Engineering Professor Susmita Bose and emeritus Veterinary Medicine Professor Terry McElwain were elected to the board of directors for the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS).
Current board member, Doug Call, a professor of molecular epidemiology in WSU’s Paul Allen School of Global Health, was chosen as the board’s secretary.
The Washington State Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit organization of more than 300 elected members who are nationally recognized for their scientific and technical expertise. Their goal is to help improve public policies and programs through informed, independent scientific analysis and communication with policy makers.
“Washington State needs access to unbiased cutting-edge information that can be trusted and that is actionable,” said Call. “WSAS has already demonstrated the capacity to serve this role, but it is crucial to grow our contributions more than ever. As secretary, I will do my best to maintain the highest standards of transparency and accuracy to ensure that the collective efforts of the board and the Academy are not delayed in any manner.”
Susmita Bose was first named a member of WSAS in 2017 in recognition of her contributions to advancing research on 3D-printed bone scaffolds, implant materials, and drug delivery vehicles. She is a fellow of multiple scientific societies including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Inventors.
“I am honored to be joining the WSAS board and look forward to creating new opportunities for WSAS to embody its mission of science in service of Washington state,” said Bose.
McElwain was elected to WSAS in 2008 and to the National Academy of Medicine in 2009. He currently serves as chair of the WSAS Education Committee and has previously served as a member of the membership committee.
“I am excited to continue my service to WSAS as a board member and look forward to working with WSAS members to better understand how WSAS can help support Washington State STEM education efforts in collaboration with partners throughout the state,” said McElwain.
Allison Campbell, current WSAS treasurer, was elected by WSAS members to be the next president-elect. Campbell, now retired, is the former associate laboratory director at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
The board’s current chair and president is WSU’s John Roll, professor and vice dean for research in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Other WSU board members include Celestina Barbosa-Leiker, Julie Kmec and John Stark as well as Patricia Hunt who was re-elected to the board for this coming term.
“Congratulations to our new and returning board members,” said Roll. “It will be a pleasure to work together to bring scientific expertise to the many important policy questions that face the State of Washington.”
