by Emma Prophet

The 2025 CPP Fall Retreat was an insightful, energizing, and memorable experience that brought together faculty and staff as well as community members for a time of learning, reflection, and connection. The retreat has been an important tradition for the CPP college. It provides a strong sense of unity and thoughtful conversations.

Throughout that time, faculty and staff were able to step away from their busy routines and focus on growth in a more intentional way. Whether talking through ideas with new faces or reconnecting with familiar ones, everyone seemed genuinely appreciative of the opportunity to slow down and be present with one another. The retreat served as a reminder of how valuable it is to have dedicated time to gather, share perspectives, and build supportive relationships.

Each year, the CPP Excellence Awards recognize individuals who exemplify exceptional dedication, leadership, and service within the College of Professional Programs. Recipients of this award consistently demonstrate a commitment to elevating the student experience, advancing the mission of the college, and contributing meaningfully to their departments and the broader campus community. Their contributions strengthen our programs, inspire those around them, and highlight the remarkable talent and dedication present throughout CPP.

The 2024-2025 CPP Excellence Award Winners are:

● Faculty Service Activities: Ashley Lepisi, Education

● Faculty Teaching: Clive Gary, Education

● Faculty Scholarly & Creative Works: Rajeev Dwivedi, Business

● Classified Staff: Christi Wavada, Education

● Classified Staff: Christine Davies, Psychology

● Exempt Staff: Jill Stinson, Education

● Campus Partner: Margie Scammell-Renner, Advancement

● Community Partner: Matt and Candie Chew, Champions Retreat

● Community Partner: Bob Cole

● Team: Family Resource & Training Center (FRTC)

● Alumni: Alvaro Figueroa Garcia

● Alumni: Mary Beazer

One of the most anticipated moments of the event was the keynote presentation delivered by Cimone Wright-Hamor. Cimone’s message was powerful, engaging, and deeply thoughtful. She spoke with clarity and authenticity about leadership, the impact of faculty and staff on students’ lives, and how universities should navigate the information age. Her ability to connect with the audience through personal stories, practical insights, and genuine passion, made her presentation one of the defining highlights of the entire retreat. Attendees left feeling both inspired and challenged in the best possible way.

As the retreat concluded, the sense of community was amplified. Many participants expressed how refreshing it was to be in a space where learning, encouragement, and meaningful conversation were at the center of the day. The blend of educational content, supportive interactions, and Cimone Wright-Hamor’s outstanding keynote presentation, all created an environment that felt uplifting and restorative. Overall, the 2025 CPP Fall Retreat was a wonderful success!

By Emma Prophet

The College of Professional Programs is excited to highlight Tanielle Knox for CPP’s November Student Spotlight. Tanielle is a freshman majoring in Applied Developmental Psychology. 

Tanielle Knox, Colfax, Washington native, is an Applied Developmental Psychology major at Eastern Washington University with plans to graduate in Winter 2029. She also holds a Pharmacy Assistant certificate. Her passion for psychology stems from her desire to help those around her overcome their mental health challenges. She is pursuing a path toward becoming a mental health therapist. 

Tanielle chose EWU after taking “College in the Classroom” courses in high school and participating in a campus tour. The classes she took through Eastern in high school were in the Psychology, English, Political Science and Communication departments. These courses left a positive impact on Tanielle and further amplified her desire to continue her education at EWU. She immediately connected with the university’s unique, welcoming atmosphere and appreciated the beauty and small-town charm of the campus. Though she is early in her academic journey, she has already felt deeply supported by both EWU faculty and staff. That support has been especially meaningful as she navigates the challenges of leaving home, adjusting to college life, and overcoming the initial fear of not being accepted into college. Tanielle credits this supportive environment and the encouragement of her family, for helping her settle into college life. 

One of the biggest lessons she has learned so far through her studies is that more people struggle with mental health challenges than many realize. This awareness has further propelled her commitment to becoming a mental health therapist. She plans to continue her education after graduation by enrolling in a master’s program to work toward becoming a licensed mental health therapist. To students who may be considering psychology or a related field, Tanielle offers simple but reassuring advice:

“Have an open mind, check things out, and don’t worry if the basic psychology classes are overwhelming, it will be okay!”

She encourages students to give themselves time to adjust and to take it one day at a time. 

When it comes to campus involvement, Tanielle recommends that students check out Cru. She also emphasizes that EWU is an incredibly inclusive and welcoming place which is a message she wants students and the community to hear. For her, the university environment has played a major role in easing her transition to college and giving her a sense of belonging. 

By Brynne Irish

Student Recipient of the U.S. State Department’s Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship

The College of Professional Programs is excited to congratulate Bryce Drager on receiving the U.S. State Department’s Gilman Scholarship! Bryce is a passionate first-generation student, majoring in Psychology at Eastern Washington University and is expected to graduate in 2027. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, he has had the opportunities to be a guest speaker several times in lifespan development classes along with being a presenter on topics such as sensory development in children and changes in older adulthood focusing on hearing loss.

Originally, Bryce decided to attend EWU for the Social Work program with an interest in being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. However, he changed from Social Work to Psychology after learning the breadth of study and research areas in Psychology available to him. Drager was interested in mental healthcare and had developed a passion for research combined with an interest in foreign languages and cultures. “I was truly inspired to do this when I studied abroad for the first time in Japan where I met a psychologist there that integrated Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremonies with his therapeutic practice. Learning about what he did made me want to learn more and led me to where I am today” he stated.

Bryce first studied abroad in Japan in 2024, where he connected to international professionals in his field which ignited a passion for psychology in a non-Western context. He was unsure if he would enjoy living somewhere else for a long period of time, which led him to do a short-term program. After that first trip, Bryce was all in. “I had to do everything I could to propel myself forward to doing a full-length study abroad program, and Gilman was part of keeping that idea going.” Drager expressed how it was not just about getting the scholarship itself, but it was about the journey towards applying for it, as he used it to reflect on what he wanted to gain from study abroad. The U.S. State Department’s Gilman International Scholarship Program supports low-income students to study or intern abroad. This program offers young Americans the experience to gain the professional skills, language abilities, and knowledge of the world needed for successful careers.

To apply for the Gilman Scholarship, Bryce wrote three essays of varying lengths. He also wrote a fourth optional essay specifically for programs in countries where the main language spoken is considered a critical needs language. Currently, his research is focused on psychotherapy in China, but while studying abroad in Japan, Bryce hopes to continue with similar research related to culturally relevant psychotherapies. While being in Japan, he’ll have opportunities to find the most authentic way to learn more about East Asia and psychology along with gaining a better understanding of the effectiveness in using culturally adapted psychotherapies from China on American citizens.

For other students who may be interested in EWU’s Study Abroad program, Bryce explained how leading up to going feels long and it can be possible you may experience a variety of thoughts during that process including doubts due to possible homesickness. “For me, I’ve had a few times where I thought to myself “Do I really want to do this?” and started having doubts, but that is part of the process. It’s important to work through these thoughts with an open mind because it can be stressful to think about how much your environment may change.” said Bryce. An effective method Bryce shared is to talk about these thoughts with someone you trust and to learn about homesickness. Such as, look into what it is, how it affects people, and how best to overcome it.

Thinking about your doubts can be kind of like a prelude to homesickness, but as long as you know what it is, you can overcome it.

There were two staff members who helped Bryce through this process. First is Morganne Elkins, who is his current study abroad advisor with EWU Global. “She has done a lot to communicate with me about the process and given me feedback and encouragement through the process.” Next is Cori Jaeger from the McNair Scholars program here at EWU. “She was there as someone to encourage me to actually hit send on the applications for all the scholarships, including Gilman, and documentation for this whole process.” Additionally, he had support from the Global Studies office and the Writers’ Center to help him through the application and writing process. Bryce also shared how he was surprised that the hardest part for him while filling out applications for scholarships and study abroad was having confidence in his application, the physical motion of actually clicking the submit button, but he found it helpful to have someone there with you as you’re submitting.

As Bryce is a McNair Scholar, he mentioned how he was interested in researching the  effectiveness of using culturally adapted psychotherapies from China on American citizens. As he learned more about the topic, he discovered “an interesting quirk about how different Asian ethnic groups are referred to between the abstracts in a study and the participants.” He feels that it’s very important for anyone interested in doing research to know that you may be surprised by how the questions you have about your topic may shift as you learn more and more about it.

Being both a McNair Scholar and also studying abroad is not a common thing. But, beyond my inherent desire to take on both of these responsibilities, both are great opportunities to distinguish yourself for graduate programs or future employers.

Bryce greatly encourages others who may be interested in researching or are thinking about studying abroad to not be discouraged to do so. “There can be many barriers to achieving both of these things, but none are impossible to overcome.”

The College of Professional Programs is honored to feature and recognize Bryce Drager for his hard work in receiving the Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship. We hope he has a great time on his study abroad trip to Japan this next academic year!

Interested in Study Abroad and available Scholarships?

Contact Morganne Elkins at

EWU Global

345 Patterson Hall

global@ewu.edu or 509.359.2331

Interested in being better prepared for graduate school and graduate level research through the McNair Scholars Program?

Contact Cori Jaeger at

McNair Scholars Program

107 Monroe Hall

mcnair@ewu.edu or 509-359-6523

On this Giving Joy Day, we would like to announce the creation of a new scholarship to support students going into the behavioral health field. The Jeff Thomas Behavioral Health Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of EWU alumnus, Jeff Thomas, former CEO of Frontier Behavioral Health, by Coordinated Care. Coordinated Care aims to improve access to higher education for underrepresented populations in health care related fields.

Recipients must:

• Be undergraduate or graduate students majoring in behavioral health programs including Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Addiction Studies, or earning a Behavioral Health Support Certificate.
• Recipients must also meet at least one of these following requirements:
  • Demonstrated financial need, with preference to those with financial need outside of Pell Grant eligibility
  • First-generation college student
  • Non-traditional student
  • Come from an underserved or underrepresented community

On Wednesday April 3rd, 2024, EWU will be celebrating Giving Joy Day!  This annual event is an opportunity for new and returning gifters to give to programmatic and scholarships funds at any financial level, supporting student success and providing opportunities for current and future Eagles!

• In 2023-2024, 103 CPP students received EWU scholarships totaling nearly $312,000.

Here are testimonial videos from our students on the impact of receiving scholarship funds:

Explore funding opportunities by scholarship or program by clicking the button below.

]]> https://www.ewu.edu/cpp/news/psychology-hosts-student-research-conference-in-may/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:19:52 +0000 https://www.ewu.edu/cpp/?post_type=stories&p=19980 The School of Psychology will be hosting a Student Psychology Research Conference on Thursday, May 16th from 5 to 8 p.m., in collaboration with Bellevue College. Location: Bellevue College, U-Building Ballroom U301 This conference invites undergraduate and graduate students to present on psychology-related topics. Research reviews and proposals are acceptable and advisor endorsement is required....]]>

The School of Psychology will be hosting a Student Psychology Research Conference on Thursday, May 16th from 5 to 8 p.m., in collaboration with Bellevue College.

Location: Bellevue College, U-Building Ballroom U301

This conference invites undergraduate and graduate students to present on psychology-related topics. Research reviews and proposals are acceptable and advisor endorsement is required.

For more information at ewu.edu/cpp/psychology/conference

• Location: U-Building Ballroom U301 (Map: letter U)
• Abstracts: Undergraduate and graduate students can submit abstracts through Thurs April 25th using this online form: https://www.ewu.edu/cpp/psychology/conference/
• Questions? Email psycconference@ewu.edu

Those needing accommodations should email psycconference@ewu.edu by May 9, 2024.

Congratulations to Education Specialist (EdS) in School Psychology students Monica Garcia Ramirez and Maria Anguiano-rivera for receiving the Diversity Scholarship from the Washington State Association of School Psychologists (WSASP)! Four students statewide were recognized as recipients at the fall conference in October.  WSASP writes in their Diversity Scholarship description that they are “…aware of the need for a more aggressive approach to relieve financial pressures faced by students of diverse backgrounds pursuing careers in school psychology. The WSASP Diversity Scholarship Program was established to address this need in our state’s schools.”

On the impact of receiving the scholarship, both Monica and Maria shared their thoughts:

Monica: I find myself in a unique position as I am a first-generation immigrant, first generation student and a Mexican raised in the United States. I was brought to the United States by my parents at the age of 4. They emigrated here to accomplish el sueño Americano. The American dream that led to their first born successfully graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology nearly 20 years later and now working towards her Educational Specialist Certificate In School Psychology. It wasn’t easy navigating school as a first-generation student who had no idea about course planning or even financial support available. And now in this graduate journey it has been twice more difficult because no one else around me has gotten this far. I also have two little girls that depend on me and look up at me that keep me going. Due to my DACA status I have not been able to receive any financial support, so I been paying out of pocket for all my tuition and books. This scholarship will truly alleviate a financial burden on my little family. And despite all the difficulties I keep on dreaming because my dreams are not illegal. #DACA DREAMERS

Maria: I’m the oldest in my family, I have two younger brothers and they have become one of my biggest motivations in life. My parents have been such an immense support. I’m very grateful for this scholarship. To me, this scholarship reflects on me being “seen” finally for all my hard work and even just as a student. For as long as I can remember I had to figure out school on my own, from learning English when I was in elementary school to learning what college is in high school. Again, I am very grateful to have won this scholarship, words aren’t able to describe how much this means to me.

Thank you Dr. Briley Proctor, Assistant Professor in the School Psychology Program for sharing the good news!

by Mya Brossoit

The College of Professional Programs is excited to highlight Dr. Kevin Criswell for his impressive involvement in the passing of Senate Bill 5189.

Dr. Kevin Criswell, a Bellevue-based Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology, recently worked alongside Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart in providing testimony on Capitol Hill in Olympia in support of passing Senate Bill 5189, which allows for the credentialing of  behavioral health support specialists.

A Behavior Health Support Specialist (BHSS) may work in positions under supervision including crisis services, integrated care, or specialty behavioral health care. The bachelor level provider works through a scope of evidence-based behavioral health interventions that is now credentialed and available in Washington State.

While testifying during the bill hearings, Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart and Dr. Kevin Criswell described the various benefits graduates would attain from this credential as they participate in the applied skills training at EWU for behavioral health support specialists.  Criswell also described the influential contributions this credential would provide the community as a whole:

We also testified on the benefits for the public at large to increase access to behavioral health interventions for depression, anxiety and other common behavioral health conditions.

With the increase in mental health issues and expanding need for mental health services across the state, the state credential for a BHSS introduces a creative solution for Washington state’s limited mental health workforce.

When asked about its impact on EWU’s Psychology programs, Criswell shares the increase in interest students may express in Eastern’s Psychology majors, or interest from other majors regarding health profession support. The new opportunity provides bachelor level students with a path to earn paid experience as a BHSS in the absence of doctorate or masters level clinical training programs.

EWU will continue to contribute to the work on solidifying clinical program guidelines to prepare higher education and clinical training sites statewide.

Criswell states that the new apprenticeship now opens up “alternate pathways to becoming a BHSS” that will benefit not only students, but the community as a whole. He foresees a growing number of mental health service clinics including the BHSS position as a vital part of their interdisciplinary teams in healthcare. This also would allow individuals in the BHSS position to “expand their impact on addressing their communities’ mental health service needs through focused management of mental health symptoms.”

With the help of faculty from the University of Washington, EWU has had the privilege of launching the very first Behavioral Health Support Specialist Certificate Program within the Psychology department, and d

…I hope our BHSS Certificate program can serve as a model for similar programs in our state.

The College of Professional Programs applauds Dr. Kevin Criswell and Dr. Kayleen Islam-Zwart for their work in supporting this bill and making it a reality, improving community behavioral health options, and bettering the EWU community!

by Mya Brossoit

Nicholas “Nick” Mehrnoosh, MS Psychology ‘22, an adjunct faculty member for the School of  Psychology, participated in a guest presentation for Stroke Community Day at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute on May 18th. His presentation was titled, “Cultivating Self-Compassion and Resilience Post-Stroke.”  Amanda Smith-Treadwell, Senior Speech Language Pathologist with St. Luke’s, writes that, “this is an annual event hosted by St. Luke’s with the goal of providing ongoing support for families and individuals who have suffered strokes …This year’s focus is looking at taking care of yourself beyond the stroke.”

One of the main goals he had in giving the presentation was to emphasize a notion of “intervention through kindness”.  He notes that after an individual has sustained a stroke there are multiple complications, medical and musculoskeletal that can impact their long-term quality of life. Additionally,

These complications can further extend into the psychosocial realm, leaving someone struggling with mood and emotional changes that fundamentally alter how they express their personality, behaviors, and relative self-confidence.

Therefore he promotes self-compassion as an intervention strategy, that can “engender a mindset of mindful kindness towards the stress of everyday life post-stroke, subsequently enhancing emotional resilience into the future.”

When asked how a psychological approach to post-stroke resilience and self-compassion differs from other therapy-based interventions (speech, physical, etc.), Nick notes that interventions for medical and musculoskeletal complications are important, but so is a psychosocial approach.  Physical Therapy strengthens physicality and mobility, Speech Therapy “facilitates the improvement of cognitive-communication skills”, but improving emotional resilience through self-compassion can assist with the psychosocial complications of a stroke. He notes that it isn’t uncommon for post-stroke survivors to experience “persistent depressive symptoms, which are generally described as feeling disconnected from their pre-stroke life.”

By regaining a sense of purpose through cultivating self-compassion, this helps “re-frame the mindset towards a balanced perception of the challenges that long-term rehabilitation can produce. From this avenue, the intention is to reduce or eliminate the relative impact of depression and anxiety symptoms and engender the individual to engage in new activities and roles to create greater post-stroke adjustment and quality of life.”

For current or future students who may be interested in working with stroke patients or their support networks, Nick recommends that they:

Remain open-minded to a stroke survivor’s lived experiences and be willing to engage in new opportunities, which might be outside your comfort zone. There is no growth, personally or professionally, without a modicum of adversity and working with individuals that have sustained a neurological injury can be a difficult task mentally and emotionally. That being said, it’s also very rewarding being a part of helping an individual rediscover their potential, whether you’re an advocate or Psychologist, this is the end goal.

If students would like to pursue experiential learning opportunities, he says to look within local and state communities where hospitals and clinics are in need of volunteers for adult post-stroke care, and  non-profit organizations that work on advocacy at the state level, and advises them to:

Get connected with your advisors in your majors and community stakeholders. As students, you have an opportunity to engage in a variety of environments and it’s best to try as many as possible, because that will help you grow and understand the populations you want to work with and support.

We thank Nick for his time sharing some insight into post-stroke care, and guidance for students who are interested in entering helping professions.

by Mya Brossoit

The College of Professional Programs is proud to recognize EWU School of Psychology Alumna, Heather Morris Tuip.

Heather graduated from Eastern in 2022 with her Bachelor’s degree. She majored in Psychology and minored in Communications while attending college and is now pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Seattle. She is currently working on her first pre-internship at Swedish Health Services and plans to participate in a pre-internship at Monroe Correctional Complex in the future.

The academic course load of my major and minor gave me a solid foundation for my grad school aspirations.

When asked about her experience at EWU, Heather recalls the enjoyable, small, class sizes that EWU’s Bellevue satellite offers. This provided her with the deep support and access to professors that influenced her college career in big ways.

The small class sizes at the EWU Bellevue College campus and the easy, supportive access to the professors there allowed me to pursue research interests that gave my grad school aspirations wings.

Though she reports her time at Eastern fondly, her trajectory through school did not occur as planned. Along with many students around the world, Heather faced the obstacle of online school amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As she questioned the certainty of her planned future and academic goals, Heather tells of how the pandemic’s effects shaped her character for the better.

Keeping a flexible mindset helped me stay flexible in the face of the new challenge of online classes. This mindset has continued to help me overcome unplanned obstacles elsewhere in my life and studies.

She gratefully describes the smooth transition EWU was able to make during this sudden event. Heather shares how “EWU was able to quickly pivot and switch to an online format which meant that I was still able to graduate on time.”

Heather credits  Dr. Kevin Criswell & Dr. Jillene Seiver for their influence and support during her academic journey. While attending the Bellevue campus, she recalls the firm values EWU holds in caring for students as their community and making sure they belong.

When advising other students, Heather recommends Eagles visit professors during their office hours and intentionally seek out mentorship and further support from them. She reminds students that it is “never too early or too late to find a mentor.”

Heather also highlights a great accomplishment she achieved recently. With her developed knowledge and skills, she was able to present on Reproductive Justice at Antioch’s Symposium “Liberation from Colonialism Now: Promoting Research Activism.” Along with that, she is now working diligently on a manuscript outlining a recent phenomenological reproductive justice study.

As the College of Professional Programs, we honor Heather Morris Tuip for all her hard work and perseverance!