A generous $500,000 investment from Scott and Linda Carson will fund the creation of the Rebecca and Daryll DeWald Student Collaboration Hub at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s newly renovated Medicine Building.
The new space will be located on the second floor of the Medicine Building, which is expected to re-open later this summer. It will provide resources and support to help medical students achieve their academic and personal goals. In addition to lounge and study spaces, the center will also house the Innovation and Advanced Learning Collaborative, allowing students and faculty to explore emerging technologies and develop practical career skills.
Named in honor of Daryll DeWald, WSU executive vice president and Spokane chancellor, and Rebecca DeWald, a WSU alumna and nurse with Providence Spokane Cardiology, the new comprehensive student success center will support the next generation of healthcare providers.
“Whether it’s through direct patient care or leading the coordination and elevation of the health sciences at WSU, Daryll and Rebecca have had a profound impact on healthcare in our communities and beyond,” said Scott Carson, a 1972 alumnus and former WSU regent. “Linda and I can think of no better way to honor their work than by establishing the Rebecca and Daryll DeWald Student Collaboration Hub in their name.”
The renovation of the Medicine Building is part of WSU’s commitment to improving healthcare in Washington State and addressing healthcare inequities. With only 46% of the need for health professionals met nationwide, the new facilities and expanded academic programming will help bridge the gap and prepare future healthcare professionals for the fast-paced and highly collaborative work environments they will encounter.
“Rebecca and I are honored and humbled by the Carsons’ gift, which will help WSU continue to provide students with a transformative education,” said Chancellor DeWald. “The renovated Medicine Building will provide our students with the best possible learning environment and enable us to advance our mission of improving healthcare for our communities.”
Over the course of a 30-year nursing career, Rebecca DeWald notes that she has personally observed profound changes in healthcare delivery.
“This month marks 18 months since I received an unexpected cancer diagnosis, and I find myself very grateful for the expertise of both my surgeon and oncologist,” she said. “I am aware that my providers’ technical excellence and compassion did not develop in a vacuum. The Carsons’ gift will enable many more student physicians to engage in their education in personal and meaningful ways.”
Scott (’72, Business Administration), a retired Boeing executive, and Linda have a long history of supporting scholarships and projects throughout the university. Scott was a member of the Board of Regents for more than a decade, including a two-year term as chair. In 2005, the Carsons created the Carson Center for Professional Development. That same year, they established the Boeing Scott and Linda Carson Chair in Marketing in partnership with the Boeing Company. In 2014, university officials renamed the Carson College of Business in their honor. In addition, Scott was the 2017 recipient of the Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award—the WSU Foundation’s highest honor.
To learn how you can support Washington State University, visit the WSU Foundation website.
