CougaRx News

Update From the Dean

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

What an extraordinary—and emotional—start to the 2026 academic year. August began with tremendous heartache as the Spokane fires affected so many across our community. My heart goes out to the families who lost their homes and to those who were displaced by evacuation orders and faced days of uncertainty about when they could safely return. At the same time, it was deeply heartening to witness the compassion and resilience of our community. Neighbors helped neighbors, and our college and WSU community came together to support one another during a difficult time. That spirit of care and connection is a powerful reminder of what makes Spokane and our Cougar community so special.

As we look ahead, the new academic year also brings a sense of hope and possibility. This fall, we welcomed an exceptionally talented group of students to our undergraduate, Doctor of Pharmacy, and graduate programs. They have joined us from across the country—from Florida to Hawaii—as well as from around the world, including Canada, China, Korea, and Qatar. What brings them together is a shared passion for improving health and making a difference in the lives of others.

I am especially proud to welcome our largest incoming cohort in five years. These students represent the next generation of health care professionals and scientists who will help address critical workforce needs and expand access to care in communities across Washington and beyond, including the rural and underserved communities that need them most.

I am also honored to share a personal milestone with you. Earlier today, I was announced as the 13th dean of the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. It is difficult to put into words what this opportunity means to me. This College has played an integral role in shaping who I am, both personally and professionally, and I am deeply grateful to the mentors, colleagues, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who have supported me throughout my journey.

I am humbled by the opportunity to lead a college that I care so deeply about, particularly at a time when the health care needs of our communities are so great. Together, we have an important opportunity to advocate for our students, strengthen the pharmacy profession, advance innovative research and education, and help ensure that people in communities throughout Washington and beyond have access to the care they need.

There is much to look forward to in the year ahead, and I am excited to share our students’ accomplishments, our faculty’s discoveries and the many ways our alumni and partners are making a difference. I hope you will be part of that journey.

And, if you haven’t already, I hope you will join us on September 25 for the Crimson Gala as we come together to celebrate our remarkable College community and 135 years of pharmacy education at WSU. It will be a special opportunity to reconnect, celebrate and look toward the future together.

Thank you for being part of the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences family. I am honored to serve as your dean, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

As always, Go Cougs!

Julie Akers (’00), Dean