Central Honors Leader and Alumnus

April 30, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.,-Central Washington University recognizes the philanthropy of long time supporter, proven leader and alumnus, Dr. David Wain Coon, by renaming the CWU Center for Excellence in Leadership in his honor. The "David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership," located in the Student Union and Recreation Center, will be unveiled on Tuesday, May 1 at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will begin on the mezzanine just outside the Student Union ballroom with a welcome by Central President Jerilyn S. McIntyre.

The Center for Excellence in Leadership is comprised of two professional staff members and a team of paraprofessional student programmers. "The Center provides broad-based leadership education for the CWU campus community, including individualized training, leadership resources and recognition," says Leslie Webb, director, CWU's diversity education center. "Staff at the center engage students in a variety of team-oriented programs, from small group retreats to large scale keynote speakers on leadership in the 21st century."

Naming the center in David Wain Coon's (BA '86) honor is a perfect fit. A proven leader in education, David is also a recognized leader locally and regionally. Prior to moving to San Jose, Calif., he served as a state trustee and regional board member for Children's Home Society of Washington, as a board member and volunteer counselor for Camp Opportunity, as a board member for the CWU Alumni Association, and as chair of a state-wide Citizen's Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction. David was recently appointed to the board for Asian Americans for Community Involvement in San Jose.

When Dr. Coon received the CWU Alumni Association's Special Achievement Award last fall, he announced a plan to give back to his alma mater that has given him so much. His gift, the David Wain Coon Leadership Endowment, provides support for leadership development programs for Central students who are historically on the margin of society based on their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, immigration status or disability.

"It is my hope that this endowment will in some meaningful way empower, provide a voice, or provide skills to students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to develop their leadership potential," explains Coon, a firm believer of student centeredness, equity and social justice.

With a bachelor's degree in communications and public relations from Central, a master's in college student personnel administration from Western Washington University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Seattle University, Dr. Coon is currently president of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, Calif. His professional career in higher education also includes serving as vice president for student success at Cascadia Community College, Green River Community College executive dean of student services, vice president/dean of student services at the Art Institute of Seattle, director of student development at Pierce College and director of residential services at CWU.

As Coon looks back on his professional career in higher education, he is reminded of how his experiences at Central helped build the foundation from which he now leads and interacts.

"Both the in-class and out-of-class experiences greatly influenced the shaping of the values, beliefs and integrity that I attempt to bring to my own interactions with the students and other members of the educational communities to which I have belonged," says Coon. " With each interaction, I draw upon the knowledge and skills introduced to me through my study of communications and public relations at Central."

For more information about the Center for Excellence in Leadership at Central, visit www.cwu.edu/~cel/ or call 509-963-1524.

Contacts: Jen Gray, CWU, Development, grayj@cwu.edu or 509-963-1494 Teri Olin, CWU, PR & Marketing, olint@cwu.edu or 509-963-1416