CougaRx News

Message From the Interim Dean

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Spring has ushered in a season of renewal and growth—and across the college, that spirit is clearly taking hold.

Following our outstanding NAPLEX results (92.5%—#1 in the Pacific Northwest and #3 among West Coast public pharmacy schools), I’m proud to share even more achievements that reflect the strength of our students and the enduring impact of our alumni community.

90% Residency Match Rate

Our class of 2026 delivered an exceptional performance in Phase I of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) residency match, achieving a 90% match rate, with 19 of 21 students securing placements. The overall Phase I results currently place the college #1 among pharmacy schools across the Pacific Northwest and the West Coast. Building on this momentum, our class of 2025 achieved a remarkable 100% PGY2 match rate. Phase II results will be published on April 22. See where our students matched!

These successes are made possible by a strong foundation—one built not only by our dedicated faculty and staff, but by alumni like you. Your engagement, mentorship, and continued support help shape practice-ready graduates who are confident, compassionate, and prepared to lead in an evolving health care landscape.

Join us for #CougsGive on April 15

That spirit of support will be especially important on April 15 during #CougsGive, Washington State University’s annual day of giving. This is an opportunity to invest directly in the next generation of pharmacists—supporting student scholarships and the resources that help our students succeed. Every gift, at every level, helps open doors and sustain the momentum we are so proud to share.

3-Minute Thesis Winner Two Years in a Row

We are also celebrating excellence in research and innovation. Congratulations to PhD candidate Jiawei Liu, who won this year’s University-wide 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This marks the second consecutive year a student from our college has earned this distinction, and the fifth time in the competition’s 12-year history—an achievement that reflects the strength and innovation of our PhD program.

There is much to celebrate this spring, and we invite you to join us—whether in person or in spirit—at any of our upcoming events. We will be hosting our college awards ceremonies on April 15 in Spokane and April 16 in Yakima, before the great send off for Former Dean Mark Leid as he concludes his distinguished tenure on April 30.

Thank you for being an essential part of our continued momentum—and for helping to ensure that what we are building together continues to grow.

With a proud Go Cougs!

Julie Akers (’00), Interim Dean