Last week, WSU’s Office of Federal Relations Director Jake Dowd and Assistant Director Mike Bauduy joined CAHNRS leadership for a statewide tour that underscored WSU’s land-grant mission in action, supporting agriculture, strengthening rural communities, and advancing research that serves the state and nation.
CAHNRS on the Road
Over three days, the CAHNRS leadership tour brought together faculty and administrators to better understand regional priorities, workforce needs, and the role WSU plays in supporting industries across Washington.
The federal relations team joined the tour’s second day, starting at WSU Extension’s Beach Watchers program in Edmonds, where they learned about community-led efforts to protect coastal ecosystems, including to monitor and manage invasive species. Jessica Corbman, Rep. Larsen’s (WA-02) district staffer, joined WSU and brough in the largest crab molt.
The team also visited the Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Mount Vernon. There, they toured research facilities and learned how WSU scientists support specialty crop growers, environmental stewardship, and regional food systems through applied research and extension partnerships. Senator Murray’s Northwest Director, Hayden Jenkins, joined WSU on the tour.
The day concluded with a visit to WSU’s Bread Lab in Burlington, where the group learned about innovation in grain breeding and baking to improve nutritional outcomes and strengthen regional grain and food systems. Senator Cantwell’s Northwest Director, Zachary Heffron, joined WSU for the full day and got to try his hand at making pizza.
The final day of the tour was at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, where they met students, faculty, and staff who are working on irrigated agriculture, water use efficiency, and crop resilience, all critical areas for producers across the Columbia Basin. The final stop was WSU’s Wine Science Center in the Tri-Cities, highlighting the university’s leadership in viticulture and enology and learning more about the federally funded research going into smoke exposed grapes.
On the Ground in Puyallup
Separately, Jake and Mike joined External Affairs and Government Relations (EAGR) colleagues for a visit to the Puyallup Research and Extension Center. There, the team got updates on several signature programs, including the Stormwater Center, the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) operations, the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network, and organic agriculture initiatives. These conversations reinforced the importance of sustained federal investment in research infrastructure, climate resilience, and agricultural innovation.
Hosting Senator Murray’s Staff in Pullman
Jake, Mike, and Patti (EAGR’s Director of Health Sciences) concluded the week with a Pullman-based visit from Sara Zaheer and Licett Garbe from Senator Patty Murray’s office. Their visit provided an opportunity to learn more about WSU’s international reach and to connect federal priorities to WSU’s research and student experience.
The visit began at WSU’s Global Health building and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), where leaders from the Office of Research, and College of Veterinary Medicine discussed WSU’s strengths in infectious disease research, global health security, and agricultural biosecurity.
A working lunch brought together researchers to discuss the impacts of international research funding, including the importance of programs like USAID in supporting WSU’s global engagement and innovation.
The visit also included a roundtable with international undergraduate, graduate students, and faculty who shared their experiences navigating visa processes and STEM OPT pathways, highlighting both challenges and opportunities in maintaining a strong international talent pipeline.
The day concluded with a conversation with Dr. Paul Whitney, WSU’s VP for International Programs, on how research, education, and community partnerships intersect to drive economic growth in Washington.
From farms and research centers to student roundtables and federal engagement, the week highlighted the breadth of WSU’s impact across Washington and beyond. These conversations continue to inform the university’s federal advocacy priorities, ensuring that policymakers understand the value of WSU’s research, extension, and education programs.