Videos

Western Washington University’s Center for Economic Vitality and the Technology Alliance Group for NW Washington are holding the second Social Media Conference NW, Evolving Marketing Conversations, March 25 at McIntyre Hall Performing Arts and Conference Center in Mount Vernon.

Anyone interested in the business applications of social media is invited to attend. The conference builds on the success of the 2008 conference to continue the dialogue around using social media for marketing, customer service, and public relations.

“We are bringing together speakers from companies blazing the trails for others to follow and the thought leaders who are suggesting best practices,” stated Tom Dorr, director for the CEV. “The specially chosen speakers are presenting on a wide range of social media topics for beginners and for those wanting to take their efforts to the next level.”

A few of the topics include: trends in social media; strategies for two-way communication; successful corporate blogging; importance of video; finding the time; product and market improvement; importance of listening and building trust; and managing negative feedback online. The final session will feature social media brand building at Starbucks. A Tweetup is planned after the conference.

Video produced by Social Media Conference NW.

In 2008, Western Washington University journalism professor John Harris received a $5,000 grant from the Lummi Nation. With that grant, he created a photo blog focusing on the Lummi Blackhawk football team during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

In this video, John reflects on his blog, explains how his experience has influenced his teaching and expresses his goals and visions for the future of the blog and his hope to continue to tell the story of the Lummi Blackhawks.

Video created by student intern Carolyn Copstead for WWU's Office of University Communications.

Visit John's blog at http://lummifootball.blogspot.com.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources geographer and Western Washington University alumnus Michael Grilliot speaks about rising sea levels in Puget Sound.

In his lecture, Grilliot discusses the potential effects of sea level rise on the physical profile of sandy beaches on San Juan Island, including transgression of the shoreline and backshore erosion. While similar work has been conducted on sandy beaches around the world, Grilliots work is the first modeling application of this type in northern Puget Sound. The model used by Grilliot, a variation of the Bruun model modified by Nicholls in 1998, takes into account wave height, elevation, depth and sea level rise along two-dimensional profiles. The results of Grilliots work will provide coastal managers and stakeholders with vital information as to how sea level rise may affect sandy beaches and could influence coastal planning, policy, and management, as well as identify future research targets.

The winners of the Office of Admissions' Why Western? Video conference have been announced. The grand prize winning clip, shown here, was submitted by Chris Jespersen. To view the other winners, visit http://admissions.wwu.edu/whywestern/.

The Western Washington University men's basketball team picked up a win Sunday over archrival Central Washington University. The 90-86 victory was shown live regionally on Fox Sports Northwest.

WWU University Communications intern Jon Bergman was on hand to capture the action.

Jane Vroman, who works in the Office of University Relations at Western Washington University, spoke in Olympia on Thursday, Feb. 4, regarding House Bill 3059.

A brief summary of the bill:

Requires all teacher preparation programs to administer a new evidence-based
assessment of teaching effectiveness to all preservice candidates beginning in
2011-12.

Directs the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to revise program
approval standards and accept proposals that may include non-higher education
providers.

Directs the PESB to transition the alternative routes to certification programs from a
separate competitive grant to a preparation program model that can be expanded to
additional providers.

Requires all public colleges of education that offer residency certification to submit a
proposal to offer an alternative route program or a summary of flexible certificate
completion opportunities.

Directs Educational Service Districts to convene school districts and colleges of
education in their region to review educator workforce data and recruitment and
enrollment plans.

Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish service regions for
teacher preparation programs to assure access within the region.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski pays tribute to Bill Demmert from the senate floor on Feb. 1.

Demmert, who passed away on Jan. 19 at age 75, retired from his position as professor of education at Western Washington University in 2008. He first came to WWU in 1992.

Of Oglalla Sioux and Tlingit heritage, Demmert received his doctorate in Education from Harvard in 1973. While attending the university, he worked in the U.S. Senate for Senators Ted Kennedy and Walter Mondale on the original Indian Education Act.

Over his career, Demmert has made extensive contributions in the areas of higher education, research and policy, advancing public understanding of issues related to Indigenous education and his extensive research into indigenous languages.

Faculty members from Western Washington University's Behavioral Neuroscience Program and Biology and Psychology departments gather for monthly neighborhood round-table discussions, Neuroscience on Tap: Bring Your Own Brain (BYOB), at Bob's Burgers & Brew in downtown Bellingham.

At each meeting, a faculty member leads the discussion of a specific topic, from mental illness to food addiction to brain injury.

Here, Jackie Rose, an assistant professor in Westerns Psychology Department, presents "Thanks for the Memories: Memory Processes Across the Lifespan."

The next meeting will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 1, with Kelly Jantzen, an assistant professor in Western’s Psychology Department, presenting “Monkey See Monkey Do! The Mirror Neuron Revolution.” More information about this event is available at http://news.wwu.edu/go/doc/1538/464591/.

Additional program information can also be found at http://www.wwu.edu/neuroscience/.

Drive test of Viking 45 by the WWU X-Prize team on Jan. 29, 2010.

A test of the Viking 45 drivetrain and front suspension, Jan. 27, 2010.