February 6, 2025
Dear WSU students, faculty, and staff,
I am excited, deeply grateful, and truly humbled to share that I have
accepted the position as the 12th president of Washington State University.
I am honored to step into this role and committed to our collective success.
My heartfelt thanks go to the Board of Regents, the Presidential Search
Advisory Committee, and the students, faculty, staff, and community members
who participated in the selection process.
I have long admired WSU for its remarkable research capabilities and
its fierce dedication to its land-grant mission. As a land-grant institution,
WSU has played a transformative role in advancing agriculture, veterinary
medicine, and engineering — making a lasting impact on both the state of
Washington and the world. Many of my colleagues and friends over the years
have had strong ties to this institution, and more recently, I became part
of the Coug family in a deeply personal way when my daughter joined as a
graduate student. Now, as I officially step into this role and think about
the future of this great university, I am eager to get started!
This is an incredible moment to be a Coug.
The future needs WSU and I am confident that together we can
achieve remarkable things. We are uniquely positioned to lead on
some of the most pressing challenges facing our state, our nation, and our
world. The innovation, passion, and excellence that define this
community are undeniable, and my goal is to build on that legacy —
harnessing our land-grant mission and the talent and expertise of our students,
faculty, and staff to create even greater opportunities for impact in
Washington and beyond.
Meeting the challenges of the future requires a strong partnership. I
believe in the power of collaboration, trust, and open communication. I am
committed to working closely with all of you and fostering an environment
where everyone feels heard and valued. I lead with transparency, and you
can expect that from me as we embark on this journey together. I am eager
to collaborate with the entire WSU community to build upon our legacy of
excellence and create lasting outcomes.
To all WSU students: You are the future. You are the next
generation of community builders, thinkers, innovators, and leaders, and I
am incredibly excited to work alongside you. Your unique
perspectives, your innovative ideas, and your passion for a better world
are essential to the success of our university. I am committed to creating
an environment where your voices are heard and your aspirations are
nurtured. I look forward to working with you to shape a Coug future
reflecting the needs of our broader community.
To Coug faculty and staff: I am thrilled to work with
such a talented and dedicated group of distinguished faculty and staff. I
look forward to collaborating with you all to build upon the university’s
strengths and achieve great things together.
I am eager to connect with many of you in the coming weeks and months
ahead. Together, we will leverage the strengths of this university and
build upon WSU’s proud tradition of excellence to propel our university
in new ways and create an exciting and bright future.
Go Cougs!
Dr. Elizabeth Cantwell
Incoming System President
Washington State University
