DEAN’S MESSAGE
Embracing Change, Honoring Our Mission
Hello Friends,
As we embrace the arrival of spring, a season of renewal and growth, I find myself reflecting on the changes taking place within our college. Starting May 1, the College of Education will officially become the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences.
This new name reflects the breadth of our academic programs from teacher preparation and educational leadership to Athletic Training, Kinesiology, and Sport Management. By adopting a name that better represents who we are, we are celebrating the diverse ways our faculty, students, and alumni make an impact.
Embracing Change, Honoring Our Mission
Hello Friends,
As we embrace the arrival of spring, a season of renewal and growth, I find myself reflecting on the changes taking place within our college. Starting May 1, the College of Education will officially become the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences.
This new name reflects the breadth of our academic programs from teacher preparation and educational leadership to Athletic Training, Kinesiology, and Sport Management. By adopting a name that better represents who we are, we are celebrating the diverse ways our faculty, students, and alumni make an impact.
We know this change comes during a time when navigating this unprecedented time feels complex. Yet through it all, our mission remains clear: to prepare future leaders, educators, and researchers who are committed to serving the public good. Our faculty continues to inspire through impactful research and teaching, our students remain dedicated to learning, and our community of supporters ensures we can keep moving forward.
As spring reminds us, growth often requires resilience, and with patience, intention, and community, we can embrace this new chapter with confidence and hope.
Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission.
With gratitude,
Karen Thomas-Brown
Dean, College of Education
Washington State University
COUGS GIVE
Ten Years of #CougsGive
What began in 2015 as a fun way to celebrate WSU’s 125th birthday has now grown into the university’s annual systemwide celebration of the Cougar Family! Since that time, Cougs have generously made 10,253 gifts for more than $4.5 million in support of scholarships, research, programs, innovative learning, leadership development, student activities, and more!
We’ve definitely felt that here in the College of Education! Over the past decade, our alumni, students, faculty, staff, and donors have shared so many great stories about why WSU is so special to them, what inspires them to give back to their communities, and how they share their Cougar spirit!
This year, we plan on live-streaming some tours with a distinguished alumnus, as well as interview him about his time in the college. This will be done on the college’s Instagram feed.
OUR PEOPLE
Meet some of our extraordinary students and alumni from the College of Education
Meet Sport Management student Sadie Chamberlain
First-year student making the most of college
Sadie Chamberlain is a first-year Sport Management student from Seattle. But even though she just started in the fall, she already has been doing media work with the WSU club soccer team, as well as helping Drs. Alex Gang (Sport Management) and Tristan Loria (Kinesiology) with research.
Sport Management Student Sadie Chamberlain Finds Her Place on the Field and in Research
For first-year sport management student Sadie Chamberlain, diving into hands-on opportunities at Washington State University has been second nature. Even before officially entering the program, the Seattle-area native has already made an impact, combining her love for soccer with her growing interest in media and research.
Sadie’s journey at WSU began with a pivotal moment during her admitted students’ tour when she attended a lecture by sport management faculty member Alex Gang. Having managed her high school’s boys’ soccer team as a media and on-field manager, she eagerly reached out to Gang, which led to her joining WSU’s club soccer program as a media team member.
But her involvement didn’t stop there. She soon took on a research assistant role, working alongside Gang and kinesiology faculty member Tristan Loria on a study exploring the impact of music on soccer team cohesion. The project involved observing how curated playlists influenced team dynamics during training sessions. The findings were striking—players overwhelmingly felt that music helped strengthen team bonds and ease social interactions.
Sadie recently presented this research at the Applied Sport Management Association Conference in Cincinnati, a rare opportunity for a first-year student. She sees this experience as just the beginning, hoping to further immerse herself in WSU’s sports community and continue exploring different facets of the industry.
She joined us on the college podcast, Education Eclipse, to discuss this research presentation in Cincinnati.
With three years ahead, Sadie’s journey is just getting started—but her passion and drive are already setting her apart.
Meet Sport Management alumnus DJ Mackie
A man wearing many, many hats
He’s a dad. He’s recreation supervisor with the City of Pullman. He’s an official scorekeeper of D1 basketball. He’s a Little League president. Oh yeah… he’s also one of our adjunct professors!
DJ Mackie is a former student-athlete (baseball) who has made it his normal to stay busy and use sport to help better people’s lives.
A man wearing many, many hats
DJ Mackie is a busy, busy man. First and foremost, he’s a husband and father. For him, that always comes first. But after that, good luck trying to find him with his feet up and remote in his hand. He simply has too much on his plate. Most of it is in sport. Most of it helps people have fun — and a higher quality of life. All of it is a testament to the power of the college’s Sport Management program and the hands-on experience it offers.
Originally from Spokane, DJ started his collegiate journey at Yakima Valley Community College, where he played baseball. He transferred to WSU, double-majoring in Sport Management and Marketing, and quickly became immersed in campus recreation. His time officiating and supervising intramural sports sparked a passion for sport administration, leading him to pursue a master’s degree in Sport Management while working full-time with WSU’s U-Rec.
I fell in love with the human development side of sport. Getting to make a difference in my staff’s lives and seeing how their four years could be impacted by the work we did was incredibly rewarding.”
DJ Mackie
After nearly a decade at WSU, Mackie transitioned to Pullman Parks and Recreation, where he now serves as a Recreation Supervisor. In this role, he oversees youth and adult sports programming, ensuring that community members have access to meaningful recreational opportunities. His dedication to sport extends beyond his job. DJ is also the president of the local Little League and serving as an official stat keeper for Coug basketball games. As an official, you’ll often see him at the scorers table wearing the black and white strips just like the officials calling fouls out on the court.
Oh, and there is one other role he plays — an adjunct professor in Sport Management, shaping future industry professionals.
Mackie’s influence is evident in Pullman’s thriving sports culture. From officiating collegiate events to mentoring young athletes, he exemplifies the values of leadership, service, and community enrichment. His journey underscores the versatility of a Sport Management degree, proving that passion for sports can translate into a lifelong commitment to community impact.
Meet WSU ROAR scholar Richard Roloff
WSU ROAR has helped sports lover work in Athletics
Meet Richard Roloff! The second-year WSU ROAR scholar from Ephrata, WA has had an internship with WSU Football for the past two seasons.
He was recently featured in a Cougs of the Desert scholarship recipient video that we produced.
Richard Roloff, or “Big Rich” as he goes by, likes rooting for cats. Big cats. The kind that do well in the wild. From Ephrata, Wash., Big Rich was a Tiger at Ephrata High School. But he always wanted to be a Coug. The WSU ROAR program allowed him to do that.
I love being a Coug. And I love the ROAR program because it helped me become a Coug.
Richard “Big Rich” Roloff
Now in his second year, Big Rich has had two internships with WSU Football. The first season, he served as part of the Creative Team. Under the direction of former Coug defensive lineman Dallas Hobbs, Big Rich was a gameday photographer. This last season, he was a “hype man,” helping getting players ready for practices and games.
This next year, Big Rich will hold an internship with WSU Hockey, which is head coached by our college’s own Johnny Lupinacci. The team competes in the ACHA Men’s Division 2 as part of the Pac-8 Conference.
NEWS
Campus highlights
WSU PULLMAN
Sport Management students take on Case Study Cup at the COSMA Conference in Las Vegas
A group of WSU Sport Management students recently had the invaluable opportunity to attend the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) Conference, thanks to the generous support of the Joanne Washburn & Sue Durrant Endowed Scholarship in Sport Management.
The two teams of students, each of which competed in the Case Study Cup, consisted of:
Team 1
- Asael Aburto
- Brittney Lemke
- Brandon Mascitti
- Gavin Tyacke
Team 2
- Caleb Markowitz
- Gracie Sather
- Henry Druffel
- Lucas Duranceau
This experience provided students with direct exposure to industry professionals, cutting-edge research, and networking opportunities that will shape their future careers.
WSU Tri-Cities
WSU Tri-Cities faculty travel across the world to supervise student teachers
A few of the faculty who have be supervising student teachers, and where they did that:
- Eric Johnson traveled to Merida, Mexico in early March.
Students Valeria Ramirez and Cassy Darby sightseeing in Mexico.
- Yichien Cooper went to Taipei, Taiwan in the middle of March.
From left: Yichien Cooper, Aubrey Taylor (WSU Senior), Jamie Hughes (Mentor Teacher at Kaohsiung American School, Taiwan)
- Currently Jonah Firestone and Sarah Newcomer are in Nuremburg, Germany.
Other important highlights
- College of Ed crowns its Three Minute Thesis winner
- Washington State Magazine: Education after the pandemic
- Sport Management professor awarded editorial board member of the year
Department highlights
Each of our three academic departments has a lot going on. We’ll share some highlights from each, with a little extra focus this time on the Educational Leadership and Sport Management Department.
Overview
The two programs that make up ELSM may sound like they differ from each other, when in fact they benefit one another significantly. Katherine Rodela, the head of the Education Leadership program, collaborates closely with Sport Management professor, Tammy Crawford, to use each other’s strengths to build supportive learning environments. Below are both of their outlooks on their programs and the cultures they look to create in the classroom:
Education Leadership
Katherine sees leadership as more than a title, it’s about fostering a strong, connected community where faculty and students thrive. If chosen as department chair, she plans to build a shared vision that reflects their collective aspirations. Her focus is on strengthening faculty support, creating mentorship opportunities, and ensuring equitable processes that drive long-term success. She wants every faculty member to feel valued and supported in their professional journey.
At the heart of her leadership is a deep commitment to love, justice, and shared decision-making. Katherine believes leadership isn’t about one person making choices but creating spaces where everyone’s voice matters. She wants to cultivate a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration, ensuring faculty and students feel a true sense of belonging.
With WSU’s multiple campuses, staying connected isn’t easy, but Katherine is intentional about showing up. She prioritizes traveling to different locations, organizing meaningful gatherings, and strengthening alumni networks through mentorship and shared initiatives. Even small gestures, like sending birthday cards, help reinforce a sense of appreciation and connection for her.
The impact of the department is best seen through alumni like Leary Quizno, whose research on teachers of color is driving meaningful change. His leadership reflects the department’s mission of developing leaders who make a difference. He is an example of how to walk the impact.
For Katherine, leadership is about legacy. The department’s candle, an idea that sprouted during the unprecedented times of Covid became a symbol of resilience and hope. It is a reminder of why this work matters, to create lasting change and empower the next generation of leaders. After all, Katherine strongly believes, that leaders develop leaders.
Sport Management
In her role as Associate Professor of Sport Management at Washington State University’s College of Education, Tammy Crawford is dedicated to fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment. As education evolves in the wake of COVID-19, she acknowledges the challenges of shifting student motivations and engagement. To address these changes, she is committed to adapting curriculum structures, integrating creative funding strategies, and ensuring accessibility through online learning options.
Crawford’s approach centers around student success and the power of community. She believes in building strong connections between students, faculty, and alumni, helping students navigate their career paths with real-world insights. Her dedication to mentorship ensures that students receive the guidance needed to transition from academia to their professional lives. “Once a Coug, always a Coug,” she emphasizes, fostering lifelong bonds between WSU graduates and current students.
A strong advocate for purposeful community-building, Crawford is leading initiatives to enhance engagement through networking and storytelling. She recognizes the need to bridge the gap between experience and education, creating spaces where students feel valued and heard. Events like the upcoming 40th anniversary of the College of Education will play a crucial role in strengthening these ties.
At the core of her teaching philosophy is respect and inclusivity. She treats every student with the care she would extend to her own children, ensuring a learning environment where everyone feels acknowledged and empowered. As WSU continues to evolve, Crawford remains committed to fostering an enriching and dynamic educational experience that prepares students not only for their careers but also for meaningful contributions to society.
A few updates from department chair Kira Carbonneau.
- Educational Psychology student Oluyemisi Oloniyo has been recognized by WSU as its graduate-level recipient of the WSU Women* of Distinction award. These are presented annually during National Women’s History Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of women to the academic and local community, and to our society.
- Eight students enrolled in the department’s Strength and Conditioning Minor attended the Northwest Regional Conference of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Accompanied by faculty member Lukas Krumpl, the students actively participated in the conference proceedings by expanding their professional network through conversations with attendees and speakers, and listening to a variety of talks related to the area of strength and conditioning.
- Peng He and Tingting Li have each been awarded $50,000 grants from Microsoft as part of the company’s AI for Good project. More will be released soon, but in the meantime, here are the respective project titles:
- Peng He: Advancing Equitable Science Learning in Washington State Classrooms through an AI-Empowered Group Argumentation Coordinator.
- Tingting Li: AI-Empowered Adaptive Assessment for Washington Rural Teachers: A Conversational System for Science Learning.
A few updates from department chair Tariq Akmal.
- Graduate student Johana Thomas Zapata (Mathematics and Science Education) won the Washington Campus Coalition Student Civic Leadership Award. She also has accepted a post-doctoral position at University of British Columbia.
- Estephanie Lopez Contreras accepted a position as assistant professor (tenure track) at Vanderbilt University. Interestingly, she is replacing a prior WSU graduate, Sandra Bancroft Billings, who is retiring after 15+ years in that position and returning to Washington to be with family.
The success of both Johana and Estephanie speaks to the quality of our graduate students and the mentoring they receive. Johana’s mentor is Amy Roth McDuffie, and Estephanie’s mentor is Tom Salsbury (who also mentored Sandra Bancroft Billings!).
Tariq Akmal
OUR FACULTY
Faculty feature
Richard McBride — Assistant Professor (Career Track) — Educational Leadership
A lifelong bond: Rich’s journey with the College of Education
For Rich McBride, WSU is more than just a university — it’s a transformative experience that lasts a lifetime. As a WSU graduate, career track assistant professor, and leader in education, his journey with WSU’s College of Education is deeply personal and professionally enriching.
A Lifelong Bond: Rich’s Journey with WSU
For Rich McBride, WSU is more than just a university — it’s a transformative experience that lasts a lifetime. As a WSU graduate, leader in education, and now career-track assistant professor, his journey with WSU’s College of Education is deeply personal and professionally enriching.
Reflecting on his time as a student, Rich shares how the education he received at WSU shaped his personal and professional growth.
“The impact of my education at WSU, the influence of the great faculty has stayed with me forever,” he says, emphasizing the importance of a strong alumni network. Many WSU graduates, he notes, have gone on to become exceptional leaders in their fields, reinforcing the university’s mission of statewide excellence.
Returning as a faculty member was a genuine honor for Rich. His role at WSU Spokane involves coordinating programs, mentoring future educators, and upholding WSU’s core values of leadership, collaboration, and legacy-building. He takes immense pride in how WSU’s faculty and alumni remain engaged, supporting and guiding students long after graduation.
No matter where you travel, when you meet someone sporting a Cougs logo, people turn, smile, and say ‘Go Cougs!’ — There’s no greater sense of belonging.
Richard McBride
One of Rich’s most cherished experiences is the unbreakable sense of community within the Coug family. “No matter where you travel, when you meet someone sporting a Cougs logo, people turn, smile and say, ‘Go Cougs!’—There’s no greater sense of belonging.”
Rich believes WSU thrives on a collaborative mindset despite the geographical distance between campuses. “When you have a shared purpose, distance doesn’t matter.” He hopes to inspire future leaders to embrace WSU’s culture of connection, service, and excellence as he continues his work. He summed it up by quoting his Spokane WSU Colleague Dr. Michael Dunn who says it best;
As WSU Alumni…“We always find our way back home—and that’s truly the power of WSU.”
EVENTS
Here are some upcoming events we’re looking forward to.
WSU ROAR Spring Formal
April 5 — 7:00-9:00 p.m.
10th year of CougsGive
April 16
AERA Annual Meeting
April 23-27
All-College Meeting
May 8-9
Sport Management turns 40!
September 5 — Time TBD
STCU Education Summit
October 11
WSU Tri-Cities. A graduate student research poster event will be included.