Chancellor Mel Netzhammer has appointed Bola Majekobaje to serve as advisor to the chancellor for equity, diversity and community engagement effective May 12. This is a half-time position in the Chancellor’s Office focused on advancing the diversity goals of the campus and our strategic plan.

In her new position, Bola will serve as a liaison between the university and external community organizations, creating connections and partnerships to promote cultural awareness and cross-cultural understanding to meet the needs of a diverse community. She will work within WSU Vancouver to consult on programs to enhance recruitment, retention and success of students, faculty and staff from underrepresented groups. She will provide leadership in monitoring and evaluating programmatic, climate and operational effectiveness related to diversity and, working with the Diversity Council and others on campus, will recommend changes required for meeting our diversity goals.

Bola will maintain her role as assistant director for student diversity half-time. In that role Bola creates and leads distinctive programs that contribute to increased diversity among the student body and provides support for our students.

Renny Christopher, vice chancellor for academic affairs, has announced new faculty members for the 2014/15 academic year. Please join Academic Affairs in welcoming:

• Michael Curry, assistant professor, MIS, College of Business
• Kristen Jones, assistant professor, industrial/organizational psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jong-Hoon Kim, assistant professor, mechanical engineering, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sharon Kruse, academic director and professor, College of Education
• Katherine Leupp, assistant professor, sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Leslie New, assistant professor, statistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Shameem Rakha, assistant professor, social studies/diversity education, College of Education
• Katherine Rodela, assistant professor, education leadership, College of Education
• Sara Waters, assistant professor, department of human development

1:30 p.m. May 8
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 236

Chancellor Mel Netzhammer will be the guest speaker at Thursday’s regular meeting of the Administrative Professional Advisory Council. All AP employees are invited to attend. Chancellor Netzhammer will give an update to the council on campus activities and will be speaking from Pullman.

APAC provides institutional-level advocacy in support of administrative professional personnel system-wide. Learn more online.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has recently made significant revisions to the Hazard Communication Standard/Right-to-Know Rule by adopting the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. These revisions were implemented to improve worker understanding of hazard information (labels) found on chemical containers, as well as both the content and format of safety data sheets. 

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries requires all employers to deliver training to their employees by June 1.  Environmental Health & Safety will offer Hazard Communication/GHS classes in May. All employees and paid graduate students who work with chemicals should take this training.

A class schedule is available on the events calendar.

If no one shows up within 10 minutes of the start time, class will be cancelled. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Direct questions to Kevin Crowley, 6-9706.

The 2014/2015 Student Ambassador Team has been selected:

• Hanna Morris-Pinson, team lead, neuroscience
• Thomas Brempong, public affairs
• Tyler Crabtree, computer science
• Nick Engerran, business
• Mykaila Forsyth, education
• Giselle Gomez, computer science
• Mike Hamilton, electrical engineering
• Courtney Himes, personnel psychology/human resources
• Beatriz Madriz, biology
• Liliana Salazar, biology
• Emily Vis, business
• Danny Wachsnicht, business  

Student Ambassadors represent the university to prospective students, their families and the community at large. If you would like to request an ambassador for an event, please complete the Request an Ambassador form.

4 p.m. May 12
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 129

You are cordially invited to attend a celebration for Bob Bates, director for research and graduate education, as he retires from WSU Vancouver. Enjoy food, beverages and reminiscing. RSVP to Holly Davis at 6-9247.

Learn how to use LinkedIn. Work on your profile with assistance from the career counselor. It’s free to create a profile on LinkedIn. All labs will be held in the Undergraduate Building, Room 207. The schedule is as follows:

• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. May 14
• 12 – 1 p.m. May 20
• 4 – 5 p.m. May 21

Celebrate WSU Vancouver’s 25th Anniversary by waving the flag to welcome students to campus on the first day of fall classes. WSU alumni, friends, faculty and staff will wear Cougar colors and take over 134th Street/Salmon Creek Avenue and the main entrance to campus. Volunteers will wave the WSU flag as students arrive on campus from 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25. Flag waving will be coordinated in 1-2 hour shifts. Reserve you time now by emailing Lisa Abrahamsson or calling her at 6-9600. Go Cougs!

Through June 18 in the Library

A collection of art entitled “Masterpieces” created by 3 – 5 year old children in the Child Development Program is on display in the Library. Some of the pieces were inspired by studying famous fine art paintings; others are examples of children exploring in a spontaneous and free manner. Children in the program work with many techniques, tools and materials, where there is not a set of right and wrong ways to do a project, but where the process is as important as the result. All of the art reflects the children’s thoughts, feelings and expressions.