100-Day Plan

In her first 100 days (April 1 – July 9), President Elizabeth Cantwell seeks to listen, learn, and build a strong foundation for WSU’s future, together.

Charting a Course: President Cantwell’s First 100 Days

Between April 1 and July 9, President Cantwell’s focus will be on engaging all facets of the university, building strong relationships, and gaining a comprehensive understanding of institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

Priorities

  • Academic Enterprise: Partnering directly with the Provost, the president will build trust with faculty, foster academic collaboration, champion teaching excellence, and connect with students to actively support their success and academic journeys at WSU.
  • Business Leadership: The president will undertake a comprehensive financial review to pinpoint strengths, confront funding challenges, analyze campus budgets, and develop equitable resource allocation models.
  • Cougar Athletics: Dr. Cantwell will establish strong relationships with WSU Athletics leadership, analyze its financial operations, and actively engage with the Pac-12 to ensure a competitive edge.
  • Government Affairs: Dr. Cantwell will dedicate time to building meaningful connections with Washington state legislators, especially those representing WSU campus locations, to foster open communication and advocate for WSU’s vital contributions to the state. 
  • Leadership Engagement: The president will actively build strong internal and external relationships by meeting with key university stakeholders and establishing optimized communication channels.
  • Philanthropy: Dr. Cantwell will prioritize understanding WSU’s donor landscape through direct engagement with key contributors and briefings on philanthropic strategies.
  • Presidential Priorities & Strategic Initiatives: The president will actively engage in preliminary strategic planning, establish a visible presence across WSU campuses, and launch “Cougar Compass” – a system-wide listening tour for Fall 2025. All members of the community will be invited to participate and identify key opportunities and challenges for the university’s future – which will inform strategic planning moving forward.
  • Research Enterprise: Despite challenging federal executive orders affecting the university’s R1 research portfolio, Dr. Cantwell plans to elevate and advance WSU’s research enterprise by actively engaging with the Office of Research, understanding funding challenges, celebrating achievements, and fostering research collaboration throughout the WSU system.
  • Systemwide Operations: Finally, the president will actively support Chancellors’ operational roles while ensuring the academic integrity, mission, and financial sustainability of all WSU institutions.

This period of listening and learning is just the beginning of Washington State University’s journey to an even stronger future for the institution and the entire state of Washington.

I am energized by what I’ve heard and seen across the WSU system and am eager to connect with each of you. Together, let’s build an even stronger future for our institution and the entire state of Washington.

Elizabeth Cantwell, President, Washington State University