WSU Tri-Cities

Master's proposal defense: Alexis Sullivan
2022-04-12 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | ZOOM, WA, United States
Open to WSU Tri-Cities faculty, staff, and students.
Final Examination Announcement for Alexis Sullivan, who will be defending her thesis proposal for the degree of Master of Science in Biology. The exam announcement is to be posted in a public space within the department. As a publicly-funded institution of higher education, all WSU final exams are required to be open to the public without exception.
Alexis Sullivan’s Master’s proposal defense will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at noon over Zoom.

Title: Impact of invasion by annual grasses on mycorrhizal inoculation potential in the Palouse Prairie.

Abstract: The Palouse Prairie is one of the most critically endangered ecosystems in the United States, with less than 1% of native prairie remaining. The native prairie that remains today is increasingly threatened by land-use change and invasive species. The invasive winter annual grass Ventenata dubia has become a dominant threat to native prairie remnants, as it decreases native plant species diversity and native plant species richness. Although we have seen the effects of V. dubia on native plant communities since its introduction in the 1950’s, the impact V. dubia may have on soil microbial communities such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is not known. My graduate work has focused on understanding the impact that V. dubia invasion has, if any, on AM fungi in the Palouse Prairie.

Zoom Link: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/94290055300?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 942 9005 5300
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Nursing Career Fair
2022-04-21 15:00 - 18:30 | WSU Tri Cities Nursing Facility, 1266 Lee Blvd., Richland, 99352
WSU Tri-Cities invites you to participate in our inaugural Nursing Career Fair! The in-person fair is designated specifically for nursing students to meet and learn more about regional healthcare organizations and hospitals seeking to hire. Thursday, April 21st
3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
WSU Tri-Cities Nursing Building Student Registration Employer Registration If you have any questions or need assistance, please email laura.sanchez1@wsu.edu.

Registration Deadline: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit 2022
2022-06-01 | Online, WA, United States
WSU Professional Education presents Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit 2022.
Admission is free and open to all employees from Washington state agencies, boards and commissions. The website provides additional information about the event. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit is presented by the State on four Tuesdays in June. REGISTER

Health Care Virtual Job Fair
2022-06-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Brazen, WA, United States
Featuring hospitals, medical clinics and laboratories. Wednesday and Thursday, June 1st and 2nd
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Brazen June 1st Registration June 2nd Registration

Labor and Automation Effects on Social Sustainability and Resilience in U.S. Agriculture
2022-09-07 08:30 - 12:30 | East Auditorium, 2710 University Dr, Richland, WA, 99354, United States
The workshop includes speakers from around the country talking about technical innovations in agriculture, the economic impacts of new technology, the social implications of labor-saving technology and more. The public is welcome to attend the first day workshop, pre-registration is optional for in-person attendance and required for online watching.

Presentation by NASA Astronaut Kyla Barron
2022-09-14 15:00 | Collaboration Hall, WA, United States
Faculty, staff and students who are interested in learning about STEM careers, especially those related to space exploration, engineering, research and education, will appreciate hearing about Kayla Barron’s process of becoming an astronaut and her time (177 days) aboard the International Space Station. Barron is a Richland native and is returning to share her experiences as a Naval officer aboard nuclear submarines and astronaut. With a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from Annapolis and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, Kayla can speak to faculty and students about the importance of STEM careers and being open to opportunities.

Graduate Student Fall Meet & Greet
2022-09-16 16:00 - 17:00 | Collaboration Hall, WA, United States
Come meet your fellow graduate students from all across the Tri-Cities campus and also meet Dr. Judith Morrison, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Programs. Free pizza provided! Please register by emailing Graduate Programs Coordinator Niamh O’Leary at niamh.oleary@wsu.edu. Please register by noon on September 15th.

Working with Disabilities: Resource and Networking Fair
2022-10-04 15:30 - 17:00 | CIC 120, WA, United States
Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? WSU Tri-Cities Access Services and Career Services will be hosting the Working with Disabilities: Resource and Networking Fair to give students and the community an opportunity to network. Tuesday, October 4th
3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
CIC 120

WSU Visiting Writers Series
2022-10-04 18:00 | YouTube, WA, United States
The WSU Visiting Writers Series brings noted poets and writers of fiction and nonfiction to campus for creative readings, class visits, workshops, and collaborative exchanges across intellectual and artistic disciplines. Roger Reeves Roger Reeves is the author of Best Barbarian (W.W. Norton & Co., 2022), which Tracy K. Smith called “a revelation and a form of reparation,” and King Me (Copper Canyon Press, 2013), a Library Journal Best Poetry Book of the year, and winner of the Larry Levis Reading Prize, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award, and a John C. Zacharis First Book Award. His poems have appeared in journals such as Poetry, Ploughshares, American Poetry Review, Boston Review, and Tin House, among others. He was awarded a 2013 NEA Fellowship, Ruth Lilly Fellowship by the Poetry Foundation in 2008, a Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University, two Bread Loaf Scholarships, an Alberta H. Walker Scholarship from the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, two Cave Canem Fellowships and a Whiting Award. Tuesday, October 4 | 6 P.M. Watch live on YouTube! Sam Roxas-Chua Sam Roxas-Chua 姚 (Yao) is a transracial/transcultural adopted person. He is the author of Saying Your Name Three Times Underwater, Echolalia in Script, Fawn Language, and the podcast Dear Someone Somewhere, an audio-journal project. His open-form calligraphy, artworks, and writing have appeared in various journals and galleries. Sam is a poet in the periphery, a multimedia artist, field recordist, and an amateur radio operator. He’s read for PEN International, city government events, and is currently an artist-in-residence at the Portland Chinatown Museum. Poet Tyehimba Jess describes Sam’s poems as “surreal yet rooted in palpable color and history … it transcends oceans, blends geographies, and bleeds a multitongued heritage for us to better find ourselves.” Tuesday, October 25 | 5 P.M. Watch live on YouTube!

Annual Employee Awards Ceremony
2023-05-03 15:00 - 16:00 | Collaboration Hall, WA, United States
Each year, time is set aside to celebrate and honor our distinguished faculty and staff. In 2020, WSU Tri-Cities established campus awards to be given annually to honor those who epitomize the highest levels of excellence in the pursuit of the university’s mission and goals.
This year’s celebration will honor faculty and staff in these categories:

Distinguished Teaching Award
Distinguished Research Excellence Award
Outstanding Adjunct Business Faculty Award
Outstanding Adjunct STEM Faculty Award
Chancellor’s Distinguished Employee Excellence Award
In addition, we will recognize tenures and promotions.

Light refreshments will be provided.

3 Minute Thesis & 2 Minute Talk Competitions
2024-03-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Collaboration Hall Room 202, WA, United States
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition for doctoral students. The challenge is to clearly present your doctoral thesis to a non-specialized audience in 3 minutes or less, using a single static PowerPoint slide. Two Minute Talk (2MT) is a communication competition for master’s students. The challenge is to clearly present your master’s thesis research or non-thesis focus to a non-specialized audience in 2 minutes or less, using a single static PowerPoint slide. Only Tri-Cities students can compete in this Tri-Cities event. Attending the event is free and open to all. This event is sponsored by Research and Graduate Programs. Learn more about 3MT/2MT and register

Cougar Tracks Tourism & Hospitality Service Excellence Workshop
2025-05-13 09:00 - 16:00 | HAPO Center, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco, 99301, United States
This immersive, in-person workshop is tailored for service professionals in hospitality, tourism, and customer-facing roles who want to master the skills that drive guest satisfaction, increase business success, and create unforgettable experiences. Learn from local industry leaders through hands-on activities, real-world case studies, and interactive discussions that will transform the way you engage with guests. Perfect for hotel, attraction, winery, retail and restaurant staff and tourism professionals representing service-driven businesses looking to elevate their hospitality standards and set themselves apart.

Date: May 13, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: HAPO Center
Format: Interactive, In-Person
Facilitator: Visit Tri-Cities Excellence in Service Award Recipient
Cost: Free!

Register for the Tourism & Hospitality Service Excellence Workshop
This workshop is sponsored by Visit Tri-Cities and Battelle.

Powerful Learning Objectives

Turn Every Guest into a Loyal Advocate
Learn how to create personalized guest experiences that build lasting relationships, encourage repeat business, and boost word-of-mouth referrals.
Handle Difficult Situations with Confidence
Master proactive communication and problem-solving techniques to resolve challenges quickly and professionally, ensuring guests leave with a positive impression.
Leverage Local Tourism to Enhance Guest Experiences
Gain Master Concierge Tourism Training with in-depth knowledge of Tri-Cities’ attractions, venues, and events and Visit Tri-Cities services to provide tailored recommendations that elevate guest satisfaction.
Drive Business Growth Through Service Excellence
Discover how exceptional service directly impacts revenue, from increased customer retention to enhanced brand reputation in the hospitality industry.

Cougar Tracks Wine Service Excellence Workshop
2025-06-03 12:00 - 16:00 | Wine Science Center, 359 George Washington Way, Richland, WA, 99354
An exclusive workshop for hospitality employees in Benton County — just in time for the tourism season.
Boost wine club conversions and customer loyalty, strengthen hospitality and conflict resolution skills, deepen your Washington wine knowledge, learn frfom top wine industry experts, and gain tools for real-world tasting room success.

Date: June 3, 2025
Time: Noon – 4 p.m.
Location: WSU Wine Science Center
Format: Interactive, In-Person
Audience: Tasting Room Staff & Mangers
Cost: Free!

Register for the Wine Service Excellence Workshop
Meet Our Experts

April Reddout
Reddout Wine Consulting
Michelle Vaughters
Wine Club Strategist
Reggie Daigneault
Wine Educator, REGGIE Wine LLC

Cougar Tracks Change Architects Workshop
2025-06-04 08:30 - 15:30 | WSU Tri-Cities, 2710 Crimson Way, Richland, WA, 99354, United States
In today’s rapidly evolving marketplace, successful businesses in the Tri-Cities region recognize that true transformation isn’t just about adopting new technologies, it’s about redefining how teams collaborate, innovate, and lead meaningful change. The Cougar Tracks Change Architects workshop is specifically designed for project managers, team leaders, and forward-thinking professionals seeking to drive transformative business operations, innovate solutions, and build highly cohesive teams. Join us to ignite lasting change, foster innovative excellence, and transform challenges into powerful opportunities for your organization’s growth and impact.

Date: June 4, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (lunch included)
Location: WSU Tri-Cities
Format: Interactive, In-Person
Instructor: Dr. Wade Larson
Cost: $1,295 (apply for scholarships here)

Register for the Cougar Tracks Change Architects Course
Purpose-Driven Learning Objectives

Understand essential project management methodologies tailored for innovative, transformative projects.
Cultivate leadership skills that inspire cohesive teamwork and effective communication.
Equip participants with tools for overcoming resistance and navigating the complexities of organizational change.
Foster an innovative mindset that turns challenges into opportunities for business growth and development.

Program Structure

Transformative Project Management Essentials

Core principles of project management specific to transformative business initiatives.
Identifying clear, compelling purposes behind projects to motivate teams and stakeholders.

Building Cohesive Teams

Strategies to nurture team cohesion, trust, and accountability.
Interactive exercises highlighting the power of collaboration in achieving innovative outcomes.

Navigating and Leading Change

Tactics to effectively manage resistance and facilitate meaningful change within organizations.
Case study analyses tailored to prominent local businesses to ground theory in regional relevance.

Innovation Lab: From Insight to Action

Practical application: Participants collaboratively solve real-world business challenges using innovative project management techniques.
Teams present solutions and receive constructive, actionable feedback.

Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours
2025-10-09 16:00 - 18:00 | CIC 120, WA, United States
Connect with local business professionals while enjoying refreshments and beverages. Bring your business card to enter to win a door prize. It’s free to attend – bring a friend!

ProPEL Poster & Internship Panel
2025-11-03 08:30 - 10:00 | Floyd Atrium, WA, United States
Hear from students who’ve been there – learn how to find, apply for, and succeed in internships!
Coffee and refreshments provided.

Bio-In Seminar Series: Turning the Page in Aviation — Growth, Availability, and Sustainability
2025-11-20 14:00 - 15:00 | WA
Learn more about the state of the art in commercial manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and elucidate a path forward. Various elements of the necessary ecosystem including but not limited to feedstock, technology, policy, and finance will be discussed. Join us in-person or online! Join online
Mukund Karanjikar
Mukund Karanjikar is founder and CEO of CleanJoule Inc., a U.S.-based fuel technology company advancing high-performance sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). An inventor with 20+ patents, he previously led Technology Holding and worked at Chevron and Rallis India Ltd. He has served as a visiting fellow at Harvard University, adjunct faculty at the University of Utah, and on expert panels for the International Energy Agency, Bureau of Land Management of the Department of Interior, and Industrial Research Institute. Former chair of the Management Division at the American Institue of Chemical Engineers, he holds a Chemical Engineering degree from ICT Mumbai and a PhD from Auburn University. Aviation fuel demand is expected to grow to 160-210 billion gallons globally by 2050 from the current 95 B gallons. In parallel, surface transport is rapidly electrifying. The world is faced with the challenge of accurately predicting petroleum demand as surface transport fuels and aviation fuels are produced from the same barrel. All the same, decarbonization of aviation remains to be a substantial challenge. Such challenge needs to be addressed head on by developing alternative sources of aviation fuel that will decouple the aviation industry from the petroleum industry.

Teacher Preparation Programs Virtual Info Session
2025-12-16 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom, WA, United States
Attend an upcoming virtual information session over Zoom to learn more about two of our teacher preparation programs, the Alternative Route Program and the Master in Teaching program.

Registration in advance is required. Once registered, you will receive an email with the Zoom link for your chosen session.
Register for an info session

Cougar Tracks: Manager Coaching Series
2026-02-03 08:30 - 11:30, 2026-02-10 08:30 - 11:30, 2026-02-17 08:30 - 11:30, 2026-02-24 08:30 - 11:30 | WA
The Manager Coaching Series is a set of four half-day, industry-informed workshops designed to strengthen the management skills employers value most.
Each session blends proven frameworks, hands-on practice, and ready-to-use tools so managers can apply what they learn the very next day. Register for a Cougar Tracks Workshop

Cougar Tracks: Art of Pairing Workshop
2026-03-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, 2140A Wine Country Rd, Prosser, WA, 99350, United States
Join Cougar Tracks for a hands-on workshop exploring the fundamentals of food and wine pairing through guided tasting and interactive sensory activities. Perfect for wine lovers, tasing room teams, and anyone looking for a unique holiday gift or team experience. Reserve your spot
