Last week, Tracy Klein, a family nurse practitioner and nursing professor at WSU Vancouver, was announced as a new member of the Board of Regents.

Klein said she will be “representing the faculty perspective.”

She was chair-elect of the Faculty Senate for a one-year term starting in August 2024. In this position, she developed “new committees focused on faculty salaries and international issues,” according to a WSU news release. 

With this expertise, Klein said she “will be interested in hearing concrete plans regarding the investment and enhancement of excellence in faculty,” a goal directly in line with the academic excellence and modernization pillar of President Cantwell’s six strategic pillars proposed at the latest regent meetings in Spokane.

“Our faculty are currently under strain and pressure from many external and internal factors,” Klein said. 

This includes decreased salaries and funds for further education and travel. She looks forward to learning about how faculty can be empowered to grow in their roles and how their strengths can be promoted, Klein said.

Klein, a professor who teaches hybrid classes, said she values the process WSU is undergoing to establish and expand upon certain areas of education.

“[This can improve access] to our students across the state, so I would support looking at where this might work with our programs to increase retention,” Klein said.

Klein obtained both her family nurse practitioner degree and doctorate in nursing from WSU.

Her first meetings with the board will be on Nov. 13 and 14 in Seattle.