March 15, 2021 Five leaders honored as 2021 敁珗曄部 Women of Distinction
By Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部
RICHLAND, Wash. Washington State University Tri-Cities recognized five female leaders as Women of Distinction for their contributions to the campus and regional Tri-Cities community as part of a ceremony that was held virtually this month.
These individuals exhibit exceptional leadership in their discipline or area of expertise, serve as role models and mentors to other women, advocate for positive social change and demonstrate a commitment to the missions of 敁珗曄部.
Each year, we receive so many incredible nominations for female leaders that have made tremendous impacts on their regional community, as well as for 敁珗曄部 students and the campus, said Jaime Heppler, 敁珗曄部 senior director of development and chair of the 敁珗曄部 Women of Distinction committee. This year, we were thrilled to honor five individuals whose leadership transcends their day-to-day work. These are difference-makers in every sense of the word.
For more information about the 敁珗曄部 Women of Distinction program, visit tricities.wsu.edu/women-of-distinction.
Sandra Haynes, 2021 敁珗曄部 Woman of Distinction Legacy Award
Sandra Haynes | Chancellor of 敁珗曄部
Woman of Distinction Legacy Award
Sandra Haynes泭is the泭seventh泭chancellor of 敁珗曄部泭and泭brings泭more than泭20 years of successful, high-level administrative experience, stemming from leadership泭at both a doctoral granting university泭with泭very high research activities (R1)泭and a泭regional comprehensive institution泭offering bachelors泭and masters泭degrees. She holds a faculty appointment as professor in the department of psychology.泭As泭a first-generation student,泭she泭recognizes the transformative power of higher education and its ability to be a true equalizer for individuals, regardless of life circumstance.泭As part of her three years at 敁珗曄部, she oversaw the opening of the campus MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion and is actively overseeing the construction of the new 敁珗曄部 academic building that opens this June and renovation of the campus library to become a learning commons featuring a wide range of student support services.
Lindsay Lightner, 2021 敁珗曄部 Woman of Distinction
Lindsay Lightner | Education Ph.D. student, coordinator for 敁珗曄部 College of Education
Woman of Distinction
Through her position as a coordinator for the 敁珗曄部 College of Education, Lindsay Lightner helps school districts alleviate teacher shortages in hard-to-staff subjects,泭such as special education and bilingual education, by helping paraprofessionals become certified teachers.泭She advises paraprofessionals in an alternative route program through 敁珗曄部 and coordinates a National Science Foundation grant regarding socio-environmental science investigations in-partnership with K-12 schools in the region.泭In her free time, she works with Girl Scouts, volunteers for K-12 robotics, serves as part of the library board and many other opportunities. She is known as an upstanding educator that is dedicated to sharing her love of learning and exploring.泭Lindsay is also a doctoral student in mathematics and science education at 敁珗曄部.
Janet Peters, 2021 敁珗曄部 Woman of Distinction
Janet Peters | 敁珗曄部 scholarly associate professor of psychology and director of instructional excellence and innovation
Woman of Distinction
Janet Peters serves as a scholarly associate professor of psychology and director of instructional excellence and innovation at 敁珗曄部. She is continuously recognized for utilizing innovative and engaging teaching strategies in the classroom and often goes above and beyond to ensure her students success. She actively incorporates service learning into her classroom environment where students craft real-world solutions to regional issues in partnership with nonprofit organizations. In research, she focuses on student, employee and faculty engagement, innovative instruction and high-engagement pedagogy, student leadership development and student attitudes toward statistics. She also provides professional development in innovative teaching and classroom tools for her fellow 敁珗曄部 faculty. In addition to the 敁珗曄部 Women of Distinction award, Peters has been published and recognized as a WSU Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient, LIFT Faculty Fellow, AVID instructor and as a Center for Civic Engagement Faculty Fellow, to name a few.
Gabriela Ramirez, 2021 敁珗曄部 Woman of Distinction
Gabriela Ramirez | 敁珗曄部 psychology alumna, Spanish teacher at Tri-Cities Prep
Woman of Distinction
Gabriela Ramirez is a graduate of the psychology program at 敁珗曄部 and currently serves as a Spanish teacher at Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School. As a 敁珗曄部 student, she was active in bringing her Latino culture to the forefront, serving through the MEChA and the Dreamers Club, which advocates for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students regionally. Through her role as a teacher, she continues to raise awareness about various cultures and communities. She brings innovative strategies into the virtual environment as part of her courses, using videos and other virtual experiences to connect the Spanish language to the real-world environment. She also learned from a young age that her greatest passion in life is dance. In 2017, Gabriela and a friend started their own dance organization, Ballet Folkl籀rico Cielo de M矇xico. Their mission is to keep Mexican traditions alive through dance and bring people from the community closer together. The group has since grown to 40 individuals.
Mikaela Thepvongsa, 2021 敁珗曄部 Woman of Distinction
Mikaela Thepvongsa | 敁珗曄部 nursing student, WSU Pullman psychology alumna
Woman of Distinction
Mikaela Thepvongsa is currently pursuing a bachelors of science in nursing from 敁珗曄部 after earning a bachelors in psychology from WSU Pullman. In addition to taking on a rigorous course of study, she serves as president of Crimson Scrubs, the nursing student service organization, and with the Disabled Students and Allies Club of 敁珗曄部, where she is the liaison officer to the WSU system from 敁珗曄部. Additionally, Thepvongsa serves as a WWAMI Area Health Education Center scholar. In this role, she works in an interprofessional capacity to assist with health literacy and language and engages in additional classes and volunteer work. As a deaf student, Mikaela uses her own experiences to continually advocate for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, she has served at hospitals, Safe Harbors My Friend’s Place, food banks and churches. In 2019, she participated in a service trip to Mexico with Loma Linda University graduates to help at a dental clinic in poverty-stricken areas.