Eagle Excellence: November 2026

Eastern Washington University faculty, staff and students make a tremendous impact both here on campus and in communities that stretch across the state, county and globe.

Eagle Excellence seeks to shine a spotlight on some of the many inspirational accomplishments that are at the heart of Eastern’s transformational work.

Here are the Eagle Excellence shout-outs for November 2026:

Congratulations to the following Eastern Washington University faculty members for receiving tenure, promotions or both:

Tenure with Promotion to Professor

Sanmeet Kaur, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Tenure with Promotion to Associate Professor

Kara Lopez, Social Work

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

Meg Lybbert, Design

Promotion to Professor

Jason Ashley, Biology
Justin Bastow, Biology
Elena Crooks, Physical Therapy
Kassahun Kebede, Sociology and Justice Studies
Lauren Stachowiak, Geosciences
Ann Van Wig, Education
Jenifer Walke, Biology

PLUS Program Earns International Tutor Training Program Certification

EWU’s Program Leading to University Success, better known as PLUS, was recently awarded certification as a Level 1, 2 and 3 International Tutor Training Program by the College Reading and Learning Association.

The nationally and internationally recognized certification is based on a peer-review process that demonstrates the program meets established standards for tutor selection, training, direct service and program evaluation. It’s intended to promote high-quality tutor training and academic support programs.

PLUS student tutors and study group leaders are required to complete Levels 1 and 2. To become a certified tutor for either level, they must complete 10 training hours and meet a minimum of 30 contact hours. Upon completion, students receive a certificate that can be added to a professional portfolio. Students can then choose to pursue their Level 3 certificate to become a master tutor.

Maria Reyna, interim director of PLUS, says, “This achievement recognizes PLUS’s commitment to providing tutors with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver effective academic support and reflects the program’s dedication to quality, professional development. In addition, this is another terrific example of applied learning, preparing students for their future careers.”

Linda Safford, interim director of philanthropy in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, is in her second year of doctoral studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Safford recently presented her pilot research, “Threshold Crossing: An Integrative Framework for Understanding Principled Global Leadership,” at the 28th International Leadership Association Global Conference in Toronto.

The presentation introduced an integrative framework for examining when moral conviction prompts leaders to cross an ethical threshold from conventional leadership to principled dissent and consequential resistance.

Sharing this work with an international audience of researchers and practitioners also presented an opportunity to represent EWU’s Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program, which she completed in 2025.

Please let us know about your own accomplishments — or give a shout-out to a student or member of your team — by using this link to submit your recognition item.