2025 was a year full of student achievement, research breakthroughs, extraordinary alumni and community support, and lots of Coug spirit! We’re kicking off 2026 by remembering some of the best parts of 2025 with the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences top 10 stories from the year, in order of those viewed by the most people according to Google Analytics.
#1
Julie Akers named interim dean for the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Effective July 1, Julie Akers (’00) was named interim dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
With 25 years of experience as a licensed pharmacist, including 15 at the college, Akers brings a wide breadth of knowledge and adaptability to the role.
#2
How the Rural Health Travel Fund Transforms Lives
For many pharmacy students, hands-on experience in rural and underserved areas isn’t just a requirement—it’s a calling. But the financial strain of travel, lodging, and everyday expenses can be a barrier to completing these vital rotations. The Rural Health Travel Fund is changing that, enabling students to gain invaluable experience in communities that need them most.
#3
WSU researcher pioneers new study model with clues to anti-aging
A WSU research team has opened the door to using genetically engineered mice to study human lifespan on a cellular level. Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor Jiyue Zhu, who led the team, recently published these findings in Nature Communications and is considered a major breakthrough in understanding telomeres and its relation to age-related diseases.
#4
New Leadership Brings Fresh Vision to the College
The College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is entering a new era of leadership, strengthened by two longtime faculty members who are stepping into pivotal roles. Congratulations to John Clarke and Josh Neumiller in their roles as Chairs of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department and Pharmacotherapy Department respectively.
#5
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean Mark Leid stepping down
Dean Mark Leid will be stepping down as dean at the end of his five-year term on June 30, 2025. He will continue to serve as professor of pharmacology in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
#6
Alumni Spotlight: How Mark Nguyen Is Redefining Emergency Pharmacy
When Mark Nguyen (’19) isn’t saving lives as an emergency medicine pharmacist, he helps pharmacists around the country hone their skills through video tutorials on social media as the founder of PharmWyze.
#7
Forging New Industry Connections: Dr. Mary Paine Appointed Director of Industry Advancement
The College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Mary Paine as the new Director of Industry Advancement. This pivotal role reflects the college’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and the pharmaceutical industry, fostering innovation, and creating transformative opportunities for students and faculty in drug development.
#8
WSU Welcomes 85 New Student Pharmacists at White Coat Ceremonies
The college welcomed 85 new student pharmacists over the course of Pharmacy Prep Week this August, culminating with White Coat Ceremonies held in Spokane and Yakima where students are presented with their official white coats which they will wear throughout their four years in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
#9
WSU project reduces hospitalizations among home health care patients
By encouraging in-home providers to “think like a pharmacist” when reviewing medications, a WSU initiative helped a Spokane home health care agency reduce hospitalizations of high-risk heart-failure patients by more than half over a 10-week period.
#10
Meet Tomorrow’s Leaders in Pharmacy and Research
Across the Spokane and Yakima campuses, 82 Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students completed their degrees. They represent a diverse, driven, and dynamic group—35% male and 65% female—with ages ranging from 23 to 43. Nearly one-third of these future pharmacists are multilingual, one-third are the first in their families to attend college, and almost half hail from towns with populations under 50,000.