WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin
Issue 2008-04 (April 16, 2008)
IN THIS ISSUE
- WVU-WSU Study Links Chronic Illness to Coal Mining Pollution
- Running Over Your Flash Drive—ASL Explores Applications for Novel Material
- Simple Beginnings: Upcoming ALS Forum
- Riverpoint Developments
- WSU Receives Gates Foundation Grant to Construct Building for School for Global Animal Health
- WSU Spokane Celebrates Commencement, May 2
- Spreading Cougar Pride at Riverpoint
- Bike to Work Week Events Set for May 12-16, 2008
- Grant and Contract Awards Summary, January 1, 2008, through March 31, 2008
- Milestones
- Community Connections
- Personnel and Staffing Changes
- Moving Around
- Way to Go!
- Find It on the Web
WVU-WSU Study Links Chronic Illness to Coal Mining Pollution
Courtesy of WVU News Service
Pollution from coal mining may have a negative impact on public health in mining communities, according to data analyzed by researchers from West Virginia University (WVU) and Washington State University (WSU).
Former WSU faculty member Michael Hendryx, now the associate director of the WVU Institute for Health Policy Research, and economist Melissa Ahern, an associate professor in the WSU College of Pharmacy, used data from a 2001 WVU Health Policy Research telephone survey of more than 16,400 West Virginians and correlated it with coal production volume data from the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.
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A historic image of two men in a
coal mine. Stringent health |
The goal was to determine whether there is a relationship between coal production and forms of cardiovascular, lung and kidney disease in the state.
The study, “Relations between Health Indicators and Residential Proximity to Coal Mining in West Virginia,” will appear in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health, with Hendryx as author and Ahern as coauthor.
According to the authors, the incidence of chronic illness increases with coal production. Coal-processing chemicals, equipment powered by diesel engines, explosives, toxic impurities in coals, and even dust from uncovered coal trucks can cause environmental pollution that could have a negative affect on public health.
“Residents of coal-mining communities have long complained of impaired health,” said Hendryx. “This study substantiates their claims. Those residents are at an increased risk of developing chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases.”
Hendryx and Ahern’s research suggests that people living in coal mining communities have a 70 percent increased risk for developing kidney disease; have a 64 percent increased risk for developing a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as emphysema; and are 30 percent more likely to report high blood pressure. These results were obtained after adjusting the data such regional factors as reduced access to health care, higher smoking rates, and poorer economic conditions.
The data also showed that hospitalization and mortality rates are higher in coal-mining communities, and it is estimated that 313 excess deaths occur in West Virginia every year due to coal-mining pollution.
The researchers note that their study is an analysis of existing data, which limits the overall depth of the findings. To further explore the issue of community health and coal mining, they plan to directly measure air and water quality in coal-mining communities.
According to Ahern, who leads the newly founded Northwest Climate Change Center in Spokane, the demand for coal is rapidly rising, both as a source of electricity and as a source for liquid fuels. Both oil and natural gas have already peaked in North America, and natural gas prices are beginning to rise along with oil, Ahern says. As coal demand increases, additional health risks will occur. Both toxic emissions and significant greenhouse gas emissions are associated with coal use. Ahern points out that climatologists are stressing that coal use should be curtailed unless greenhouse gas emissions are captured and stored.
Running Over Your Flash Drive—ASL Explores Applications for Novel Material
By Barb Chamberlain
A material so strong you could tow a car with a wire 1/8” thick. A $4,000 cell phone with a custom casing that protects the components when you drop the phone. A flash drive outer casing you can run over with an SUV without damaging it. Fish hooks for commercial fishing that don’t break, so the big one doesn’t get away.
These are just a few of the applications of bulk metallic glass (BMG), a class of alloys invented by Atakan Peker, senior scientist and director of advanced materials for the Applied Sciences Lab at WSU Spokane. Ultra-strong alloys that exploit an unusual atomic structure not found in traditional metals, BMGs have many applications, from consumer products to armor to biomedical devices (such as the knee replacement of the future) or advanced vehicle power trains.
Peker describes the knee replacement that could be made from his materials as having higher durability, strength, and biocompatibility than those of today’s materials.
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Atakan Peker (Photo by Jeff Green) |
“Current materials for knee replacements last around 10 to 12 years," he said. "They used to be implanted in people in their 60s or 70s. Now active Baby Boomers—and there are millions of them!—get their knees done at a much younger age, in their 50s, and they use their knees harder with an active lifestyle, so they may only last 6 to 8 years. How many times do you want to get your knees done?” A knee replacement made of BMG could last 30 years or more, reducing both health care costs and pain and recovery time for patients."
Another application important to the clean energy sources of the future lies in equipment for oil and gas extraction. According to Baker-Hughes, an oil/gas service company, the types of recent wells they’re working today present new technical challenges that demand new materials for their equipment.
Peker’s enthusiasm for the application of his discoveries is obvious. “Materials are an enabling technology for new products—not just replacement of existing components,” he says. “You can cast or mold items from BMG that you can’t make with metal or plastic.” Peker is the inventor or co-inventor on 30 issued or pending patents, with over $40 million in commercial sales already.
BMG is just one example of the innovative applied research done at ASL that benefits local industries. It’s because of this type of research capability that Itron, Inc,. and ASL just announced a research agreement for $450,000 over three years, along with a major gift to ASL of $250,000 from Itron that will be matched by The Cheney Cowles Foundation.
Itron is the world’s largest manufacturer of electricity and water meters, and the second largest manufacturer of gas meters. They ship millions of meters around the globe each year to nearly 8,000 utilities. Itron products remain in the field for 20 years or more, withstanding temperature ranges from -40 to +185 degrees Fahrenheit, and submersion underwater in the case of water meters.
“ASL allows Itron to extend our research and development capabilities into areas of material science and other disciplines where we do not have the resources or expertise,” said CEO and Chairman LeRoy Nosbaum. “This partnership allows us to move more quickly from research to real-world application and supports our efforts to build new products for energy efficiency and water conservation that will enable us to become better stewards of our natural resources. ASL provides expertise for Itron locally that we can extend globally.”
Itron engineers and ASL scientists have already begun collaboration on projects important to Itron’s future success in the marketplace. The primary focus of the work will be on applying advanced materials research from ASL to future Itron products that house sensitive electronics.
- See news release online for more on the ASL/Itron partnership.
Simple Beginnings: Upcoming ALS Forum
By Holly George
What can thoughtful homework lead to? Consider the results of an assignment given by assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences Nancy Potter during the fall semester. Potter asked her students to attend one session of a medical support group related to their field.
A handful of students chose a support group for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or "Lou Gehrig's disease," a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects the ability of the nerves and muscles to function, causing progressive muscular weakness, paralysis, and difficulty speaking and swallowing. Affecting an estimated 30,000 Americans, ALS moves rapidly—the mean survival time is two to five years.
The warmth and openness of the people with ALS (PALS) they met left the students so excited that when they reported back to the class, several classmates decided to join them at the next meeting. The support group members’ willingness to share didn't stop there. When one student asked if an ALS patient or caregiver would come to Potter's class as a guest speaker, no less than nine people volunteered—this for a seminar of twelve students.
At this point, Potter and her students decided to open the event up to the entire Riverpoint community. Held in November 2007 and planned on short notice, this preliminary forum gave both WSU and EWU students a valuable opportunity to learn first hand about the needs associated with ALS. Because ALS does not affect cognition, PALS are able to share their stories until the end. At the fall forum, ALS patients and their family members explained what it is like to receive this difficult diagnosis and what they want doctors and therapists to know. They let their audience know that even if this forum didn’t affect their experience with ALS, it would make a difference for future PALS.
Based on positive feedback from the fall forum, WSU’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and EWU’s Communication Disorders, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy Departments are cosponsoring a larger ALS forum on Monday, April 21, at 6:00 p.m. in the Academic Center Auditorium (room 20).
ALS patients, as well as their caregivers and families, will answer questions and share stories about life with ALS. As with the November forum, this event—which is open to the public—allows today's students, and tomorrow's health care providers, to understand the personal aspects of a devastating disease. In Potter’s words, hearing the stories of ALS patients puts a human face on a list of symptoms.
The April 21 event will also kick off an effort to gain student and faculty participation in an upcoming walk for ALS—scheduled for September 13—adding another element to Riverpoint's relationship with ALS.
Potter and ALS patients agree that this disease provides an “unfortunately perfect” opportunity for collaboration between campus and community: ALS progresses quickly, taking those affected through a series of short-term needs that require the skills learned in the occupational, physical, and speech therapy coursework and clinical experiences at Riverpoint.
Because the time frame and needs of PALS fit so well with the curriculum of Riverpoint graduate students, Potter and others are exploring the possibility of hosting a monthly ALS clinic on campus. The concept would be similar to a cleft palate clinic that takes place at Riverpoint each month, which allows health care providers to coordinate their efforts and patients to schedule their host of appointments on a single day. ALS clinics with this same approach exist in Seattle and Yakima, but not in the Inland Northwest, where two to three hundred PALS live.
So what can one well-planned homework assignment lead to? In this instance, a great deal of positive interaction—and future possibilities—for both campus and community.
Riverpoint Developments
By Barb Chamberlain
People from across the Riverpoint Campus came together at the end of February to talk about their vision of the future in a session facilitated by Chris Blodgett and the staff of the Area Health Education Center of eastern Washington, a WSU Extension unit headquartered here.
Communication across departments and institutions was identified
as a high priority. A number of activities and committees are
already in place, with more to be developed over the coming months.
We will share news items through the Campus Bulletin, the web site
at
www.riverpointcampus.org, the Events Notice, and other
mechanisms to be developed for campuswide communications.
See www.riverpointcampus.org for news on a number of fronts:
- The comprehensive academic plan developed by WSU Spokane, EWU Spokane, and Community Colleges of Spokane. Send your feedback on the plan to riverpointacademics@wsu.edu. Comments will be compiled and shared with the work group of Ron Dalla, EWU; Jim Minkler, CCS; and Jo Ann Thompson, WSU.
- The campus master plan update that will be launched in the next few weeks. Watch the campus Events Notice for announcements of workshops to gather your input. The notes from the visioning session will be provided to the oversight committee that is being appointed, which includes representatives from EWU, WSU, and Sirti.
- A request for proposals for the Pine Street Development has been distributed, with responses due April 17. Development proposals must address how the developer will plan, finance, develop, and operate mixed-use projects consistent with the Riverpoint Campus master plan and the city’s University District Strategic Master Plan.
- Visioning session notes are posted at the site. Send your thoughts to riverpointcampus@wsu.edu. Comments will be compiled and will feed into various collaborative processes and committees, communications activities both formal and informal, and a fall campuswide discussion building on the session in February.
WSU Receives Gates Foundation Grant to Construct Building for School for Global Animal Health
By James Tinney, WSU News Service
Washington State University recently announced that it has received a $25 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help construct a $35 million building that is to become the centerpiece in the university’s new School for Global Animal Health. Research at the school will focus on discovering new vaccines, diagnostics, and other strategies to control global infectious diseases that affect both animals and humans.
The grant represents the largest single private financial commitment in WSU history...
WSU Spokane Celebrates Commencement, May 2
By Becki Meehan
Years
of discipline and hard work will culminate on Friday, May 2 as
Washington State University Spokane celebrates its 18th class of
graduates. The accomplishments of 437 graduates will be recognized
with baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees in 20 different
degree categories.
Chancellor Brian Pitcher will preside over the ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. in the Spokane Convention Center Ballroom 100 at 334 W Spokane Falls Blvd. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and all family, friends and faculty are welcome to attend. There are no tickets required for this event.
Special guest Mary C. Selecky, secretary of the Washington State Department of Health, will deliver the commencement address at this year’s ceremony. Throughout her career, Selecky has been a leader in developing local, state and national public health policies. She helped create the state’s Department of Health, which she has led since 1999. She was also instrumental in developing Washington’s nationally recognized Public Health Improvement Partnership.
For more information please visit the Commencement Web site.
Spreading Cougar Pride at Riverpoint
By Judith Van Dongen
More than 20 people from across the campus came together today in a renewed attempt to kick off the spring season by participating in Cougar Pride Days at WSU Spokane.
Clad in Cougar Pride Days T-shirts and sporting gloves and, of course, Cougar pride, they tackled a variety of landscaping jobs, including spreading bark, shrub planting, raking up leaves and debris, and lawn repairs.
If you missed it, and want another chance to satisfy your green thumb's itch, keep your calendar clear on May 9 to help plant annuals on part two of the Spokane Cougar Pride Days. Watch your e-mail for a Spok-l announcing the time.
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Bike To Work Events Set for May 12-16, 2008
By Barb Chamberlain
Bike to Work Spokane, a committee formed by the City of Spokane’s Bicycle Advisory Board, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, and volunteers, has organized a series of events in Spokane in celebration of national Bike to Work Week, May 12-16, 2008.
The first 300 participants to register online at www.biketoworkspokane.org will receive a free T-shirt, to be distributed at the kickoff riders’ breakfast Monday, May 12, and the wrap-up event Friday, May 16.
Events include:
- Beginning in late April, classic Schwinn bicycles on display in the lobby of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
- May 12-16, commuter bikes from area bike shops on display at Riverpark Square.
- Various dates, bike maintenance workshops at area bike shops
- Monday, May 12, launch event, riders’ breakfast in Riverfront Park, 7-9 a.m. with celebrity servers including Spokane mayor Mary Verner and members of the City Council
- Wednesday, May 14, Bike (or Walk) to School Day, in partnership with Spokane Public Schools elementary schools
- Wednesday, May 14, Village Project presentation at REI, 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 16, wrap-up event, after-work celebration at Steam Plant Grill 4:30-6:30 p.m., with drawings for prizes given away to registered participants. Prizes include a foldable commuter bike donated by REI and other great gear
Participants pledge to bike commute to work at least one day during the week of May 12-16. “Virtual participants” who work from home can use the bike for errands to join the effort. In partnership with Spokane Transit, the committee suggests a bike/bus combo for those who live farther from work and are not yet comfortable biking the entire distance.
Commute Trip Reduction participants will need to log their CTR participation via bike as usual at www.mycommute.org.
Grant and Contract Awards Summary
January 1, 2008, through March 31, 2008
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Faculty Member |
Department |
Research Title/ |
Research Summary |
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Bassem Bejjani |
WSU Spokane Office of Research |
FISH Probe Development Agreement Sacred Heart Medical Center |
This is a renewal of an ongoing contract with Sacred Heart Medical Center for Lisa Shaffer’s lab to develop fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for their laboratory use. Dr. Bejjani is managing this contract this year while Shaffer is on leave. |
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Chris Blodgett |
Area Health Education Center |
Washington State Readiness to Learn Program Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction |
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is contracting with Washington State University Spokane for statewide data collection, evaluation, and analysis of the Readiness to Learn (RTL) program. Staff from the area Health Education Center (AHEC) at WSU Spokane will determine and analyze positive outcomes of the program, report to stakeholders on the effectiveness of the program, provide a framework for individual and statewide program improvement, and provide information on the procurement of other funding opportunities. |
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Chris Blodgett |
Area Health Education Center |
Food Stamp Participation Planning Evaluation Children’s Alliance of Washington |
The Children's Alliance of Washington has received a planning grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Medina Foundation to develop intervention plans for increasing food stamp participation among eligible Washington families, which is significantly below the national average. AHEC has been asked to evaluate this initiative and participate as a development partner. AHEC staff will assist with program design, participate in planning meetings, develop and analyze secondary data sources provided by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, and develop the evaluation plan for the full program proposal. |
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Chris Blodgett |
Area Health Education Center |
Public Education Community Mental Health Services Coordination Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction |
This contract is to develop a plan of work with broad state stakeholder input to train mental health and K-12 local leadership in the development of cooperative practice for students with chronic mental illnesses. AHEC will develop resource materials, training, and train-the-trainer support materials to disseminate this work. |
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Nancy Blossom/ |
Interdisciplinary Design Institute |
Strategic Plan for Strategic Plan for Developing the Ritzville Preservation Arts Trade School Ritzville Public Development Authority/Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development |
This is funding from the Ritzville Public Development Authority for the development of a strategic plan to market and implement a center for the historic preservation trades. The funding includes support for graduate students and collaboration with consultants from WSU Extension. |
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David Brody/ |
Criminal Justice Political Science |
Judicial Performance Evaluation of Industrial Appeals Judges at the BIIA Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals |
This project is for David Brody, Nicholas Lovrich, and the Division of Governmental Studies and Services to develop and implement a system of evaluating the judges of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
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Kerry Brooks |
Interdisciplinary Design Institute |
Spokane Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Program Spokane Transit Authority/U.S. Department of Transportation |
This is renewal funding for a project under the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) grant program, which assists localities in developing new or expanded transportation services that connect welfare recipients and other low-income persons to jobs and employment-related services. Spokane's JARC program uses geographic information systems (GIS) for two components of the projects. The first is the LIFTS project, which allows public use of layered data to see relationships between necessary services, such as Spokane Transit fixed bus routes, job training sites, affordable housing, child care, and employment sites. The second is the mapping of pedestrian facilities with attention to people with mobility impairments. |
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Danielle Flood (ExMet student)/ |
WIMHRT |
Contingency Management and Its Relations to the Stages of Change Theory WSU Office of Research/WSU Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program |
This project will use contingency management—a popular intervention technique in drug abstinence programs—on participants who are smokers. It will analyze participant responses of monetary accruement in terms of the participant’s stage of change. The Stages of Change theory, which separates behavioral change into five stages, is often used to determine individuals' attitudes and behaviors towards smoking or other substance use. This study will investigate reactions of those who do not wish to abstain from smoking after the study and those who do wish to permanently abstain as they accrue monetary reinforcement for abstinence over a five-day period of CM. The goal is to determine a relationship between stages of change and this form of CM so as to understand participant response and possibly provide literature for CM approaches toward patients based on their stage of change. |
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Casey Jackson |
WIMHRT |
Stigma Reduction Project: Youth Speaker’s Bureau Washington State Department of Social and Health Services |
The purpose of this contract is to develop a youth and parent speaker's bureau. WIMHRT faculty will train youths and parents to speak about their experiences with stigma and their journeys to wellness at schools and juvenile justice or mental health providers in Washington State. |
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Suzan Kardong-Edgren/ |
Intercollegiate College of Nursing |
Simulation Collaboration Grant for Health Sciences at Riverpoint Campus WSU Office of Research Initiation of Collaboration |
This grant will sponsor a two-day conference on human patient simulation, to be held on April 18 and 19, 2008. The goal is for each participant to come away with a clear vision about how he/she could use human simulation to improve undergraduate or graduate education, use simulation in research, and collaborate with other health sciences departments in a research project. The conference will also showcase the current use of simulation by the Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy. |
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Susan Kynast-Gales/ |
Program in Health Sciences |
A Pilot Study of Dairy Effects on Cardiovascular Responses to Stress, Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Sleep Washington Dairy Products |
This is supplemental funding from the Washington Dairy Products Commission to support Susan Kynast-Gales and Carolyn Johnson’s continuing research on the effects of dairy on cardiovascular responses to stress, ambulatory blood pressure, and sleep. |
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Janetta McCoy |
Interdisciplinary Design Institute |
Identify and Evaluate Projects Relevant to Urban Design and Economic Development for Ritzville Washington Ritzville Public Development Authority |
This grant is to fund the work of graduate students who, under the supervision of Janetta McCoy, will provide special design services for the City of Ritzville. These services include PowerPoint presentations to illustrate their special projects, such as Center for Historic Preservation Trades, or to show how some fundraisers may support economic needs of the community. Students will also be reviewing previous studies of the city's needs to prioritize and make recommendations for implementation and, as time permits, will be providing interior design recommendations for a new nonprofit organization related to the Ritzville Public Development Authority. |
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Sylvia Oliver |
WSU Spokane Office of Research |
Biotechnology Education Infusion Program National Science Foundation |
Originally awarded to Spokane Community College, this grant was transferred to Washington State University Spokane this year for the final two years of the project. The grant supports teacher training and development in methods to include biotechnology skills into middle school, high school, and community college curricula. |
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John Roll/ |
WIMHRT |
Contingency Management of Psychostimulant Abuse in the Severely Mentally Ill University of Washington/U.S. Department of Human and Health Services |
This study is designed to assess the efficacy of a contingency management (CM) strategy for treating methamphetamine abuse or dependence in individuals with severe mental illness who are being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Participants attend the CM treatment program three times a week for 12 weeks, during which methamphetamine and other drug use are monitored via urinalysis. Statistical analysis will show whether the 12-week intervention decreased illicit drug use, as well as incarcerations and emergency room visits, during a six-month follow-up. |
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John Roll/ |
WIMHRT |
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: MI/MET Training Washington State Department of Social and Health Services |
The purpose of this contract is for WIMHRT faculty to provide motivational interviewing/motivational enhancement therapy (MI/MET) training to staff from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation throughout the state of Washington.
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Bob Scarfo |
Interdisciplinary Design Institute |
Measuring Service Learning’s Impact on Building Community WSU Office of Research Initiation of Collaboration |
This grant funds the Measuring Service Learning's Impact
on
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Robert Short |
WIMHRT |
Contingency Management for Substance Abuse Treatment in Seriously Mentally Ill Attending a Community Mental Health Center WSU Office of Research/ WSU Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program |
This study is designed to assess the efficacy of a contingency management (CM) strategy for treating methamphetamine abuse or dependence in individuals with severe mental illness who are attending the Community Mental Health Center. Participants will attend the CM treatment program twice a week for six weeks, during which substance use will be monitored via urinalysis. Statistical analysis will show whether the six-week intervention decreased illicit drug use. |
Milestones
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Barb Chamberlain has been invited to serve on the
Ideation Task Force for Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI). GSI
has been collecting ideas from the community at
http://www.newideasinw.com
and has nearly 600 ideas on hand, from which the task force will
select the 50 best ideas for the region. These ideas would then
be shared with the region through an event and a report. The
second step is to reduce the list of 50 to the 10 most
transformational ideas, which will be recommended to the board
of GSI for further study and development by the organization or
by partner groups.
- The two-volume Handbook of (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder—coauthored by professor of audiology and chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences Gail Chermak and colleague Frank Musiek—was named the 2007 Speech, Language & Hearing Book of the Year by the Essential Speech, Language & Hearing Bookshelf. This honor is bestowed on a book that represents a highly rated and/or breakthrough publication in a specialty, as determined by a team of clinical experts and medical librarians who are collection development experts in speech, language and hearing.
- WSU pharmacy students won several awards and honors at the American Pharmacists Association’s annual meeting and exposition, held March 14 through 17 in San Diego. The WSU student chapter (APhA Associated Student Pharmacists) won the Region 7 Operation Diabetes award and a "Project Chance" award, based on a business plan submitted by Jason Doss to start an anticoagulation clinic at Community Health Association of Spokane. Student pharmacist Linda Mach placed in the top 10 finalists for the counseling competition.
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In another display of entrepreneurial
spirit earlier this week, a team of WSU pharmacy students
consisting of Jason Doss, Corinne Gavrun, and David
Villeneuve placed third in the WSU Business Plan Competition
sponsored by the College of Business. In addition to earning
them a $6,000 prize, their winning plan got them selected for
the Gonzaga University Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
2007-2008 Business Plan Competition, held this coming Friday,
April 18, in the Phase One Classroom Building on the Riverpoint
Campus. Their team will be one of only six teams chosen to
present their plans, and the only team from WSU.
- Terri Rothwell (at right), office assistant for the Department of Pharmacotherapy, has been selected as the recipient of the first annual College of Pharmacy Staff Excellence Award. The award was presented to her at the college’s Evening of Excellence on March 28. It was given in recognition of her excellent performance, team spirit, learning achievements, and commitment to the college.
- Bob Scarfo is one of thirteen people recently selected to serve on the Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force. This citizen task force will help create a strategic action plan to identify and address the impacts of climate change and energy security on City government. For more info see the City of Spokane news site.
If you or one of your colleagues or students has received a special honor or award, or reached another professional milestone, please e-mail the information to Judith Van Dongen at jcvd@wsu.edu.
Community Connections
- 2008 KPBX Kids' Spring Concert, "Railroad Songs & Train Tunes" with Sidetrack, Saturday, May 10, from 1-2 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater. Admission is free.
- Global Folk Art, the non-profit, volunteer-run fair trade store in the Community Building, will be closing and is having a close-out sale, with up to 35 percent off prices. The Community Building is located at 35 W Main Ave, just two blocks from campus.
Personnel and Staffing
Changes
Comings:
- Kaouter Souilman, Research Assistant, Office of Research/Bejjani Lab, effective 4/1/08
- Erin Dobbins, Research Associate, Pharmacotherapy, effective 5/5/08
Goings:
- Angela Bashe, Parking Guide, Parking Operations, effective 3/31/08
Promotions:
- Travis Sonnett, Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacotherapy (Pullman campus), effective 4/28/08
Searches:
- Assistant/Associate Professor, 4 positions, WWAMI, review of applications began 10/01/07
- Assistant/Associate Professor (Exercise Biologist), College of Pharmacy, review of applications began 11/1/07
- Assistant/Associate Professors, Clinical Assistant Professors, Associate Dean for Research, College of Nursing, locations at Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver, review of applications began 1/15/08
- Academic Coordinator (based in Pullman), Pharmacotherapy, information at www.hrs.wsu.edu or http://www.pharmacy.wsu.edu/information/employment.html
- Coordinator (based in Spokane), Pharmacotherapy, information at www.hrs.wsu.edu or http://www.pharmacy.wsu.edu/information/employment.html
- Business Advisor (based in Pullman), Small Business Development Center, apply by April 14, 2008, information at www.hrs.wsu.edu
Moving Around
The Area Health Education Center of Eastern Washington
(AHEC) recently relocated their headquarters from the Health
Sciences Building to the third floor of the Sirti Building. Their
main office is located at Sirti 318.
Way to Go!
- The CTR Committee (Cy Parker, Susan Lopez, Teresa Kruger, Kristi Wardrop, Terri Rothwell, and Rose Morgan) is always working hard to build a sense of community on campus and encourage use of commuting alternatives (such as Bike to Work). Thank you all! (Barb Chamberlain, Director of Communications and Public Affairs)
- Please join me in congratulating Gretchen Eaker on her promotion to fiscal specialist supervisor. Gretchen and her team handle a blizzard of demanding fiscal transactions; there is always something new, and we are fortunate to have Gretchen’s expertise and experience in these challenging times. Congratulations on your promotion Gretchen! (James Dalton, Vice Chancellor, Finance & Operations)
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 Cinda Romans, and watch for your thanks to be published in an upcoming issue of the Campus Bulletin!
Find It on the Web
- WSU Research News: The latest on research news from WSU.
- News at WSU Spokane: 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.
- 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?
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The Bulletin is
a monthly publication that is usually published on the second Wednesday
of each month.
The exact publication date may shift due to holidays. If you have
an item that you'd like us to include, send it to us by Friday in
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! To subscribe, go to http://lists.wsu.edu/join.php, enter your e-mail address, type "wsusb" in the List Name field, and click on "Join List."
Editorial staff
- Judith Van Dongen, jcvd@wsu.edu, 509-358-7524
- Barb Chamberlain, chamberlain@wsu.edu, 509-358-7527
- Holly George, spok.comm.staff@wsu.edu, 509-358-7864
- Becki Meehan, rmeehan@wsu.edu, 509-358-7528
- Cinda Romans, cindaromans@wsu.edu, 509-358-7540