CWU Administrator to Chair State Substance Abuse Coalition

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Washington College Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention has named a new chair. She is Gail Farmer, director of Central Washington University's Wildcat Wellness Center. Farmer has been an active with the coalition for about six years, and has served on its steering committee.

"I'm very excited and honored to be to be a part of this nationally recognized team that will be moving the College Coalition forward with strategic direction for substance abuse prevention efforts for college and university communities in Washington," Farmer says.

Formerly known as the Washington State Substance Abuse College Task Force, the coalition was first established in 1985 to provide support, professional development and technical assistance for developing and continuing substance abuse prevention efforts on university campuses across Washington.

Coalition membership includes prevention professionals and other interested parties from Washington colleges and universities, the Department of Social and Health Services, Washington State Liquor Control Board, the "Reducing Underage Drinking Project," Washington Traffic Safety Commission and office of the Lieutenant Governor.

The coalition recently conducted a statewide assessment of college student use of alcohol and other drugs that will provide both statewide and local data for individual colleges and universities.

"I'm also delighted for the opportunity to increase the visibility of the efforts of CWU and our community in developing environmental approaches to reducing underage and high*risk drinking," Farmer adds.

As director of the Wildcat Wellness Center since 1999, Farmer has developed, implemented and evaluated campus substance abuse prevention campaigns, and provided assessment, counseling and referral for students who have been identified to be at high risk.

She has had extensive experience in outpatient alcohol counseling and also serves as CWU's sexual assault response coordinator. She holds master's degrees in counseling psychology and a business administration.

Contact: Lynne Imamshah (509-963-3240/fax 509-963-1813/e-mail: lynnei@cwu.edu)

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