WSU Everett’s Everett Empowered Speaker Series

We are excited to introduce “Everett Empowered,” an innovative speaker series designed to inspire and connect our community through the power of storytelling and dialogue. This series aims to bring fresh perspectives and meaningful discussion from thought leaders and industry experts across various fields, from science and technology to art and culture.

Upcoming Highlights:

• An Evening with Dr. David Makin on March 28, 2024, focuses on “Democratizing Data: Empowering Our Community Through Open Public Safety Data.” Dr. Makin, renowned for integrating technology and data in public safety, will discuss the power of open data to enhance community safety and trust.
• An Evening with Dr. Carolyn Finney on April 18, 2024, celebrates Earth Day with “Environment and Diversity.” Dr. Finney, author and cultural geographer, will explore the role of African Americans in environmental narratives and the importance of diversity in environmental policies.

Everett Empowered events are free and open to the public, reflecting our shared vision of equity and community enrichment. The series is supported by the generosity and expertise of community organizations, including Everett Public Library, Everett Community College, City of Everett, Sno-Isle Libraries, and more.

Event Details:

• Location: Washington State University Everett, 915 N. Broadway, Everett, WA 98201
• Time: 5 pm–8 pm (Networking and Refreshments: 5–6 pm, Program begins 6 pm)

For more information and to register for the events, please visit https://everett.wsu.edu/everett-empowered/.

Patrick Hall volunteers as a capstone mentor and hands-on teacher with the VCEA Electrical Engineering students at WSU Everett.

How long have you been volunteering with the Electrical Engineering students, and how did you find out about the opportunity?

About five years ago a coworker, a WSU alumnus himself, told me about the opportunity to work with students at the Everett campus.

What is your background in the industry?

I was in the Navy for several years as a nuclear reactor operator and after being discharged I decided to go to the University of Washington (sorry). I got a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and have been working at the Fluke Corporation for 18 years now.

You do a lot of community work, specifically volunteering with the Downtown Everett Association and the cities’ Historic Commission, and previously with the Boys Scouts. What is your favorite part about working with our students and how is it different than other volunteering you’ve taken part in?

I am working to teach them the real-world side of engineering that is often lacking in the classroom setting. PCB layout and soldering are two specific skills we work on. However above all we work on teamwork and how, as a group of engineers, to solve problems together.

Part of the joy of working with students is that they are eager to learn. It’s not just a job, and it’s rewarding to see their progress in becoming engineers over the years. I also truly feel that they appreciate having me around, which is nice.

One of the cool things we do here is partnering with industry leaders like Fluke for mentorship and research projects that are not available to most undergrads. What is that like for you?

I don’t have a background in scientific research, but I do have a background in the development and research side of things. Engineers solve problems, so this is just solving a problem that hasn’t been solved before and helping the students see it through. In the case of this project, at Fluke, there are a few folks who identified the need for this problem, but it isn’t necessarily something we can afford to divert resources to it. The students are playing an important role in this for us because they are essentially building us a prototype. This program gives us a way to use their need to learn things and our need for brain power. It’s great.

If you could share with the Everett community one thing about us, what would it be?

WSU Everett is a resource for skilled new hires in engineering (and other majors), otherwise, we would be recruiting from outside of the community. It is a great resource for technology companies and companies like Fluke not only to hire future engineers but also to foster the technological ecosystem of this region. The partnership is an example of mutual benefit that betters our society and it’s fun to play a small part in it.

What is your favorite takeaway from the year so far?

Two alumni from the Everett program are mentoring alongside me now! Those two can focus on the hard skills they are more proficient in, and closer to their level of work, while I can focus on mentoring them. Now there is a succession plan for the program, and it’s great to mentor people on how to mentor.

 

 

 

 

By Avianna Stein

Professional wear can be prohibitively expensive, but ask any student applying for an internship or a new job; it’s necessary to make a good impression when meeting employers. Enter the WSU Everett Cougar Closet, a new resource providing students with free, gently used interview-ready clothing. Since the March 2023 opening, the Cougar Closet has been a hit—filling the racks with donations from the community has helped eliminate one of the financial barriers many students face when embarking on their career journeys.   

A social media post about the Cougar Closet inspired Sidney Shea (Integrated Strategic Communication, Class of 2019) to host a get-together with friends to support their alma mater. Sarah Larsen, who graduated with Sidney, attended the event. “We had a clothes swap,” explained Sarah, “We just brought all of our clothes and had a little brunch, and anything left over, Sidney created a whole WSU Everett bag.”

“We’d originally planned on donating everything to a local women’s shelter,” said Sidney, “but seeing how much professional clothing was left over, we just thought about WSU Everett and how close it is to us.”     

The donation made by Sidney and Sarah was timely, providing a diverse collection of women’s attire for professional settings. Sarah was delighted to help her alma mater, although she hadn’t realized the full impact of her donation until it was delivered. “I remember Hayley (Statema, WSU Everett’s Development Director and a fellow alum) just kept repeatedly saying how grateful she was,” said Sarah. 

“The fact that our willingness to donate these clothes made many in the community grateful to us was an ‘aha’ moment for me,” said Sarah, “it was just so easy to do, and moving forward, we’re figuring out how we can do that in different ways.” 

“When we were both in college, we’d huddle together to figure out what we were wearing to interviews or even, you know, for professional presentations for our classes,” said Sidney. Her experiences with the financial burden of purchasing appropriate attire fuel her desire to give back. 

Sarah also recalls the stress that purchasing business attire for her internship had on her budget. “I wish that there had been a resource like the Cougar Closet. It would have been more affordable and accessible to me. If there had been a closet back then, I probably would have used that,” she said. 

The impact of their donation goes beyond providing clothing; it empowers students to excel. Through their act of giving, Sidney and Sarah inspire students to pursue their dreams and remind them of the strong Coug support network they have access to. What started as a fun get-together among friends became a powerful opportunity for civic engagement. “WSU Everett is such a unique community,” Sidney shared, “and so, hopefully, by what we’re doing, it inspires students who are here to look forward to giving back themselves.”

Sydney and Sarah’s generosity demonstrates their heartfelt commitment to student success. Their donation to the Cougar Closet provided much-needed resources and sent a powerful message of support, reinforcing the culture of giving at WSU Everett.

 

Washington State University Everett will provide Amazon hourly employees access to in-demand bachelor’s degrees and certificate programs in the North Puget Sound region

Amazon’s Career Choice program provides pre-paid tuition to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere

EVERETT, WA – Washington State University Everett announced they have been selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, providing Amazon’s hourly employees with access to high-demand degrees and undergraduate courses in business, data analytics, cybersecurity, communications, engineering, and organic agriculture.

“Being selected as an Amazon Career Choice education partner is an exciting and progressive way for WSU Everett to serve North Puget Sound,” said Dr. Paul Pitre, Chancellor of the newest campus in the WSU System. “This partnership will provide our community with even greater access to high-quality education and training, enabling individuals to gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving workforce. By working together, we can help build a stronger, more resilient community that is better equipped to meet the demands of the future.”

WSU Everett is a student- and community-centered campus located in the seventh-largest city in Washington State. The state-of-the-art building opened in 2017, expanding access to higher education for the North Puget Sound region to create a critical mass of talented, skilled professionals to support enhanced economic development and prosperity. The growing campus offers world-class WSU academics aligned with local industry partners and builds programs specifically to develop career and citizen-ready professionals.

Amazon’s Career Choice program is an educational benefit that empowers employees to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere. The program meets individual learners where they are on their education journey through a variety of education and upskilling opportunities, including pre-paid college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs, and foundational skills such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas, and GEDs. In the U.S., the company is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs.

Amazon’s Career Choice program has a rigorous selection process for third-party partner educators, choosing partners that are focused on helping employees through their education programs, assisting them with job placements, and overall offering education that leads to career success. “We’re looking forward to Washington State University Everett coming on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,” said Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program. “We’re committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere. We have intentionally created a partner network of third-party educators and employers committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and continuous improvements to the experience. Today, over 130,000 Amazon employees around the world have participated in Career Choice, and we’ve seen first-hand how it can transform their lives.”

For more information on Amazon’s Career Choice, visit: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/career-choice

For more information about Washington State University Everett, visit:
https://everett.wsu.edu.

###

Greetings EverCoug Community,

February was quite a busy month for me, and not just because I lead a vibrant and bustling campus. As the month designated for celebrating Black history, every venue and stage teamed with African American speakers and events.  Every spoken and written word included a nod to the perspectives and contributions of black Americans. I appreciated it and enjoyed it. But on this last day of February, I implore us not to stop now. Keep the music going. Keep the conversations and reflections going because Black history is American history. They are one and the same. The time to learn, teach and reflect upon the African American experience is today, tomorrow, or any day we choose.

When Carter G. Woodson launched what was then known as Negro History Week in 1924, his goal was to broaden the view of American history to include the contributions of African Americans. Woodson is known as the father of Black History Month because he gave birth to the recorded history of Black people in the United States. A single week became a month.  Now, a month can extend year-round in our hearts and minds. As an educational leader, I know students have the best learning experience when subjects are not taught in isolation but with a full and critical context of the many things with which they intersect. Viewing black history as American history allows us all to better understand the past, present, and future of this great country.  The best way I can honor Dr. Woodson is by doing my part to extend the conversation beyond a single month to the rest of the year.

Recently, my wife and I visited our daughter at college during Parents Weekend. One evening, we watched the NAACP Image Awards, an important annual showcasing of black talent and accomplishments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump received the Social Justice Impact Award for his remarkable achievements as a social justice advocate. He used his acceptance speech to remind us of our collective obligation to celebrate Black History and ensure the contributions of African Americans in science, history, literature, culture, and more grow in relevance and understanding in our schools and American life.

As Crump told the audience, “Black history matters because Black history is American history.”  

In Everett, we will continue to celebrate our rich, diverse, and shared history. We will continue to encourage critical conversations. Here are just a few exciting ways that we’re extending the conversation:

ASWSUE’s Diversity Committee is actively opening discussions and creating initiatives through Student Government that promote the values of the EverCoug community and the broader WSU System. Chaired by Business Administration and Management senior Zainab Alarape, our students are building the committee to address current issues impacting our campus and community. In March, they will participate in BaCE training with Obie Ford, Associate Vice Chancellor of DEI for WSU Vancouver.

When speaking about the ASWSUE Diversity Committee, I must take a moment to congratulate their current president, senior Software Engineering student Arlo Jones. In addition to his commitment to our diversity work, Arlo will head to Sweden for a semester abroad in fall 2023 to support the international development of Boeing’s and Saab’s new T-7A Red Hawk training aircraft. Zainab, Arlo, and all committee members are dedicated to creating a campus where everyone is respected, included, and understands their unique contribution to WSU Everett. I couldn’t be prouder of the dedication and drive our students bring to campus each day. Watching them build life and leadership experiences on top of earning a degree is one of the highlights of my role.

Faculty and staff also work to keep up our DEI momentum. Our Everett Anti-Racism Project began at the beginning of the month and will continue indefinitely. Today, Trymaine Gaither shared his work in Mindfulness-Based Anti-Racism, leading our staff in carefully exploring our beliefs and implicit biases, identifying microaggressions, and working toward a robust and inclusive campus community. We are fortunate to learn and grow with Trymaine’s guidance!

As WSU Everett grows in knowledge, we also grow in numbers. I am pleased to welcome three outstanding new members of the EverCoug team: Hayley Statema, Director of Development; Lisa Hunter, Registrar; and Kate Brodland, Admissions Counselor and Recruiter. They each bring passion, experience, and expertise that will keep us growing and thriving. Also gracing our halls is Professor Tyron Love, visiting Fulbright Scholar visiting from the University of Canterbury. Dr. Love researches the academic careers of Native Māori faculty in New Zealand. Dr. Joe S. Gladstone and Dr. Love will explore the career progress of university faculty who identify as Native American, commencing with doctoral study application through to retirement/emerita.

Finally, we look forward to hosting the Board of Regents on March 22. Almost all members, President Schulz, and staff will be on campus for a panel discussion with our accomplished students to share in their experiences and successes.

To paraphrase the writer bell hooks, we are stepping into March and into the rest of the year, building a learning community focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. I invite you to join us. Please see our website for events and ways that you can engage with us.
 
Go Cougs!
 
Dr. Paul Pitre, Chancellor
WSU Everett & Everett University Center

By Avianna Stein, WSU Everett

March 1st marks the first day of Women’s History Month! This month, we celebrate and recognize the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history and their impact on advancing gender equality. Women have worked hard to shape our world, from trailblazing pioneers to modern-day heroes. It’s because of such women that by the 1980s, women made up a majority of undergraduate college students and continue to do so today. 

The Women’s Rights Movement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 broke many barriers to higher education for women. As a result, women enrolling in community colleges and transferring to four-year universities have become more common. Women make up a significant number of transfer students in the United States, including Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, and Dr. Mae Jemison, an engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. Both transferred from community colleges to four-year universities, completing their degrees and going on to very successful careers. 

Eileen Collins attended Corning Community College and finished her bachelor’s at Syracuse University. A decorated astronaut, she is the first female pilot and commander of the Space Shuttle.

Lucy Liu, actress, director, and artist, transferred from New York University to the University of Michigan to earn her degree in Asian Languages and Cultures. She has won many awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Zora Neale Hurston is an African-American writer known for “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” She attended Howard University, transferring to Barnard College of Columbia University. 

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 2019. Ros-Lehtinen first attended Miami Dade College and then transferred to Florida International University to earn her Bachelor’s. 

The experiences of these women and the accomplishments they have made encourage other women to pursue their dreams and achieve their educational goals. As a 100% transfer campus, WSU Everett understands how important a strong transfer culture is to a robust and successful academic experience. We are proud to be a part of the transfer student story!

References:

https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/2021/03/21/history-women-higher-education/

https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/2021/09/29/community-college-transfers-thrive-elite-universities/

//www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/slideshows/famous-people-who-attended-community-college

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancyleesanchez/2019/03/06/these-7-famous-transfer-students-changed-the-world-you-can-too/