Attention Grabbers

Brett Stav – “Brett, thank you for all of your recent help with sending out our event announcements and reminders. You always make the process easy and seamless. We literally could not do any of this without you!” –Kaye Paranada

Gordon Peterson – “Huge kudos for the way you’ve stepped into the Administrative Manager role in CEE. Your support, organization, and positive attitude are making a real difference for the entire team and college administrative structure.” –Denise Faerber

Jennifer Slee – “Thank you for your leadership and diligence in managing the college budget. Your work and quarterly meetings with the units ensures our academic priorities remain strong and sustainable.” –Denise Faerber

Tammy Kelly – “Tammy is awesome ! always helpful and welcoming ! She is quick at responding and answering questions. Her positive attitude and dedication make her a joy to work with and someone you can always rely on.” –Anonymous

Dana Sprouse – “How do I name all the great things about Dana and all she does for our school… the list is so very long. So to keep it short, THANK YOU for being such a great advocate for our school programs, building great relationships with our donors, and for being an idea fairy when we are planning events. It is a true pleasure to work with you.” –Kate Barnes

Elena Gentry – “Elena, I often forget to publicly thank you for all the little things you do to keep the trains running on the track at the school; it is not overlooked. Many SDC faculty relay how efficient their proposal submissions are handled, group travel is coordinated, and how responsive you are to requests despite your remote presence. Thank you for all you do to support the school!” –Kate Barnes

Nicole Leavitt – “Nicole, I often forget to publicly thank you for all the little things you do to keep the trains running on the track at the school; it is not overlooked. Many SDC faculty relay how efficient their orders are processed, guest visitor details are handled, and how nice it is to meet a friendly face in the office. Thank you for all you do to support the school!” –Kate Barnes

Terry Olson – “Whenever we have an event or awards ceremony, it is great to work with Terry as he comes up with great ideas to produce quality designs out of the Fab Lab. Thank you Terry for all the little things you do, the humor you bring to the team, and for being such a stickler on quality! I appreciate you!” –Kate Barnes

Abi Cochrane – “Abi is sneaky good. Abi has this uncanny ability to quietly swoop in, get work done, and have it wrapped up before I can even circle back. Her recent work—managing files for a tenure case, preparing for annual reviews, supporting events, and handling countless behind the scenes tasks—has been outstanding. Abi, thank you for everything you do to keep EECS running smoothly. Your effort, reliability, and quiet excellence make a world of difference.” –Gwen Miller

Cassie Chatelain – “Huge kudos to Cassie for mastering her new role so quickly and thoroughly. Her initiative, attention to details, and most of all positive attitude have made a real impact!” –Fernanda Amaral

Jason Minor – “If Jason takes on a task, it’s done—done thoroughly, done thoughtfully, and done right. His expertise stretches far beyond his role in EECS, and he gives generously his knowledge and effort. During our recent security incident, while I was out of town, he stepped up without hesitation. Coordinating with police, facilities, and other staff, he handled an incredibly stressful situation with calm leadership. Jason didn’t have to take it on—but he did and I’m proud of the way he handled it.” –Gwen Miller

Joyce Crosthwaite – “Joyce has been a tremendous help over the past few weeks with updating information and making necessary edits to the VCEA Awards page. She is consistently quick to respond to my requests and is always willing to answer any questions I have. Thank you again, Joyce—Your work does not go unnoticed!” –Kaye Paranada

Kate Konen – “I can’t list all the ways Kate’s helped us recently. Even when a task isn’t squarely within her job duties, she willingly steps in to share her knowledge, offer resources, and make our work easier. A small recent example that shows the kind of colleague Kate is: the CSD sent me a list of 100 users identified only by ID numbers for a project I was working on. Before I even had a chance to start sorting through it, Kate had already updated the list with names and email addresses just to make my life easier. It may have taken her only a few minutes, but her initiative and thoughtful effort saved me a lot of time.” –Gwen Miller

Kurt Hutchinson – “Kurt has made a tremendous impact in VCEA for more years than I’ve been here. He is always willing to help with pretty much anything, and he brings a team of capable undergraduates with him to make sure there’s enough man power. I drop in on him unexpectedly for any problem that requires brains or brawn or both. He never acts like he’s annoyed with me, but he probably should be sometimes. Thanks for being so capable and willing, Kurt.” –Dave Field

Narasimha Boddeti – “Narasimha has consistently stepped up to help lead our bi-weekly proposal writing workshops whenever we ask him. His leadership has been instrumental in creating a supportive environment where assistant professors feel comfortable sharing ideas, challenges and drafts. He is consistently engaged, providing constructive feedback that strengthens proposals and builds confidence among participants. The impact of his contributions extends well beyond the meetings, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement within the junior faculty cohort.” –Christy McCloy

Andrew Bailey – “I’m very appreciative of Andrew helping me troubleshoot an issue I was having with my printer recently. He was able to quickly identify and resolve the problem much faster than I expected. Thanks to his help, I was able to get back to work right away and avoid falling behind on my tasks. Thank you, Andrew, for your technological expertise!” –Kaye Paranada

Ashley Vizcaino – “She has played a real outstanding management role in the School of Engineering and Computer Science (ENCS) at WSU Vancouver. As the first doctoral student in the school, I personally witnessed her exceptional dedication and care in strengthening the department’s readiness, advancing it step by step from a basic graduate-level structure to a highly developed and comprehensive academic environment. Working closely with the Director of ENCS, along with dedicated staff members and supportive faculty, she provided strong leadership, advocacy, and sustained support for graduate students within the department.” –Saeed Salimi Amiri

Melissa Luatua – “Melissa has been an absolute trooper managing to deal with numerous complex problems seemingly coming at her all at once out of nowhere. She’s persistently identified and sought solutions for several issues that had gone unaddressed impacting the morale of students and advisors alike.” –Paul Wilmoth

Bridget Pilcher – “I am so appreciative of Bridget’s leadership in fundraising. Bridget is the best senior director of development any dean can have.” –Partha Pande

Mike Herrboldt – “Mike is always on the lookout for how to help around the office, and takes initiative to begin project discussions to improve our labs and classroom spaces. I always appreciate his cheerful demeanor and willingness to lend a hand!” –Jason Minor

Smitha Bose – “I really appreciate how dedicated, thorough, and proficient Smitha is in her efforts to protect EECS with compliancy to the myriad of Graduate School rules and policies. She not only helps faculty with the latest forms, procedures and requirements, but also helps graduate students navigate the Graduate School’s system. Great job, Smitha!” –Cindy Lou Zimmerman

Fernanda Amaral – “I am sincerely grateful to Fernanda for being so generous with her time and expertise in helping onboard me to the team. Thank you as well to everyone who has so warmly welcomed me aboard.” –Cassie Chatelain

Mae Siev – “Mae, as always, has been a great source of support in helping students cope with a very stressful situation (one of our current students was in a very serious car crash right before finals). Mae has provided support to the students, has reached out to the injured student’s family, and has been a liaison between Violand and the Dean of Students’ office. He is truly the heart of our Success Team.” –Lisa Carmack

Malena Knoff Braatne-Millstein – “Malena only works part-time for VSCEB but she has had a big impact for our purchasing and travel processes. Together with Alex Lehman Chong they have worked out a system to track chemical and cylinder inventory saving the department thousands annually in demurrage cost. She is organized and detailed and does a great job keeping things reconciled and up to date. She is great about working with students and faculty on travel best practices and working with central to ensure we are compliant in purchasing and travel. In the past two years I have watched her take ownership of her area and truly excel.” –Lourana Swayne

Raul Pelaez-Garcia – “Mr. Pelaez-Garcia always has a positive attitude. He rarely gets the credit he deserves despite being an incredibly hard and consistent worker. He is the first to volunteer to help with issues when they arise and is selfless with time when it comes to junior students. He serves as a platonic form graduate student, and WSU would be well-off with 100 of him. He serves as a model to young students and his peers alike. Frankly, he does not get 1/4 of the recognition he deserves. Finally, he has several impressive high scores in online Tetris, which I believe deserves applause alone.” –Jim Floyd

Suzanne Hamada – “Suzanne went beyond what is required to ensure timely processing of NSF TTP-P proposal. This involved working additional hours and with the industry partners to help them navigate through the process. They were very appreciative of Suzanne’s patience and helpful nature. She is a valuable member of our research center. Thank you Suzanne!” –Vikram Yadama

Tana Crawford – “Tana has a reputation among all Sports Science Laboratory clients for her great work and attention to detail, but she recently helped navigate a couple of very complicated scenarios and helped get all the SSL staff on the same page. Thanks Tana!” –Nicholas Smith

Mae Siev – “Mae has been a strong support for students this semester, especially the last few weeks. With finals and final projects looming, an automobile accident impacted many students within the Fiz/Club community. Mae has stepped in as a mindfulness-based resource for students on many levels. Without that presence, many students wouldn’t have had a chance to process everything. Thank you, Mae, for showing empathy to those who have desperately needed it!” –Gary Offerdahl

Lourana Swayne – “Lourana has spent an incredible amount of time this fall teaching me the ins and outs of submitting NSF and USDA proposals, and I’m genuinely grateful for her patience and generosity. Her willingness to dive into the details, answer every question, and walk me through each step has made a huge difference.” –Christy McCloy

Alex Cohn – “Alex consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication to student advising across SEAS. Although his advising load is among the highest on the Tri-Cities campus, he approaches every student interaction with patience, clarity, and unwavering support. This year, he also played a pivotal role in our ABET preparation, delivering outstanding work that significantly strengthened our readiness.” –Changki Mo

Ian Leibbrandt – “Ian serves as a cornerstone of MME operations. He consistently supports faculty, staff, and students with professionalism, a positive demeanor, and an unwavering can-do attitude.” –Arezoo Zare

Fernanda Amaral – “Fernanda is the best assistant that any Dean can have. She does everything in a timely manner. Her work ethic is incomparable. I depend on Fernanda to run the Dean’s office.” –Partha Pande

Nicole Leavitt – “It is always busy at the SDC administrative office and quite hectic towards the end of the semester. Nicole finds a way to greet everyone with attention and a smile and to assist with requests – in addition to her regular responsibilities and tasks! – sometimes very last minute. She is the MVP of purchasing, rockstar of travel arrangements, and a super team member!” –Elena Gentry

Noel Schulz – “Dr. Schulz is working hard to bring industry and education partners together to work alongside WSU as we tackle energy challenges across the state and nationally. She is also a wonderful student and faculty mentor. She helps students attain scholarships and attend conferences that truly change their lives and enrich their educational journeys.” –Jillian Cadwell

Leslie Bilik-Thompson – “Over the years Leslie made significant contributions to the School of Engineering and Computer Science in many roles she had, especially most recently as our Graduate Academic Coordinator. She is the main contributor to many of our recent initiatives in expanding our graduate programs, such as the non-thesis options and 4+1 programs. She provides excellent support for all our graduate students who always feel comfortable reaching out to her when they need help. Leslie also helped train new staff members when they were hired, and she made ENCS a welcoming place to work for everyone. As Leslie prepares for the next chapter of her life in Michigan, we would like to send her off with our best wishes and love. Leslie, ENCS will miss you!” –Xinghui Zhao

Jason Peschel, Rich Cherf, Darhl Edwards – “As a new faculty member navigating teaching, research, and a new environment, I have greatly appreciated the support from our SDC colleagues. Rick has consistently met with me each week to answer questions and provide clear teaching guidance. Darhl has offered thorough and practical feedback on guest speakers and shared valuable insights from his teaching experience. Jason has been generous with his time, encouraging when I needed direction in teaching, and supportive of my research efforts. Thank you, Rick, Darhl, and Jason, for your continued support of new faculty.” –Di Liu

Colton Graham – “Colt went above and beyond to help us find a conf room and clipboards for an event, ensuring it went off without a hitch!” –Jason Minor

Alexandria Lehman Chong – “Alex has quickly become an asset to the VSCEB dept. In her short time with us she has helped revamp and improve many of our processes and procedures including safety, cylinder tracking, and service center processes which were all much needed. She doesn’t shy away from challenges and approaches every task with a positive outlook. Faculty, staff and students all seem to enjoy and appreciate working with Alex.” –Lourana Swayne

Melody De Lappe – “Big kudos to Melody for always staying on top of everything and making collaboration such a pleasure! Your reliability and positive attitude make a huge difference every day. I’ll say it again, I wish you worked in Pullman :)” –Fernanda Amaral

Mike Herrboldt – “I broke a cable/connector on an old electron microscope that made it in operable. I complained to Mike about it and he offered to help. He fixed it with some electronics wizardry and the system is running now better than ever. Thanks Mike.” –Dave Field

Tom Jobson, Laurel Aldrich, Jennifer Heim, & Colton Graham – “I want to give a big shout-out to Colt, Laurel, Tom, and Jennifer for all the help and support they’ve given me as I’ve settled into the CEE office. Each of them has been incredibly friendly and welcoming during this transition, and their efforts have made a real difference. They’re more than deserving of Grabbers!” –Gordon Peterson

Denise Faerber – “A big shout-out to Denise for leading the Strategic Planning Task Force for Employee Development, Wellness, and Culture. Your enthusiasm for supporting culture-building events and helping bring our ideas to life has made a huge difference and is bringing people together. Thank you for contributing to the December sack lunch social with prizes, to-go boxes, and some really delicious cookies!” –Gwen Miller

Gwen Miller, Heather Settle, & Jason Minor – “Thank you so much for helping make the EECS Senior Design Poster Session happen! I really appreciate you keeping things running smoothly while I’m away.” –Abi Cochrane

Andrea Butcherite – “Andrea is always willing to answer questions and help me understand processes related to graduate students. She is a great asset to MME and VCEA.” –Christy McCloy

Colton Graham and Jennifer Heim – “The space I was going to move my desk to was a MESS with supply accumulations as well as data files. I was dreading cleaning and organizing it before starting the move process. I came to work after a long weekend and was happily surprised to see that Colt and Jen had taken care of it for me. My new workspace was sparkling clean. It had to have taken them hours. Many thanks to my kind and thoughtful coworkers!” –Laurel Aldrich

Fernanda Amaral – “I am grateful for all of Fernanda’s support and encouragement this semester! With her guidance, I’ve been able to continue to learn and grow within my role. Her ability to face challenges and come up with creative solutions while always remaining steadfast is equally as inspiring. Thank you, Fernanda!” –Kaye Paranada

Akira Park – “Akira is one of our grad student workers, and has really gone above and beyond in her role. She is doing such a great job with the Wellness Center and has even jumped in and joined our Palouse Teacher PD Committee. She is always willing to help and has such a positive attitude. I really appreciate her!” –Brittanie Halvorson

Kaye Paranada – “Kaye has been doing an outstanding job supporting numerous Development tasks and requests over the past several months. She consistently approaches each task with a positive attitude. At a time when we’ve been short-staffed, Kaye’s willingness to step in and provide support has been invaluable. Thank you, Kaye, we appreciate you!” –Sue Elder

Jess Cross – “Great team members like Jess make coming to work and going on vacation easy. There is always an up beat culture in the SDC advising area with her around. She is there to take care of our students making them feel taken care of and cared for always. I appreciate working with her.” –Treva Beebe

Jenn Slee – “Jenn put a lot of effort into an easy-to-use quarterly run-rate reporting template for admin managers, as well as implementing a new way to track commitments between VCEA finance and dept admin managers. Thank you Jenn for working with us on this and teaching me new things about pivot tables! I appreciate our recent collaborations :)” –Gwen Miller

Brittanie Halvorsen – “I have to be reminded frequently that Brittanie is new to our team. She has fit in so well it feels like she has been with the SDC forever. I appreciate her will do attitude at getting things done. She is always there with a smile for students and coworkers. She makes coming to work (or missing work) enjoyable!” –Treva Beebe

Jennifer Slee – “Thank you, Jenn, for being the most supportive supervisor at WSU. I’ve learned so much from you already, and I truly look forward to continuing to grow and develop professionally under your guidance. Thank you for enduring the endless questions, and Teams messages :)” –Tammy Kelly

Maynard Siev – “I want to thank May for always being willing to help me out when he can, and for keeping the FIZ organized and running smoothly. We all benefit from the access to the FIZ and it’s assets.” –Mike Herrboldt

Ben Weller – “All our EECS staff rock, so it’s difficult to recognize just one of them. However, Ben probably doesn’t get the credit he’s due because he’s on the quiet side! Ben is awesome at what he does. He never lets anything slip through the cracks, and he’s patient, steady, and unflappable. He responds to email right away, and he always knows what to do. I’m so grateful to have him as a colleague.” –Shira Broschat

Tammy Kelly – “Tammy consistently goes above and beyond to assist with Workday processes. Most recently, she took the initiative to create 17 Expense Reports in Workday for students who attended the Boeing Mentorship Program Kickoff event. Her exceptional work ethic and willingness to help others are truly commendable and deserve recognition.” –Sandi Brabb

Jeannine Burke – “Jeannine is a wonderful colleague whose professionalism and attention to detail consistently elevate our work. Her commitment to excellence benefits the entire team, and her willingness to support others is truly inspiring. Her efforts not only drive results but also set a high standard of integrity and dedication that motivates those around her. It is a privilege to work alongside you, Jeannine. Thank you!” –Smitha Bose

Kris Kynes – “Whenever I bring a problem to Kris, she doesn’t just offer ideas—she dives right in and helps make them happen, even if the task at hand is nowhere in her job description. Anyone notice the blue ASCE sign in Sloan 1st floor no longer dangling? I mentioned the broken sign to Kris and next thing I know, she’s on board and engineering a solution. A lot of Kris’s work is behind the scenes, but trust me, if Kris weren’t quietly fixing the wheels, this train would be off the tracks in no time.” –Gwen Miller

Gary Offerdahl – “Thank you Gary for being a friendly and welcoming resource! Thank you for the work you did during the ABET visit, and all the other events you work on for our students—including the Halloween ice cream table! Fun fact: Gary came up with the name “attention grabbers” for this project, which is totally genius.” –Gwen Miller

Kate Barnes – “Kate’s support and encouragement give me confidence to grow professionally. She is often the source of positivity in the office that is infectious to the whole team.” –Elena Gentry

Gwen Miller – “Gotta give Gwen a shout out of thanks! Even though I volunteered to write the Smartsheet Reconciliation policy, I was dreading it. I just used AI to get a starting point… and it is pretty awesome. Now all that is left is to put the final edits together. Glad she nudged/prodded me to try this tool! :)” –Kate Barnes

Jun Meng – “Jun teaches with enthusiasm, humor and kindness. He is a favorite among CEE students for his teaching style and how carefully he listens to student concerns. He encourages student engagement with fun rewards such as a costume contest on Halloween. The staff that were able to attend the costume contest enjoyed it as much as the students. We are very lucky to have him as part of our CEE team.” –Laurel Aldrich

Natasha Brock – “Natasha has been incredibly supportive since my first day as new faculty. She consistently checks in to see what I need, goes above and beyond to make sure every request is handled promptly, and always follows up to ensure everything is taken care of. Her kindness and initiative make me feel truly welcome and included in the VCEA community. Thank you Natasha.” –Asma Jodeiri Akbarfam

Lisa Hill – “Lisa is doing a fantastic job with training our future peer coordinators who will be leading ENGR101. She is leading training around classroom management, developing a lesson plan, communication skills, etc. Thank you Lisa!!” –Shelley Pressley

Melissa Luatua – “Big shoutout to Melissa in Bremerton! With limited WSU staff supporting EECS and MME students there, Melissa juggles a lot—from advising and event planning to handling all kinds of behind-the-scenes admin tasks. She consistently goes above and beyond to make sure students feel connected, supported, and set up for success. We appreciate you!” –Ian Leibbrandt & Gwen Miller

Esther Dodson – “She worked with her team to prepare EECS and VCEA for ABET, and is always willing to help with questions and needs of the staff here in EECS, including answering questions and assisting faculty with printing issues.” –Jason Minor

Gwen Miller – “Gwen is always helping her office staff to better themselves. She provides learning opportunities and encourages growth on a daily basis. She is fair and understanding to all and makes an effort to connect with each of us. She makes me feel seen and valued as she does everyone here. She’s an awesome supervisor!” –Kris Kynes

John Kirkland –“Helped set up VCEA for ABET including setting up EECS printers in the visitor’s rooms, and has guided us through the process of what to procure for 136, as well as setting up the room for Cybersecurity students.” –Jason Minor

Sue Elder – “Sue has been great at helping me navigate all of the club donation questions and the proper processes for all of their different fundraising events. Thank you Sue for helping the clubs be so successful.” –Tammy Kelly

Kellie Murphy – “Kellie is a remarkable individual whose dedication, compassion, and professionalism set her apart as both a colleague and an advisor. Kellie is always ready to assist others, offering her time and support generously to anyone in need. She demonstrates an unwavering commitment to her students, guiding them with patience, empathy, and genuine care. As an advisor, she goes beyond routine responsibilities, she actively encourages her students to strive for excellence, helping them recognize their potential and motivating them to achieve their goals.” –Smitha Bose

Lisa Hill – “Lisa H is the heart of our Student Success team. She is the one who is organized, always willing to jump in and help, and a model of professionalism. I just love working with her!” –Lisa Carmack

Minyoung Cerruti – “Minyoung is a strongest individual, a highly organized leader, and a methodic scholar whose knowledge of research methods and strategies is truly remarkable. Her systemic and analytic way of thinking allows her to approach complex problems with clarity and precision, and she always guides her work with a strong sense of mission and dedication. Her determination and commitment to excellence inspire those around her, and her leadership sets a high standard for our community. Minyoung’s ability to balance rigor, organization, and vision makes her an invaluable colleague whose impact is deeply felt.” –Anonymous

Gary Offerdahl – “Gary is instrumental to the success of our clubs and a valued member of our Student Success team. He supports our students and always makes time to listen to their concerns or ideas. Whenever we have an event, he is always willing to pitch in to make everything run smoothly.” –Lisa Carmack

Marti Cowan – “Marti Cowan consistently demonstrates creativity and openness to new ideas in ways that enrich both her colleagues and her students. She is exceptionally well-read and informed about the design world, and she brings that depth of knowledge into her teaching and conversations. Her eagerness to continue learning and to refine her teaching practices serves as a model for others and fosters a culture of growth and curiosity within the college. Marti approaches her work with tireless dedication and positivity. She brings a remarkable amount of energy into every setting, inspiring those around her to strive for excellence.” –Vahid Vahdat

Matt Melcher – “As a leader, Matt works hard to cultivate a positive and supportive environment for the architecture program and the school as a whole. He is a caring and wise individual who consistently goes out of his way to help resolve the challenges of others, ensuring that faculty and staff feel supported in their work. His thoughtful approach to leadership makes a noticeable difference in the day-to-day culture of the school. Matt values open communication and actively seeks and appreciates feedback, which strengthens trust and collaboration within the community. He communicates with professionalism and respect, and faculty genuinely feel that he cares about what they do and the value they bring to the school.” –Anonymous

Lisa Carmack– “Not once, but twice now, Lisa has jumped in with both feet to help me showcase VCEA to a potential student. One was on the fence about WSU and engineering, and after her experience with Lisa and our ambassador students, she’s now fully committed. She came in nervous and skeptical, and left knowing WSU can be a true home for her, and for anyone who wants it to be. Thank you, Lisa, for helping us turn a couple of potential Cougs into die-hard Cougs!” –Dana Sprouse

EECS Admin Office – “Thank you all for taking on additional work while I was on vacation. I appreciate your efforts to allow me time away without worrying about tasks stacking up.” –Gwen Miller

Kate Barnes – “Kate brings an incredibly positive spirit to the school. But more importantly, the initiatives she has started have elevated the role of the administrative team into an integral part of problem solving within the college. She has helped institutionalize processes that meaningfully support faculty and staff, ensuring that systems are not only efficient but also genuinely useful for those who rely on them. Her problem-solving mindset and determination to address challenges directly make her an invaluable resource to the community. Kate’s warmth and friendliness make her approachable and supportive, while her capacity to create change ensures that her efforts have lasting impact. She is a valuable member of the school community whose presence fosters a stronger, more collaborative environment, and her work demonstrates how one individual’s vision and persistence can transform the culture of an institution.” -Anonymous

Fernanda Amaral – “Fernanda has thoroughly and patiently helped us through our tenure and promotion cases this year. We really appreciate her support in this as it has been a larger-than-average case number for EECS.” –Gwen Miller

Becky Huffman – “Becky goes out of her way to ensure that students feel comfortable coming to her with problems that she can help with. She is a steadying voice in a crazy environment sometimes.” –Dave Field

Lisa Carmack – “Lisa Carmack is a joy to work with! She is dedicated to making sure prospective students learn everything they need to know to be successful at WSU, while also managing student staff to cover events and tours six days a week. Through it all, she consistently brings motivating energy to our team.” -Lisa Hill

Alex Lehman Chong – “Alex is always positive and ready to help faculty and students be safe and successful in their research projects. Since starting she has taken on many new challenges, revamping our safety processes and getting the department facilities and equipment organized.”  -Lourana Swayne

Kris Kynes – “While I was out of the office, Kris managed purchasing and travel for the week so that I would not be overwhelmed when I returned and that research could continue smoothly.” -Jason Minor

Sam Bailey – “Sam is an essential part of our team. Students and faculty rely on her for guidance and support on a daily basis. She steps up and helps in other departmental areas where it’s needed and is greatly appreciated for all her efforts.”  -Lourana Swayne

Colt Graham – “Colt is so helpful to students and visitors.  Instead of telling people where the EECS front office is, he walks the person down personally to make sure they are taken care of.  This is a level of customer service I thought had died.  He’s always cheerful and willing to help.  Thanks, Colt!!!” -Kris Kynes

Cindy Lou Zimmerman – “Cindy is an exceptionally hardworking and dedicated professional who consistently ensures that students remain on track to complete their programs on time. She goes above and beyond to provide guidance and support, demonstrating genuine care for student success. In addition, Cindy is always willing to lend a helping hand to her colleagues, fostering a collaborative and positive work environment.   Her commitment, reliability, and team-oriented attitude make her an invaluable member of our department.” -Smitha Bose

Kellie Murphy – “For doing a great job getting right back to work after a long and well deserved vacation. We missed having you in the office and we’re so glad that you’re back!” –Jarek Shernit

VCEA IT – “VCEA IT were so helpful during some technical difficulties with a guest speaker on 10/8 – thank you so much!” –Taylor Kensel

Smitha Bose – “Smitha is a Rock Star! She is reliable, communicates effectively, a team player, shows accountability for her work and ours, and remains flexible and adaptable to team and students’ needs. With a recent snafu with the Bursar’s Office, Smitha handled the situation with grace and professionalism and, together, we got several student accounts straightened out. She is also very responsive to academic questions when direction is needed. We so appreciate you, Smitha! Thank you for ALL you do!!” –Darlene Miller

Mike Herrboldt – “Mike came in early on those warm summer mornings to open exterior doors to cool off EME Ground floor. Your extra efforts in keeping everything running smoothy never goes unnoticed. His efforts in going the extra mile are immensely appreciated. Mike, you’re the best!!” –Darlene Miller

Rebecca Huffman – “Rebecca makes the logistics for conference travel, everything from payment for travel, registration and reimbursement, a walk in the park. As I prepared for an upcoming technical meeting, interacting with ‘Becky’ reminded me of how lucky we are to have her around in our college (specifically IMR). She truly is an attention grabber!” –Josiah Lere-Adams

Jennifer Heim – “Jen comes to work every day with a good attitude, bringing cheer to those around her. She is diligent with her work duties, taking care of the purchasing process for CEE with careful attention to the needs of each constituent.” –Laurel Aldrich

Elena Gentry – “Thank you, Elena, for your exceptional grant proposal support. It truly exceeded expectations.” –Minyoung Cerruti

Krishnamoorthy Sivakumar – “Siva has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure that the ship is staying on course, but more importantly he ensures that the finer details and “minor” activities that occur within the college get the attention they deserve. His commitment to the College and our individual program is sincerely appreciated.” –Paul Wilmoth

John Schneider – “John has been doing a phenomenal job herding all the EECS cats through the ABET process over the last year (really decades to be honest). He is a wealth of knowledge that we are truly fortunate to have. Hopefully one of these days he’ll have a chance to actually get some sleep and not be sending emails at 3am reminding us to get our tables turned in.” –Paul Wilmoth

Jana Doppa – “Thank you, Jana, for all the support you provide to graduate students and the GSC—we truly appreciate you!” –Smitha Bose

Laurel Aldrich – “I had to bring my kids to a meeting in Sloan. When I arrived, Laurel Aldrich had gathered multiple art supplies, a giant poster for them to draw on, toys, beaded necklaces and some treats to keep them entertained. Worked like a charm! Laurel leads the way in CEE, recognizing and supporting us with all the many hats we wear. Laurel, thank you for always going above and beyond. Shoutout to Karl Olsen too, for connecting with Laurel to make this happen. You both lifted a weight from my shoulders that day, yet again.” –Sasha McLarty

Jillian Cadwell – “Jillian joined Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF) as an Assistant Director in February and has hit the ground running on our student engagement activities. This semester she is mentoring eight UG students as Energy Ambassadors and facilitates field trips for extended learning. She also has identified industry mentors who meet with the students weekly on their technical topic. ” –Noel Schulz

Sandi Brabb – “Sandi’s devotion to fostering relationships with our hundreds of industry partners and strengthening ties with their campus representatives is a HUGE boost to the quality of our program. Her tireless work in this area benefits hundreds of students a year who are involved with the career fairs, networking events, mentoring, and internship process. She is a very important part of our success as a college and a great colleague.” –Lisa Carmack

Maynard Siev – “Mae is a wonderful colleague whose positivity and welcoming personality makes a huge difference for our students. He is a safe space for many of our students and creates a culture of inclusion by making everyone feel they can use the FIZ and learn new skills. I love working on the team with him!” –Lisa Carmack

Ben Weller – “Ben is knowledgeable and easy to work with. He handles faculty grant proposals quickly and accurately, and he’s always willing to help others in the office—including taking time to train me and others. Ben keeps things running smoothly around here, we really depend on him!” –Gwen Miller

Kris Kynes – “A beautiful person in and out. Stayed by my side and made me realize that I was capable of more than I believed. The way she stood by my side is incredible and that lesson has stayed with me, and I carry it forward every day. Thank you, Kris! ” –Smitha Bose

Alena Hume – “Alena has done a great job getting the VCEA Wellness Center set up and helping to coordinate our High School outreach programs.” –Kasey Schertenleib

Mike Herrboldt – “Thank you Mike for cooling our office when the chilled water was off!! And thanks for working on the cybersecurity space, it’s looking great!” –Gwen Miller

Kris Kynes – “Kris writes the friendliest emails for otherwise administratively dry tasks, and I always appreciate her jovial yet professional tone. She’s consistently so pleasant to work with! ” –Jordan Jobe

Colton Graham – “Colton is always ready to help anyone who enters the CEE office. He will escort lost students to their classrooms, help them find a stapler, or borrow a calculator. He also helps all faculty and staff with requests and always does it with a smile and friendly attitude. Colton is a huge asset to Sloan 101!” –Jennifer Heim

Taylor Kensel – “In just four short months on the Development team, Taylor has gone above and beyond to make an immediate impact. She isn’t afraid to dive into challenges head-on, consistently showing initiative and drive while learning the ins and outs of our college’s goals and priorities. What sets Taylor apart is her openness—she welcomes feedback, actively seeks ways to grow, and brings fresh ideas and positive energy to every project. Her eagerness to connect, contribute, and support the team has already made her an invaluable member of VCEA Development. We are thrilled to have Taylor with us and know she will continue to thrive as a trusted partner and asset to our college!” –Dana Sprouse

Tammy Kelly – “Tammy has the patience of a saint helping the rest of us submit spend authorizations, expense reports, etc… She always has a great attitude and is willing to walk you through the process (for the bazillionth time) with a smile on her face. She makes our lives better in Voiland just by doing her job so well.” –Lisa Carmack

Kasey Schertenleib – “Kasey always has time for my crazy questions and is an amazing resource for everyone on the Student Success team — probably since he has done all of our jobs at one point! He is often a calming force in stressful moments. We all respect him deeply.” –Lisa Carmack

Alena Hume – “Alena comes up with the most amazing ideas to celebrate and support our students in VCEA! Starting the Wellness Center is a huge step that we know will help so many of our students. Alena is a ball of energy and a very important part of our team. She keeps things fun while looking at difficult tasks as challenges she is determined to overcome. She has a heart for our students and does everything in her power to make them feel welcome and valued in Voiland.” –Lisa Carmack

Claire Potter – “Claire is always so on top of things and anticipating what we can do to help students. She’s also so involved with different committees that she is a go-to person for information and advice!” –Keri Deford

Mary Beth Bulger – “Mary Beth is so organized! It is always nice having her involved in an event or project because she makes sure each piece is assigned and ready to go. We appreciate all her work!” –Keri Deford

John Kirkland – “A sincere thanks to John Kirland for his outstanding work in revamping our conferencing system in PACCAR. His dedication to finding the most cost-effective solution—without compromising quality—has made a significant impact on our conferencing experience. John’s commitment to exceptional customer service and his rapid response to every challenge ensured a smooth transition and seamless setup for both conference rooms. His proactive approach and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed, and we’re grateful for the system he’s delivered to our students, faculty and staff.” –Suzanne Hamada

Darlene Miller – “Darlene always has a positive attitude towards her work. Even if she’s doing something labor intensive, there’s always a bright side and a giggle to accompany it. I love the way she words Grant expense transfer reasons. They’re so thorough and interesting to read. She makes cost share bearable!” –Kris Kynes

Jason Minor – “He always handles our requests nice and smooth. He is very responsible.” –Hesam Abbasi

Shelby Ruiz – “Shelby has stepped up this semester to teach multiple classes in SDC due to a few extenuating circumstances in the department. She’s showing a lot of determination, dedication and strength and the folks in CMEC are proud of her!” –Sarah Dossey

Sarah Dossey – “We are grateful for the dedication and commitment that Sarah Dossey brings to CMEC every day. She works tirelessly to support our faculty and staff, while always keeping students at the heart of her efforts. Sarah is quick to volunteer whenever help is needed, stepping in with a positive attitude and a willingness to go above and beyond. She is also leading important work to streamline our processes, helping CMEC do more with less and ensuring our center operates as efficiently as possible. Her leadership, advocacy, and teamwork make a real difference to our community, and we are fortunate to have her on our team.” –Suzanne Hamada

Tom Jobson – “Tom has taken on the giant task of moving CEE into the PACCAR building and he is doing it in a very conscientious and intentional manner. I appreciate that he is gathering information from everyone involved and is keeping multiple views in mind as he makes changes.” -Sarah Dossey

Suzanne Hamada – “Suzanne consistently demonstrates “Coug Spirit”. She’s strong, courageous and kind all at the same time — not afraid of asking questions, but also considering multiple perspectives so that faculty and students know they have options and a way forward. She’s able to make tough decisions while also advocating for new mindsets.” -Sarah Dossey

Treva Bebe – “Has answers to my all questions most times. If not, she knows whom to reach out to get my questions resolved.” -Apoorva Rane