The Dean’s Office

Meet the Dean

Welcome to the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. As a returning Cougar pharmacist and scientist, and dean of the college, I’m excited and proud to share with you why our college is a strong, nationally ranked pharmacy school.

As a land-grant university, our vision is tightly focused on advancing, promoting and protecting human health while serving the citizens of Washington state. We pride ourselves in offering one of the highest quality and affordable Doctor of Pharmacy programs in the West. Our faculty members play key roles in driving the profession of pharmacy forward in areas of both clinical practice and basic science research. From expanded dual degree programs and certificates in business, engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and communications, to record pharmacy residency matches and job placements year after year, our college inspires students to become lifelong learners in the pharmacy profession. Our practice-ready graduates make immediate and impactful contributions to the profession and continue to integrate new information as the fields of pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, medicine and technology evolve.

Our research continues to be recognized on a national level with over $10 million in external funding in fiscal year 2020. Our faculty are recipients of several grants from the National Institutes of Health, with areas of focus in cancer, natural products, nanotechnology and drug delivery, autoimmune diseases, and much more.

The college’s 130-year legacy is the result of incredible dedication of the part of our students and trainees, faculty and staff, members of our advisory councils, and the investment and connections forged by our Cougar alumni. We are proud to carry on the tradition of training the next generation of pharmacists, pharmacy leaders, and cutting-edge pharmaceutical scientists, while serving the citizens of the great Washington state. I invite you to join our Cougar family and be a part of our journey in excellence.

Mark Leid
Professor and Dean

Previous deans to the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

George H. Watt – 1893-1913
Asa F. Maxwell – 1913-1917
Pearl H. Dirstine – 1917-1952
Haakon Bang – 1952-1960
Allen I. White – 1960-1979
Larry M. Simonsmeier – 1982-1985
Robert V. Smith – 1985-1987
Mahmoud M. Abel-Monem – 1987-1998
William E. Fassett – 1999-2005
James P. Kehrer – 2005-2009
Gary M. Pollack – 2010-2019