WWU's Bruce, Cyndie Shepard honored by Legislature
Citing their service to the state of Washington and public higher education, the Washington State Senate and Washington State House each has approved resolutions honoring Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard and wife Cyndie Shepard.
Bruce Shepard, who is finishing his eighth year as president at Western, will be retiring in June. Cyndie Shepard will be retiring as director of Western's nationally recognized, award-winning mentorship program Compass 2 Campus.
"Thanks to their outstanding efforts and hard work, the foundation laid by Bruce and Cyndie has positioned Western Washington University to continue as a world-class institution and a source of great pride to its alumni and our state," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement released today.
The Western Legislative Review also wrote about the resolutions honoring the Shepards.
The resolutions by the Legislature say that: "Under President Shepard's leadership, Western Washington University has been recognized as a regional and national leader for academic success." President Shepard has prioritized Western's role as a publicly-purposed university; effectively led Western through the Great Recession, managing the university's finances while protecting Western's distinctive academic excellence; and, through his leadership, has consistently challenged Western and the entire state "to consider tough questions around racial privilege, equity and social justice, and worked to ensure that quality higher education is accessible to students of all backgrounds and demographics…"
Cyndie Shepard has excelled as Western's first lady and resolutions laud her creation and leadership of Western's innovative Compass 2 Campus program, which places Western students in local school districts to serve as mentors and encourage students to graduate from high school and to pursue higher education. The highly successful program, which provides Western student mentors in school districts throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties, last year was transported to Central Washington University.
Senate Resolutions for Bruce Shepard and for Cyndie Shepard were approved today; similar resolutions for Bruce Shepard and for Cyndie Shepard were approved earlier this month by the state House. Local legislators were among those sponsoring the resolutions.
In his statement, Gov. Inslee said that: "I am grateful for Bruce's leadership in creating the innovative Clean Energy Program that will develop students' knowledge and expertise on efficient and renewable energy. Bruce and his team expanded outreach efforts to new student communities throughout the state and helped create a Western Washington University Center at Olympic College in Poulsbo.
"Cyndie's significant contributions to Western will continue through the award-winning Compass 2 Campus program, which pairs Western student mentors with grade school students to increase access to higher education for underrepresented groups."
Monday, March 7, 2016 - 3:49pm
Bruce and Cyndie Shepard are honored in the state Legislature Monday, March 7, 2016.
Bruce Shepard Compass 2 Campus Cyndie Shepard government legislature recognition 15-16: Leadership