Messages from the President

Dear Western community, 

As you may be aware, a student encampment, similar to those which have emerged at universities across the country, has been established on Old Main lawn on WWU’s Bellingham campus. I first want to acknowledge the significance of the issues driving the encampment. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands urgent attention and thoughtful consideration, and I continue to be deeply moved by the genuine empathy and heartfelt concerns expressed by many of…

Last week marked the end of the supplemental legislative session in Olympia, and, though it was a “short,” 60-day session, state lawmakers passed several bills into law, including some with impact to WWU and the students we serve.

Here’s a quick summary of new investments for Western coming out of the 2024 session:

• $445,000 per year for Electrical and Computer Engineering degree program expansion
• $400,000 for academic access and outreach programs
• $…

Dear WWU Community, 

February is Black History Month, an important time to honor the remarkable achievements and contributions of Black people in our communities and around the world. It is also a time to recognize the significant role Black communities continue to play in advancing the struggle for racial justice and equality.

This year’s theme is Back to B.L.A.C.K:  …

Dear WWU Faculty and Staff,

Happy New Year! I hope you all found time to relax, recharge, and spend time with loved ones over the past few weeks. I write to convey my very best wishes and sincere thanks to all of you as we shift our momentum into the next calendar year. The past 12 months have been marked by noteworthy achievements, as well as unexpected challenges. As we reflect on 2023 and look ahead to a new year, I believe that we have many reasons to have…

Dear WWU Community,

It has come to my attention that information is circulating about a rally on campus planned for November 8 which includes the slogan “One Solution: Intifada Revolution.”  Intifada is an Arabic word meaning an uprising or rebellion, and it is specifically used to describe several periods of violent attacks against Israeli civilian targets, to protest Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.…

Dear Western community, 

I continue to hear from members of our community about their struggles to make sense of the atrocities committed in the Israel-Hamas war and its impact on their lives and their concerns for personal safety and those of their loved ones. 

I want you to know that I too continue to be gravely concerned about the impact of the war in the Middle East, as well as the Ukraine-Russia war and conflicts in other parts of the world, on…

We are saddened by the horrific violence taking place in Israel and Gaza and the atrocities that are being committed, including the senseless loss of civilian life. Even though the conflict is occurring on the other side of the globe, its impacts are being felt locally in our communities. We have many students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members who are directly or indirectly impacted by the conflict. Please know that we acknowledge your pain and hurt, and your…

Dear Colleagues,

I write to provide you with a budget update, including the decisions we need to institute to ensure the University is on a sustainable budget pathway. First, some context, followed by actions we are instituting for the balance of the current academic year and the upcoming 2023-24 academic year.

The University’s annual operating…

Dear Western Faculty & Staff, 

As we reach the halfway point of the academic year, I’d like to pause and reflect on the year so far and the work ahead of us.   

Uzma and I recently traveled overseas to visit family for the first time since the start of the COVID pandemic.  While it was refreshing to see people and cultures beyond our borders, I was also struck by issues of political instability and extremism. While we face many pressing issues…

Dear Western Community,

As the nation anticipates the release of body cam footage this evening revealing the senseless murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of law enforcement, many of us will be processing our grief and anger over the death of another young Black man. We are also in mourning for the loss of members of our Asian-American communities in California.  

The utter disregard for basic human life is at odds with our commitment to create a society where equity,…