This page spotlights the innovative work happening within EWU Professional & Continuing Education (PCE). Get to know our program offerings and instructors. Explore featured highlights that showcase their expertise, teaching philosophies, and the unique experiences they bring to our courses. Discover the people and stories behind EWU PCE.
Eastern Washington University (EWU) continues to lead national conversations on credential innovation and education-employment alignment. From Learning and Employment Records (LER) to Credit Mobility, EWU experts drive strategies linking education and work for equitable economic opportunity
Imagine a future where every learner can capture and share their full range of skills—from education to experience to service. That future is here with Learning and Employment Records (LERs): digital, verifiable records owned by learners and earners.
Christi Harter, Ph.D. (EWU) and Madelyn Rahn (SkillsFWD) dived in and explored bold LER initiatives designed to build a more equitable, skills-based hiring ecosystem. This offering highlighted how universities and employers can collaborate to unlock talent and transform credentialing.
Presentation Topic: Capturing ALL Credential and Related Skills through Learning and Employment Records
When: September 30th, 2025
Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia
Presenters: Christi Harter, Ph.D. Eastern Washington University and Madelyn Rahn SkillsFWD
Link learning and work, building education-employment pathways that enable equitable economic mobility
Eastern Washington University (EWU) is at the forefront of this transformation. Christi Harter, Ph.D., Sue Magyar, Ed.D. and Kayleen Islam-Zwart, Ph.D., joined alongside partners from SkillsFWD, Ithaka S+R, and the Machinists Institute, as they present groundbreaking work across four key areas at this years CAEL Conference 2025:
EWU Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) recently hosted PCE + EWU Faculty Connections, a virtual webinar.
Held on Friday, April 4th, 2025.
The session brought together faculty and EWU PCE leadership to explore opportunities for developing and launching credit and non-credit programs. Attendees gained valuable insights into EWU PCE’s mission, financial models, and marketing support, while also hearing program highlights from faculty partners, including the Therapeutic Recreation program and the evolving SRA certificate. The event concluded with an open discussion, encouraging collaboration and innovation across academic departments.
EWU’s Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) team recently hosted PCE + K-12 District Connections, a virtual webinar.
Held on Friday, April 18, 2025.
Designed specifically for K-12 district administrators, this interactive session highlighted how EWU’s PCE unit could support your district’s professional development goals through customized programs and strategic partnerships. Attendees heard from EWU PCE staff, district leaders, and education partners as they showcased offerings like VESi, Excel Ed, and the Kodály Summer Intensive. This was an opportunity to explore tailored PD solutions and connect directly with EWU’s PCE team.
EWU’s Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) team recently hosted PCE + Healthcare Connections, a virtual webinar.
Held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
The session was designed for healthcare professionals and administrators interested in expanding continuing education and workforce development opportunities. Attendees learned how EWU’s PCE unit partners with healthcare organizations to deliver customized training, leadership development, and credit-bearing programs. Featured topics included AI in healthcare education, dental hygiene resources, therapeutic recreation, apprenticeship-to-degree pathways, and more. It was an excellent opportunity to explore innovative education solutions tailored to the healthcare sector.
EWU’s Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) team recently hosted PCE + EWU Credit Mobility Pathways, a virtual webinar.
Held on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025.
This webinar, open to the entire community, highlighted EWU credit mobility initiatives, such as the Ithaka S+R Credit Mobility grant, SEIU apprenticeship-to-degree pathways, and Learning and Employment Records (LERs), and shared how stackable credentials, micro-credentials, and digital wallets are expanding access to education and career advancement for all.
EWU’s Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) team recently hosted PCE + EWU Support Staff Connections, a virtual meeting for EWU campus partners.
Held on Tuesday, August 26th, 2025.
This session explored how EWU PCE partners across campus can collaborate to support student success through programming and streamlined processes.
Are you an EWU staff member looking to connect with PCE? Please reach out at pce@ewu.edu.
Gina Yonts is a dedicated education professional with over 34 years of experience in the field of education, administration, and professional development. Passionate about leading through response to intervention (RtI) in behavior and academics and trauma-informed practices, she has a diverse background in education, having served as an elementary teacher, elementary and middle school administrator, and a leader in professional development. Gina and her husband currently own and operate Excel Education Resources, a long standing EWU Continuing Education partner with the university that specializes in providing high-quality credit and clock hour training for teachers.
When not in the classroom, you’ll find Gina carving through fresh powder! She’s been snowboarding for 25 years. Her favorite spot? McCall, Brundage in Idaho. Lately, Gina and her family have been hitting the slopes at Bluewood near Dayton, WA, just an hour from Walla Walla.
Experience & Credentials
Ready to Learn
Get ready for an engaging, interactive learning experience! Gina’s courses are designed with self-pacing, hands-on activities, and reflection woven into every step. Students will explore background knowledge that sets the stage for future learning, while connecting new concepts to current practice. Expect to dive deep—not just into the subject matter, but into self-discovery: What are you learning about yourself as you grow to teach and lead others?
No matter your starting point, these courses build on your foundation and experiences, ensuring that new knowledge feels relevant and impactful. Gina’s teaching philosophy is all about making learning personal, interactive, and connected to real-world practice.
Why EWU Professional & Continuing Education
Gina’s journey with EWU is personal and meaningful. While college wasn’t always the plan, following her passions led to a strong partnership with EWU—even meeting her husband here! Gina loves EWU for its welcoming, family-like atmosphere and its commitment to making higher education accessible for students from all walks of life. Through EWU Professional & Continuing Education, Gina is able to continue to build meaningful connections and support lifelong learning.
About Excel Education
As a founder of Excel Education Resources, Gina Yonts has cultivated a strong partnership with EWU Professional & Continuing Education, continuously expanding this collaboration through her roles as both a course instructor and a businesswoman. This partnership not only enhances learning opportunities for students but also fosters growth and innovation within the educational community.
You are going to be the first one (I inform when passing the NCTRC exam)! I would like to thank you for all your helpful advice and words of wisdom throughout this past year. You’re easily my favorite professor from the past six years of schooling I’ve done. I would love to keep contact throughout my career. Hopefully, I can continue my education and get into grad school soon.
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I just took my exam…. AND I PASSED!! I want to thank you so much for everything. You’ve been an amazing professor (Dr. Karen Wenzel) and have done so much to make sure I understood every assignment. I truly do appreciate and cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done. Thank you so much!
Felicia Goins
I just wanted to thank you so much for developing, organizing, and teaching the RCLS courses. I truly enjoyed them and learned a lot along the way. I did a lot of research on what program would be best for me based on content, pricing, and compatibility with my schedule. RCLS checked all of these boxes. I appreciated our conversations along the way, and your specific and personal feedback on all assignments. I’m working on getting my professional eligibility in and I’m feeling quite accomplished. It’s a good feeling!
Elizabeth “Betty” Philbin
Dive into the dynamic world of logistics and transportation with EWU Professional and Continuing Education’s Certified Supply Chain Professional + Freight Broker/Agent Training program. This comprehensive online course equips you with the skills needed to thrive in two critical areas of the supply chain industry: operations management and freight brokerage.
Why EWU Professional & Continuing Education
Whether you’re entering the field or looking to grow your career, this dual-track program covers core concepts in supply chain strategy, sourcing, logistics, and freight management.
Ready to launch your healthcare career from home? EWU’s Professional & Continuing Education Online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) with Voucher Included course is your path to a rewarding future! This career series includes both Medical Terminology and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
Why EWU Professional & Continuing Education
Voucher Included: Your CCMA certification exam fee is covered! The course also includes an opportunity to participate in a clinical experience.
Discover the Roots of Conservation with EWU’s New For-Credit Course: History of National Parks – Starting Fall Quarter 2025!
Explore how the idea of national parks emerged in the United States, challenging the dominant narrative of progress. This engaging course dives into the powerful story of how Americans came to value preservation over exploitation, inspired by voices like John Muir who believed “we need beauty as well as bread.”
Why EWU Professional & Continuing Education
Enroll Today and Be Part of the Story That Preserved a Nation’s Natural Soul
EWU is proud to offer this dynamic 3-day leadership workshop led by Dr. Brian Davenport, Director of the MS in Organizational Leadership program. This immersive experience includes 9 hours of interactive sessions focused on:
Participants will gain valuable insights into their leadership style and learn how to apply these skills across diverse settings. This unique opportunity is designed to inspire and empower future leaders through global collaboration and expert guidance.
When: August 2025
Where: Mukogawa Women’s University, Japan
Instructor: Brian Davenport, Ph.D. Leadership Studies