WWU's Space Administration & Management Joins Capital Planning & Development

Capital Planning & Development has announced that Ellen Kuhlmann will be joining its team as the program manager for Space Administration & Management (SAM) as those functions move to CPD. The move will bring the campus planning group under a single umbrella, aligning efforts and creating more efficient processes. Ellen will continue to work closely with the Provost and Registrar to ensure all space needs are being met.

As the Space Analyst for SAM, Ellen has visited just about every room on campus outside the residence halls. She conducted a survey of all academic and administrative rooms soon after joining Western in 2013. The survey strengthened the integrity of Western's space data while providing Ellen a stellar education of the university’s built environment. In addition to coordination of institutional moves, the shared management of Western’s classrooms, and analysis of space data, Ellen co-led a team that developed a 6-year plan to upgrade all the General University Classrooms and led the Academic Space Modeling and Capital Plan task force.

Ellen’s expertise and deep understanding of Western’s physical environment will help guide the space modeling process to meet strategic goals as Western moves toward a new Institutional Master Plan and will support development of ten-year Capital Plans and biennial Capital Budget Requests.

In addition to her work at Western, Ellen is a trained botanist and co-author of the book "Trees and Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest." She has a background in fire ecology, rare plant research, and plant community ecology.

Multi-talented and creative, Ellen has a central role in planning to meet Western’s space needs and ensuring current spaces are used wisely. Please join us in welcoming her to Capital Planning & Development.