PULLMAN, Wash. – Arliegh Cayanan, a fourth-year College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences student at WSU Health Sciences Spokane, will serve as the next student regent on the WSU Board of Regents.
“Arliegh continues a long line of distinguished student regents to serve on the board,” Board Chair Brett Blankenship said. “I look forward to serving with regent Cayanan, hearing his perspectives and working with him and the rest of the board on the issues affecting all members of the WSU community.”
Cayanan enrolled in the college’s Doctor of Pharmacy program after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. During his second year in the program, Cayanan was elected vice president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Health Sciences alongside Johanna Pantig, who served as president.
“I’m a very social person,” Cayanan said. “I like interacting with people and I felt that student government was a good way to get involved.”
It was Pantig, Cayanan’s former ASWSU Health Sciences colleague and student regent predecessor, who encouraged him to apply for the position on the WSU Board of Regents.
“Initially when Johanna asked me if I thought about being student regent, I told her I was concerned about my schedule, being a fourth-year pharmacy student preparing for my career ahead of me,” Cayanan said. “Later on after she told me more about what was involved, I felt like it was manageable and that it would be a great opportunity to further my student advocacy.”
Cayanan has felt the power of Cougar Pride since arriving at WSU. When his condominium burned down during his second year in pharmacy school, Cayanan was overwhelmed by the number of people who reached out to offer their support and assistance.
“I’ve seen Cougs helping Cougs directly and observed how helpful people are with finding places for their fellow student to live during rotations,” he said.
That sense of comradery is in keeping with the aloha spirit, something he was raised with growing up in Hawaii. It’s a commitment to one’s community and a dedication to helping others.
“My goal is to help make the student experience better,” Cayanan said. “With the hope that their enthusiasm will give the faculty a better environment and that they’ll pass along that energy to the staff and administration, ending up benefiting all members of the WSU community.”
Media contact
- Desiree Jacobsen, Office of the President, 509-335-6662, desiree@wsu.edu
