‘Caring for our community and honoring Dr. King’

January 16, 2025

Dear WSU community,

As we prepare to recognize the profound and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. next week, I encourage you to continue caring for one another.

Washington State University is fortunate to have an incredible community of Cougs from all over the world, located all over the state. While each of our campus locations and extension sites may look a little different in the students they educate and the communities they serve, we are all bound by a vision that puts people first.

To carry out this vision, we must work towards creating environments where everyone can thrive. As Dr. King once said, "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." By helping each other, we help ourselves.

For those looking to recommit to this work in the new year, I encourage you to participate in any of the Office of the Provost's system-wide events honoring Dr. King's legacy next week. Beginning with a Day of Service on Monday and culminating on Thursday with a keynote from social justice advocate and mindfulness teacher, Rhonda V. Magee, it promises to be a wonderful week centered around hope, resiliency, and healing.

In addition to the tools that will be shared next week, I'd like to remind this community that there are resources available to you throughout the year. Whether you seek guidance, a listening ear, or a platform to voice concerns about campus climate, WSU is here to help. This is especially important as we navigate potential changes at the federal, state, and local levels that may impact our daily lives and work.