Human Resources

• Scottie Ellsworth – Athletics Administration
• Robert Hunt – Theatre and Film
• Alex Joy – Custodial Services
• Brian McCarthy – Human Resources
• Maggie McRae – College of Business
• Angelina Quezada Rodriquez – SURC Kitchen
• Shelby Ross – Custodial Services
• James Thomas – Learning Commons

What: Recovery Community BBQ - Open to all!

Where: Lawn next to the Japanese Garden 

Date: May 5

Time: 3:30 – 6 PM

Who is invited: Students, Faculty, Staff, anyone who is in, or in support of recovery!

Our TIAA representative will be on the Ellensburg campus May 5, 6, 7, and June 2, 3, 4, for in-person meetings.

No matter where you are in life—whether you’re just getting started or planning for retirement—a session with a financial consultant can help you create a plan for your goals. And it’s at no additional cost as a part of your retirement plan. You’ll get answers to these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the appropriate mix of investments to help meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

TIAA is the plan administrator for the CWU Retirement Plan (CWURP) and the Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP). The CWURP is the mandatory faculty and exempt retirement plan, and the VIP is an optional retirement savings plan available to all non-student employees. Sign up today, as space is limited. Register for sessions at tiaa.org/schedulenow or by calling 800-842-2252, weekdays, 5 AM to 7 PM

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to highlight the importance of mental well-being, educate the public, reduce stigma, and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions. Raising awareness plays a vital role in encouraging early intervention, fostering empathy, and normalizing conversations around mental health.

Where Can I Find Mental Health Resources?

Help is out there, and hope is possible. Following are some free resources to lean on if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis:

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a 24/7 treatment referral and information service.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7, confidential support for people in distress.
• FindTreatment.gov helps people seek treatment for mental and substance use disorders.
• National Institute of Mental Health outlines additional mental health services.

Take action by checking on your mental health with a free, anonymous test at Mental Health America: mhascreening.org

MyBrain: The Best and Worst Part of Me

Explore neurodivergence in student affairs through research, lived experience, and practical strategies for building more inclusive and supportive workplace cultures. Drawing on original research and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, this session highlights both the strengths and challenges neurodivergent professionals experience in higher education. Participants will engage in brief reflection and leave with concrete, low-cost strategies to foster belonging, psychological safety, and sustainable support for neurodivergent colleagues. Presented by: Brooke Paradise, ED.D

May 13 | 12 – 1 PM | Zoom Meeting

ENROLL NOW

Records Retention Management

Everyone is responsible for the records they receive, create, and maintain—including electronic records. Understanding and complying with State and CWU records management policies and procedures helps mitigate risk and enhance your physical and digital workspace. Learn best practices for managing your faculty records both physically and digitally to ensure compliance and support institutional accountability. Presented by Janet Shields, Records and Retention Office

May 13 | 3 – 4 PM | Zoom Meeting

ENROLL NOW

For PSE Members: ½ Day Professional Development Day
Sustainable Excellence: A Holistic Approach to Workplace Well-Being

Establish a baseline of personal wellbeing through evidence-informed screening. Develop practical skills to mitigate external stressors. Frame boundary-setting into professional dialogue. Presented by: Marissa Howatt, Director Wellness Health Promotion, Dr. Alexandra Collyer, Assistant Director of Mental Health, and Amanda Taylor and Kat Frazier from University Recreation

May 15 | 8 AM to Noon | Black Hall MCC

ENROLL NOW

Emergency Preparedness
This training provides faculty and staff with essential guidance on emergency response, including CWU’s Emergency Plan, coordinated police and community actions, and practical personal safety strategies.  This training fulfills the university’s required course requirement. Presented by CWU Police Sergeant Andrew Bayne. 

May 19 | 10 – 11 AM | Grupe Center on Ellensburg Campus

ENROLL NOW

Email Deleting Party 

Email can be a challenge for a lot of people (It doesn’t stop! There’s so much of it!). Luckily, most of the emails we send and receive are transitory and don’t need to be saved. Unsure how to identify them? This training can help! Presented by Janet Shields, Records and Retention Office

May 19 | 3 – 4 PM | Zoom Meeting

ENROLL NOW

View more upcoming workshops on the CWU Events Calendar.

Questions?  Please reach out to cla@cwu.edu.

Move your way to well-being

It's back! Register for The Invitational between May 6 and May 19 at smarthealth.hca.wa.gov

How it works

Join a five-person team and track steps between May 20 and June 23. Your team will compete against a new team each week. The team with the most steps each week wins!

Tracky any activity

You can walk, dance, bike, swim or stay active any way you would like. Use the steps conversion chart in SmartHealth to convert your activity minutes into steps. To record your activity, sync a fitness device or enter your steps manually in SmartHealth.

Earn points

You can earn 50 SmartHealth points per weekly round. There are 5 weekly rounds. Earn up to 250 points!

Download our app

Use the Wellness At Your Side app to register and track your steps during The Invitational. Use connection code: smarthealth

Note: Employees are encouraged to participate in this challenge during work breaks our outside of work hours.

Supporting you on your journey toward living well

Learn more at hca.wa.gov/pebb-smarthhealth

Priority Deadline: August 15th

Event Info: September 29 3pm-5pm in the SURC - CWU Campus

We're looking for faculty, staff, and community members to host short and engaging life skill sessions.

If you have a useful skill to share, visit the link:

https://cwu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ctHBgRlL3wzBhVY

For any questions, please contact:

Alexandra.Collyer@cwu.edu

(509) 963 - 3213

SURC 256

Health Care Authority | Public Employees Benefits Board

PRESSING PAUSE: IMPROVING SLEEP FOR BETTER HEALTH

Join an Omada Health coach to learn ways to improve sleep. You will learn techniques for establishing a bedtime routine, ways to improve the quality of your sleep, and tips to boost energy.

May 14, 2026 - 3:30pm (Pacific)

Register Today

The DRS webinar schedule for April - June 2026 is now available. View the schedule and sign up for Zoom webinars at DRS Webinars. If unable to attend a live webinar, video recordings are available on-demand.

Employee Assistance Program: Support When You Need It

Your well-being matters. The First Choice Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers 24/7 access to licensed mental health counselors. Just call 800-777-4114 for immediate support. You can also explore a wide range of confidential resources online, from emotional wellbeing to financial tools, parenting, legal topics, and more. Visit www.FirstChoiceEAP.com and log in with the username CWU to get started. Services are available to all faculty, staff, and their family members.

Behavioral Health Services available through your PEBB medical insurance or call Uniform Medical (UMP) or Kaiser.

Local Helpline | 24/7 | Master's-Level Counselors | 509-925-4168 

National Hotline | 24/7 | Dial 988 or Text 'Home' to 741741

online chat feature: suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Every day, our colleagues go above and beyond to support student success and contribute to a workplace rooted in Engagement, Belonging, Stewardship, and Student Success.

Help us recognize the exceptional work happening across campus by nominating a classified or exempt employee for the Employee of the Month Award. Whether it’s through a standout project, a positive impact on others, or consistently living into CWU’s mission, we want to celebrate those who make a difference. Let’s shine a spotlight on those who make CWU a better place every day.

Who can nominate?       Anyone
Who is eligible?              Classified and Exempt Staff
What’s the reward?        $125 and recognition at a quarterly celebration
Bonus:                               Monthly winners are eligible for Employee of the Year

Nomination Form

Celebrate a Colleague's Exceptional Efforts by nominating them for the Wildcat Way Spotlight—a heartfelt way to recognize their dedication and share their story with the CWU community. Each nominee receives a personal message of appreciation, and their supervisor is notified as well. It’s a simple, meaningful way to say thank you.

Cinco de Mayo on Taco Tuesday? Yes, please!

INGREDIENTS

• 5 Tablespoons canola oil – divided
• 2 cups yellow onion – chopped
• 3 pounds ground beef
• 2 packets taco seasoning (or homemade*)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 cups shredded Colby jack cheese
• 16 8-inch soft flour tortillas
• 1 ½ cup pico de gallo
• Diced Tomatoes
• White onion
• Fresh lime juice
• Fresh jalapeño
• Fresh cilantro

Toppings

• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Pico de Gallo

*Homemade Taco Seasoning (3 Tablespoons = 1 packet)

• 4 Tablespoons chili powder
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 Tablespoons ground cumin
• 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and brush 13x18-inch baking sheet with canola oil.
• In large skillet, heat 1 Tablespoon oil, then add onions, and sauté 2-3 minutes until soft. Transfer to plate and set aside.
• Add half the ground beef, 1 packet taco seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper and cook 4-5 minutes, breaking meat into crumbles until no pink remains. Transfer to large bowl and repeat with second half of ground beef and seasonings. Transfer to bowl and mix in onions.
• Lay ten tortillas on prepared sheet tray with no gaps and overhang on all sides by at least 2-3 inches.
• Spoon ground beef mixture over tortillas. Use slotted spoon to drip off as much fat as possible.
• Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top.
• Spoon the pico de gallo over the top of the cheese with a slotted spoon to drain most of the juices.
• Overlap remaining tortillas in the center of the tray and fold overhanging ones up to enclose all filling.
• Brush canola oil over the tops of the flour tortillas.
• Place the second sheet tray on top of the entire giant taco, making sure that all the folded-over tortillas stay in place.
• Place an oven-safe heavy skillets (like cast iron) onto the sheet tray to weigh it down.
• Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove heavy skillet and top sheet tray, and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp and the cheese is melted.
• Optional: add strips of aluminum foil to edge to ensure edges do not get too dark before the center is golden.
• Let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing with a pizza cutter.

https://princesspinkygirl.com/sheet-pan-tacos/

“May is the month to plant seeds of hope, kindess, and positive change.”