I learned a new phrase this past week: “false spring” – (a.k.a. never trust a sunny March day in Pullman) when temperatures become unusually warm, before suddenly growing cold again. I suspect anyone who has enjoyed the Palouse knows exactly of what I speak. The Palouse needs to make up her mind – is it going to be snow, sideways rain, strong winds, or blue sunny skies? It is a rhetorical question.
I am going to focus this month’s Notes on things that made me smile. We all need that right now.
This past Friday we hosted the annual Leo K. Bustad Distinguished Lecture. Dr. Bustad was a beloved dean and pioneer in the field of human-animal bond research. Dr. Bustad taught a “Reverence for Life” course for more than 25 years. He was a founding member and first president of a national organization that focused on improving human health through service and therapy animals. I have spent many contemplative moments in my office focused on his legacy. This year’s lecturer, Dr. Kerri Rodriguez, is a direct descendent of the academic and service-oriented lineage of Dr. Leo Bustad. That makes me smile.
This week is Showcase week and I smiled when I learned the following. The annual Showcase week starts with the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA). This year 81 undergraduates from college majors in molecular biosciences and neuroscience submitted short summaries of their scientific accomplishments (abstracts) for SURCA, which means nearly 30% of total university submissions were from our college. Remarkable. And I will also give a shout out to Dr. Ryan Driskell with a record 16 of his undergraduate research trainees submitting 11 poster displays for SURCA. Our already robust hands-on research learning programs have definitely been boosted by generous donors Dr. Robert and Kate Esch and our new EschLEAD program.
So, what else made me smile this week? Well, Catherine Elizabeth Roberts did. If you haven’t seen this great story, ‘Give it all you’ve got,’ first female veterinary grad advised, or smiled at her wonderful wry expression and spirited writing … do enjoy it now. A month or so ago, I had the pleasure of reading Dr. Roberts’ full 10-page typed letter that was uncovered by a wonderful archivist at WSU’s Manuscript Archives and Special Collections.
Happy false spring
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Take care & Go Cougs, Dori Borjesson