Key component upgrades bring reliability, sustainability and safety improvements to Eastern鈥檚 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福利社鈥檚 physical plant operation, pauses in front of a 10-inch programmable logic control display. After a quick look, he turns toward a visitor. 鈥淗ere鈥檚 the thing,鈥� Deppa says, his voice rising to be heard above the rumble and whirr of machinery, 鈥渁 lot of people really don鈥檛 know what we do in here.鈥�

鈥淚n here,鈥� is 51福利社鈥檚 Rozell Physical Plant building, an unprepossessing structure perched above the corner of Elm and Washington streets. What they 鈥渄o鈥� 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鈥檚 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 鈥渃hillers鈥� 鈥� massive units that cool water used by campus buildings for air conditioning 鈥� along with four new cooling towers that boost the chilling system鈥檚 performance. Electrical upgrades include moving high-voltage switches previously located in Eastern鈥檚 tunnel loop, to safer, above-ground locations.

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

On a recent tour, Steve Schmedding, 51福利社鈥檚 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. 鈥淥ur plans are in a binder that鈥檚 80-pages thick, at least,鈥� 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鈥檚 always happy to do. Usually that means tours for students, faculty members and community groups.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great when people are interested,鈥� Deppa says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e definitely proud of the work we do here.鈥�

With its Science Building renovation nearing completion, Eastern鈥檚 polytechnic future comes into focus.

By Charles E. Reineke

Back in 2022, just three weeks after the inauguration of 51福利社鈥檚 gleaming new Interdisciplinary Science Center, construction began on the renovation of the 148,000-square-foot Science Building next door.

The second and final phase of that $110 million project is now nearing completion, its new laboratories, faculty work spaces and areas for student engagement just months away from full occupancy. When the final ribbon is cut and all the doors opened, the conjoined Science Building and Interdisciplinary Science Center will represent the culmination of perhaps the most significant research and development investment in Eastern鈥檚 history, one that promises to usher in a new era of faculty discovery and student learning.听

For an institution now proudly known as the region鈥檚 polytechnic, the moment represents a watershed, albeit one occurring during a period of significant political headwinds for higher education and scientific research.

Eastern鈥檚 new chief academic officer, Provost Lorenzo Smith, joined 51福利社 earlier this year after serving in a similar position at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. Smith holds a PhD in engineering, and arrives at Eastern with a distinguished background as an educator, entrepreneur and researcher.

鈥淚 really have a passion for teaching,鈥� Smith says. 鈥淏ut when I learned about the polytechnic designation, it got me very excited because it showed that 51福利社 is a hands-on type of institution. Very applied. And to me, that鈥檚 where the rubber meets the road.鈥�

While the term 鈥減olytechnic鈥� typically conjures up images of engineering labs and computer-science classrooms, Smith emphasizes that applied learning has a place in every field 鈥� from English majors working with nonprofits, to history students identifying racially restricted property deeds. It鈥檚 all about applied learning, he says, taking classroom knowledge and putting it to work in internships, capstone projects and community partnerships.听

Research faculty members such as Jason Ashley, an associate professor of biology who specializes in the cellular and molecular processes involved in bone generation, is fully on board with the polytechnic transformation. But for now, he鈥檚 focused on facilities.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to make good progress on our research projects in our temporary spaces that are spread across the Interdisciplinary Science Center, but I鈥檓 excited to have everything centralized.鈥�

Resource upgrades, he says, are only the beginning. 鈥淎nother benefit of the renovation will be to bring all biology faculty back into a single building. I鈥檝e found that some of my most exciting ideas came from spontaneous discussions with my colleagues from biological disciplines that are quite different from mine.鈥�

For Ashley, the state鈥檚 investment signals something important about 51福利社鈥檚 trajectory. 鈥淚 think that the investment in our research infrastructure is a sign that we鈥檝e gotten better at showcasing what we accomplish and what more we can achieve with the right resources,鈥� he says. Like Smith, he doesn鈥檛 see this as a departure from Eastern鈥檚 teaching mission. 鈥淎s a scientist, I welcome a greater institutional interest in research and development. Our students鈥� learning isn鈥檛 limited to classrooms, and an increased research capacity will create more educational opportunities for them to develop critical skills.鈥�

Yet even as 51福利社 invests in its research future, headwinds have been gathering at the federal level. The current administration has taken a markedly different approach to federal research funding than previous administrations of both parties, calling into question decades of bipartisan consensus that university-based research is crucial to American innovation, economic strength and national security.

According to the American Association of Universities, federal science budgets for three major research funders, the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy, and the National Institute for Standards and Technology are at a 25-year low, while additional grant-making agencies across the government have also found themselves under fiscal pressure.

Other nations, meanwhile, are ramping up their spending. According to recent data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, China, for example, is rapidly closing their deficit with the U.S. in research and development spending, potentially reshaping the balance of scientific power.

Cuts and priority changes at NSF are particularly concerning to 51福利社 faculty members such as Charlotte Milling, an assistant professor of biology at 51福利社. Milling and her students are part of a multistate effort to preserve the critically endangered pygmy rabbit, along with the sagebrush ecosystem that it depends upon for survival.

Earlier this winter, Milling and her project collaborators at the University of Idaho submitted a $500,000 grant proposal to NSF. Their aim is to use the funding to better understand how sagebrush-dependent animals and plants are responding to climate change. The timing was fraught: The application was due just days after the presidential inauguration, and Milling knew that during the incoming president鈥檚 previous term, language related to climate change had been scrubbed from NSF funding lines.听

鈥淲e had a list of words that were flagged, basically saying: 鈥榶ou can鈥檛 be using these in any of your applications,鈥欌�� Milling recalls, adding that this left researchers in the dark on key questions. 鈥淗ow fluid is this list? Is 鈥榗limate change鈥� going to hit it? I mean, we were applying for a climate-change-specific grant.鈥� Despite the uncertainty, she and her colleagues carried on. 鈥淏oth my collaborators and some of my colleagues here at Eastern just emphasized: Until you hear otherwise, pretend like it鈥檒l go through,鈥� Milling says. 鈥淚nvest in putting it together.鈥�

The application did, in fact, go to reviewers at NSF, where it received positive feedback. Milling remains hopeful that the proposal, if not now then at some point, will be approved. 鈥淣o work that we do is ever wasted. It鈥檚 always an investment in the future,鈥� she says.

Still, concern for that future is a common theme among university-based scholars and scientists, especially those early-career faculty researchers who feel they鈥檝e been left, as Milling puts it, 鈥渨ithout a road map.鈥�

There are also questions around the training of those who have yet to begin their careers 鈥� federal grant support is typically the driver for funding graduate and undergraduate research assistants. Without that support, investigators like Milling fear we may find ourselves struggling to fill the ranks of next-generation scientists and scholars.

For Ashley, too, the sense of uncertainty is palpable. He currently receives funding from a National Institutes of Health grant that鈥檚 designed to support research at primarily undergraduate institutions. It funds his investigations while also providing tuition waivers for graduate students.

鈥淚鈥檝e got a little over two years left on this grant, which means it鈥檚 time to start writing a renewal to avoid a lapse in funding,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 hope that the R16 mechanism that I鈥檓 currently funded under continues. Otherwise, it will mean fewer graduate and directed-study students.鈥�

Nicholas Burgis, professor and chair of chemistry, biochemistry and physics, finds himself in a similar situation. The current three-year extension of his NIH grant, which funds the molecular-level investigation he and 51福利社 Professor Yao Houndonougbo are pursing into a rare but lethal genetic disorder affecting infants, is moving forward. But worries remain. 鈥淩esearch is a very challenging and time-consuming endeavor,鈥� Burgis says. 鈥淎dditional barriers to participating in that endeavor will only leave the USA behind the competition. I have serious concerns about future funding and my ability to take the next steps necessary to advance my research.鈥� 听 听

Students these days are wise to the challenges. Ashley says he used to assume they didn鈥檛 pay much attention to the intricacies of research funding. 鈥淏ut our students are now acutely aware of how science and education policies can directly impact their experiences as students and their future careers,鈥� he says.

Burgis echoes this sentiment, particularly when it comes to STEM workforce needs. 鈥淲e have to pass the torch. The Boomers are retiring and Gen X is a smaller generation. There will be lots of vacant jobs, especially considering our leaky pipeline from high school to professional positions.鈥�

鈥淭he open nature of academia encourages collaboration and sharing,鈥� he continues, 鈥渦nlike the environment of corporate America. We can鈥檛 simply shift innovation to businesses. They don鈥檛 have the capacity to do it at scale, and they carefully guard their intellectual property.鈥�

For his part, Provost Smith recognizes funding uncertainty requires universities to be more strategic and diversified in their approach. By focusing on teaching and learning 鈥� along with applied research with community partners and undergraduate research experiences 鈥� Smith says 51福利社 can play to its strengths while reducing dependence on federal grants and contracts. Smith also makes a point of emphasizing the value of research to the public. 鈥淲e have to show that higher education is worth it,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd I think the polytechnic model helps us do that because we鈥檙e very focused on applied learning, on career outcomes, and on partnerships with industry.鈥�

鈥淚n strictly economic terms, every dollar the NIH spends generates more than two dollars of economic activity; the only federal spending that beats that return is education. Support of university research accomplishes both,鈥� Ashley says.

This line of reasoning is not new. In the months just before the end of WWII, Vannevar Bush, a leading intellectual who served as president of Carnegie Science, submitted a landmark assessment of how the United States might best position itself to thrive in the post-war world. His report, Science: The Endless Frontier, made two key points: that scientific research was vital for the country鈥檚 continued security and economic well-being, and that governmental, industrial and academic research could create far more value in partnership than in isolation.

Think of today鈥檚 research as a great return on the investment envisioned by Vannevar Bush, both Burgis and Ashley say. 鈥淚n strictly economic terms, every dollar the NIH spends generates more than two dollars of economic activity; the only federal spending that beats that return is education. Support of university research accomplishes both,鈥� Ashley says.

Recent studies back them up. According to a new report from the nonprofit United for Medical Research (as cited by the Harvard Gazette), every research dollar funded by the National Institutes of Health delivered just over $2.50 in economic activity. In the previous fiscal year, the report found, NIH awarded more than $36.9 billion to researchers whose work supported more than 408,000 jobs and generated over $94.5 billion in new economic activity nationwide. Closer to home, the report found that NIH expenditures in the state of Washington totaled some $1.2 billion and supported 12,250 jobs.

Ultimately, however, the case for university research needs to rest on more than economics. 鈥淥ur students are doing fantastic work and, if we showcase that, people will notice,鈥� Ashley says. 鈥淚f we continue to make necessary investments in faculty and infrastructure, I鈥檓 confident we can both grow our research corpus and continue to produce graduates that thrive.鈥�

Seven months into his tenure, Smith also remains upbeat. 鈥淵es, we have a long way to go. Not because we haven鈥檛 done a lot, but because we have very high aspirations. We just have to continue to reinforce how seriously we take applied learning here at 51福利社, and how we want to grow it. I鈥檓 feeling good about the future.鈥�

Jess Walter reflects on how class, ambition, and a fifteen-dollar decision shaped his path to literary stardom.

By Charles E. Reineke

The backyard of Jess Walter鈥檚 house on Summit Boulevard isn鈥檛 huge, but there鈥檚 plenty of room to spread out. To the left is a patch of close-cropped lawn; on the right a concrete patio next to a tarp-covered swimming pool.

Back near the alley sits a carriage house, constructed circa 1910. It鈥檚 been beautifully restored, with double-wide doors and sturdy, river-rock walls. This is where Walter 鈥�87, arguably Eastern鈥檚 most famous alumnus, creates the work that has made him a beloved, best-selling author. The 鈥渙ffice,鈥� he likes to call it.

The writing happens in the loft above the place where the carriages used to go. It鈥檚 a comfortable space, nothing fancy. There鈥檚 a plain wooden desk and a black office chair. A computer and a monitor. A saggy cinnamon-colored couch for napping; an upholstered leather armchair for reading.

There鈥檚 also, lined up under a sloping part of the ceiling, an untidy stack of cardboard boxes. Most are of the bankers鈥� box variety. Others are shoeboxes left over from the kicks that Walter, a basketball fanatic and keen student of the game, wears when shooting hoops. He鈥檚 got on a pair of low tops now.

It鈥檚 an unseasonably warm day in November. Looking fit and relaxed, Walter chats with a reporter and photographer as he approaches the line of boxes, a three-inch-thick sheaf of unbound paper in hand.

Turns out the boxes are filled with notes and ideas for new projects, along with manuscripts for most of the many books he鈥檚 published. The papers are the typescript for So Far Gone, his latest novel, a work published to universal acclaim just a few months ago. 鈥淟ike closing a door,鈥� he says as pages drop down and the box-top goes on.

鈥淎 lot of these are full of notes for projects I want to work on,鈥� he says, surveying the pile. 鈥淭hey all get thrown in there, and they eventually become drafts.鈥� It鈥檚 not the sort of filing system one would expect of a writer who has published short stories, essays, criticism and eleven books. One who has been a finalist for the National Book Award and a Pulitzer, won an Edgar Award, and has written four bestsellers, including Beautiful Ruins, which reached No. 1 on The New York Times list. But, clearly, whatever Jess Walter is doing, it鈥檚 working for him.

It鈥檚 been just under a decade since Eastern magazine last visited with Walter. He鈥檚 still in Spokane, the place where he was born, grew up and, against what might have seemed like long odds, traveled down the road to 51福利社. 鈥淚鈥檝e just turned 60, and it鈥檚 my 30th year of publishing,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou start to look back, to think about which things are important.鈥�

Eastern, Walter says, is very much one of those things. The working-class son of a pipefitter, Walter was the first of his family to go to college. A smart kid who loved to read, both his mom and dad encouraged him to get a degree. It was his dad, however, that made him an Eagle. Walter likes to tell the story when he gives public lectures and readings. Never fails to get a laugh.

It goes like this. After being advised by a counselor at East Valley High School that his exceptional SAT scores made him a can鈥檛 miss college prospect, Walter came home from school one day with applications from the University of Washington, Washington State and Eastern.

鈥淚 said to my dad, who was going to help pay for school, 鈥榓lright, these are the places I want to apply.鈥欌�� His dad pointed out that each of the applications cost $15. 鈥淪o pick one!鈥� his dad said. 鈥淲ell, I guess the University of Washington,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淭hat one鈥檚 too expensive,鈥� replied his dad.

鈥淲ashington State?鈥澨�

鈥淣辞辫别.鈥�

鈥淗ow about Eastern?鈥�

鈥淕ood choice!鈥�

The decision made, Walter was admitted to 51福利社 and its Honors College. There he thrived while studying under academic luminaries such as the late English professor Don Wall, while at the same time reporting for The Easterner student newspaper. It was at 51福利社 that he also began the single-minded pursuit of what Walter describes as his 鈥渋mprobable dream,鈥� that of becoming a professional writer of fiction.

It was never easy.

At age 19, Walter and his girlfriend, Danette Driscoll, also an Eastern undergraduate, discovered they had conceived a child. They鈥檇 only been dating for five months. Walter proposed, they got married and Danette 鈥�87, 鈥�03 gave birth to a daughter, Brooklyn (today age 40, an educator with a PhD in English). Both parents, now amicably divorced, stayed in school and graduated in four years. 鈥淚 was so proud of us,鈥� Walter says of his parenting experience. 鈥淚 came back from class one day with a sweatshirt that said, 鈥楨astern Dad.鈥� I said to my wife, 鈥楲ook! They make sweatshirts for guys like me!鈥欌��

She was only mildly amused. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure you are the type of dad they had in mind,鈥� she said.

Even at the time, Walter knew having a daughter was going to change things. He made the most of it. 鈥淪uddenly, when you鈥檙e 19, just turning 20, you鈥檝e got another human being relying on you. Your ambitions move to another level,鈥� Walter says. 鈥淚 had always been ambitious as a writer, but now I had to get serious about paying the bills.鈥�

He worked at Gatto鈥檚 Pizza. He wrote tickets for 51福利社 parking and transportation services. He even had a security gig on campus. 鈥淚t was a job I could do from midnight to 2 a.m.,鈥� he says.

All the while, Walter moved forward with his studies and his work at The Easterner. Success at both led to an internship at The Spokesman-Review, a prized gig in those days. After graduation, Walter parlayed this foot-in-the-door start, followed by a long string of unpaid positions, into a staff job.

鈥淓ven getting in at The Spokesman was a leap,鈥� he recalls, adding that The Spokesman in those days almost exclusively hired young writers from the nation鈥檚 top journalism programs. Walter never doubted, at least not outwardly, that he was as good as any of them.

鈥淵ou first want to prove yourself as a reporter,鈥� Walter recalls, pausing for a moment before continuing. 鈥淎nd I was also reading all the time, thinking about that other, secret desire to be a novelist. This all sounds now like it came from a place of confidence. It probably came from the opposite place; a place of deep insecurity, a desire to prove yourself.鈥�

Walter admits he began his career with a chip on his shoulder, a need to show that an 51福利社 grad could play with the big boys. He knew there was a class system out there; that meritocratic principles were often little more than window dressing. It kind of pissed him off. 鈥淵ou want to show up everyone who went to a 鈥榖etter鈥� college, you want to show everyone who鈥檚 on the list of best novels of the year that you belong. At some point that insecurity shifts to something a little healthier. I don鈥檛 know that it ever lands totally in the land of confidence, but it鈥檚 just offshore.鈥�

At The Spokesman, it took a while before his newsroom colleagues caught on that the kid from Eastern had staying power. But after grinding through the internships and unpaid gigs, he finally merited a graveyard shift on the cops-and-courts beat. Walter loved it, filed good stories, and soon moved up to daytime work. A couple of years later, his big break came.

In the summer of 1992, word reached Spokane of an armed standoff across the state line in rural Boundary County, Idaho. Soon the entire nation was transfixed by what became a deadly siege at Ruby Ridge, as federal agents sought to enforce a firearms warrant against a resistant Randy Weaver and his well-armed family.

Through the type of dogged reporting that would be at home in one of his novels, Walter 鈥� even though he wasn鈥檛 initially assigned to the team working the听 story 鈥� managed to track down a relative of the Weavers that the FBI was about to bring to Ruby Ridge to speak with the family, mid-siege. That point of contact, which led other family sources to open up to him, turned out to be a major reporting breakthrough, one that helped bring to light facts that complicated 鈥� to put it mildly 鈥� the narrative offered by federal officials.

Walter鈥檚 reporting on the siege and its aftermath eventually became the basis for his first book, Every Knee Shall Bow (reissued as Ruby Ridge). That non-fiction title, both a critical and commercial success, remains the definitive account of what many now recognize as a watershed moment in contemporary American history. It also showed, with its expertly drawn character sketches, perfect pacing and keen eye for detail, that Walter was a born storyteller. No accident that several critics pointed out that the book 鈥渞eads like a novel.鈥�

Ralph Walter 鈥�91, Jess鈥� younger brother, is today the sports editor for The Spokesman-Review. He says no one in the family was particularly surprised by Jess鈥� successes. Even as a little kid, it was obvious there was something special about him.

One early anecdote stands out, Ralph says. They were at their grandparents鈥� house in the country. All the young cousins were there, and the kids were expected to entertain themselves. Jess thought it鈥檇 be cool to do a magazine. 鈥淗e called it Reader鈥檚 Indigestion,鈥� Ralph recalls. 鈥淚 think I was maybe 4 or 5 years old at the time. He would have been 8 or 9. Jess would have me draw a picture, and that would be one of pages. All the cousins would write something. We had that thing going for probably five or six years. It was just so obvious that Jess was something different. So creative.鈥�

Walter鈥檚 childhood publishing effort might not have been so remarkable, Ralph adds, were it not for the milieu in which it was executed. Their Spokane Valley community, he suggests, was a long way from Bloomsbury.

鈥淥ne day our bikes got stolen,鈥� Ralph says. 鈥淚 remember being in the front yard with Jess. The kids who stole them rode by 鈥� on our bikes 鈥� just laughing.鈥� Of course, Ralph also recollects happier moments in the 鈥檋ood. Like when the local youth would gather at the Walters鈥� house, put on oversized boxing gloves and, as Ralph put it, 鈥渂eat on each other.鈥�

鈥淚t was, you know, tough,鈥� he says with a laugh. “You just had to survive.鈥�

Turns out that surviving, or at least developing a thick skin, was key to Walter鈥檚 perseverance in his quest to make it in fiction. Even after the success of the Ruby Ridge book, publishers were slow to pick up on his potential.

Walter spent seven long years collecting 鈥渘o thank you鈥� letters before selling his first piece of short fiction. 鈥淪even years of writing stories, sending them out and getting rejected,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd it was brutal. But it was also necessary. I wasn鈥檛 good enough yet.鈥�

Getting better, Walter believes now, owed much to his newsroom experience. Constant deadlines conditioned him to write 鈥� not just when the spirit moved him, but every day, day after day. That鈥檚 an essential skill for a novelist, he says. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e waiting for inspiration, you鈥檙e not going to write very much.鈥�

Journalism also gave him important insights into our shared human experience, lessons that continue to inform his work today. 鈥淚 remember early on, I was afraid to interview certain people, to go talk to them,鈥� Walter says. 鈥淭here was a woman who had been shot to death in a robbery, and my editor wanted me to go talk to her boyfriend. He was living in a little trailer behind the convenience store where she worked. I didn鈥檛 want to. He said, 鈥楯ust go. Go talk to him.鈥欌��

Walter remembers knocking on the trailer door. 鈥淚 explained what I was doing. I said, 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 have to talk.鈥� And he said, 鈥楴o, no, I鈥檇 like to talk.鈥� So we just sat. He told me about his girlfriend. I took notes. His grief was so profound, and I sat there with my notebook watching him struggle. He鈥檇 look around the trailer for help鈥攆or some object that might help him describe who this person was, what she meant to him.

鈥淚 distinctly remember thinking that the inability to express your deepest emotions is not the same thing as not having the deepest emotions. I thought to myself, 鈥楾his is my job as a reporter: to translate the untranslatable.鈥欌��

It鈥檚 also been his job as a novelist, especially when it comes to characters who are often far less sympathetic. It鈥檚 a skill that other professional writers have long marveled over. One of them, novelist Richard Russo, put it like this: 鈥淗ere are characters who seem to live of their own volition, who talk out of a terrible inner need to make themselves known and understood, who reveal not just themselves but the yearning heart of our great flawed democracy.鈥�

Walter, who stands all of 5-feet, 10-inches tall, sometimes gets asked what he would have done if he couldn鈥檛 be a novelist. 鈥淧rofessional basketball player,鈥� he answers. Maybe not the NBA, he adds, though he admits he long dreamed of becoming a point guard for the Seattle SuperSonics. On this day he鈥檚 wearing a SuperSonics t-shirt.

鈥淚 imagined myself more as like a small college basketball player. And then maybe I鈥檇 become a coach,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 like the second assistant at a liberal arts college somewhere. And my favorite thing about it is that, at this small college, various writers come through, and I get to go sit in the back and imagine being a writer.鈥�

In real life, of course, he doesn鈥檛 need to imagine. He鈥檚 a full-time professional, writing with both determination and discipline pretty much every day. 鈥淚 jokingly tell the story that my dry periods tend to lead to a solid chiding in my journal, where I write, 鈥榊ou need to get back to work and stop whining,鈥欌�� he says.

Both the discipline and determination paid off spectacularly with Beautiful Ruins, his 2012 novel that became a surprise No. 1 bestseller, spending months on The New York Times list. The book had been 10 years in the making. Even then, Walter wasn鈥檛 sure it was ready.

鈥淗e鈥檚 always trying to make the work better. He鈥檚 never satisfied with just good enough. Jess is one of those writers who just keeps getting better. Every book is better than the last one. That鈥檚 rare. I mean, a lot of writers, they have a great book or two and then they kind of plateau.鈥�

Warren Frazier, Walter鈥檚 agent at John Hawkins & Associates 鈥� the oldest literary agency in the country 鈥� has represented him since 2000. Among Frazier鈥檚 other clients are Joyce Carol Oates, Adam Johnson, and Robert Olen Butler, all internationally acclaimed novelists.

Frazier remembers the long wait for Beautiful Ruins, reading drafts that he thought were amazing, but that Jess thought weren鈥檛 quite there yet. 鈥淎nd I think that鈥檚 part of what makes him such a good writer,鈥� he听 says on a phone call from his office in New York.

鈥淗e鈥檚 always trying to make the work better. He鈥檚 never satisfied with just good enough. Jess is one of those writers who just keeps getting better. Every book is better than the last one. That鈥檚 rare. I mean, a lot of writers, they have a great book or two and then they kind of plateau.鈥�

Yet Walter, Frazier continues, keeps pushing, challenging himself, trying new things. 鈥淚 think that is what鈥檚 made his career so successful. Readers can tell that he鈥檚 not just phoning it in; not just repeating himself. He鈥檚 always trying to do something new, something interesting, something that will surprise both him and the reader.鈥�

The success of Beautiful Ruins, his sixth novel, changed things for Walter. People recognized him on the street. He got calls from Europe wanting him for events. Hollywood asked him to write scripts. It was cool, Walter admits, and he took what he calls 鈥渁 slightly longer victory lap.鈥� But soon enough he was back at work on Summit Boulevard, hunkered down for hours each day in the 鈥渙ffice.鈥�

This is not to suggest Walter is a literary recluse. After finishing a novel, in fact, he鈥檚 usually had more than enough 鈥渕e鈥� time, and welcomes the touring that invariably accompanies new releases. For these events, Walter, a self-professed 鈥渆xtroverted introvert,鈥� says he鈥檚 perfected the art of mixing eight minutes of jokes, 15 minutes of reading and 20 minutes of chatting. 鈥淚 was always kind of a class clown, so to be in front of the class and have people have to listen isn鈥檛 the hardest thing.鈥�

What surprises him most about his audiences are their quality, depth and genuine interest in his work: 鈥淭hey鈥檙e excited to meet you, and you share this common thing, this book. It鈥檚 great fun. Really is one of my favorite parts.鈥� There tends to be lots of curiosity about his process, he adds. Lots of questions about craft, about how he manages to keep moving forward with his work. His advice to aspiring writers is both practical and, unexpectedly, spiritual.

鈥淩ead everything. Write every day,鈥� he says. 鈥淒on鈥檛 wait for permission or validation. And be patient with yourself. Becoming a good writer takes time. The seven years it took me to publish my first story was humbling. But it was also necessary. You have to put in the work.鈥�

But, he continues, try not to think of the work as work. 鈥淭reat your writing time the way some people treat their religious practice. Make it sacred. Read that way too 鈥� find yourself transported and transcended in the way people are by their faith. One of my great writing times used to be on Sundays. I would trudge out and write on Sunday mornings and then again at night after the kids went to bed (Walter and his wife, Anne, have two children, Ava, now 28, and Alec, 25). Approach writing, I always say, with the same kind of reverence and faith that some people bring to a Sunday service.鈥�

Of course, this being Jess Walter, he punctuates this high-minded counsel with a joke. 鈥淲hen I give this advice, people usually just stare at me, like,听 鈥楢ll I wanted was your agent鈥檚 name.鈥� So I give them Warren鈥檚 name, and we part ways.鈥�

Through it all, Walter has remained deeply connected to his eminently affordable alma mater. His passion for Eastern football and basketball, for example, seems boundless. He鈥檚 also contributed to 51福利社 publications (including this one), engaged with student writers, and in 2016 gave a celebrated commencement address to Eastern graduates.

A newly endowed Jess Walter scholarship and writer鈥�s fund, meanwhile, will likely help other first-generation college students who want to pursue writing. He鈥檇 love it, Walter says, if it eased the financial stress on some student who followed as unlikely a path as his own.

He is also ramping up his engagement with Eastern in other ways. In February, the university will be honoring Walter with a week-long series of celebrations highlighting his life and work: a public 鈥淓vening With Jess Walter鈥� at the Catalyst building; a student symposium on the Cheney campus; an 51福利社-organized exhibition at the Spokane Public Library on the historical antecedents of Walter鈥檚 critically acclaimed 2020 novel, The Cold Millions; and a special shout-out during halftime of an upcoming Eastern men鈥檚 basketball game.

These valedictory moments might suggest Walter is resting on his laurels. Nope. Even now, in his sixth decade, Walter shows no sign of slowing down. He鈥檚 still thinking about the boxed-up ideas ranged against the carriage house wall. A basketball novel about ambition is in the mix, he says. Maybe a book about Robert Oppenheimer鈥檚 self-imposed, post-Manhattan-Project exile in the Caribbean.

What else might emerge? 鈥淭he next book could be about a circus clown because, who knows what I鈥檒l actually finish?鈥� Does he ever think about taking a break? 鈥淲eirdly, if you鈥檙e a rock star, no one would have a problem with you pissing off to the south of France to live in a village,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut I think if you鈥檙e lucky enough to get to do this thing for a living, why would you stop?鈥�

These valedictory moments might suggest Walter is resting on his laurels. Nope.

One of Walter鈥檚 favorite scenes in So Far Gone portrays a hapless Christian Identity group member who, in the midst of an armed confrontation, is mostly concerned about the well-being of his truck鈥檚 new tires. 鈥淚 just can’t imagine a better way to spend a day than writing a scene like that,鈥� Walter says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the same reason we read 鈥� to be thrilled by some discovery. So much of writing is just play. When I鈥檓 thinking like that 鈥� when I鈥檓 trying to find great sentences鈥� things tend to go well. I always talk about how I take great inspiration from my musician friends, you know? They never say 鈥業鈥檓 going to work鈥�; they say they鈥檙e 鈥榩laying.鈥欌��

Jess Walter is still playing. The boxes are still full, and he鈥檚 still walking across the lawn to the office every day. The chip on the shoulder is still there, too, that formidable drive to be heard that turned a working-class kid from Spokane into one of America鈥檚 finest novelists.

鈥淭he thing I fear the most,鈥� he says, 鈥渋s that I won’t have stories to tell, things to imagine.鈥� Not likely.听 听

For more than two decades, Eastern鈥檚 CAMP program gave the children of migrant parents a better shot at obtaining a college education. When budget cuts threatened to close its doors, donors stepped up.

By Linn Parish

During long, hot summers back in the late 2000s, Tanya N煤帽ez would spend 10 to 12 hours a day harvesting crops in the fields of central Washington.

A high schooler at the time, those sweaty days harvesting corn, onion and cabbage suggested to Tanya that maybe a career different from her parents would be best. 鈥淚 remember telling myself, 鈥業 can鈥檛 do this for the rest of my life,鈥欌�� N煤帽ez 鈥�12听 says. 鈥淚t was a rude awakening: You need to go to college, and you need to study.鈥� That epiphany led her to 51福利社 and its CAMP program in 2008.

CAMP stands for College Assistance Migrant Program. The program got its start back in 1972, developed by the federal Office of Economic Opportunity to support migrant students in college. It was transferred to the Department of Education in 1980.

Eastern鈥檚 participation began 23 years ago, and, in the years since, the program has provided crucial support services for first-generation Eagles from migrant families. The goal? Helping students succeed in their studies and, ultimately, earn a degree.

Tanya met all of the criteria for CAMP. Her father, who was born in Mexico, and her American mother have spent most of their working lives in farm fields, much of that time moving from harvest to harvest before settling in Othello, Washington.

While Tanya is in the first generation of the N煤帽ez family to attend college, she鈥檚 not the first of her siblings to attend 51福利社, nor is she the first to benefit from CAMP. She was preceded at Eastern by her sister, Jennifer, and her brother, Ricky. For the N煤帽ezes, CAMP is thus a family affair, though they鈥檝e all taken different paths to the program.

Jennifer听 is the oldest of the N煤帽ez children. Nine years her sister鈥檚 senior, she came to 51福利社 before CAMP was established. She says she was drawn to the university because it was located in Cheney, a town somewhat similar in size to Othello and an ideal distance from family.

Though her matriculation predated CAMP, she says she found a great deal of support in Eastern鈥檚 Chicano/a/x Studies program, especially with the late professor Carlos Maldonado serving as a mentor.

By the time Jennifer 鈥�05, 鈥�18 graduated, Eastern鈥檚 CAMP program was up and running, a development that benefitted Jennifer and Tanya鈥檚 brother Ricky. He was already a CAMP veteran, having participated in Columbia Basin College鈥檚 program before he transferred to 51福利社. (He now works as a real estate agent听 in Othello.)

Having two older Eagles in the family meant Tanya received lots of sound advice about Eastern. Both siblings urged her to take advantage of what CAMP had to offer.听

鈥淚 remember my sister said, 鈥業 want you to focus on college and not have the struggles that I had as the first-generation,鈥� Tanya recalls. 鈥淎nd I never understood that, right? But as I鈥檓 older now, I鈥檓 able to reflect and be appreciative of the opportunities that I was able to have with Eastern, especially as part of CAMP.鈥�

Tanya pursued a couple of different degree programs before committing to social work. Despite this circuitous path to her major, she graduated in four years, went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree at Walla Walla University, and is now working in her chosen field as a clinical manager at Renew Behavioral Health & Wellness in Moses Lake.

鈥淚 love Eastern. I love the opportunities and the network it provided for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t felt like a home away from home.鈥�

The N煤帽ez siblings鈥� time in CAMP didn鈥檛 end when Tanya graduated from the program. Jennifer had served as an adviser and recruiter for the Chicano/a/x Studies program from 2005 to 2009, eventually serving as its coordinator. During her tenure with the program, she worked closely with CAMP, often referring students who came from families of migrant workers to the program.

鈥淚 love Eastern. I love the opportunities and the network it provided for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t felt like a home away from home.鈥�

Federal funding for 51福利社鈥檚 CAMP program has ebbed and flowed through the years, and in the early 2010s, the program for a time lost its revenue source. When that funding was restored in 2014, Jennifer became the director. She held that position until 2019.

鈥淚 very much related to the challenges students faced when transitioning from their high school communities to higher ed,鈥� says Jennifer, who currently serves as director for dual/concurrent enrollment and summer sessions with 51福利社鈥檚 Running Start and College in the High School programs.

Like Jennifer N煤帽ez, Roc铆o Rangel, 51福利社鈥檚 current CAMP director, grew up in a migrant family. A Texas native, Rangel was a benefactor of one of the longest running CAMP programs in the United States, which started at St. Edwards University, a small private school in Austin, Texas.

Initially, Rangel says, she was reluctant to go into CAMP, because she didn鈥檛 want to be stereotyped with a 鈥渕igrant鈥� label. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a good thing in high school,鈥� Rangel says. 鈥淲hen certain teachers saw my peers going into a migrant meeting, they would treat them differently. And then I got to college and realized none of that mattered.鈥�

Through the years, she says, the word 鈥渕igrant鈥� has been politicized and frequently is lumped in with 鈥渋mmigrant.鈥� But a migrant worker simply is someone who travels from one place to another for seasonal work, she says. While it frequently describes agricultural workers, the term technically applies to workers in a host of other industries.

Migrant workers Rangel adds, are predominantly, but not exclusively, of Latino descent 鈥攐ne in five are from other backgrounds. By extension, participants in CAMP are predominately of Latino descent, but the program isn鈥檛 specifically for Latinos.

Rangel points out students from migrant families face challenges when moving from one state to another during an academic year. School districts in different states frequently have different curricula, which can lead to a loss of credits. Often, those students must take make-up classes during the summer months.

For those who reach college there can be significant barriers, among them financial instability, cultural and language hurdles, and a lack of familial or institutional support. CAMP at 51福利社 provides one-on-one counseling, financial assistance, and a series of social events听 meant to help mitigate these potential obstacles to success.

鈥淭his is a community away from your community to make sure that you feel like you have a sense of place,鈥� she says.

Jennifer N煤帽ez says the program also can help those students deal with issues that go deeper than just homesickness. 鈥淎 lot of migrant students are providers for their own households and help them to make ends meet,鈥� N煤帽ez says. 鈥淎nd so I think there’s a lot of guilt behind leaving that community and not being able to provide that day-to-day support.鈥�

At 51福利社, up to 40 incoming freshmen enter the program each fall. Each receives a modest, $500 quarterly stipend, in addition to specialized advising, registration assistance, peer mentoring, student leadership skills training and other benefits. The hope is that more than 80 percent of CAMP participants have a successful first year, defined as earning 36 credits with at least a 2.0 grade-point average. Another goal is that some 90 percent of the students move on to their sophomore year.听 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a high percentage,鈥� Rangel says, 鈥渁nd we reach it every time.鈥�

Despite this track record of success, and what would appear to be an indisputably positive return on taxpayer investment, securing federal funding for CAMP has at times been elusive. Back in the 1990s, for example, the Clinton Administration at one point sought to zero out CAMP鈥檚 budget. An uproar ensued, and Congress acted to ensure the program remained solvent.

A more recent challenge has come from the current administration, which has called for an end to the program. The White House has also effectively frozen funding already appropriated by Congress, a move that has plunged the nation鈥檚 CAMP programs into crisis.

CAMP receives federal funding commitments in five-year cycles. 51福利社鈥檚 funding ended this year, and the U.S. Department of Education announced it wouldn鈥檛 be holding a competition for renewals. Other universities throughout the U.S., having no funding alternative, were forced to shutter their programs. Here in the Inland Northwest, the听 University of Idaho announced it would close its CAMP program.

Fortunately, Eastern donors have stepped up to help. Most crucially, the university announced earlier this year that it had secured a five-year, $2.1 million commitment from the Krumble Foundation 鈥� funds which will allow 51福利社 to both sustain and expand CAMP. One goal is to provide more services to CAMP participants during their sophomore years, an initiative meant to ensure that even more participants graduate.

CAMP already has a rolling six-year graduation rate of about 60 percent, which is typically 15 to 20 percentage points higher than the university as a whole. CAMP and foundation leaders share the goal of further improving that rate.

The Krumble Foundation, founded by Burke and Muriel Blevins after the couple sold Spokane Valley-based manufacturer VPI Quality Windows Inc., is dedicated to addressing the need for more skilled workers in the Inland Northwest by providing post-secondary education opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The foundation has in the past made seven-figure contributions to 51福利社 scholarship programs. The move to dedicate resources to CAMP represents an expansion of its philanthropy.

Last September, Burke Blevins explained the rationale to a Spokesman-Review reporter. 鈥淔or our region to be economically viable, we need an institution that provides a high-quality education at as reasonable costs as possible 鈥︹�� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why Eastern is really essential to the Spokane region. And this is a program that鈥檚 aimed at the kind of people that really drive our economy; those who are going to college, the first generation in their family, and making socioeconomic movements for generations to come.鈥�

It鈥檚 unclear when or if the federal funding will return. Regardless, 51福利社鈥檚 program is secure for the near future. That鈥檚 good news for Rangel, her staff and their students. What鈥檚 more, she says, 鈥渁ll of the goals from the Krumble Foundation are aligned with what we already want to do鈥�.

While Jennifer N煤帽ez hasn鈥檛 been involved directly with CAMP for a number of years, she鈥檚 also relieved that it is surviving and thriving.

鈥淏eing able to see the students, so timid their first year, go on to graduate and then, in most cases, move on from that goal to something bigger鈥� it鈥檚 just so nice,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I think that鈥檚 definitely because of the help from CAMP 鈥� the resources, the staff and the mission 鈥� that has given them the start they need to accomplish their goals.鈥�

More to the Story: Rangel Honored for Distinguished Service

Roc铆o Rangel, CAMP鈥檚 director, recently received Eastern鈥檚 2025 Distinguished Service Award 鈥� recognition of her leadership, innovation and commitment to student success.

Rangel has led the CAMP program for the past four years. During her tenure, she has both improved financial efficiencies while enhancing services for the first-generation and migrant students who depend on the program, the award citation said.

Among her other notable successes, Rangel introduced an innovative staffing model that replaced a recruiter position with a second advisor, allowing for more direct student engagement and improved program outcomes. The change streamlined operations and strengthened the program鈥檚 capacity to serve students more effectively.

Her emphasis on communication, meanwhile, has led to dramatic reductions in students-facing financial holds during registration. Rangel made this happen by creating bilingual outreach materials and a communications plan that ensures students clearly understand financial aid processes and deadlines.

Rangel and her staff have also emphasized supporting and building relationships with Spanish-speaking parents, helping them manage delays and tech issues to maintain a 100% financial aid submission rate among the program鈥檚 first-year students 鈥� something the team has accomplished every year since 2020.

51福利社 recently celebrated its 2025 Alumni Award winners.
As always, the stories of our inspiring honorees made it an occasion to remember. Photos by Young Kwak and Luke Kenneally.

Benjamin P. Cheney Lifetime Achievement

When it comes to Greg Deckard 鈥�86, the 2025 Benjamin P. Cheney Lifetime Achievement Award winner, it is pretty much impossible not to be a little bit in awe of his long roster of success: his distinguished work in the banking industry; his lifelong commitment to community service; and, of course, his generosity to his alma mater. Deckard has been a passionate advocate for community banking throughout his 40-year career. As CEO and chairman of State Bank Northwest for the past 24 years, his leadership has played a key role in building and sustaining the continued prosperity of our state and region.

Deckard鈥檚 professional influence extends well outside of the bounds of the PNW, however, thanks to his service with the Independent Community Bankers of America, his testimony on key banking issues before Congress, and his time as chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America Board of Directors. His fervent support for Eastern, meanwhile, spans decades, including his 11 years of service on the 51福利社 Foundation Board, 13 years with the School of Business Advisory Board, and his longstanding support for Eagle basketball鈥檚 6th Man Club. His generous financial support, totaling over $110,000 from him and State Bank Northwest, has helped the university fund everything from athletic facilities to business scholarships.

Beyond banking and university service, Deckard has held leadership positions with the Union Gospel Mission of Spokane, Sacred Heart/Providence Hospital Foundation, and the Spokane Country Club.

鈥淕reg has been a leader in his own bank and a leader in community banking within the state and nationally for decades,鈥� one of his admiring colleagues said. 鈥淗e has provided a lifetime of service to his community, his profession and to 51福利社 鈥� a true role model for other Eagle alumni to follow.鈥�

Gov. Clarence D. Martin Educator of the Year

Over his almost three decades of service, Shawn Carney 鈥�97, 鈥�98, our Governor Clarence D. Martin Educator of Year Award winner, has made 鈥渋mmeasurable contributions鈥� to Spokane鈥檚 Rogers High School, having, as one of his nominating letters put it, a 鈥減rofound impact on his students, colleagues, and the broader educational community.鈥�

Carney doesn鈥檛 just teach physics. In his classroom, every lesson represents a broader opportunity to ignite curiosity and build confidence, particularly in students who might never have envisioned themselves in STEM careers. Year after year, his understanding of, and compassion for, the challenges many Rogers students face infuses his teaching with greater purpose and relevance. In short, every lesson opens doors.

This same level of compassion and concern extends to his fellow teachers. As Science Department lead, Carney cultivated a culture of excellence through collaboration and genuine respect. His guidance honors individual teaching styles while elevating effectiveness throughout the department. As an instructional coach, this gift for mentorship truly shines. For 15 years, educators at all stages of their careers have trusted Carney with challenges ranging from classroom management to technology integration.

Beyond academics, Carney coaches wrestling and golf, arguably the two most dissimilar sports imaginable. But Carney has long used both to help his young athletes do more than just succeed on the mat and greens; he helps students absorb the far more consequential lessons of perseverance and dignity.

鈥淗e is one of the most passionate and kind educators and coaches I have ever worked with,鈥� wrote another of Carney鈥檚 admiring colleagues. It鈥檚 a combination of passion and kindness that defines Carney鈥檚 approach to both coaching and teaching 鈥� demanding excellence while providing the support his students need to achieve it.

Tawanka Service

During her time as an Eagle undergraduate, Ana Munguia 鈥�13, our Tawanka Service award winner, already stood out for her passionate commitment to service, student advocacy and cross-cultural relationship building. Now, as the community connections manager for the Pasco School District, she鈥檚 making an even greater difference for students in the Tri-Cities.

At 51福利社 she showed off her remarkable leadership skills when, in 2009, she founded Eastern鈥檚 chapter of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority. With Munguia鈥檚 guidance, the sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha actively served the university community by 鈥渁dopting鈥� streets in Cheney, supporting local Relay for Life events, and organizing fundraising drives for St. Jude鈥檚 Research Hospital.

These days, Munguia鈥檚 work for the Pasco School District is building on the commitment to community she established as an 51福利社 student. Every day, her colleagues say, Munguia works to empower students and foster opportunities for their personal growth, providing guidance and mentorship that impacts both students鈥� career readiness and self-assurance.

Munguia鈥檚 community involvement extends beyond her professional obligations. From 2014 to 2017, she contributed to the Hispanic Academic Achievers Program, a scholarship committee promoting higher education opportunities for Hispanic youth. In addition, she has served as the vice president for membership in our state鈥檚 chapter of the Public Relations Association, where she led recruitment efforts and helped organize two annual conferences for public relations professionals.

Through her journey from campus leader to community connector, Munguia has been a shining example of how 51福利社 alumni can continue to make meaningful service impacts long after commencement.

Sandy Williams Trailblazer

Angela Jones, our Sandy Williams Trailblazer honoree, has forged a laudable career dedicated to transforming educational landscapes for underrepresented students across Washington state.

Jones began in Yakima鈥檚 Wapato School District, where, as a substitute teacher, she first recognized 鈥� and worked to alleviate 鈥� the unique challenges faced by Black and Brown students as they strove to break the cycles of poverty that too often affected them and their families. This commitment to equity eventually propelled her through successive leadership positions at Spokane Public Schools, Washington State University, and 51福利社, where she served for a time as a member of the university鈥檚 executive leadership team.

Today, as director of the Washington Initiative for the Gates Foundation, Jones leads efforts to create clear pathways for post-high-school success for students. Her team focuses specifically on communities facing the highest barriers, providing crucial support systems where resources are often scarce.

Her current position is just the latest in her three-decades-long quest to improve outcomes for students and other community members of color. These efforts are not just restricted to education. During the height of the pandemic, for example, she co-founded and launched the Black Future Co-Op Fund 鈥� a resource designed to support the recovery and sustainability of Black-led organizations and businesses across Washington.

Through all this, Jones鈥� commitment to Eastern has remained steadfast. In 2022, for example, she and her family made a transformative gift that led to the establishment of the JLR Multicultural Center at 51福利社. Today that center is a vital space where students receive the support they need to successfully complete their journeys to degree completion. 鈥淒r. Jones鈥� contributions,鈥� wrote one of her nominators, 鈥渆xemplify the qualities sought for recipients of the Sandy Williams Trailblazer award. She is an educator, storyteller and author who aspires to leave impactful and sustainable change for students pursuing their education beyond high school.鈥�

Lt. Col. Daniel M. Carter Military Service

As an elected representative, an educator and a businessperson in his hometown of Kennewick, state Sen. Matt Boehnke has amassed a long and distinguished list of contributions in service to our state and region. But at this year鈥檚 Alumni Awards Gala, 51福利社 celebrated Boehnke, the Lt. Col. Daniel M. Carter Military Service Award winner, for a different form of service:听 his 21-plus years as an officer in the U.S. Army, where he never failed to exemplify an exceptional dedication to duty.

His devotion to duty began as an Eagle. At Eastern, Boehnke was recognized as an ROTC-Distinguished Military Graduate before graduating in 1990 and receiving his active-duty commission. He spent the next two decades as both a proud U.S. Army aviator and a pioneer in military cyber operations, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

During his years of service, Boehnke quickly built a reputation as a natural leader. At the Fort Sill, Oklahoma-based aviation battalion where he served, Boehnke piloted the formidable CH-47D Chinook, a medium-lift assault helicopter crucial for tactical transport operations. His final post was at the Network Enterprise Technology Command, where he played a significant part in helping to establish the U.S. Army Cyber Command.

What distinguished Boehnke most among his peers wasn鈥檛 just his technical proficiency, but his leadership philosophy. In a nominating letter, one fellow service member described him as 鈥渄edicated, compassionate, and capable鈥� 鈥� a leader who 鈥渃onsistently embodied selfless service by supporting his subordinates while readily shouldering more than his share of responsibilities.鈥�

Boehnke鈥檚 commitment to service now extends far beyond his active-duty years. According to those who know him best, Boehnke has 鈥渄evoted his entire adult life to the service of his country and the American people.鈥�

Rising Eagle

After earning a health services bachelor鈥檚 degree and a master鈥檚 degree in business administration, Kori Jackson 鈥�22, 鈥�23 鈥� our Rising Eagle award winner 鈥� could have pursued any number of opportunities. Instead, she chose to return to the Colville Reservation, where she has stepped forward with determination and vision to serve where she鈥檚 needed most.

When she started her new job as the business services manager and accountant for the Paschal Sherman Indian School, for example, Jackson was determined to do more than just crunch numbers. After seeing that her school, like so many across Washington state, was dealing with post-pandemic behavioral challenges, Jackson quickly set to work channeling her education and leadership experience from the Native American Student Association at 51福利社 into creative solutions.

Because she recognized that the reservation鈥檚 kids needed a boost in inspiration and motivation, Jackson orchestrated back-to-school nights featuring speakers who could ignite young minds with possibility. She also began working directly with students 鈥� most notably girls participating in fast-pitch softball and volleyball 鈥�听 becoming the sort of role model whose active presence demonstrated, for both girls and boys, the power of education and engagement.

In the larger tribal community, Jackson has also been invaluable. When families are in crisis, she helps find safe spaces. When basic needs go unmet, Jackson mobilizes resources. Such practical compassion earned her recognition from the Colville Tribal Tribune and others. But public recognition has never been Jackson鈥檚 motivation. Instead, she has focused on amplifying attention to urgent causes, working with tribal leaders and businesses to pursue solutions that honor both tradition and progress.

In true Eastern fashion, Jackson鈥檚 recent graduation from 51福利社 marked not an ending but a beginning in her commitment to creating positive change. Her Rising Eagle journey has always been about more than just personal growth. It鈥檚 about lifting up others.

Eagle4Life Spirit

During his student days, Mike Mumford 鈥�81, our Eagle4Life Spirit award winner, studied finance and economics while playing defensive back for the Eagle football team. Mumford was a solid defender and hard worker, but it was his commitment to fair play that illustrated the essence of his character.

During the spring practice window preceding Mumford鈥檚 senior year, a freshman walk-on showed up to compete for a place in the defensive backfield. Instead of seeing competition, Mumford took the young player under his wing, mentoring him and pushing him to succeed. After spring ball concluded, the next season鈥檚 starters were announced. That freshman was named to Mumford鈥檚 position, relegating him to the bench for his senior year.

What did Mumford do? Rather than harbor resentment, he continued to support, encourage and work with his replacement. That freshman, Mark Puyear, nominated Mumford for the Eagle4Life Award, and their friendship has endured for more than four decades.

This selfless spirit has always been a hallmark of Mumford鈥檚 relationship with Eastern. Now the senior vice president of wealth management at UBS in Spokane, where he鈥檚 worked since 1988, Mumford has long channeled his professional success back into his alma mater. You鈥檒l find his name quietly supporting fundraisers. You鈥檒l see 鈥渟ponsored by UBS鈥� signs at events because of his influence. You鈥檒l spot him at games鈥攂oth home and away鈥攁lways proudly sporting Eastern gear. You鈥檒l find him rallying fellow alumni to attend events, contribute to causes, or to simply gather to show their Eagle pride.

Mumford also serves on numerous committees and organizations, including the 51福利社 Foundation Board, that are vital to the university鈥檚 future. He never seeks recognition for these efforts. His fulfillment comes not from accolades, but from goals attained.

There鈥檚 something else Mumford鈥檚 friend Puyear shared: 鈥淗e is involved in many things, but what stands out is his ability to get things done. His fulfillment in this comes not from getting recognized, but in seeing the goal achieved.鈥�

Ask Darby McLean about her childhood in Cheney, and you鈥檒l hear her wax enthusiastic about the subtle beauty of its college-town setting, its quiet charm and its strong sense of community. How it was the kind of place where a kid could bike its streets without a care in the world. About how it pulsed with the energies and ambitions of very bright people, both young and old.

What you won鈥檛 hear her talk about are spices. At least not in the ways you might expect. McLean 鈥�00 runs Spiceology, a Spokane-based purveyor of bespoke blends that has, seemingly overnight, set the nation鈥檚 spice scene on fire. Her company鈥檚 products, instantly identifiable thanks to their eye-catching 鈥減eriodic table of flavors鈥� design, are seemingly everywhere. They鈥檙e in grocery stores, both plain and fancy. On the sets of food shows and culinary competitions. In ads for ritzy kitchen remodels. And, of course, in the TikToks and Instagrams of food-obsessed cooking fans. They鈥檝e even made a surprise appearance during last year鈥檚 Super Bowl 鈥� this thanks to an unsolicited placement in a Fox promo for the latest Gordon Ramsey-hosted chef spectacle.

Back in Cheney, none of this would have entered even the wildest imaginings of the younger McLean. In her mother鈥檚 kitchen, she recalls, spices were, at best, an afterthought.

鈥淢y mom was a middle school counselor for close to 30 years,鈥� McLean says. 鈥淪he cooked all the time, which was impressive for someone with a career. But I think she suffered from the exact reason why our spice company exists today 鈥� spices become boring and stale by the time they get to consumers.鈥� (And perhaps even after they reach consumers. Not that any of us would leave our spice jars neatly arranged and mostly untouched for years at a time, only to wonder why they fall flat in that special dish.)

Freshness is a big point of emphasis at Spiceology, but it鈥檚 just one of the features that has fed the company鈥檚 rapid rise. Just as important is its novel 鈥� some might suggest audacious 鈥� approach to blending.

 

Celebrity chefs notwithstanding, it鈥檚 moments with folks like her mom, curious but spice-challenged consumers, that get McLean super excited. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun,鈥� she says, 鈥渢o see people try our fresh spices and have their eyes light up when they realize that, 鈥榃ow, you can actually taste the difference!鈥欌��

Freshness is a big point of emphasis at Spiceology, but it鈥檚 just one of the features that has fed the company鈥檚 rapid rise. Just as important is its novel 鈥� some might suggest audacious 鈥� approach to blending.

Mixing spices is as old as cooking itself. Archaeological evidence has shown the Egyptians, for example, were blending as early as 3,500 BCE, using cumin and coriander, along with anise and fenugreek to enhance the savor of stews, breads and vegetable dishes. Cooks and traders in China and India were also building blends in the same era; spice combinations that, over the centuries, became foundational to culinary tastes and food-prep experiences of cultures across the globe.

At Spiceology, such time-honored flavor combinations are merely a launching point, an invitation to innovation. When it comes to mixing and matching, pretty much nothing is off the table. Unexpected combinations like Raspberry Chipotle and Black and Blue (blue cheese with blackening seasoning) comprise the norm. Versatility and flexible flavor profiles are the goal. 鈥淵ou can put Raspberry Chipotle on ribs, add a couple tablespoons to your brownie mix, or shake it on popcorn,鈥� McLean says. 鈥淏lack and Blue is amazing on steak, but mix it into a box of mac and cheese, and the whole thing鈥檚 upleveled. You could serve it to guests at dinner, and nobody would know it came from a box.鈥�

Hence the 鈥渓ight bulb鈥� moments when home cooks 鈥渢aste the difference.鈥� Even professional chefs, who now make up close to half of Spiceology鈥檚 rapidly growing food-service business, favor the company鈥檚 blends alongside traditional single-ingredient spices.

Like her company鈥檚 unique products, McLean鈥檚 route to Spiceology doesn鈥檛 follow the familiar path. A microbiologist by training, she spent almost two decades successfully working in biotech 鈥� a career choice for which she largely credits her time as an undergraduate at Eastern.

Even well before college, however, McLean knew science would be her thing. She remembers it was a middle school project working with fruit flies that 鈥済ot me really fascinated with the concept of genetics.鈥� After high school, she says, friends and family figured she鈥檇 head up the street to 51福利社, precisely the kind of place that could provide her with the undergraduate research experiences she was looking for.

But McLean instead decided on a different direction, traversing the Cascades to attend Seattle鈥檚 Bellevue College. 鈥淚 had an itch to have other experiences, like many young people do,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 played softball at Bellevue, a community college at the time. I was a lefty pitcher and had a great couple of years there.鈥�

Still, she says, in spite of the many West Side higher-ed options, a return to Cheney was never far from her mind. 51福利社 wasn鈥檛 just close to home, McLean says, it offered something unique.

鈥淓astern had one of the only biotechnology areas of study west of the Mississippi River,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I knew it was a place where I would be able to do bench-science research as an undergrad, which is completely different from what you鈥檇 be able to do at a larger university like UW.鈥�

In spite of the many Westside higher-ed options, a return to Cheney was never far from her mind. 51福利社 wasn鈥檛 just close to home, McLean says, it offered something unique.

 

And so McLean became an Eag, where she found the intimacy of Eastern鈥檚 biotech program, and the readiness of even senior scientists to work directly with undergraduates, to be transformative. She laughs now as she recalls her ravenous appetite for acquiring knowledge: 鈥淚 had an insatiable thirst for learning, and I still do. That鈥檚 a core part of my personality. Always learning.鈥�

She adds that faculty members such as Don and Haideh Lightfoot were particularly instrumental in encouraging this youthful hunger for knowledge. 鈥淗aideh was in the microbiology program, and Don was part of the biotech program. I worked closely with both of them. The size of the programs at 51福利社 helped 鈥� you can鈥檛 have a close relationship if there are 100 people in the class. I got to know Don and Haideh very well. They even invited me and other students to their house for dinner.鈥�

Soon the Lightfoot鈥檚 were more than just influential instructors. They became research collaborators who were eager to include McLean in something bigger.

That 鈥渟omething bigger鈥� was the Lightfoots鈥� idea for commercializing a new technology developed by a student in Don’s program, one that made possible more efficient forms of rapid microbiological analysis. Along with their 51福利社 colleague Jim Fleming, an adjunct professor of biology who had worked for NASA and the Linus Pauling Institute, the group approached the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute for seed funding. They got a green light, and soon their proposed start-up, GenPrime, was open for business. McLean, still an 51福利社 undergrad, was one of their first hires.

鈥淥ur first products were in food science,鈥� says McLean. 鈥淭hese were methods for rapidly enumerating, or counting, bacteria. Our niche was applications outside of heavily regulated industries like medicine; those turned out to be in the fermentation industry, especially cheesemaking and brewing. What a fun job as a college student to be eating cheese, drinking beer and doing science!鈥�

After graduation, McLean began working for GenPrime full time. She says it was a great gig, one that allowed her to pick up a range of valuable skills. It wasn鈥檛 long before history intervened and her skill set, by necessity, grew even larger.

鈥淪eptember 11th happened,鈥� McLean says. 鈥淎nd right after that came the anthrax attacks.鈥�

Suddenly, government agencies urgently needed technology to quickly detect biological threats. Turns out GenPrime鈥檚 food-science applications could be adapted to do just that. 鈥淲ith some minor adjustments to the underlying technology,鈥� says McLean. 鈥渨e became one of a handful of devices in the world that could be used as a point-of-detection device for police, fire and hazmat agencies.鈥�

Thus the company pivoted into government and military sales. McLean, ever the insatiable learner, soon found herself absorbing the intricacies of procurement, product development and supply chains. 鈥淚t was a terrible event, but great timing for us,鈥� she says.

McLean followed up her success at GenPrime with five years of navigating FDA clearances for Abbott Labs and Labcorp. Her career trajectory seemed set. 鈥淚 was at a place where I really knew what the next five years of my life would look like,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat wasn鈥檛 bad, but it also wasn鈥檛 super exciting. And I was pretty sure I wasn鈥檛 going to learn anything new by doing that.鈥�

That鈥檚 when she encountered a fledgling spice company called Spiceology. Founded by local chef Pete Taylor and food blogger Heather Scholten, the two started offering blends in area farmers鈥� markets just over 10 years ago. Their mission? Disrupting 鈥渁 stale spice and seasoning market鈥� while helping cooks 鈥渂ring an extra dose of magic to their cooking.鈥� Taylor was the tastemaker. His first blend, Smoky Honey Habanero, put Spiceology on the map, the company says, 鈥渨ith its smoky-sweet heat that brightens every dish.鈥� (It鈥檚 still Spiceology鈥檚 biggest seller). Scholten, one of the nation鈥檚 most followed food bloggers, brought social media expertise and storytelling skills.

McLean, who over the years had made a point of staying connected to Spokane鈥檚 entrepreneurial scene, says she had first seen Taylor and Scholten doing local 鈥減itch competitions.鈥� She was intrigued. 鈥淭hey were getting really good traction, but struggling to scale,鈥� McLean says. 鈥淎ll the operational procedures and efficiency gains they needed were things I thought I could help with.鈥�

Before long McLean was all in. She officially joined the company in 2020 as its vice president of channels and distribution. When her boss retired two years later, she succeeded him as CEO. It鈥檚 since been a bit of a wild ride, she says, one supercharged by culinary media, with Spiceology products appearing regularly on shows like Hell鈥檚 Kitchen and MasterChef. 鈥淕rowing from $1 million to $2 million is hard. Going from $2 million to $5 million is hard. Growing from $5 million to $10 million 鈥� oh my gosh 鈥� every level presents challenges,鈥� she says.

During a conversation held over the hum of the canning line in Spiceology鈥檚 45,000 square-foot facility, McLean, dressed for the occasion in an Eagle-red blazer, expands on the scope of that growth. Back when she came on board, she says, there were just over 30 employees. Today there are 84. When Spiceology moved to their current location in the months just after the pandemic, the cavernous space seemed like it might never be filled. Now, 25-foot-high rows of product and packaging stretch from end-to-end, bottom to top. Other areas hold 18-wheeler friendly skids of ready-to-ship spices and blends bound for retail outlets like Costco, e-commerce customers ($10 million in sales through this channel alone), and, of course, larger restaurant operators and their distributors.

McLean brought characteristic precision to managing all this, introducing Six Sigma processes that transformed operations. The Six Sigma approach, pioneered by Motorola in the 1980s, is a set of tools and techniques for minimizing manufacturing 鈥渄efects鈥� by reducing processing variabilities 鈥� think of it as a high-tech analog to Henry Ford鈥檚 assembly lines. At Spiceology, Six Sigma translates into helping employees do their jobs with accuracy and efficiency. McLean credits Bryce Burchak, now vice president of operations, and fellow Eastern graduate Ned Woodward 鈥�10, the company鈥檚 director of logistics and fulfillment, with making it happen. Woodward, in particular, has been 鈥渁 pretty big reason why the company is so effectively growing,鈥� she says.

For his part, Woodward says, it鈥檚 McLean鈥檚 leadership, and the managers and creative talent she鈥檚 assembled, that makes it all come together. 鈥淭akes a village,鈥� he says.

What鈥檚 next for McLean and Spiceology? With characteristic passion, McLean says job one is keeping the company at the forefront of culinary trends. Her team of working culinary pros, led by Tony Reed, is continually engaging with consumers, chefs and the wider restaurant community to identify emerging flavor preferences.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just asking questions about trends, we鈥檙e helping to decide what those trends will be,鈥� she says, adding that their latest data on trends points to global flavors that tap into foodies yearning for cross-cultural comfort foods 鈥� think Korean barbecue chicken instead of buffalo chicken.

Through it all, McLean leans on her background in science for both grounding and inspiration. It鈥檚 a background that also leads her back to her roots in Cheney and at Eastern, where she is intent on helping today鈥檚 students have some of opportunities she did. She serves, for example, as chair of the College of STEM鈥檚 Advisory board, and will become a member of the 51福利社 Foundation Board next year. She has also connected with other Eagle-run companies in Eastern鈥檚 Alumni Business Directory (ewu.edu/alumni/directory).

鈥淚 love this business and am excited by it, which I think comes through in our products,鈥� McLean says. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about what I鈥檓 doing. Just like I was back there at Eastern.鈥�

鈥�听 Story by Charles E. Reineke

By Avery Knochel

At the beginning of the 20th century, the United States was riding an extended wave of rapid industrialization and explosive urbanization 鈥� developments that, in a sense, created the modern nation we live in today.

For millions of average Americans, however, our nation鈥檚 rise came at significant costs. Harsh working conditions, child labor, social inequities and extreme economic disparities seemed features, not flaws, in a system that championed the unchecked power of big money and those who controlled it.

Reformers of the era saw this reality as a threat to good governance and social harmony. Their response, in part, was to deploy methodologies of the newly emerging 鈥渟ocial鈥� sciences to create systematic, thoughtful paths toward building a more caring, equitable society. Though it didn鈥檛 yet have a name, the discipline of 鈥渟ocial work鈥� was born.

Fast forward to the 1970s. Thanks to the success of these early, Progressive Era reformers, along with subsequent advances associated with the New Deal and Great Society initiatives, the United States was far less unforgiving to those in need. Still, in the Pacific Northwest as elsewhere, the conditions that gave rise to the need for social work persisted: poverty, racial inequality, urban decay, limited economic mobility, and systemic barriers to success among them.

Since the late 1950s, Eastern had offered a program of study for social work students, and many of its graduates were already making a difference as professionals in both public and private sector roles. But from the start, 51福利社 faculty members and local professionals had advocated for a school of social work, one that could serve as a home to both research faculty and graduate students. After close to seven years of lobbying, the state legislature finally gave its approval, and the school hired its first dean, John O鈥橬eill, in 1974.

鈥淭he new school broadens our responsibility to serve the Spokane community and is a major development in our goal to provide graduate work in human and social development,鈥� Raymond Whitfield, dean of graduate studies at the time, told The Easterner.

Fifty years later, the school is still serving the Spokane community and the wider region. That regional approach, says Kathryn DePaolis, associate professor and interim chair of the School of Social Work, was always intended to be part of the program.

鈥淲e began with a focus on interdisciplinary and rural social work practice in the curriculum,鈥� says DePaolis. 鈥淭he school was committed to serving the needs of an 鈥業nland Empire鈥� that was comprised of small cities and towns, agriculture areas, large areas of wilderness, and a few metropolitan areas.鈥�

Over the course of its next five decades, the school has continued to serve these areas of the region and others, both as part of its policy of providing hands-on student practicum opportunities and its success in preparing graduates to hit the ground running, says Sarah Featherly, field education director for the School of Social Work.

鈥淭here is a need for our graduates to fill the roles of case managers, navigators for those most marginalized, advocates for social justice, and agents of change,鈥� Featherly says. And in order to become 鈥渁gents of change鈥� upon graduation, she adds, Eastern鈥檚 social work students move out of the classroom and into Greater Spokane communities to gain experience with the community members they will eventually serve.

鈥淭hese opportunities provide students a chance to understand how policies, organizational structures, and resources impact individuals and communities. Through practicums, students are able to apply theoretical knowledge to real problems and see how those theories function in diverse settings,鈥� says Featherly.

One of these former students, Geneva Prigan 鈥�01, 鈥�17, has applied that theoretical knowledge to a 23-year career in child welfare. It all began with an 51福利社 practicum placement at Spokane County Head Start.

Head Start is best known as an early childhood education program. But it also provides essential child development and support services to low-income families. These include dental, vision, health screenings and growth assessments 鈥� assessments that are made available to the child鈥檚 pediatrician.

鈥淚 truly believe the MSW program at 51福利社 provides a solid foundation for navigating [our] trauma and motivating change in the clients we serve,鈥� says Prigan. 鈥淗aving that foundation of trauma work, and looking at how trauma impacts the way that we live and the way that we heal, is probably the most impactful piece of my master鈥檚 degree.鈥�

 

Just months after completing her 51福利社 practicum work, Prigan was hired as the family service coordinator at Head Start. Her job, she says, was to do the assessments that helped her determine whether kids鈥� needs were being met: 鈥淚n my role, I addressed any concerns I might have for a child with the family. We talked through any barriers they might have and how to better address those issues and needs.鈥�

Her seven-year service at Head Start, Prigan says, laid the foundation for what has become a career-long focus on childrens鈥� wellbeing, one that has included work with the Indian Child Welfare service of the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, or DCYF. The goal of that position, she says, was keeping Native children connected to their culture by working directly with the child鈥檚 tribe for care and services.

After 13 years on the job, Prigan then returned to 51福利社 to complete a Master of Social Work degree. She now serves as a child welfare supervisor in the Spokane office of DCYF, where she manages a team of social workers who work to ensure a safe and smooth transition for children going into foster homes.

It鈥檚 often difficult, emotionally taxing work. 鈥淭he information in some of the cases is really hard to take in and can be terrifying, quite honestly,鈥� says Prigan. 鈥淭he things that were happening to children in child welfare, and the level of trauma that these kids experienced, creates secondary trauma in the case workers and in the case work.鈥�

Prigan credits her master鈥檚 degree program at 51福利社 for helping her through the more difficult parts of her work, thanks in part to its emphasis on trauma-informed training.

鈥淚 truly believe the MSW program at 51福利社 provides a solid foundation for navigating [our] trauma and motivating change in the clients we serve,鈥� says Prigan. 鈥淗aving that foundation of trauma work, and looking at how trauma impacts the way that we live and the way that we heal, is probably the most impactful piece of my master鈥檚 degree.鈥�

What鈥檚 more, Prigan says, by helping her focus on the children and families she serves, her academic experience has helped her keep sight of the most rewarding parts of her job, like helping to reunify children and families, finding permanent adoptive homes for kids who have long been in foster care, and connecting Native children culturally with their tribes.

鈥淎s social workers, I think that we all have the ability to impact a person鈥檚 life for the better,鈥� she says.

Making lives better, even while still a degree candidate, has long been a hallmark of 51福利社 social work. Before students move on to create positive change professionally, they typically engage in practical, hands-on approaches to confronting challenges faced by their fellow Washington residents.

One example of this practicum work can be found at the central branch of the Spokane Public Library, where students labor alongside library professionals in assisting the unhoused population that often seeks shelter and services there. While on the job, Eagle students respond to a variety of immediate concerns, like handing out winter jackets or bottled water, and also provide guidance on mental health and housing options.

In order to better serve such students, the School of Social Work is always looking for new ways to help when needed.

Master鈥檚 degree students have also worked to address the opioid crisis, this via an interprofessional, team-based training alongside WSU students. Over the past five years, the training program is something all first-year MSW students have completed.

In order to better serve such students, the School of Social Work is always looking for new ways to help when needed. Recognizing students鈥� need for flexible schedules is one of those ways, and the social work program has in recent years become more accessible than ever.

鈥淲e have established part-time options in lieu of the full-time, in-person, MSW program,鈥� says DePaolis. 鈥淭he part-time programs use a hybrid format, meaning that the coursework is a combination of in-person and online instruction. The structure of the part-time programs is designed for individuals interested in social work, but their work and/or family obligations pose a barrier to obtaining a MSW degree in the traditional way.鈥�

For students with financial challenges, scholarship opportunities, such as the one provided through Ballmer Behavioral Health, can also be a game changer. The Ballmer Scholarship covers the cost of attendance in exchange for three-years鈥� work at an approved behavioral-health agency in the state. Another program, the Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program, provides a similar opportunity, one in which students receive scholarship funding in exchange for two years of service at Washington鈥檚 DCYF.

Such partnerships help Eastern students overcome financial barriers while fostering relationships with often understaffed social service agencies. And the combination of such practicum and scholarship opportunities give soon-to-be Eastern grads an edge as they prepare for their careers.

To celebrate these and other successes, the School of Social Work hosted a 50th anniversary event on Oct. 12. During the celebration, held at Hargreaves Hall, 51福利社 students, alumni and staff were able to reconnect and network as they applauded past achievements and shared insights into today鈥檚 challenges.

And what about the next 50 years? 鈥淪ocial work education at 51福利社 will remain grounded in a framework of social, economic, racial, and environmental justice,鈥� DePaolis says. 鈥淭hen, as now, our job is to transform how our graduates practice, advocate, research, develop policy, and lead in diverse and global communities.鈥�听 听

Text-based, generative artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool for creating content and exploring ideas across various domains, including education.

Travis Masingale 鈥�03, an 51福利社 professor of design, is a nationally prominent authority on AI鈥檚 potential for advancing student learning. In a recent conversation with Open-AI鈥檚 Chat GPT 4o, he explored the potential benefits and pitfalls of text-based generative AI in university classrooms and labs through what he calls 鈥渁 series of prompts that guided the AI’s output, while also serving as a metanarrative showcasing the AI鈥�s role in crafting the content itself.鈥�

The integration of AI into education, Masingale adds, 鈥渞epresents a transformative opportunity to reimagine teaching and learning in the 21st century. As we look ahead to a future where AI and humans collaborate more seamlessly in the educational landscape, we must approach this partnership with a spirit of curiosity, creativity and care, while also grappling with the profound philosophical questions that arise from it.鈥�

MASINGALE: So the editors of Eastern magazine have asked me to engage with you on a feature story about your influence, for better or worse, on classroom instruction at colleges and universities. Thoughts?

CHATGPT: Using AI to craft a consistent narrative across a lengthy magazine piece can indeed streamline the process and bring your vision to life more effectively.

Artificial intelligence has undergone a remarkable evolution over the past few decades, transforming from early machine-learning models to the sophisticated generative AI systems we have today. As generative AI continues to advance, its potential applications in education are becoming increasingly apparent, from personalized learning experiences to intelligent tutoring systems that adapt to each student鈥檚 needs and learning style.

Masingale: Fair enough. To me, it鈥檚 more, I guess, about your second point rather than the first. It鈥檚 cool that we鈥檙e at the place where I don鈥檛 need an advanced computer science degree, or to hire someone for lots of money, to be able to use this technology to increase productivity, to boost education outcomes, or even something like this, where you and I are having a conversation about writing a story. I think it鈥檚 rad and amazing and awesome that these tools can act as a leveling mechanism and, really, like all tools, only be limited by the imagination of the user.

CHATGPT: It sounds like you appreciate the accessibility and the transformative potential of AI technologies, especially how they democratize the ability to use advanced tools without needing specialized training. This opens up many possibilities for creativity and innovation in education. (1)

Masingale: True. One is to act conversationally 鈥� to have the AI help you brainstorm; to start using it for everything that you possibly can think of, instead of being like, 鈥淥h, I shouldn鈥檛 use it because I might use it for everything.鈥� Of course, on the back end, you need to make sure you鈥檙e being ethical and upfront about what you鈥檙e generating with AI. Ideally, you reach a point where something becomes your own content. The crappy first draft is developed by AI, but then you take over as editor and content creator, to produce something that鈥檚 your own. I think of AI as like having a best friend that never gets tired of talking about exactly what you want to talk about. That friend can really help you push ideas or ideations further. You start with a 鈥渨hat if鈥� question and see then where it goes.

ChatGPT: It鈥檚 clear you see AI as a powerful collaborative tool that can act as both a brainstorming partner and an aid in the creative process, enriching your work and teaching. The idea of starting with a 鈥渨hat if鈥� scenario and exploring possibilities with AI certainly encourages a dynamic learning environment. (2)

Masingale: I don鈥檛 really have a comment on 鈥渄ynamic learning.鈥� I鈥檓 not sure if it needs to be in the story. My vision of AI in teaching is that AI can act, as I mentioned before, as a leveling agent for first-generation students; one that allows each student to reframe questions with metaphors they live by, so that they can tirelessly ask questions about assignments without a professor or instructor getting annoyed.

I also see it as a massive helper and productivity boost to educators who live in a faster-and-faster-paced world. We no longer live in the era of the professor in a tweed jacket, smoking a cigar and drinking scotch in the midday. Professors now work tirelessly to create classroom and digital experiences that help narrowcast the means of acquiring knowledge to each learner.

ChatGPT: Your vision emphasizes AI鈥檚 role as a supportive and inclusive tool that is particularly beneficial for first-generation students by offering endless patience and personalized assistance. This approach could revolutionize the accessibility and individualization of education, allowing for a more tailored learning experience that adapts to the needs of each student. (3)

Masingale: I would say it aligns 100 percent. I mean, it鈥檚 what I believe; it鈥檚 what I鈥檝e seen through my own experience, even in using AI to write in Grammarly. If something tells me what I鈥檝e written is in the passive voice, I can take the actual sentence I wrote, put it into a large language model and say, 鈥淲hy is this passive? Teach me how to write it in active voice.鈥� And it gives me active voice based on my example, not an abstract example.

ChatGPT: That鈥檚 a fantastic instance of how AI can serve as a real-time educational tool, enhancing understanding and skill development through personalized, immediate feedback. It鈥檚 great to hear how these tools have positively impacted your own writing and learning processes.

Masingale: I really believe that when more educators get involved in using AI, and more students end up using it, we鈥檒l come up with unique ways to put it to work in the classroom. And that this will help us arrive at better solutions for improving learning outcomes. With the boost of AI, we can go from not 鈥淎 to B,鈥� but from 鈥淎 to Z鈥� in a fraction of the time we鈥檙e used to. And, sometimes, in places where we鈥檇 been forced to stop, we can now go further because we鈥檙e not limited by previous barriers to productivity 鈥� or, perhaps more to the point, by blockages in our own mind. We have an assistant that can help us see around corners, and can help us set 鈥� and reach 鈥� a goal that might not have seemed attainable before.

ChatGPT: That鈥檚 an insightful perspective on how AI can extend the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible in education, enhancing productivity and overcoming
mental blockages. It sounds like you value AI most for its role as a catalyst in the creative and intellectual processes, enabling both educators and students to achieve more in less time and push beyond traditional limits.

Masingale: Yes, I think that鈥檚 really important. It鈥檚 not my focus. I don鈥檛 have a philosophy degree. I鈥檓 a designer who researches emergent tools to see if they鈥檙e viable or not. I think this is a viable emergent tool. I am aware of the ethical issues. I think it鈥檚 important to point them out to students. (4)听

I tell all the educators that I speak to about this, and I talk about it often, that it鈥檚 important for us older citizens of the planet to teach our students how to be ethical with these tools. Otherwise, they don鈥檛 know where the fences are. They don鈥檛 know what they should or shouldn鈥檛 be doing. And it鈥檚 our job as educators, and people who鈥檝e been around awhile, to be good stewards of technology; to model good, ethical behavior. Is everybody going to be ethical? No, but if we set that precedent and put that ethical voice in their heads, if we help students see how to be moral with this technology, then at least we plant the seed for it.

ChatGPT: That鈥檚 a very balanced and responsible approach. Highlighting the importance of modeling ethical behavior and educating the younger generation about these issues ensures that, as AI technology evolves, it鈥檚 used thoughtfully and responsibly. (5) Offering this perspective on guiding students in understanding the ethical boundaries and implications of AI in their work is crucial for fostering a conscientious and informed approach to emergent technologies.

Masingale: Right. We need more scientists, ethicists and well-educated people to get involved with testing and modeling. We need to help companies make better models; to make less biased models and eliminate biases if they can. But we also have to be realistic. I don鈥檛 think it is possible, for example, to fully eliminate biases in AI-generated content. But the more educated brains that are involved in the process the better. Instead of railing against it or burying our heads in the sand, we need to get more deeply involved, to use AI tools ourselves, teach others to use them and to share what we find. Let鈥檚 make this world better!听

Notes From the Human

1. As AI continues to advance, its potential to transform education is immense. AI-powered learning platforms will play a crucial role in providing personalized, on-demand learning experiences that enable individuals to adapt to the changing needs of the workforce.

2. AI is changing the way instructors teach and students acquire knowledge with adaptive learning platforms, language-learning apps, and automation of administrative tasks. While these applications have raised concerns about the potential for AI to replace human teachers, it鈥檚 important to recognize that AI is intended to augment, rather than replace, human expertise.

3. These days, AI is already enhancing teaching and learning experiences through intelligent tutoring systems, accessibility tools and personalized learning pathways.

4. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into education, it is crucial to address, among other issues,听 concerns about the potential for AI to perpetuate biases and exacerbate existing inequalities in the educational system. We鈥�ll also need to weigh issues related to the protection of student privacy and data security.

5. The incorporation of AI into education, and society at large, raises profound philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence, creativity and what it means to be human. Ultimately, the implications of AI鈥�s integration into our lives is complex and multifaceted, requiring ongoing reflection and dialogue as we navigate this uncharted territory.

The frontier settlement that had recently become Cheney wasn鈥檛 yet 5 years old when a committee of concerned citizens convened an urgent meeting at the offices of the town鈥檚 first newspaper.

The topic? Education, or the lack thereof. If their growing community was to thrive, the attendees agreed, it needed a place for the instruction of its young people. And soon.

Among those in attendance was an official of the Northern Pacific Company, the railroad line whose newly laid tracks had put the budding town on the map: 鈥淲hy not ask our new director, Benjamin Cheney, to help?鈥� he said.

Letters were promptly dispatched, and a short time later a second railroad official confirmed that, yes, its director was indeed interested in helping. Cheney would, he said, 鈥渇urnish the means to build a school edifice, which would stand as a monument to Mr. Cheney鈥檚 memory, as well as provide the educational opportunities which he himself never had.鈥�

With his subsequent gift of $10,000 and eight acres of land 鈥� along with two teachers and several crates of books 鈥� Cheney made good on his promise.

The Benjamin P. Cheney Academy, constructed in 1882 on the hilltop site where Showalter Hall stands today, was a humble, two-story structure with an uncertain future. But thanks to the vision and determination of those who believed in its potential, the academy and its successors persevered, bouncing back after every setback to become one of the Pacific Northwest鈥檚 most dynamic engines of opportunity: 51福利社.

Today, that visionary spirit lives on as 51福利社 begins the final phase of the most ambitious fundraising effort in its 142-year history.

鈥淏uild Our Future: The Campaign for Eastern鈥� is a $100 million comprehensive campaign that aims to open doors for a new generation of students, much as Cheney鈥檚 academy provided opportunities for aspiring educators in the late 19th century. By expanding scholarships, enhancing facilities, bolstering faculty hiring and investing in cutting-edge programs, the campaign will position Eagle students to earn life-changing degrees that prepare them for personal, professional and community-leadership success.

October鈥檚 elegant Red Tie Gala was the campaign鈥檚 joyous public debut, an announcement event almost a decade in the making.听 During two years of preparation and a subsequent seven-year 鈥渜uiet鈥� phase, the 51福利社 Foundation and the university鈥檚 development and advancement-services teams were busy laying the groundwork for what was to come. Their work has already yielded impressive results, with donors stepping up to pledge more than $68.5 million 鈥� proof that the spirit of philanthropy runs as deep as ever in the Inland Northwest. These initial gifts are already funding scholarships, developing innovative learning hubs, and providing hands-on experiences that translate classroom concepts into real-world skills.

While universities have long relied on similar comprehensive fundraising efforts to support their students, the Build Our Future campaign is Eastern鈥檚 first. So why now? Why are tuition dollars and state support no longer enough?

The answer illuminates a worrying shift in American higher education. Over the past several decades, public universities nationwide have grappled with challenges related to the ups and downs of state and local backing. Even here in Washington, a state with a history of robust support for its colleges and universities, per capita spending on higher education tells a similar story. According to a study released by state education officials, 鈥渉igher education is cyclical. When a revenue problem develops due to a recession, state support declines. Tuition increases have continually shifted costs to students, and state revenue shortfalls accelerate this process.鈥�

Such uncertainties leave institutions like 51福利社 in a tight spot. The university must either raise tuition 鈥� potentially pricing out the very students they aim to serve 鈥� or make cuts. Enter the comprehensive capital campaign, a fundraising tool that鈥檚 become increasingly crucial for public universities nationwide.

The concept of the comprehensive听capital campaign originated in the early 20th century, as universities sought to fund expansion plans and endow professorships. In 1905, the University of Chicago launched one of the first, a groundbreaking $10 million effort that set the stage for the era of organized institutional fundraising.

These days, comprehensive fundraising efforts like 51福利社鈥檚 Build Our Future campaign are a cornerstone of university advancement efforts, allowing institutions to tap into the generosity of alumni, corporations, foundations and community members to create a more diversified funding base. They serve as a focused, time-limited effort to secure gifts that can shape an institution鈥檚 trajectory for decades to come, supporting capital projects, endowed faculty positions, research initiatives and, crucially, scholarships that open the doors of higher education to students of all backgrounds.

Eastern鈥檚 President Shari McMahan sees each donation, no matter its size, as a vote of confidence in 51福利社鈥檚 mission. 鈥淥ur generous donors are helping to create more opportunities to invest in the people, programs, and possibilities that define 51福利社,鈥� says McMahan. 鈥淭ogether, we are building a brighter future for our students and the communities we serve.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal,鈥� McMahan said earlier this fall,听 鈥渋s to make an applied learning experience a hallmark of an 51福利社 degree, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning that prepares them for a good-paying job and a meaningful career.鈥�

Much as Cheney鈥檚 founding gift laid the groundwork for the successful careers of generations of Eastern graduates, McMahan sees 51福利社鈥檚 campaign as extending that same promise to a 21st century student body. The university鈥檚 goals are manifold, she says, but most dovetail into 51福利社鈥檚 renewed emphasis on experiential learning as 鈥渢he region鈥檚 polytechnic.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal,鈥� McMahan said earlier this fall,听 鈥渋s to make an applied learning experience a hallmark of an 51福利社 degree, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning that prepares them for a good-paying job and a meaningful career.鈥�

In short, Eastern aims to leverage Build Our Future donations to bring a diverse cohort of high-potential learners to its Cheney and Spokane campuses; to expand student research and internship options; to build bridges with regional businesses and organizations; and to recruit passionate, outstanding faculty members who will mentor the next generation of successful Eagles.

One example of the campaign already delivering on those ambitions is the Krumble Foundation鈥檚 Internship Stipend. Established by the foundation鈥檚 forward-thinking donors, the program provides up to $3,000 to 51福利社 students who accept unpaid internships at nonprofit groups or government agencies. In an era where real-world experience is essential but often unaffordable, the stipend makes it possible for Eagles from all walks of life to access r茅sum茅-building opportunities that help launch careers.

Indeed, for many first-generation students, it is scholarships and programs like these that make the dream of a university degree attainable.

Jessica Avalos, who grew up in the agricultural community of Grandview, Washington, is one such student. Avalos鈥檚 parents, who didn鈥檛 have the opportunity to complete their own education, emphasized to Jessica and her 10 siblings that college enrollment was their best shot at future contentment. 鈥淎nd your happiness,鈥� they said, 鈥渋s what matters most.鈥�

Avalos found that happiness in preparing for a career in healthcare. Initially aspiring to become a surgeon, she moved to Spokane after high school to pursue premed at 51福利社. In the fall of 2023, she changed course, joining the first cohort of students in the university鈥檚 new School of Nursing 鈥� all while working as a barista to make ends meet. Thankfully, the Proud Eagle Nursing Scholarship, established by alumni donors Kathy and Ken Privratsky, allowed Avalos to transition from her coffee-house gig to work as a nursing technician as she finishes her degree.

鈥淚 really needed it,鈥� Avalos says. 鈥淭he Spokane housing market is so expensive, but this scholarship helped me to remain in stable housing while I changed jobs to work in my field.鈥�

The Privratsky鈥檚 scholarship was established to honor the heroic sacrifices of doctors and nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic, while helping students earn nursing degrees. Avalos hopes to someday meet the Privratskys and thank them in person. 鈥淭hey sound like such amazing and generous people,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe they would do this for me, but I am so happy that they did.鈥�

Brooklyn Parkey, who also received the Proud Eagle Nursing Scholarship, was inspired to pursue nursing by her mother, who went back to school to become a nurse while raising four children. 鈥淚 admire her so much,鈥� Parkey says. 鈥淚 never thought about how hard that was!鈥�

With the scholarship鈥檚 support, Parkey can work less and focus more on her studies. When she graduates, she plans to stay in Spokane and follow in her mother鈥檚 footsteps, helping to meet the healthcare needs of families in the region.

Both Avalos and Parkey are now paying forward Privratsky鈥檚 generosity. Together they established the Eagle Nursing Student Association to assist future nursing students as they prepare for careers in the Spokane region.

Carlos Valdovinos 鈥�22 also understands how scholarships can make the dream of a university degree attainable. Born to parents who encouraged him to flee an increasingly dangerous mountain village in rural Mexico, Valdovinos arrived in Spokane with his sights on becoming a dental hygienist (read more about Valdovinos鈥檚 inspiring story in our Spring/Summer 2022 issue).

Donor-funded scholarships opened the door for him to pursue that calling at Eastern, where he quickly made a name for himself at 51福利社鈥檚 nonprofit Dental Hygiene Clinic, a teaching facility providing quality, low-cost preventive and restorative oral healthcare for Spokane and the surrounding region.

Gaining hands-on experience while serving the clinic鈥檚 diverse clientele, Valdovinos earned a reputation for his work ethic and empathy. Eastern鈥檚 attentive faculty, its scholarship support and experiential learning opportunities, meanwhile, positioned him for post-graduation success. Today, he is living his professional dream, delivering high-quality dental care at a Kirkland practice.

鈥淚鈥檓 super happy that I chose dental hygiene at Eastern for my career path, because it was the perfect way to set up my future,鈥� says Valdovinos. 鈥淚t allowed me to explore the job I wanted, and to be prepared for it.鈥�

Gaining hands-on experience while serving the clinic鈥檚 diverse clientele, Valdovinos earned a reputation for his work ethic and empathy. Eastern鈥檚 attentive faculty, its scholarship support and experiential learning opportunities, meanwhile, positioned him for post-graduation success.

Sometimes the impact of donor support extends beyond enabling students to pursue their chosen paths; it provides a lifeline in times of unexpected crisis. Samuel Steege, a hardworking 22-year-old communications studies major, received some well-timed assistance in the summer of 2023, thanks to the community of Eagles that support the university鈥檚 Giving Joy Day.

Steege was working as a server at Cheney鈥檚 Farmhouse Caf茅 when he got an urgent call from his father. A massive wildfire was approaching, and his dad needed help evacuating the family from their house in Medical Lake. Steege raced over to join his parents and siblings as they packed up possessions and the family pets. Two hours later, the Gray Fire destroyed their home.

An older brother鈥檚 house in Cheney became temporary housing for the family while they developed a plan to rebuild their lives. All told, the fire, just miles from Cheney, claimed some 240 homes and displaced hundreds of people.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen it in the movies, and heard about it, but never thought it would happen to me,鈥� Steege says.

The 51福利社 Student Emergency Fund quickly stepped up to help, providing assistance that kept Steege moving forward toward his degree. The Krumble Foundation also pitched in, providing Steege with an internship stipend to ensure he could cover living expenses while working as a communications assistant for 51福利社鈥檚 Office of Development.

鈥淚t feels good to know that there鈥檚 resources to help during crazy, unexpected times,鈥� Steege says.

As it looks ahead to the concluding three years of its campaign, the 51福利社 Foundation team is confident that stories like these will inspire support from additional donors eager to make an impact.

鈥淚 think that the philosophy of our philanthropy team is that we take pride in the investment our donors make,鈥� says Barb Richey, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the 51福利社 Foundation. 鈥淎nd that we can ask for that investment knowing that our donors will share that pride.鈥�

Richey 鈥�92, 鈥�99 joined the university鈥檚 leadership team five years ago. At the beginning, she recalls, there were doubts about whether a $100 million campaign goal was feasible. After all, the reasoning went, Eastern had never before sought donor involvement on such a scale and, as a result, had never developed the 鈥済iving culture鈥� that bolsters similar fundraising initiatives at other universities.

Richey had little time for such thinking. 鈥淏uilding that giving culture isn鈥檛 easy, it鈥檚 true,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t can take years and years to get there. You have to really press hard 鈥� and keep your foot on the gas 鈥� to continue it. But you have to start somewhere. If you don鈥檛 ask people to give, you鈥檒l never know if they will give. You have to build a case for support. And I don鈥檛 think that Eastern, in the past, had a collective sense of that need.鈥�

That has changed, in no small part thanks to her.

鈥淚鈥檓 a firm believer in what we鈥檙e doing here,鈥� Richey says. 鈥淎ll gifts are significant, and I think that value message has resonated. I鈥檓 a dream maker; a storyteller. I believe it鈥檚 amazing what philanthropy can achieve when you share the dreams, the stories, and the aspirations of our students and faculty members; when you remind our community what private gifts can do to make Eastern鈥檚 shared vision a reality.鈥� Remember also, Richey adds, that the power of giving has been woven into the fabric of 51福利社 since Benjamin Cheney promised to provide a new school for an ambitious little frontier town. Eastern is now poised to offer a similar promise to a new generation. And to do it in ways that may come as a surprise.

鈥淲hen we talk about our history, we always emphasize our humble beginnings.鈥� Richey says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e always instilled humility: never been a 鈥榣oud and proud鈥� kind of place. What a comprehensive campaign can do is change the culture. To make it okay to show your pride. For you to get out there on the street and yell, 鈥楪o Eags!鈥� We can be humble, sure. But we can also be loud and proud. That鈥檚 what we hope to achieve.鈥�