I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! Mine was full of food, sun, and laughs. Baking season is now in full swing. I’m not a cookie baker, but I have a sister who is. Thanks to her, the office enjoyed a batch of Cougar-themed cookies. They didn’t last long.
Thanks to all who helped WSU Extension 4-H have a strong Giving Tuesday! I suspect we will have final numbers for each county/tribal office later this week. I am eager to hear about the outpouring of support for our 4-H programs.
I am in Pullman all this week. Due to a cancelled flight, I attended the Board of Natural Resources meeting via Zoom. It’s the last meeting before the new Commissioner of Public Lands steps in to lead the department. The CAHNRS mid-year budget hearing is this week. Also this week are interviews for the vice president of research role. I have a few standing meetings, a couple of meetings about undergraduate curriculum, and a few others about our fundraising activities.
Time is flying by. It’s hard to believe the semester is winding down and we are already focusing on next year’s incoming class. It looks like we will avoid a snowy commencement this year. This is good news for the families, many of whom travel a long way to celebrate. CAHNRS will be congratulating 73 new graduates: 59 students will receive their bachelor’s degrees, five will receive their master’s degrees, and nine will receive their doctorate degrees. There is always a lot of energy in the coliseum, making commencement a fun event to attend.
Also fun — we have a strong turnout of new CAHNRS Cougs who have committed to attending WSU in the fall. We have begun outreach efforts to encourage these students to maintain their plans to join CAHNRS. It is never too early to make that connection.