Having served as chancellor of the WSU Vancouver campus for the past 13 years, Mel Netzhammer announced Wednesday his plan step down as chancellor next summer.
Netzhammer will support the transition of the next campus chancellor before retiring in 2026.
“Serving as chancellor has been the most fulfilling position in my career, and I am so proud of all that we have accomplished together,” Netzhammer wrote in a letter to the Vancouver campus community Wednesday. “After 13 years, celebrating the opening of the Life Sciences Building, achieving the largest fundraising year in our history, addressing enrollment challenges, and seeing campus life rebound after the pandemic — not to mention witnessing another Titan VanCoug bloom — it feels like the right time to welcome new leadership.”
This afternoon, WSU President Kirk Schulz announced in a message Thursday the establishment of a search committee to recruit WSU Vancouver’s next chancellor. Its members include community representatives as well as university administrators, faculty, staff, and a student representative.
The university is being aided in its search by the executive search firm of Isaacson, Miller. Listening sessions to solicit feedback on the search process are being planned for the coming weeks.
Schulz expressed his appreciation for Netzhammer and his efforts building up the Vancouver campus during his tenure as chancellor.
“For the last 13 years, WSU Vancouver and the WSU system have greatly benefited from Chancellor Netzhammer’s expertise, professionalism, and advocacy,” Schulz wrote. “As only the second chancellor in the campus’s 35-year history, he has cultivated strong relationships within the university and with our external partners. These efforts have led to significant milestones, including developing the comprehensive 2021–2026 strategic plan, expanding program offerings, and cultivating substantial donor support for the new Life Sciences Building. He will continue to be a dedicated advocate for our community throughout the remainder of the academic year.”
WSU Vancouver Chancellor Search Committee:
- Lindsay Fisher (co-chair), community member
- Karin Edwards, community member
- Miriam Halliday, community member
- Mike Worthy, community member
- Karissa Lowe, community member
- Paul Pitre, chancellor of the WSU Everett campus
- Jenny Chambers-Taube, vice chancellor for finance and operations
- Domanic Vanthom, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment
- Narek Daniyelyan, assistant vice chancellor for strategic partnerships
- Xinghui Zhao, director, School of Engineering and Computer Science
- Jenni Sandstrom, academic director and Tod and Maxine McClaskey Foundation Endowed Chair in Hospitality Business Management
- Jacob Winstead, president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver
- Cynthia Cooper (co-chair), associate professor of molecular genetics
- Johanna Phelps, associate professor with the Department of Arts and Sciences
- L. Rocio Sotomayor, professor with the Department of Arts and Sciences
- Jessica Masterson, assistant professor with the College of Education
- Marcelo Diversi, professor of human development
- Melissa Bassett, director of development with Development and Alumni Relations
- Rosalind Hatch-Pirkl, administrative specialist with the College of Nursing
- Marie Boisvert, WSU Vancouver campus registrar
