WSU bears test products meant to confound their wild cousins
At WSU, grizzlies put “bear-resistant” gear to the ultimate test — smashing and clawing their way through coolers and canisters to help keep wild bears and people safer.
Good To Know
Campus & Community
Distinguished Bustad Lecture to focus on the human‑horse relationship
The March 27 lecture at WSU Pullman will explore how human‑horse relationships can support mental health for both species, highlighting a more reciprocal approach to equine-assisted care.
Leading farmworkers advocate will speak during National Farmworkers Awareness Week
The observance on the Pullman campus begins March 26 with a blood drive and concludes on April 2 with a keynote address by Sylvia Zapata, executive director of Student Action with Farmworkers.
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU announces four spring exhibitions
Running March 31–June 27, the exhibitions invite visitors to observe shifting light and engaging works that unfold through sensory awareness.
Comparative animal nutritionist to share career insights, experiences at Halver Lecture
Kimberly Ange-van Heugten will share global experiences studying and caring for diverse species — from chimpanzees to pangolins — during WSU’s Halver Lecture on March 24.
University Affairs
WSU Police Department hosting trainings on Pullman campus
The trainings will be primarily conducted around Heald Hall in conjunction with neighboring agencies, and are scheduled to take place this week.
Terri Parr Wynecoop appointed as permanent WSU executive director & presidential liaison for Tribal relations
Parr will continue to serve as WSU’s leader for government relations with Native American Tribes, transitioning from the interim role she has held since December 2025.
WSU appoints Reena Khosla as special assistant to the provost for data strategy
In this role, Khosla will lead a comprehensive assessment of WSU’s data landscape and help advance the university’s data strategy.
Middle East travel ban now in place for WSU personnel
The restrictions affect all WSU faculty, staff, volunteers, and students traveling internationally for university-related purposes.
WSU-related Podcasts
From WSU:
Food safety, WSU stories, science answers for kids, and more — listen to podcasts from Washington State University.
About WSU:A selection of programs about Washington State, produced by alumni and friends.
WSU PodcastsBenefits & Training
TIAA consultant on Pullman campus March 25 and 26
Do you know how much you can contribute to your retirement account for 2026? Are you wondering if you are on track for your retirement? Feeling a bit lost on how to invest your funds? Do you need help adjusting your VIP contribution amount for 2026? TIAA Consultant Eli Jenkins will be on the Pullman campus […]
WSU Voluntary Investment Program — Universal availability notice
Washington State University (WSU) provides the opportunity to save for retirement through the Voluntary Investment Program (VIP). All WSU employees who receive compensation reportable on an IRS Form W-2 are eligible to participate in the plan, as long as the employee contributes a minimum of $15.00 per pay period with a minimum of $200 per year. Please take […]
Awards & Achievements
Anjan Bose sharing lessons from life of research for Distinguished Faculty Address
Bose plans to use his time at the lectern to share insights and advice from his 50‑year career with the next generation of research faculty.
WSU ROAR program receives $2.48M federal grant to transform inclusive higher education
The grant will fund WSU ROAR Pathways, an initiative that supports students from high school through college and into their careers.
WSU alumnus wins second Oscar for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
Eric Saindon was able to relish the win alongside his children and the team that brought Pandora to life to the tune of a $1.4 billion worldwide box office.
First-of-its-kind, $1M gift strengthens student support in College of Arts and Sciences
The support comes as affordability, basic needs, and everyday financial pressures are increasingly shaping whether students persist or pause their education.
Science & Technology
Solar schools shine on Washington students
A WSU-led solar program is helping rural Washington schools cut energy costs while reinvesting the savings into programs that support low-income students and strengthen their communities.
WSU bears test products meant to confound their wild cousins
At WSU, grizzlies put “bear-resistant” gear to the ultimate test — smashing and clawing their way through coolers and canisters to help keep wild bears and people safer.
Ask Dr. Universe podcast explores Mars, missions, and life beyond Earth
The latest episode of the Ask Dr. Universe podcast takes listeners on a journey across the solar system, featuring WSU planetary scientist Julie Ménard.
Ancient brines helped build Idaho’s Silver Valley and the Idaho Cobalt Belt
WSU-led research shows that super-salty brines helped concentrate the metals that formed Idaho’s rich silver and cobalt deposits more than a billion years ago.
Food & Agriculture
WSU launches bilingual video series to help beekeepers improve colony health
The series gives novice beekeepers a strong introduction to best practices and the science of apiculture, in both Spanish and English.
Long-term study confirms pollen-replacing feed strengthens honey bee colonies
A man-made food source provided honey bees a nutritious diet at a commercial scale over the course of two winter seasons.
New healthy food definition may help consumers identify nutritious options
WSU researchers analyzed more than 3,000 foods common to American diets, confirming the accuracy of an FDA rule for marketing foods as healthy but finding few foods meet that standard.
With NSF award, WSU crop scientist harnesses AI to identify higher-yielding wheat
Using the power of artificial intelligence to process vast amounts of complex data, scientists at WSU aim to speed up the breeding of higher-yielding wheat crops.
Health & Medicine
‘Fruitful partnerships’: Researcher guest-edits journal on Indigenous mental health
Rachel Wilbur and her colleagues at IREACH are working to change the way research is done with Indigenous communities.
WSU inspires Native youth to see themselves in health careers
The Little Birds program introduces elementary schoolers in Eastern Washington to healthcare fields to encourage early interest in becoming doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
Cannabis intoxication disrupts many types of memory
A new WSU study finds that cannabis intoxication can interfere with several types of memory and may even cause people to remember things that never happened.
Good information leads to better health
WSU experts say improving health literacy — from using plain language in clinics to helping patients find trustworthy online information — can empower people to make better decisions.
Veterinary Medicine
After 27 days missing, veterinary student’s cat finds healing at WSU
Simba, a beloved orange tabby, survived severe hypothermia and frostbite before receiving life-saving care from WSU veterinarians.
WSU is helping California tribe to bring salmon home
Veterinarians at WSU are helping the Winnemem Wintu Tribe restore Chinook salmon to the McCloud River by testing New Zealand fish for disease before the species returns home.
New CT scanner to benefit pets throughout the region
With the addition of a new CT scanner, WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital can deliver faster, more precise diagnoses — improving outcomes for animals.
Canine cancer survivor may help children next
After surviving a novel cancer treatment at WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Clarice the Labrador is cancer-free — and her case could help advance new immunotherapies for hard-to-treat tumors in both dogs and children.
Arts & Culture
Port Townsend Writers Conference invites WSU Campus Civic Poet to attend
Hope Dela Cruz, WSU’s Campus Civic Poet, will attend the Port Townsend Writers Conference this summer thanks to a new fellowship supported by the nonprofit arts organization Centrum.
Visiting Writers Series to feature Josiah Morgan and Courtney Ann LaFaive
A New Zealand poet and performance artist and a nationally recognized essayist will share their work with the WSU community through free in‑person and virtual events this April.
Jacqueline Wilson named 2026 Native Performing Arts Fellow
WSU music professor Jacqueline Wilson (Yakama) has been named a 2026 Native Performing Arts Fellow, earning national recognition and support to deepen her work centering Indigenous identity in performance and teaching.
Honors College Bornander Chair unlocks the healing power of music
WSU music professor Melissa Parkhurst used funding from her Bornander Honors Distinguished Chair to bring global artists to campus and explore how music can support well‑being.
Business & Economics
Tariffs on TikTok: WSU economist takes education to social media
When economic news like the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs breaks, Chris Clarke uses social media to help the general public understand what’s really happening.
Augmented reality menus may help restaurants draw customers
AR menus could enhance how restaurants present information about where ingredients are sourced and how the food is produced, a WSU study shows.
Study of NBA finds that pay inequity among top performers erodes cooperation
A new WSU-led study examined a decade’s worth of data from the NBA to draw lessons about the effects of pay disparities on performance.
Crossler named Carson College of Business senior associate dean for academic affairs
A longtime WSU professor and information security scholar, Robert Crossler will guide Carson College’s undergraduate programs and help lead the integration of AI into student learning.
Politics & Society
New Murrow Artifacts exhibit brings historic artifacts to Terrell Library
The exhibit in the Terrell Library atrium lets visitors explore Edward R. Murrow’s legacy and the history of the Murrow College through rare items like his mentor’s pocket watch.
As the revolution turns 250, a WSU historian takes a harder look
Through a statewide lecture series, a WSU historian invites communities to reconsider how the American Revolution reshaped power, land, and empire.
‘A reporter in every county:’ WSU, Report for America launch groundbreaking program to confront Washington’s local news crisis
Washington’s land-grant university and the nation’s leading nonprofit program for placing journalists in local newsrooms will work to ensure that every county in the state has reliable, local reporting.
Coug alum Ryan Blethen takes the helm at The Seattle Times
The fifth-generation newspaperman will bring a Coug’s perspective to one of the nation’s most successful family-owned newspapers.
Reports & Updates
Foundations respond to changes in federal funding
Over the past week, several foundations have stepped forward to offer rapid response and bridge funding to help mitigate the impact of grant cancellations.
Message from the President:
Leading with purpose
This is a time to carry forward both resolve and innovative thinking with a healthy dose of Cougar pride.
‘Let’s get to work — together’
President Elizabeth Cantwell thanks the university community in a personal message, sharing her belief that WSU is uniquely positioned not only to adapt — but to lead.
Message from Kirk and Noel Schulz:
Thank you, WSU
On their last day as President and First Lady of Washington State University, Kirk and Noel Schulz extend one final thank you for a memorable nine years.