CWU-Sammamish Kicks-Off Thursday Night Speaker Series

CWU-Sammamish, which began offering classes on September 20, is hosting a Thursday evening Fall Speaker Series featuring experts on subjects ranging from local wildlife bridges to how to deal with public relations crises.

“The idea behind the Thursday Speaker Series is to invite faculty members from Central Washington University to make presentations about the exciting research projects they’re working on,” said Melanie Palm, CWU’s executive director of extended learning, who oversees the new facility. “We’re so pleased to be able to present these speakers, who truly are the experts in their respective fields, to talk on things they’re passionate about.”

Upcoming speakers will include:

• October 12—Kevin Brett, CWU public relations professor, who will pose the question, “Are We Prepared for the Big One? Preparing, Preventing, and Responding to Natural and Man-Made PR Debacles.”

• October 26—Kristina Ernest, from the Biology Sciences department, who will lead a presentation on “Bridges for Wildlife: Reconnecting Populations and Ecosystems along I-90.”

• November 9—Jessica Mayhew, anthropology, who will speak about “Playful Primates: The Significance of the Juvenile Experience”

• November 30—Paul Knepper, law and justice, who will talk on “The Real James Bond: Undercover Investigation into International Sex Trafficking in the 1920s.”

Tickets are now available.

CWU-Sammamish, which provides higher education classes and professional development for residents of the Sammamish Plateau, is located at 120 228th Ave. N.E. in Sammamish. It is a partnership between CWU and the City of Sammamish. Students are currently enrolled in general education undergraduate courses, which are open to the public and high school juniors and seniors looking to earn up to two years of tuition-free college credit by participating in Running Start.

Professional development opportunities are available for current industry professionals and students preparing for certification or just interested in careers in the beer, wine, and restaurant industries, and personal enrichment programs in aging well, art, digital photography, food, wine, and beer; and healthy eating and nutrition.

The curriculum offered at CWU-Sammamish was developed following discussions with community leaders and an extensive assessment of the higher education needs of the area.

For more information about CWU-Sammamish classes or certification programs, contact CWU at 509-963-1351 or email CE@cwu.edu.

Media contact: Robert Lowery, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1487, Robert.Lowery@cwu.edu.