Several members of the WSU College of Nursing community were recognized for their exceptional contributions in the 2025 Chancellor’s Excellence Awards. These honors celebrate individuals and teams who go above and beyond to improve nursing education, support student success, and uplift the WSU Spokane community.
Danielle Desormier, Director of Finance & Administrative Services
“Danielle’s kindness is not just a characteristic—it’s the foundation of her leadership.” — Taylor Kensel
Civil Service Award:
Ross Bindler, PharmD
“There is no way our team would have been able to meet the deadlines and commitments on this [$679,000] grant… without Dr. Bindler’s commitment and organization skills.” – Dr. Marian Wilson
Student Community Engagement:
Anneka Siems, ’25 BSN
“She was enthusiastic about being in the community, treated the homeless clientele with respect and kindness, and took the lead in advancing our initiatives.” – Susan McFadden, MN, ARNP
These awardees exemplify Cougar spirit, leadership, and service to others.
Administrative Professionals:
Heidi Belcher, Undergraduate Clinical Onboarding Coordinator
“Heidi brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to optimize workflows… Her dedication ensures our students are fully prepared to enter nursing careers with confidence.” — Laura East-Pease
Taylor Kensel, Director of Development
“Her passion for inclusivity strengthens our college community and reinforces WSU’s commitment to equity and diversity.” — Alicia Preston
Danielle Desormier, Director of Finance & Administrative Services
“Danielle’s kindness is not just a characteristic—it’s the foundation of her leadership.” — Taylor Kensel
Civil Service Award:
Ross Bindler, PharmD
“There is no way our team would have been able to meet the deadlines and commitments on this [$679,000] grant… without Dr. Bindler’s commitment and organization skills.” – Dr. Marian Wilson
Student Community Engagement:
Anneka Siems, ’25 BSN
“She was enthusiastic about being in the community, treated the homeless clientele with respect and kindness, and took the lead in advancing our initiatives.” – Susan McFadden, MN, ARNP
These awardees exemplify Cougar spirit, leadership, and service to others.
Faculty Excellence in Teaching:
Dr. Annette Jenkins
Annette Jenkins is an assistant professor at Washington State University College of Nursing in Spokane, WA. She has worked in a variety of roles including staff nurse and nurse educator in acute care settings. Jenkins worked part-time as a practice lab preceptor at WSU College of Nursing for over six years in addition to teaching.
Department/Group Excellence:
Center for Experiential Learning
The Center for Experiential Learning (CEL) received the Chancellor’s Group Excellence Award for their outstanding work across all WSU College of Nursing campuses—Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, and Vancouver. As Dr. Dawn DePriest noted, “This is where the Center for Experiential Learning team truly shines… showcasing exceptional collaboration, innovation, and success in preparing highly qualified nurses.”
The award recognizes the collective efforts of the CEL and simulation team members who provide thousands of hours of hands-on training, simulation, and skill-building experiences to prepare nursing students for real-world clinical care.
Statewide team members include:
Robin Baumgarten, Leah Berry, Kirsti Bakker, Theresa Barenz, Theresa Bowden, Sharna Clark, Mikayla Daniels, Emily Davies, Dawn DePriest, Ameera Fayad, Sylvia Gobel, Christine Hayes, Gudrun Klim, Jamie Mauser, Tom McMeekin, Anna Mishuk, Aimee Nechanicky, Carli Netz, Michelle Pelchat, Juanita Parker, Bridget Pretz, Lee Punch, Alesia Raino, Cade Sanchez, Angela Tatro, and Barb Wallace.
Their impact spans from preparing future Coug Nurses in simulation labs to building statewide collaborations and delivering community-focused training.
Administrative Professionals:
Heidi Belcher, Undergraduate Clinical Onboarding Coordinator
“Heidi brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to optimize workflows… Her dedication ensures our students are fully prepared to enter nursing careers with confidence.” — Laura East-Pease
Taylor Kensel, Director of Development
“Her passion for inclusivity strengthens our college community and reinforces WSU’s commitment to equity and diversity.” — Alicia Preston
Danielle Desormier, Director of Finance & Administrative Services
“Danielle’s kindness is not just a characteristic—it’s the foundation of her leadership.” — Taylor Kensel
Civil Service Award:
Ross Bindler, PharmD
“There is no way our team would have been able to meet the deadlines and commitments on this [$679,000] grant… without Dr. Bindler’s commitment and organization skills.” – Dr. Marian Wilson
Student Community Engagement:
Anneka Siems, ’25 BSN
“She was enthusiastic about being in the community, treated the homeless clientele with respect and kindness, and took the lead in advancing our initiatives.” – Susan McFadden, MN, ARNP
These awardees exemplify Cougar spirit, leadership, and service to others.
