Office of the PresidentPresident Schulz’s MessagesGeneralCollaboration and growth: Opportunities drive changes

Collaboration and growth: Opportunities drive changes

Dear WSU Spokane Faculty and Staff,

Health sciences education and research at WSU continues to grow and evolve at an impressive rate. As we progress, we must also adapt our management philosophy and operational practices.

Today we are announcing two changes to the management structure of our health sciences areas. Common to other top academic health centers across the country, this structure will enable more interprofessional education and allow for increased collaboration and coordination.

  • Effective January 1, Gary Pollack, Joyce Griffin‑Sobel, and John Tomkowiak, the deans of the Colleges of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nursing, and Medicine, respectively, will report jointly to WSU Provost and Executive Vice President Dan Bernardo and WSU Spokane Chancellor Daryll DeWald.
  • Effective July 1, Chancellor DeWald will add the title of Vice President of Health Sciences. On this date we will also drop the dual reporting structure for the deans and each will report directly to Chancellor and Vice President DeWald.

In addition, I soon will convene monthly meetings with Provost Bernardo and Chancellor DeWald to discuss opportunities for increased collaboration between the three Spokane‑based colleges, expanding research, fundraising strategies for the health sciences, and the development of new programs.

We also will prioritize discussions focused on the budget models needed to support the health sciences at WSU Spokane going forward. These discussions will be closely coordinated with the work already underway by the University Fiscal Health Advisory Committee. Vice President for Finance and Administration Stacy Pearson will lead the effort to develop these long‑term budget models.

I know that change can be challenging. I also recognize that many academic and administrative details need to be resolved in the coming months. We will appoint a small transition team to assist in this regard and, as always, I welcome input and discussion from the entire WSU community. Please feel free to submit any questions and concerns you might have to me at president@wsu.edu.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Regards,

Kirk Schulz, President
Washington State University