Rain came, reminding us of summer’s tenuous hold on the Palouse. But, to me, the intense greens are worth the gray skies. We have those lively quail and red-winged blackbirds back (although, who really needs to sing at 4 a.m., honestly?) and my husband and I have discovered a pond dominated by yellow-headed blackbirds. Very […]
Whispering so as not to change our good luck … the Palouse has gifted us a gorgeous spring. I think she is making up for, well, last spring — when, quite frankly, she was a bit disappointing. One of those years where July 4 was truly the first week that hit 70 degrees. Not this […]
These owls spent a few weeks in the trees outside of Bustad, while the owlets were in the branching phase. We couldn’t stop looking at them. We took field trips outside, chatted with people we didn’t know (who, without our amazing guidance, may not have even seen the wonder)! We were giddy. The owls have […]
I slept this weekend and truly deserved it! I have been on the move since early January, travel for conferences, development, and federal engagement can be exhausting. But the time is punctuated by surprising moments of impact and connectivity as well as a deep recognition (and gratitude) for all the work people at WSU are […]
As a university, we have been thinking more and more about what it means to have an international footprint. The depth and breadth of our programs in East Africa provide a strong pathway to pursue program building and partnerships in new areas, including engineering, agriculture, and social sciences. We re-signed an MOU with the University […]
I still get motivated by hot coffee and half and half in the morning—my clear hours. I even walk with coffee in hand. Recently, I found myself thinking about impact and how we align with our land-grant and outreach mission. Visible and tangible efforts to make our world better. And what I have learned is […]
This weekend I remembered why I love all four seasons here on the Palouse. Driving on lightly maintained roads about an hour north of Pullman, deep into what definitely passes as a winter wonderland, in search of wildlife at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge — hoping for moose, coyote, eagle, elk, but instead saw coyote, turkeys, hawks, pheasants […]
Today is my birthday. And I woke up feeling weary in spite of bright blue skies. I think it is becoming increasingly hard to shake the trauma that infiltrates our subconscious, taking its toll.
Clouds blanket the Rogue Valley, from where I write this morning, but I still believe I am going to win the bet with my husband for no “real” snowfall in Pullman before November 1.
Sometimes academia can be rough. We have real challenges with staffing shortages, equipment needs, and turnover without the ability to be fully nimble in our responses.