Campus – Eastern Magazine

Out-of-Sight Infrastructure

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:42:19 +0000

Key component upgrades bring reliability, sustainability and safety improvements to Eastern’s Rozell Physical Plant.

Weaving his way through a warren of ductwork, piping and electrical conduits, past boilers and chillers, condensers and blowers, Matt Deppa, chief engineer at 51��’s physical plant operation, pauses in front of a 10-inch programmable logic control display. After a quick look, he turns toward a visitor. “Here’s the thing,” Deppa says, his voice rising to be heard above the rumble and whirr of machinery, “a lot of people really don’t know what we do in here.”

A cooling tower at 51��’s Rozell Physical Plant Building.

“In here,” is 51��’s Rozell Physical Plant building, an unprepossessing structure perched above the corner of Elm and Washington streets. What they “do” in there is operate and maintain the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that keep Eastern comfortably habitable through every season of the year.

Now, thanks to a combination of a $20 million state budget appropriation and targeted grants, Deppa and the rest of the Rozell crew are two years into a multi-faceted overhaul, one that includes key structural and component changes. The goal? To boost the reliability, sustainability and safety of Eastern’s heating and cooling systems for decades to come.

Upgrades already in place include two new high-efficiency, low-emission boilers that provide safer, more consistent heating with less fuel. There are also five new liquid-cooled “chillers” — massive units that cool water used by campus buildings for air conditioning — along with four new cooling towers that boost the chilling system’s performance. Electrical upgrades include moving high-voltage switches previously located in Eastern’s tunnel loop, to safer, above-ground locations.

For the crew members who operate and maintain this dizzyingly complex array of infrastructure — many of whom, like Deppa, learned the trade while serving on ships with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps — changes in the 1970s-era facility were welcome indeed.

On a recent tour, Steve Schmedding, 51��’s facilities engineer and senior project manager, joined up with Deppa to show off the new additions. Schmedding, a Navy veteran, explained how identifying modernization priorities, then obtaining funding and moving forward, has been a 10-year-long process. “Our plans are in a binder that’s 80-pages thick, at least,” Schmedding says. He estimates that work on the whole of the plan is just over half-way to completion.

For his part, Deppa says showing off the fruits of this planning is something he’s always happy to do. Usually that means tours for students, faculty members and community groups.

“It’s great when people are interested,” Deppa says. “We’re definitely proud of the work we do here.”

Toward a Bright Future

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:38:22 +0000

I’ve said it often over the past two years: The future is bright. Every day, the work happening across our campus inspires me.

Our students are engaged in scientific inquiry, creative expression and scholarly discovery that stretches far beyond the classroom. Learning at Eastern is collaborative and intentional, creating meaningful opportunities that build confidence, spark curiosity and foster a sense of belonging. Applied learning is transforming lives, and the results reaffirm the vital role public higher education plays in shaping strong, resilient communities.

But we also recognize that the pathway to college is not equally accessible for every student in our state. Washington continues to experience some of the lowest college-going rates in the nation — an urgent challenge that demands a holistic approach. Strengthening this pathway means supporting families, engaging students early in their K-12 journey, and smoothing the transition from high school to college. It is essential not only for individual success, but for the long-term health and vitality of our regional economy.

Eastern is committed to doing its part. We are expanding support systems, deepening external partnerships and ensuring every student who dreams of higher education feels welcomed, encouraged and prepared to thrive.

And we are profoundly grateful for our community of supporters who sustain our mission. You show up for our students and continue to believe in the potential of every new Eagle. That enduring commitment is one of our greatest strengths, and it keeps this university moving forward, together.

Shari McMahan, PhD
President, 51��

Stepping Up for Fallen Heroes

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:37:46 +0000

A recent graduate revives 51��’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

Few days in our nation’s history can match the shock and horror of Sept. 11, 2001. As we approach the 25th anniversary of that dreadful morning, it’s especially important that succeeding generations of Americans remember the attacks and, especially, the heroism of the firefighters and police officers who sacrificed their lives to save others.

This fall, thanks in large part to Denise Quiroga ’25, a student-turned-alumna who wasn’t yet five years old in 2001, Eastern’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb returned to the Cheney campus. The event challenges participants to complete a strenuous stair assent in remembrance of the New York City firefighters and police officers who rushed into the burning twin towers — some of whom climbed as many as 110 flights of steps — in an attempt to reach trapped office workers and visitors.

Quiroga, who graduated last June with a bachelor’s degree in biology, spearheaded the effort remotely in partnership with other members of Eastern’s “Easy Come, Easy Grow” garden club. This year’s climb, which originated in Dressler Hall before being halted due to Covid-19, was, at Quiroga’s urging, relocated to Roos Field.

ROTC Cadet Sergeant Major Cooper Thomas at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Aaron Weer.

Mark Este, director of 51�� community engagement, recently gave Quiroga a shout-out for her outstanding work. “She pulled in all these different campus departments, such as facilities, the police department, the veterans resource center, sustainability, community engagement, our office, to try to make this happen and get all the moving parts in place,” Este says. “It’s a really cool, collaborative effort.”

Roos Field proved to be an ideal fit for the event, in part thanks to the day’s sunny skies and mild temperatures. Of the 100 people who attended, more than 50 participated in stair climbs and walks.
Nathan Henson, captain at the Cheney Fire Department, turned out to Roos with several colleagues. “We’re pretty excited to see this happening again,” Henson said.

Henson said firefighters and police rarely think of the dangers to themselves when they are serving their communities: Answering the call of those who need them simply comes as second nature to most first responders.

“I think [the memorial event] is a good reminder of why we do what we do,” Henson says. “A lot of times you don’t think about the loss side of things; you are just going and doing a job because you enjoy doing it, and you enjoy serving your community.”

Polytechnic, With Distinction

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:37:30 +0000

Eastern gains national recognition for preparing its students for real-world success.

51�� has only recently adopted an official identity as “the region’s polytechnic.” But for years it has earned national acclaim for what academic administrators like to call “prioritizing the application of knowledge to professional practice.”

This year is no exception. Just prior to the beginning of the current academic term, 51�� was designated a 2025-26 College of Distinction by an Austin, Texas-based organization that ranks universities according to their effectiveness in helping students “learn, grow, and succeed.” The honor represents, in effect, a national seal of approval for Eastern’s impressive track record of preparing students for real-world success.

Eastern didn’t just earn an overall “College of Distinction” designation — it was also recognized in eight specific program areas, as well as for its overall affordability and support for military students.
“51�� has a proud history of providing a transformative undergraduate experience that prepares our students to thrive in the workforce and to serve as leaders in their communities,” Shari McMahan, Eastern’s president, wrote in a statement following the award announcement. “Being recognized as a College of Distinction across such a wide range of fields reaffirms our strength in hands-on learning, as well as our commitment to affordability and academic excellence.”

Through research and interviews, Colleges of Distinction honors universities that “make a meaningful impact on students’ lives, not just the institutions that fight their way to the top of the more traditional rankings lists.” The recognition criteria is based on what they call the “four distinctions”: engaging students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.

The Colleges of Distinction honor comes on the heels of a coveted status upgrade from the Carnegie Foundation, which last year designated 51�� as one of the nation’s Research Colleges and Universities. Both designations were important acknowledgments of Eastern’s success in boosting collaborations and student opportunities. Or, as Tyson Schritter, COO at Colleges of Distinction, puts it: “51��’s programs reflect the kind of innovation and intentionality that prepare students for life after graduation.”

Respect and Commitment

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:37:09 +0000

An update aims to boost the impact of Eastern’s land acknowledgment.

The formal acknowledgment that Native peoples are the original inhabitants and stewards of the land where 51�� now resides has for years been a part of Eastern’s milestone events — from convocation to commencement. In addition to recognizing 51��’s relationship with area tribes, most notably the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the acknowledgments are meant to serve as a reminder of the often violent displacement of our region’s Indigenous peoples. They also seek to raise awareness of Native peoples’ ongoing presence, and to signal 51��’s commitment to reconciliation.

Earlier this year, under the leadership of Cola Boyer ’20, 51��’s director of tribal relations, the university unveiled an update to its official acknowledgments statement, one that reflected students’ desire for something more “impactful and meaningful.”

A young dancer at a recent 51�� Spirit of the Eagle Powwow.

“That was probably the very first task that was given to me by the students, and I was more than happy to take it on,” Boyer says of the acknowledgment update. She says she began by exploring the origins of Eastern’s previous statement, then looked outside the university for inspiration.

“I looked at other universities’ land acknowledgments and came up with something that I felt met the mission and the feeling of 51�� and the Native American students who study here,” Boyer says.

After drafting a new version, she shared it with a group that included Professor Margo Hill, director of American Indian Studies, Evanlene Melting Tallow, program coordinator and recruiter for American Indian Studies, and with Native students. Together they made revisions that addressed tribal sovereignty issues and more fully confronted the systemic hardships area tribes have endured.

Boyer says the new land acknowledgment is more than just a formal recognition that Native people lived on the lands of the Cheney campus. “It’s giving a history of the tribe — the Spokane Tribe that was here — and it’s giving a deeper meaning to what this institution is now, and what it is rooted on.”

Emphasis on Engaging

creineke — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:36:36 +0000

A newly reopened Office of Community Engagement helps Eagles help others.

This fall, Eastern celebrated the reopening of its Office of Community Engagement, reviving a campus resource that had been shuttered for nearly four years.

The office, located on the first floor of Showalter Hall, will function as a hub for student volunteerism, service-learning and internships. The October event, which drew a number of current and potential community partners, marked the office’s official return to campus life.

“There’s definitely a lot of potential to build deep connections with our local community here — and people are ready for it — both on campus and off campus,” said Mark Este, newly appointed director of the office. “Hopefully we can just get in there and be that bridge for all the great work that is already being done.”

The revitalized engagement office, Este adds, focuses on three key areas: volunteerism, service-learning and internships — all experiences that will “benefit students while helping the larger community.”
This will require maintaining and sometimes reestablishing partnerships with local and regional businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The ultimate goal, Este says, is to create pathways for students to gain experience as they work to address those groups’ needs.

In her remarks during the event, Shari McMahan, Eastern’s president, said the reopening reflects the university’s role at the center of our region’s intellectual and economic life. “This is what we do; we are an anchor institution. We are tied to our community,” McMahan said.

Back Story

creineke — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:14:50 +0000

Nurturing Talent: Created to honor Ronald E. McNair, the heroic astronaut and physicist who perished in the 1986 Challenger disaster, for the past 30 years 51��’s federally funded TRIO/McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program has helped dozens of talented first-generation, low-income and otherwise underrepresented undergraduates prepare for graduate programs that lead to careers as professors and professional researchers. This image, made in the early 2000s, shows McNair Scholar Yolanda Valencia ’02 during a student research presentation. Valencia, now a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, completed her doctorate at the University of Washington.

Rising to Challenges

creineke — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:42:36 +0000

51�� is the region’s polytechnic. We are the region’s oldest university. And we remain, proudly, a place of possibilities. We’ve become all of these things because every day we ask one essential question: What will help our students succeed?

This past year has tested us: from Executive Orders that threaten our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, to uncertainty in financial aid, grant support and the state funding that helps us keep tuition the lowest in Washington.

Through it all, we have remained clear and united in our focus: the students who choose Eastern as their place to learn, grow and build a future.

Each spring, I’m honored to deliver my favorite speech of the year: my commencement address (at Reese Court!). I always send our graduates off with one final assignment — stay rooted in who you are. Don’t chase someone else’s version of success. Define it for yourself, and build a life that reflects your values, your purpose, your dreams.

That’s an assignment I take to heart in my own work. I define success by how I lift up those around me. My purpose is ensuring higher education is accessible to all — not just legacy students or those with perfect GPAs or deep-pocketed families. I want Eastern to serve the dreamers and doers, the first-generation and the underserved, the artists and the scientists, and yes, the proud third and fourth-generation Eagles. That’s why I hold our faculty and staff — and myself — accountable for closing equity gaps, maintaining a student-ready campus, and preserving both affordability and academic excellence.

And our people rise to that challenge every day. Faculty are mentoring students through applied research that is already making a difference in our region. We’re graduating desperately needed new nurses. We’re boosting student success in critical computer science and math courses through proactive, tailored support. And we’re actively taking inventory of our applied learning efforts so that students have meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare them for what’s next.

Our impact isn’t just reflected in today’s students — it lives on in our alumni. Every day, Eagles are out there improving communities, shaping policy, standing for what’s right and living out the dreams they began building here at Eastern. Alumni like Greg Deckard, Darby McLean, state Sen. Matt Boehnke and so many others that you’ll meet in this magazine who each remind us of what is possible when we stay focused on our mission.

I’m incredibly proud of the Eastern family — our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Together, we are transforming lives and shaping the future of our region. And we’re just getting started.

Shari McMahan, PhD

51�� President

Serving Those Who Served

creineke — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:40:52 +0000

51�� earns national recognition for its support of veterans.

Showalter Hall’s Room 122, home to the 51�� Veterans Resource Center, is more than just an office. As Eastern’s home for student veterans, it’s a welcoming bridge between the military life and college, a place to come together to reestablish the camaraderie and common purpose that distinguishes those who serve in our nation’s armed services.

Now, the nation is taking notice. 51�� has been named one of the Military Support Colleges of Distinction for 2025, an honor recognizing institutions that go above and beyond to support military-connected students. 51�� is one of only three universities in Washington state to receive this recognition.

In their citation of Eastern and the other designees, the Colleges of Distinction organization said the recognition is meant to salute institutions working to overcome “the unique challenges military students face on college campuses” nationwide. “These institutions are proud to support and cultivate the skills that military students bring to the classroom, all while helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.”

At the heart of the center’s success are its experienced staff, who collectively have over 25 years of expertise in guiding students through the complexities of VA education benefits and Department of Defense tuition assistance.

The support goes beyond paperwork. 51�� offers seven annual scholarships specifically for veterans and service members, along with several state-supported tuition waivers and a policy of granting in-state tuition for military-connected students who are not state residents. Each of these areas of support aims to ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of veterans’ paths to graduation.

“The transition from military to college life can be challenging, but 51�� makes it easier,” says David Millet, a former commander of 51��’s Army ROTC program who, since 2012, has served as the center’s director. “The VRC isn’t just a place to get help with benefits — it’s a community where we connect, study and support each other.”

Twice the Ride

creineke — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:40:28 +0000

Double-Decker busses will add a second floor to the Cheney commute.

One of STA’s new doubledecker busses on display at 51��’s PUB. Photo by Chris Thompson.

They’re sleek, futuristic and ready to bring the magic back to the commute from Spokane to Cheney.

“They” are seven shiny new Enviro500 double-decker busses, one of which made an introductory appearance in front of Eastern’s PUB in late April.

When the dedicated campus bus route debuted 55 years ago, grateful students soon dubbed the service “the Magic Bus.” Over the decades its charms have not waned. These days, in fact, both the main routes serving 51��— the 66 and 6 — are often standing-room-only during peak hours.

Hence the need for Enviro500s, which will join the fleet serving the university at the start of the next academic year.

According to the Spokane Transit Authority’s website, the Enviro500 “is the world’s best-selling three-axle double-decker bus,” dozens of which are already on the road “in major cities such as New York, Hong Kong and Dublin.” Here in our humble Cheney home, the busses’ biggest attraction may have nothing to do with their superior top-floor views: Each will seat 82 passengers, a significant boost over the capacity of even the articulated 60-foot buses that now ply the route.

“One of the big motivators for the double-decker is the second story is full of seating,” says Dainon Setzer, business development manager at STA. “Standing from Spokane to Cheney or back makes for a long bus ride.”

And those riders? Is he confident they’ll see the magic? “Oh yeah,” Setzer says, gesturing toward a group waiting to tour the busses’ interior. “We’ve got people coming out when the bus isn’t even moving!”