First-Year Fellows make up a distinguished cohort of faculty from departments and subject areas across the WSU Pullman Campus who teach courses recommended for first year students. These faculty members support first year students’ transition to college by offering supplemental out-of-class opportunities focused on academic success, sense of belonging, and community.
2026–2027 Cohort
Samantha Solomon
Associate Director
First-Year Programs
UNIV 104
First-Year Programs
UNIV 104
Silas Bossert
Department of Entomology
ENTOM 101 [BSCI]
ENTOM 101 [BSCI]
Asa Brown
Carson College of Business
B_A 100
B_A 100
Alexander Compton
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Rebecca Ellis Dodson
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Erica England
WSU Libraries
First-Year Experience Librarian
Cougar Commons Coordinator
First-Year Experience Librarian
Cougar Commons Coordinator
Ken Faunce
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Jacob Gifford
School of Economic Sciences
ECONS 101 [SSCI]
ECONS 101 [SSCI]
Travis Greenwood
Department of English
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
Julian Dodson
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Nazua Idris
Department of English
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
Jolie Kaytes
School of Design and Construction
LND_ARCH 150 [HUM]
LND_ARCH 150 [HUM]
Joseph Kremer
Department of Sociology
SOC 101 [SSCI]
SOC 101 [SSCI]
Jodie Marshall
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Jeanette Martin
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
MATH 171 [QUAN]
MATH 171 [QUAN]
Rae Olsson
Department of Entomology
ENTOM 103 [BSCI]
Hometown: Olympia, WA
Research interests: Forensic Entomology, surveying eastern WA and northern ID to identify and catalog the forensically important insects in this region.
Why I love teaching FYF: I love helping new Cougs feel at home here. I was once a new student at WSU (GO COUGS!) and the community welcomed me and made me feel supported. I am thrilled I get to be part of that community for new students now!
Interesting facts about me: I love knitting and gardening, and playing with my dogs. I am also part of the LGBTQ+ community, so if you need someone to talk to about finding that particular community, please reach out!
ENTOM 103 [BSCI]
Hometown: Olympia, WA
Research interests: Forensic Entomology, surveying eastern WA and northern ID to identify and catalog the forensically important insects in this region.
Why I love teaching FYF: I love helping new Cougs feel at home here. I was once a new student at WSU (GO COUGS!) and the community welcomed me and made me feel supported. I am thrilled I get to be part of that community for new students now!
Interesting facts about me: I love knitting and gardening, and playing with my dogs. I am also part of the LGBTQ+ community, so if you need someone to talk to about finding that particular community, please reach out!
Alma Rocha
Department of Art
ART 101 [ARTS]
ART 101 [ARTS]
Sumaiya Sharmin
Department of English
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
Eugene Smelyansky
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Hometown: I was born and raised in Ukraine but have lived all over California, in Canada, and in Missouri before finally settling in Pullman. I like to think that my experience of moving from place to place shaped my diverse interests in history.
Research Interests: I specialize in medieval Europe, but love teaching world history and also exploring how and why we imagine the past.
Why I love teaching FYF: I always look forward to teaching first-year students (but all students, really), because they bring their fresh ideas and perspectives to my classroom. Every semester is always different, and it keeps me on my toes.
Interesting facts about me: In my free time, I love cooking and learning about cuisines from around the world.
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Hometown: I was born and raised in Ukraine but have lived all over California, in Canada, and in Missouri before finally settling in Pullman. I like to think that my experience of moving from place to place shaped my diverse interests in history.
Research Interests: I specialize in medieval Europe, but love teaching world history and also exploring how and why we imagine the past.
Why I love teaching FYF: I always look forward to teaching first-year students (but all students, really), because they bring their fresh ideas and perspectives to my classroom. Every semester is always different, and it keeps me on my toes.
Interesting facts about me: In my free time, I love cooking and learning about cuisines from around the world.
Deanne Sparks
Department of English
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
ENGL 101 [WRTG]
Bob Stout
Murrow College of Communication
COM 102 [COMM]
COM 102 [COMM]
Jeremy Watson
Murrow College of Communication
COM 102 [COMM]
COM 102 [COMM]
Wendy Wegner
Murrow College of Communication
COM 102 [COMM]
COM 102 [COMM]
Charles Weller
Department of History
HIST 105 [ROOT]
HIST 105 [ROOT]
Theodore Wilson
School of Economic Sciences
ECONS 102 [BSCI]
ECONS 102 [BSCI]
Rich Zack
Department of Entomology
ENTOM 101 [SSCI]
ENTOM 101 [SSCI]
Sezin Zorlu
Department of English
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGSS 101 [EQJS]
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGSS 101 [EQJS]