Two accomplished leaders with experience serving in interim Washington State University roles will be stepping into those positions permanently.
Effective Sept. 1, Courtney Meehan will become dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Trevor Bond will become dean of WSU Libraries. The appointments, announced by WSU’s Office of the Provost, follow comprehensive evaluations and strong endorsements from university leadership, faculty, academic partners, and external stakeholders across the system.
In recent college-wide surveys, 80% of respondents shared positive feedback regarding the leadership and direction of both units during their respective interim periods, underscoring widespread confidence in the vision and initiatives spearheaded by Meehan and Bond. Provost Chris Riley-Tillman and President Elizabeth Cantwell reaffirmed their commitment to recognizing and developing internal talent, citing both leaders’ forward-looking, collaborative leadership as instrumental in advancing WSU’s research and academic mission.
“Drs. Meehan and Bond have interviewed every day for the last year and have earned the confidence and full support of both President Cantwell and me,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Chris Riley-Tillman.
Meehan is a trusted leader in research and teaching
Since taking on the interim dean role, Meehan has demonstrated steady and strategic leadership for the College of Arts and Sciences, guiding its academic, research, and outreach missions across the system.
“Over the past year, Dr. Meehan has exemplified steadfast leadership and strong advocacy for the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Riley-Tillman. “She has consistently fostered collaboration, championed faculty and student success, and initiated key changes to position the college for its next chapter. We are confident in Dr. Meehan’s ability to build on these early successes and further advance the college’s interdisciplinary research and academic enterprises.”
As interim dean, Meehan led the development of a $25 million proposal for a new Integrated Sciences Building, grew the college-wide mental health program, and implemented strategic budget planning that reduced the college’s structural deficit by over $2 million. She also expanded experiential learning opportunities, including the Seattle Experience for undergraduates, and strengthened faculty development through peer mentoring and pedagogical innovation.
“I am honored to serve as the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Meehan. “This college serves almost every single student at WSU, and I am deeply committed to advancing our mission of integrative education, impactful research, and public service.”
Meehan earned her PhD in Anthropology from Washington State University and joined the faculty in 2007. Her research focuses on maternal-child health, human milk composition, and the evolution of human childhood. She is internationally recognized for her transdisciplinary work, which reaches local, national, and global contexts.
Bond brings an innovative and service-minded approach to WSU Libraries
Over the last year, Bond has provided forward-looking leadership for the Libraries, guiding its academic, research, and service missions across WSU’s statewide campuses.
“Dr. Bond has demonstrated modernized vision, exceptional leadership, and commitment to the WSU Libraries,” said Riley-Tillman. “His ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, support faculty and student success, and advance the Libraries’ role in research and public scholarship has been evident throughout his interim term.”
As interim dean, Bond led the development of a new unit-level strategic planning process, helped establish two new endowments, and collaborated with the Office of the Provost to move the university’s academic publisher, WSU Press, into the Libraries. He also created an Open Access project to support scholarly publishing.
Bond’s tenure at WSU spans more than two decades, including roles as associate dean for digital initiatives and special collections, co-director of the Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, and director of the David G. Pollart Center for Arts and Humanities. His leadership has been instrumental in securing more than $4 million in grants and private giving, expanding digitization and digital publishing efforts, and cultivating partnerships with Native American tribes and faculty across disciplines.
“The Libraries are a cornerstone of our academic community, and I am deeply committed to advancing our mission of access, collaborative scholarship, and public engagement,” said Bond. “I look forward to continuing our work together to support the university’s land-grant mission and empower research and learning across the state and beyond by expanding our cultural outreach through the WSU Press and digital collections.”
A WSU alum, Bond earned his PhD in Public and Western History from Washington State University and holds advanced degrees in Information Science and Ancient History from UCLA. He is internationally recognized for his work in digital archives, cultural heritage, and access to special collections.
