Balloons, banners, flags, and a gathering of students, faculty, and staff—along with Butch T. Cougar—filled the steps of the Elson S. Floyd Building on Wednesday morning to welcome Washington State University’s 12th president, Dr. Elizabeth Cantwell, to campus.

Cantwell officially began her tenure on April 1 and immediately set out on what she called a “whistle-stop tour” to visit each campus in the WSU system, with WSU Tri-Cities as the first stop.

During her visit, she met with Chancellor Sandra Haynes, participated in media interviews, and toured the campus, including off-campus facilities such as the Wine Science Center and the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures.

At an afternoon welcome reception, Haynes introduced Cantwell to the campus community.

“As a member of the search committee, I can tell you Dr. Cantwell was a standout candidate,” Haynes said. “What struck me most was her thoughtful intelligence, her clear dedication to lifelong learning, and her passion for our land-grant mission.”

Cantwell outlined her plans for the coming months, stating she would return in the fall for listening sessions with faculty, staff, and students. She expressed her commitment to hearing from the campus community and shaping WSU’s vision for the future together. Following her remarks, she mingled with students, staff, and faculty, taking photos and answering questions.

Cantwell is the first woman to serve as president in the university’s 135-year history. Before joining WSU, she was president at Utah State University, where she oversaw a $1.3 billion annual operating budget across a 30-campus system. She also held senior leadership positions in research and innovation at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University and served in leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

She holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in human behavior from the University of Chicago.

Cantwell’s tour will continue with visits to WSU Spokane, WSU Everett, WSU Vancouver, and WSU Pullman.