Thank you, WSU
March 31, 2025
Dear WSU community,
On our last day as President and First Lady of Washington
State University, we wanted to take this opportunity to extend
one final thank you for a memorable nine years.
When we arrived in March 2016, we appreciated the warm Cougar
Family welcome we received from students, faculty, staff, alumni,
and university partners as we moved from Manhattan, Kansas to
Pullman, Washington. The welcoming nature of WSU — across the
entire system — is one of the university’s defining features
and has been a consistent thread in all of the interactions we’ve
had since.
This community has been through some incredible highs and lows
over the past nine years — and we have appreciated the many words of
support, cards, texts, and email notes we received when we were all
experiencing notable successes or unanticipated challenges. One of
our favorite aspects in serving in such public roles has been the
chance encounters with members of the Cougar Family on travels, in
restaurants, or just walking down the street — and getting a hearty
“Go Cougs.”
Leading a public research university requires an “all in, all
the time” mindset — and we have enjoyed the opportunity to interact
with many of you on our campuses and in communities across the state.
We are excited about what we have accomplished together over the last
nine years to advance the institution as a whole.
Leadership in today’s climate means that every leader has supporters
and detractors. We appreciate that you have been active participants
in discussions, including sometimes questioning decisions or university
direction. The passion that the Cougar Family has for advancing WSU is
very evident. The relationship between the faculty, staff, students, and
administration at this university is the best we have ever seen in our
careers — and is part of what continues to make WSU an amazing place to
study, live, and work.
