WSU president to receive CASE Leadership Award

Floyd-E 2009 80PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University’s president has won a regional leadership prize for “outstanding efforts to promote the understanding and support of education.”

Elson S. Floyd will receive the 2015 Leadership Award from District VIII of the international Council for the Advancement and Support of Education at the district conference Feb. 4-6 in Seattle.

Hard work, responsiveness, leadership

The impact of Floyd’s leadership is reflected in measurable successes realized during his tenure at WSU: Enrollment has grown by 20 percent. Research expenditures have increased nearly 40 percent. Six new research facilities have been built, and WSU has assumed leadership of a growing higher education consortium in Everett, Wash.

“Dr. Floyd’s accomplishments exemplify standards by which we compare our work and educate and inspire ourselves to greater success,” said Chris Horbachewski, chair of the CASE VIII Board of Directors.

“President Floyd has challenged us all to align WSU more strategically and responsively to the changing needs of the state’s citizens, industries and communities because, in his words, ‘that is what a land-grant university must do,’” said Dan Bernardo, WSU provost and executive vice president. “His decisive leadership positions WSU to support the citizens and communities it serves.”

Increased giving, diversity

Annual private support for WSU has more than doubled during the $1 billion Campaign for Washington State University: Because the World Needs Big Ideas.

“Throughout The Campaign for WSU, President Floyd’s direct involvement and leadership have nurtured several of the largest private commitments in WSU’s history,” said John Gardner, vice president for development and CEO of the WSU Foundation. “He has the unique ability to put big ideas within reach, and he is the inspirational driver for many of the most transformational commitments during the campaign.”

Floyd is the first African-American president of WSU.

“Dr. Floyd has been vocal about the need to foster an inclusive campus environment for university students, faculty and staff,” said CASE District VIII Opportunity and Inclusion Chair Roxanne Christian.

“It is difficult to describe how one person can fundamentally influence an entire university the way Elson Floyd has at WSU,” said Gil Picciotto, associate vice president of development and director of leadership gifts at the WSU Foundation. “His vision is matched only by his tireless work ethic and his sincere belief in the potential that WSU has to improve lives, communities and economies locally, nationally and beyond through its teaching, research and outreach mission.”

Find more about the award at http://www.case8.org/awards/leadership_award.html. Learn more about CASE at http://www.case.org/About_CASE.html. Learn more about CASE District VIII at http://www.case8.org/about_district_viii.html.

 

 

Contact:
Trevor J. Durham, WSU Foundation, 509-335-2093, tdurham@wsu.edu