The inaugural CAHNRS Dean’s Leadership Tour was more than a journey across our state. It was a defining moment of connection, purpose, and shared vision.
Over three remarkable days, our leadership team, associate deans, department chairs, and university colleagues, alongside valued partners, stepped beyond offices and expectations to fully experience the impact of our land-grant mission. We didn’t just observe. We saw, tasted, smelled, and touched the outcomes of what we—as faculty, staff, and students—do every day across Washington. In doing so, we deepened our understanding of our mission and one another.
From the outset, I invited our leadership to set aside assumptions, lower their guards, and lean into the experience with openness and respect. What followed was extraordinary. We heard powerful stories, discovered shared values, and found common ground in places we might not have expected. Time and again, we were reminded of a simple truth: While we are each unique leaders, we are far more alike than we realize—and together, far more capable than we often imagine.
Our journey began in Ritzville on the farm of 9th District State Senator Mark Schoesler, a champion supporter of CAHNRS and WSU at large. Standing in his fields and seeing a state-leading WSU-developed wheat variety, Piranha CL+, thriving in the soil under limited rainfall conditions, was a powerful affirmation of our purpose. Our work is not theoretical; it is tangible, impactful, and essential.
At Moses Lake, in partnership with the Washington State Potato Commission, we listened closely to growers navigating real-world challenges such as successfully storing potato crops amid variable environmental conditions. Their call for innovation in improved deterioration detection methods was not just a request—it was an invitation for us to lead, collaborate, and solve problems that matter.
As we continued west, we were joined by WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell and Provost Chris Riley-Tillman, and the depth and diversity of our mission came into even sharper focus. On the beaches of Edmonds, with WSU Extension Beach Watchers program volunteers, we witnessed science in action and learned from citizens who are trained to protect ecosystems with vigilance and care. It was hands-on learning at its best, and a vivid reminder that our reach extends far beyond campus boundaries.
At the Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, we saw discovery unfolding in real time. Faculty and students are advancing knowledge, solving problems, and shaping the future. At the WSU Breadlab we experienced innovation with purpose. Kevin Murphy, the Clif Bar and King Arthur Baking Company Endowed Chair, has grown his vision from seed funding of approximately $2.5 million into a transformative, roughly $40 million effort to bring climate-friendly, nutritious high-fiber grains to communities.
We didn’t just learn—we engaged. We baked together. We laughed. We shared. And in those moments, relationships were forged that will strengthen our work for years to come. This tour was in part a celebration, giving us the chance to mark birthdays for President Cantwell, Animal Sciences Chair Gordon Murdoch, and Regents Professor and School of Economic Sciences Director Jill McCluskey.
Special visitors at our Breadlab stop included Washington Research Foundation (WRF) President and CEO Orin Levine, Grant Programs Director Meher Antia, and other WRF members; Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison; and several donor guests. We were also joined throughout the tour by WSU Government Relations team members Glynda Becker-Fenter, Jake Dowd, and Mike Bauduy.
In the Skagit County Extension office, we were reminded that our mission also carries a deep responsibility to care for the people who sustain our agricultural systems. Through their work to address farm stress, suicide prevention, and safety, our Extension teams are not only educators, they are lifelines.
On the third and final day, we toured the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser and the WSU Wine Science Center in Richland, where innovation in irrigated agriculture and wine science showcased the cutting edge of research and its application. A highlight of the Wine Science Center visit was Associate Professor Tom Collins’ presentation and tasting session covering smoke exposure and its effects on wine quality and taste.
Each stop, each conversation, each “aha” moment reinforced the extraordinary breadth and impact of CAHNRS. But perhaps the most powerful outcome of this journey was not any single visit. Rather, it was the sense of collective purpose it inspired. Yes, this tour was a celebration, but it was also a call to action. It was a reminder that leadership is not about standing apart. It is about aligning ourselves and joining together in advancing our mission. It is about listening deeply and learning continuously while building relationships that allow us to move forward, stronger and united.
As we look ahead, we continue that momentum. From investments like the $13.5 million WSU Creamery revitalization that was approved by the Board of Regents to opportunities like the upcoming USA FIRA 2026 robotics and automation conference in Yakima, Washington, on October 20-22, we are poised to lead in new and meaningful ways. And we will do so together, with curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence.
This was not just a tour. It was a beginning. Let us continue the journey with purpose, partnership, and the unwavering belief that what we can do together matters.
Kudos Corner
Thank you to the nearly 30 WSU Extension master gardener volunteers from Asotin, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties who took part in the Blue Mountain Extension Tour on May 29. This event provided educational opportunities as well as familiarity with the WSU Pullman campus and CAHNRS leadership.
Many of the participants recently completed Green School training and are giving back hours to Extension as they become certified volunteers. Master gardeners play a vital and highly impactful role in our land-grant mission, and I appreciate the partnerships that they create.
Until next time, Go Cougs!
Sincerely,
Raj