Commencement

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ALUMNUS
OF THE YEAR
Sandra J. Matheson earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from
WSU Tri-Cities in 1998. In 1999, she established the Business Advisory Council
to support the WSU Tri-Cities MBA program and graduates. While organizing the Advisory Council she also taught undergraduate courses in principles of management and business strategy as an adjunct faculty member.

In 2001 the College of Business and Economics selected her to be an instructor in the WSU Hotel and Restaurant Administration program at the International College of Hospitality Administration (ICHA) in Brig, Switzerland. To date she is the only faculty member from the WSU Tri-Cities campus to have taught in one of WSU’s overseas programs.

Ms. Matheson now is the Director of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, a position to which she was appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
Nicole Blake earned her bachelor’s degree in education in 1999 and her master’s degree in literacy in 2003 from WSU Tri-Cities. She currently teaches third grade at White Bluffs Elementary School and is an adjunct faculty member at WSU Tri-Cities. She serves on the Richland Learning Improvement team and is a literacy trainer in the Richland School District.

She is a district leader in curriculum development, and Ms. Blake has been
instrumental in assisting in the development of tfacilitating the kinhe White Bluff’s School
Improvement Plan. She also is a member of the White Bluff’s Math Committee and has taken on the challenge of dergarten readiness program.