Office of the PresidentPresident Cantwell’s MessagesLetter to WSU CommunityWeekly UpdatePresidential Update: Latest Changes — Week of January 12, 2026

Presidential Update: Latest Changes — Week of January 12, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

As we move through the first week of the semester, I want to share several updates that reflect Washington State University’s continued commitment to service, accountability, and engagement.

These updates highlight some of the ways we are advancing our mission with measurable impact across Washington and the WSU community.

  • Economic Impact Report
    WSU released its Economic Impact Report that details the university’s contribution to the Washington economy. The university generated nearly $4 billion in economic impact in 2024, returning nearly $12 to the state for every dollar of public funding, with athletics generating about $89 million of economic impact annually. I encourage you to look at this data to understand how it reflects the fiscal impact of WSU to Washington, and how WSU is advancing research and transforming lives in our communities throughout the state.
  • Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)
    This week, it was also announced that I’ve appointed Molly Schotzko as WSU’s Faculty Athletics Representative starting Jan. 1. This is an important role that connects our academic mission with the success and well-being of student-athletes. As a current professor in Murrow and former student-athlete at WSU, Molly brings the experience and insight needed to support student-athletes in the classroom and beyond.
  • MLK Week at WSU
    Next week, WSU will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a week of events centered on honoring Dr. King’s legacy of service, justice, and community. I also welcome our community to attend the MLK Keynote Celebration on Jan. 22, featuring nationally recognized scholar Dr. Paula Groves Price from North Carolina A&T State University and the presentation of the MLK Distinguished Service Award. These events offer an important opportunity for reflection and to revisit our commitment to the values Dr. King championed for education.
  • Board of Regents
    The WSU Board of Regents is meeting in Spokane Jan. 22–23. The meeting will provide an opportunity to review key university priorities in 2026, updates on ongoing initiatives, and continue the Board’s oversight of WSU’s mission and long-term direction. To view the livestream or recording, visit the WSU YouTube channel.
  • WSU Global Summit: Converge and Catalyze
    Registration is now open for the WSU Global Summit: Converge and Catalyze, happening March 12–13. This hybrid event will bring the WSU community together to explore how technology and AI can be leveraged to strengthen our impact as a land-grant institution. Through interactive discussions, we will explore how innovation, data, and technology will shape WSU’s future. I encourage faculty, staff, and students from all campuses to participate. More details are available on the WSU Global Summit website.

By staying true to our land-grant mission of service, learning, and research, we will continue to strengthen WSU’s impact across Washington.

This commitment allows us to support students’ educational journeys, build more resilient communities, and spark innovations that benefit people across our state and around the world.

Sincerely,

BETSY CANTWELL
President, Washington State University