Members of the Washington State University Board of Regents appointed the governing body’s next leaders during Friday’s meeting in Spokane alongside new President Elizabeth Cantwell.
Beginning July 1, the board will be led by Regent Jenette Ramos, who currently serves as vice chair and succeeds current Chair Lisa Keohokalole Schauer. Regent Enrique Cerna will follow Ramos as the board’s vice chair.
Ramos joined the WSU Board of Regents in 2020, returning to her alma mater after spending more than three decades with The Boeing Company. A veteran broadcast journalist and member of the WSU Class of 1975, Cerna was also appointed to the WSU Board of Regents in 2020.
Cantwell’s first presentation as president
Friday’s meeting in Spokane, which is available to watch in-full online along with Thursday’s committee meetings, was the first for Elizabeth Cantwell as WSU’s president. She described her first 18 days in office as a rapid onboard process that’s included visits to all of the university’s physical campuses as well as conversations with numerous members of the Cougar community.
During her presentation, Cantwell highlighted the university’s presidential transition website, which gives a timeline for ongoing developments at WSU. More information about plans for Cantwell’s first 100 days in office will be added to the website in the near future, she said. The university’s academic enterprise, Cougar Athletics, external relations and government affairs, as well as business operations and financial performance, are some of the most pressing topics Cantwell is engaged in and will continue to be focusing on in the weeks ahead.
“I am not afraid of our future,” Cantwell told regents and audience members. “I am not overwhelmed, most of the time. I have had an amazing 18 days and I fully expect that each time I give a report, it will help us together envision what the future is and actually get there, probably a little bit quicker than we have had to move in the past, but we’ll get there.”
Other actions
Regents also voted to discontinue the Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering degree offered on the Pullman campus. Low enrollment and the need to strategically allocate resources towards high-demand programs prompted the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture to seek board approval for the discontinuation. Students currently enrolled in the program will continue to receive support from the college through the completion of their studies.
Several members of the WSU community, including WSU Vancouver Chancellor Mel Netzhammer, Student Regent Kassandra Vogel, and outgoing Chair Schauer were recognized by the board for their accomplishments as they near the end of their tenures. Presentation from Executive Vice President and Chancellor of WSU Health Science Daryll DeWald, as well as constituent groups, were also heard by regents.
More information about the WSU Board of Regents is available on the organization’s website.
