New faculty members participating in the annual five-day Faculty Field Tour traveled around Washington last week to explore our state’s diverse communities, learn about the UW’s impact across the state, and get to know the regions that UW students come from.
One of their first stops was Olympia to meet with Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who acts as the Governor when the Governor is out of state, presidents over the Senate and interprets Senate conduct and procedure rules, and serves on and appoints members to committees, boards, and commissions. Lt. Gov. Heck was elected in 2020 after serving in Congress and the State House of Representatives. He also grew several small businesses in Washington. During their visit, the faculty learned about how our state’s government works and had the opportunity to ask Lt. Gov. Heck about his role and experiences in Olympia.
Later in the week, the faculty visited Sen. Mark Schoesler at his family’s fifth-generation farm in Ritzville to learn about Washington’s rural communities, the history of the region, and dryland wheat farming and economics. They also had the opportunity to view and sit in some of his farming equipment, including a combine and sprayer. Sen. Schoesler has served in the legislature since 1992, first as a Representative, and represents the 9th legislative district, which spans part or all of Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Spokane, and Whitman counties.
After visiting the Schoesler farm, the faculty traveled to Spokane and then headed to the Grand Coulee Dam and to meet with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Thank you, Lt. Gov. Heck and Sen. Schoesler, for spending time with our new faculty members and for your support of the UW.
