Executive Vice President for Statewide Campus’s Award for Service to WSU Vancouver

Since its inception, WSW has been committed to bridging the gap between workforce needs and individual aspirations. Through strategic partnerships, targeted initiatives and forward-thinking programs, the organization has fostered an ecosystem where people and businesses can thrive.

At the heart of WSW’s mission is a profound belief in the power of education and skill development. This is where WSU Vancouver and WSW have found a sweet spot for collaboration. Through partnership on multiple initiatives, both work to strengthen the economic resiliency of Southwest Washington and provide students with the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving job market.

For example, the Future Leaders Project is an initiative of WSU Vancouver, WSW and the Columbia River Economic Development Council that aims to cultivate diverse leaders from our growing community. FLP places WSU Vancouver students from communities that have experienced longstanding inequities and exclusion, and helps first-generation college students find employer-sponsored summer internships.

WSW’s impact extends beyond the realm of employment. Recognizing the interconnectedness of economic prosperity and community well-being, the organization actively invests in programs and initiatives that address systemic barriers and foster economic equity. During the 2021/22 academic year, WSW invested in the professional development of its entire team through participation in WSU Vancouver’s Building a Community of Equity (BaCE) program. All WSW staff who went through the program earned a BaCE certificate through WSU Vancouver.

Since 2020, WSW and WSU Vancouver have collaborated through a partnership contract that funds a full-time position in WSU Vancouver’s Engaged Learning and Career Action Center. The purpose is to bridge the gap between the higher education system and the workforce development system.