Each year, the University of Washington provides to its newest faculty members a five-day bus tour spanning more than 1,000 miles within the Washington state. The tour’s purpose is to:
- Explore Washington’s diverse communities, natural wonders, and vital heritage
- Learn about the UW’s impact across the state
- Help faculty members become acquainted with the regions that UW students come from
- Connect with other faculty members from varying disciplines and campuses
One stop the UW faculty field tour makes throughout its five-day journey is to our lovely city of Spokane.
The tour arrived on Wednesday, June 18th, stopping first at Schoesler’s Farm. The faculty members were greeted by Washington State Senator, Mark Schoesler, who currently runs the farm along with his sister. Schoesler’s Farm is associated with the Washington Wheat Foundation, whose mission is to support education, research, and advocacy efforts that strengthen the future of grain production across the state. While there, the faculty members learned how wheat was introduced into the state, how farm technology has changed over time, and the state of the wheat industry in Eastern Washington today.
After that educational stop, the UW faculty field tour continued on to Spokane, where they attended our annual “Welcome to Washington” celebration, held at the UW Spokane Center. Attendees included local incoming UW students, their families, and UW Alumni. UW campus leaders like Paul Rucker, Executive Director of the UW Alumni Association, and Ed Taylor, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, were also in attendance. They each spoke during the event, reiterating the purpose behind the faculty field tour and its importance to the University’s overall mission. The faculty members brought an incredible energy to the celebration, engaging with and congratulating the incoming UW students.
The faculty field tour concluded the night with a stay at the historic Grand Davenport Hotel.
Before leaving the following day, June 19th, a breakfast buffet was held in the hotel’s Elizabethan Room where the faculty members connected with dozens of Spokane’s community leaders. Several community leaders presented during the buffet, including Washington State Senator, Marcus Riccelli, who educated the faculty members on the current issues within the Spokane community. Representatives from Gonzaga University, John Sklut, Senior Advisor and Liaison for External and Government Affairs, and Julie Wolter, Dean of School of Health Science, also spoke, highlighting the UWSOM-GU Health Partnership and its impact on the Eastern Washington region. Each faculty member was provided with a copy of the UWSOM-GU Health Partnership’s “A Report to the Community, Spring 2025” to further review the program’s achievements.
Overall, the tour visit to Spokane was a huge success as many faculty members expressed before departing a deep desire to visit Spokane again.