciences |
| Sam Gizerian | Pullman | CVM | Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience |
| Amy Heile | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Matthew Hudelson | Pullman | CAS | Mathematics |
| Chanmi Hwang | Pullman | CAHNRS | Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles |
| Babu John Mariadoss | Pullman | CCB | International Business |
| Michelle Mann | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Ali Mehrizi-Sani | Pullman | VCEA | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
| Hallie Meredith | Pullman | CAS | Fine Arts |
| Margaret Mount | Pullman | International Programs | Intensive American Language Center |
| Holly Neibergs | Pullman | CAHNRS | Animal Sciences |
| Samanthan Noll | Pullman | CAS | Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs |
| Somava Pande | Pullman | COMM | Communication |
| Sammy Perone | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Karen Phoenix | Pullman | CAS | History |
| Jenni Sandstrom | Pullman | CCB | Hospitality Management |
| Michael Thomas | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Raven Weaver | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Jennifer Lodine-Chaffey | Tri-Cities | CAS | English |
| Robin Ebert Mays | Tri-Cities | CAS | English |
| Lodi Nelson | Tri-Cities | CAS | Biological Sciences |
| Jodi Rosso | Tri-Cities | CAHNRS + CAS | Geology |
| Gunjan Gakhar | Vancouver | CAS | Biological Sciences |
| Kristin Huggins | Vancouver | COE | Administration and Supervision |
| Liz Reilly Gurocak | Vancouver | CAHNRS | Economic Sciences |
| Kimber Saville | Vancouver | CAS | Psychology |
| Praveen Sekhar | Vancouver | VCEA | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
| Nanette Thrush | Vancouver | CAS | Fine Arts |
LIFT Faculty Fellows 2017
| Name | Campus | College | Department |
| Paul Buckley | Pullman | CAS | Chemistry |
| Lisa Carloye | Pullman | CAS | Biology |
| Sandra Cooper | Pullman | CAS | Math |
| Asaph Cousins | Pullman | CAS | Biology |
| Leticia Fanucchi | Pullman | CVM | Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience |
| Michael Finnegan | Pullman | CAS | Chemistry |
| Erin Gallagher | Pullman | COMM | Communication |
| Mark Gibson | Pullman | CAHNRS | School of Economic Sciences |
| Deborah Handy | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Hanjo Hellmann | Pullman | CAS | Biology |
| Joseph Hewa | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Leeann Hunter | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Jennifer Johnson | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | Environmental Science |
| Allyson King-Beall | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | Environmental Science |
| Lyudmyla Kompaniyets | Pullman | CAHNRS | School of Economic Sciences |
| Krista Nishida | Pullman | CAS | Chemistry |
| Anna Plemons | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Donelle (Dee) Posey | Pullman | CAS | Psychology |
| Alejandro Prera | Pullman | CAHNRS | School of Economic Sciences |
| Marsha Quinlan | Pullman | CAS | Anthropology |
| Judy Schultz | Pullman | COE | Sport Science |
| Jihyeong Son | Pullman | CAHNRS | Apparel, Merchandising, Design & Textiles |
| Sam Swindell | Pullman | CAS | Psychology |
| Paul Verrell | Pullman | CAS | Biology |
| Kate Watts | Pullman | CAS | English |
| Elizabeth Weybright | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Anna Whitehall | Pullman | CAHNRS | Human Development |
| Kara Whitman | Pullman | CAHNRS/CAS | Environmental Science |
| Srinivas Allena | Tri-Cities | VCEA | Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Katherine Banks | Tri-Cities | CAS | School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs |
| Jesus Bravo | Tri-Cities | CCB | Management |
| Vanessa Cozza | Tri-Cities | CAS | English |
| Sena Clara Creston | Tri-Cities | CAS | Fine Arts |
| Gibran Escalera | Tri-Cities | CAS | English |
| Jonah Firestone | Tri-Cities | COE | Science Education |
| Mark Mansperger | Tri-Cities | CAS | Anthropology |
| Byron Marlowe | Tri-Cities | CCB | Hospitality Business Management |
| Allison Matthews | Tri-Cities | CAS | Psychology |
| Sarah Newcomer | Tri-Cities | COE | Literacy Education |
| Janet Peters | Tri-Cities | CAS | Psychology |
| Elsa Silva Lopez | Tri-Cities | CAS | Chemistry |
| Sara Sorensen Petersen | Tri-Cities | COE | Special Education |
| Elly Sweet | Tri-Cities | CAS | Biology |
| Cynthia Cooper | Vancouver | CAS | Molecular Biosciences |
| Dale Fortin | Vancouver | CVM | Neuroscience |
| Brenda Grell | Vancouver | CAS | Digital Technology and Culture |
| Adam McKee | Vancouver | CAS | Sociology |
| E. Regina McMenomy | Vancouver | CAS | English and Women Studies |
| Wendy Olson | Vancouver | CAS | English |
| Cynthia O’Rourke | Vancouver | CAS | Biology |
| Michael Rabby | Vancouver | CAS | Digital Technology and Culture |
| Aaron Whelchel | Vancouver | CAS | History |
| Debra Wilmington | Vancouver | CAS | Biology |
Acronyms: College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Education (COE), College of Veterniary Medicine (CVM), Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture (VCEA), Carson College of Business (CCB)
In the news:
TCI makes major strides
After five years working on the Transformational Change Initiative, principal investigator Laura Hill has a tough time coming up with any shortcomings of the grant-funded project. The initiative received funding from 2016’s strategic reallocation to come up with new ways to help improve student retention. Full story…
LIFT inspires WSU Everett colleagues to go above and beyond in support of student success
EVERETT, Wash. – Jan. 24, 2019 – Engineering, communication and business students are working together at WSU Everett under a merged coursework project launched this spring by three faculty members exploring greater opportunities for interdisciplinary studies. Full story…
2025 LIFT Fellows Application—Tenth Cohort
Online Application
(Due March 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific)