WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin
Issue 2005-17 (October 19, 2005)


IN THIS ISSUE

Underline

Accomplished Physicist Joins WSU’s Spokane-based Applied Sciences Laboratory

Jon Weisheit, new director of ASLJon Weisheit, Ph.D., recently joined Washington State University as director of the Applied Sciences Laboratory, based in Spokane, and associate director of the Institute for Shock Physics.

Recognized as a leader in the field of high energy density science, Weisheit is an expert in the areas of atomic and plasma physics and their applications in astrophysical environments, fusion energy experiments and thermonuclear explosions.

He has more than 30 years of experience in research, management, and program development and evaluation at several prominent laboratories, including Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Before joining WSU, he headed the Applied Physics Division at Los Alamos for three years.

The Applied Sciences Laboratory (ASL) is part of the Institute for Shock Physics (ISP), which was established in 1997 with the support of the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration. The ISP is a multidisciplinary research organization that conducts fundamental research in shock-wave and high-pressure compression of matter. Its scientific activities involve understanding physical and chemical changes in solids and liquids under very large and rapid compression.

A recent $6.5 million grant funded by the Office of Naval Research has enabled the ISP to establish the ASL at WSU’s Spokane campus. A contract research organization, the ASL aims to undertake a broad range of applied research activities of interest to federal government agencies and private corporations, including the development of commercial applications. It draws from experimental facilities based at WSU’s Spokane and Pullman campuses.

As director of the ASL, Weisheit will work to connect fundamental science and applied research. “My view of what the Applied Sciences Laboratory will do in the long run is to create a bridge between customer-driven contract research and the more fundamental research that is being done in Pullman, “ he said. He added that he hoped that the research done by ASL would benefit regional and local interests, in addition to serving the needs of national sponsors. “The idea of this lab is that, once it’s successful, it will actually engender new commerce for Spokane and the region.”

New Faces and Places

Lots of change at WSU Spokane these days: Office moves, new hires, people changing jobs—we're on the go.

Here’s a quick look at both the physical moves on campus and some of the new hires. And don’t forget to look for profiles of our new faculty in past and future issues of the Bulletin.

                    • Nancy Potter, Speech & Hearing Sciences (Sept. 7)
                    • Janetta McCoy, Interior Design (Sept. 21)
                    • Bryan Vila, Criminal Justice (Oct. 5)
                    • Jon Weisheit, Applied Sciences Laboratory (Oct. 19)
                    • Hans van Dongen, Sleep & Performance Research (Nov. 2)

Child & Family Research Unit: Moved from the Health Sciences Building to the South Campus Facility.

Facilities Operations:  Moved from Phase I Classroom Building to the South Campus Facility.

Security: Moved from SIRTI to the basement of the Phase I Classroom Building.

Professional Studies:  Paul Schimpf moved from SIRTI to the Ad Annex  203BC.

Interdisciplinary Design Institute:  Judy Theodorson moved from the Phase I Building to the South Campus Facility; Suzie Snowdon moved from 1st floor to 2nd floor of Phase I.

WRICOPS/WSICOP: John Goldman and Mike Erp moved from the second floor of Phase I to the first floor.

Pharmacotherapy: Lots of office moves between the 2nd and 3rd floors of Health Sciences Building.

Sleep & Performance Research: Adrienne Tucker joins the research team along with Hans van Dongen.

Applied Sciences Lab: Jeff Whyatt joins the research team, on sabbatical from the Centers for Disease Control and working with ASL in computer programming.

Extension: Vickie Parker-Clark joins WSU as Director, Northeast District. Read more about Vickie in the news release about her appointment. Earlier in the summer, Mary Enquist, principal assistant, moved from the District Administration office in Colville to the Ad Annex, in anticipation of the hiring of the new Northeast District Director.  Then Mary made another move from the Ad Annex to the South Campus Facility. The rest of the extension faculty/staff have also moved from the Ad Annex to the South Campus Facility.

Athletic Foundation - Cougar Club:  Lori Olson moved from The Bookie into the South Campus Facility, room 211.

Division of Governmental Services & Studies: Nick Lovrich, DGSS director, gained an office in the Phase I Classroom Building, with plans for co-location of DGSS.  

Finance & Budget: James Dalton joins us as Director of Finance & Budget. Watch for a bio of James in an upcoming issue of the Campus Bulletin.

Area Health Education Center: Cathi Lamoreux moves on, leaving her position as Manager of Conferences & Continuing Education to return to clinical practice in speech pathology, working in long-term care . Kaarin Appel is moving from her position as Communications & Events Manager in the Communications Unit to the Conference Manager position.

Judith Van DongenCommunications: Judith Van Dongen joined Communications as Creative Services Manager as of October 1. She comes to WSU Spokane from Widener University in Pennsylvania, where she served as editor of two alumni magazines, wrote marketing and advertising copy, and developed Web content. Her responsibilities include leading the development of program-specific marketing plans; serving as the new editor of the Campus Bulletin; overseeing Web content; producing publications; and developing research communications. She will be moving into the office in Ad Annex, Suite 301, being vacated by Kaarin Appel.

The Communications & Events Manager position will be advertised and filled; its responsibilities include events management, media relations, and general communications/public relations work. That position will be housed in the Ad Annex on the 2nd floor, Suite 203. Return to the Top of the Page

Fall in the Straw – Annual Campus Combined Fund Drive Event

Chili Cook Off, Steak & Bake, Best Scarecrow Competition, Potluck, and Silent Auction . . . that’s right, it’s all part of the Riverpoint Campus community’s annual Combined Fund Drive event Thursday, Oct. 27 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in the South Campus Facility.

CFD is the annual Washington State employee charitable giving program (known as the United Way campaign for non-state and federal agencies). For more information contact: Teresa Kruger in Parking at (36)8-6999.

  • Chosen Charity: Each year a charity is designated by the campus CFD committee. Donors can choose to pool our campus resources for one cause or choose to specify other charities that are near and dear their hearts. Raising money for a GET account for Shasta Groene’s college education is this year’s designated charity. Currently, 100 units are needed to attend college for one year at $66.00 per unit. If everyone on campus gave $2.50 per paycheck, one year of college would be covered. The CFD committee would like this to be the campus’s goal for four years.
     
  • Chili Cook Off: Here’s your chance to tempt the taste buds of your colleagues with the chili recipe you are known for! Prizes for best flavor and best spice will be awarded. There is a $5 entry fee. Please sign up with Teresa in Parking.
     
  • Steak & Bake: Dine on one of the best lunches you’ll eat all year. For a $5.95 donation, you can feast on steak and a baked potato.
     
  • DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION:

  • Scarecrow Competition: Each department will receive a bale of straw to enter the best scarecrow competition, with a pizza party as the grand prize and the biggest grand prize of all: winning immunity from the responsibility of coordinating next year's Holiday Party. Scarecrows should be delivered to the South Campus Facility common area the morning of Oct. 27 to be displayed and judged prior to the event.

  • A Silent Auction will once again be part of the festivities. Please submit your department’s basket to Teresa in Parking.

  • Potluck: To supplement the Steak & Bake, each department is asked to bring one dish to the potluck to serve 15-20 people. This can be desserts, salads, or side dishes. Please bring your dish with serving utensil by 11:15 the day of the event.

WSU Professor’s Design Project Honored with AIA Award

A design project by Nancy Clark Brown, an associate professor of interior design with WSU Spokane’s Interdisciplinary Design Institute, was recently chosen to receive an AIA Small Project Practitioners (SPP) Knowledge Community award.

The Small Project Practitioners Knowledge Community is comprised of American Institute of Architects (AIA) members who share an interest in small project work and have a desire to collaborate to deepen their understanding of this type of venture. Brown’s project, Murphy Residence, was one of nine selected from more than 80 submissions representing a wide range of project types, styles, scale, and construction value: commercial, whimsical, traditional, and cutting-edge.

The project involved the design of a new home for an artist and her child, which was characterized by the concept of sanctuary. According to Brown, “the goals for the client were to create a timeless place with contrasting contemporary and historic elements, modest in scale, with space for the exhibition of a growing art collection.”

Brown looked close to home for inspiration, using as a model a quiet, modest barn that can be found on any rolling hill of the Palouse. Her design featured open, unobstructed social spaces and defined and enclosed private spaces, each with active, purposeful storage.

Photos by Larry Conboy Photography.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WSU Diabetes Initiative Forum
Promotes Collaborative Research

It’s the fifth-leading cause of death by disease in the nation; more than 18 million people in this country have it (nearly one-third of whom don’t even know it yet); and those who have it are at higher risk for heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, extremity amputations, and other chronic conditions.

Diabetes is one of the most common and serious diseases affecting the nation, as evidenced by these statistics from the American Diabetes Association. And the incidence of diabetes likely has not reached its peak yet—a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately one in three Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

Ongoing research on the prevention and treatment of diabetes is an important priority for the nation, and Washington State University (WSU) is making an important contribution to these efforts. Diabetes has been the research focus of a significant number of WSU faculty from a wide variety of disciplines, including nursing, medical science, exercise science, and food science and human nutrition.

In an effort to highlight critical issues in diabetes research and promote collaborative projects, the university will host the WSU Diabetes Initiative Forum on Tuesday, November 8, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the Spokane campus.

University faculty members, Department of Health policymakers, area health care professionals, and others will gather for a full-day program that emphasizes taking diabetes research from basic science to practical lifestyle applications. Those interested in attending may call 509-358-7640 or inquire by e-mail by November 1.Return to the Top of the Page

Welcome to the Brand New
WSU Spokane E-Store!

This is the only place to find a wide selection of WSU Spokane apparel that you can wear to work, class, or for leisure. The WSU Spokane E-Store is your source for approved logo apparel. CUDA Apparel hosts the e-store and is a local, licensed vendor of WSU logo items. Notice that most items are available at a discounted price.

Plus, 15 percent (minus 3% for credit card processing fees and $1 for stocking) of every purchase goes back to support the Spokane campus! That’s right; a portion of each purchase will support WSU Spokane visibility and marketing efforts.

With the holidays right around the corner, you can share this link with your loved ones or let your office know how much you appreciate their hard work. To make it extra easy, there is even a gift certificate option! Be sure to browse all of the categories, as the apparel you see on the home page displays only that 1 option within that selection. Check it out on their website. Happy Shopping!

Coming Soon!  Sleep Over for Science

Sleep Over for Science will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 28-29, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday and ending at 9 a.m. on Saturday.  The purpose of Sleep Over for Science is to excite and educate 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students who want to learn more about health careers.

The students will explore the different health science programs offered at the Riverpoint campus through hands-on games and experiments that relate health careers to real world experiences.

They will also watch a "Bill Nye the Science Guy" movie on a full movie screen, and spend the night in one big room with health science students who are currently enrolled in health science programs.

This is an experience no 4th, 5th, or 6th grade student should miss! We only have 40 slots for this popular event so please sign up quickly. If you have any questions or would like to register your student please contact Bonnie Wagner at 358-7644. Return to the Top of the Page

Community Connections

  • “Sacagawea/Sacajawea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: American Indian Perspectives”, Thursday, November 17, at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), Spokane, 7:00 p.m. This event will feature a performance by Dakota historian and performer Dr. Jeanne Eder as Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition. Eder, a Dakota Sioux, received her Ph.D. in American history and public history from Washington State University in 2000.

    The history department at Washington State University began the series “Sacagawea/Sacajawea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: American Indian Perspectives” in 2003 to mark the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expeditions. The series is intended to ensure residents of the Northwest have access to American Indian perspectives of the historic events associated with the Lewis and Clark expeditions.
     

  • College Night at the MAC, Thursday, October 20 from 5 – 8 p.m. This free open house for all college students, faculty and staff will include live music, free snacks and soft drinks, a no-host coffee bar, art activities, Historic Campbell House tours and open galleries. Of special interest is the recently opened exhibit, The Mapmaker’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau. Thompson was the first explorer to map the entire length of the Columbia River in the early 1800’s. Sponsored by Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Call 363-5328 if more information is needed.
     
  • Dinner & Auction benefits the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium (SCDVC).  The 9th Annual Autumn Elegance Dinner & Auction will be held on October 29th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. Intimate partner (domestic) violence is a pervasive problem – one-third of our neighbors report being a victim of intimate partner violence at sometime in their lives.

    The Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium, a membership-based organization of nearly 300 individuals and organizations, is dedicated to preventing and reducing intimate partner violence in Spokane County through the implementation of a coordinated community response focused on community leadership, coordination of services, community education and prevention programs.

    The Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium has been a close working partner of the Child and Family Research Unit at WSU Spokane for the past six years. CAFRU and the Consortium have partnered on two large scale federal grants and multiple smaller projects. The Consortium is one of the strong supporters of WSU's outreach and research activities in the community.

    For more information about this event and/or programs offered by SCDVC, visit their website.
     

  • Student Biotech Expo Mentors Urgently Needed! Over 200 Mentors are still needed for the 2006 Student Biotech Expo sponsored by the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research! If you can email a student five times you can be a mentor! Mentors can commit to various levels of involvement (from email to internship) based upon their availability. We need scientists as well as others involved in science-related professions (science writers, human resources, business/management, etc.) Information and mentorship forms are available online. Please contact Evelyn Laminack , Mentorship Coordinator, for additional questions about mentorship. Dennis Dyck & Jim Petersen from WSU serve on the NWABR board. Return to the Top of the Page

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Personnel & Staffing Changes

Comings:
Michael Norman, Parking Checker, Parking Services, effective 10/5/05
Shannon Yedinak, Medical Assistant, Pharmacotherapy, effective 10/17/05
Erin Kincaid-McIntosh, Program Assistant, Program in Health Sciences, effective 10/17/05
Corey Kittilstved, Custodian, Facilities Operations, effective 10/24/05
Jeff Whyatt, Applied Sciences Laboratory, on loan from the Centers for Disease Control, effective 10/17/05

Goings:
Cindy Marshall, Program Assistant (Admissions), Student Affairs, effective 09/20/05
Pat Griffin, Program Assistant, Program in Health Sciences, effective 10/17/05
Kiley Schenk, Academic Coordinator, Health Policy & Administration, effective 10/18/05

Moving:
Kaarin Appel, moving from Communications to Area Health Education Center, effective 10/17/05

Promoted:
Kelly Lagrutta, Academic Coordinator, Educational Leadership & Counseling Psychology, effective 9/1/05

Searches:
Research Associate/Research Scientist, Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research & Training, review of applications has begun
Assistant/Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, review of applications begins 10/15/05
Clinic Services Manager, WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing People's Clinic, review of applications begins 10/21/05
Assistant Professor, Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, review of applications begins 01/17/06
Clinical Assistant Professor (3 positions, two in Spokane, one in Yakima), Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, review of applications begins 01/17/06 Assistant/Associate Professor, Architecture, review of applications begins 1/1/06

Welcome New Employees

WSU Spokane welcomes new employees Jilliene Lutter and Katie Peterson. Jilliene is a published romance author with a degree in journalism from EWU. She brings those talents to her work as a secretary senior at HPA. Katie is a research tech with Health Sciences and has a degree in biology and creative writing from WSU. She is an active outdoors-person and volunteers at Deaconess Medical Center.

If you'd like to share a little about yourself with your new co-workers, drop a note to Laura Scholtens in Communications: scholtens@wsu.edu.Return to the Top of the Page

Way to Go!

A big THANKS to Bill Harris for troubleshooting the primary uninterruptible power supply in the Information Technology Department. Through his efforts, we were able to stay on track with our campus network upgrades and the core switch relocation. Bill’s expert knowledge in electronics helped us avoid several thousand dollars in equipment replacement costs. (from Larry Hoffman)

Great work by Katie Herzog in organizing a tremendously successful visit to campus by community college advisors on October 7. And kudos to the excellent faculty presenters, Clif Barber, Paul Schimpf, Nancy Clark-Brown and Janet Beary. This hands-on work is what will pay off in recruiting top students to the undergraduate programs.

We are on a roll--more applause for Jane Kinkel, Kiley Schenk, Doug Stephens, Kelly LaGrutta, Jaime and Luke Rice, Kaarin Appel, Katie Herzog, Rachel Young, Kristie Wardrop and Dori Roberts who helped organize and staff the October 13 Graduate Fair. Nearly 200 visitors met with 50 representatives of graduate programs from all over the country, including WSU. (from Joan Menzies)

Way to Go to Sandi Baldwin and Vivan Knapp for their assistance in setting up for the ASL reception held in the SSCF Court on October 12. Also thanks go to Barb King and Teresa Kruger in Parking for assisting us with parking arrangements for non-university attendees and to Dennis Snider for helping carry boxes. The event was a great success and we appreciate all your help! (from Lorna Walsh and Laura Scholtens)

Here's where you make someone's day a little brighter by extending your thanks for a job well done. Send your “Way to Go!” comments to Laura Scholtens, scholtens@wsu.edu, and watch for your thanks to be published in an upcoming issue of the Campus Bulletin!Return to the Top of the Page

Find it on the Web

  • WSU Research News: The latest on research news from WSU.
  • News Releases: Recent news releases and links to news releases organized by subject for WSU Spokane.
  • WSU News Service: Breaking news from WSU, links to all news releases, and other information sources.
  • World Class Faculty: Check out the online profiles featured as links from our home page.
  • WSU Today online: Links to past print editions, plus breaking news briefs
  • Bulletin archives: Links to past issues of the Campus Bulletin from Oct. 2003 forward.
  • In the News: Media coverage of campus programs and people
  • Events Calendar: What's going on around here, anyway?Return to the Top of the Page

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The Bulletin is usually published on Wednesday biweekly during the academic year, every three weeks during breaks and summer session. Publication date may shift due to holidays. Deadline is Friday, the week before publication.
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The Bulletin covers news of interest to the faculty, staff, and friends of Washington State University Spokane, and associates on other WSU campuses and on the Riverpoint Campus.

Regular columns cover professional accomplishments, opportunities for involvement in the campus community and the Spokane community, notices of new developments on campus, upcoming events, personnel changes, and other news.

The Bulletin also serves as a source of information for external communications directed to alumni, future and current students, and friends of Washington State University Spokane. You'll read it here first!

Subscribers welcome! Send an e-mail to Judith Van Dongen, jcvd@wsu.edu, to request the WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin.

Editorial staff