University Relations - Article Index

Awards & Honors

Campbell Becomes 36th Recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award

Friday, Sep. 15, 2006

James Tinney, WSU News Service, 509/335-8055, 509/595-8956 (cell), jltinney@wsu.edu

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Business and philanthropic leader Phyllis Campbell became the 36th recipient of the Washington State University Regents Distinguished Alumnus Award during a ceremony held at the regents’ meeting Friday in Seattle.

“Since being an alumna of Washington State University is one of the things about which I am most proud, the bestowal of this award is one of the highlights of my career and life,” Campbell said. “I am most appreciative of not only the outstanding education I received at WSU, but also of the culture of service and community that was instilled in me during my time at the university.”

The Regents’ Distinguished Alumnus Award is the university’s highest honor granted to WSU alumni. Recent awardees have included Irwin “Ernie” Rose, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; John N. Abelson, a distinguished molecular biologist and member of the National Academy of Sciences; and Sherman J. Alexie Jr., award-winning poet, author, screenwriter and film director.

More information about the award is available at http://www.regents.wsu.edu/distinguished-alumni/index.html

Campbell earned a WSU business administration degree in 1973. She served as president of US Bank of Washington from 1993-2001. She was a member of the WSU Board of Regents from 1991-2003. In 2003 she took on her current roles with the Seattle Foundation.

Her civic efforts have focused on education and human services issues. Also Friday, she was the keynote speaker at the Macy’s Fourth Annual Future Cougars of Color Diversity Scholarship Luncheon, which raises scholarship money for students of color who plan to attend WSU.

“She believes in people. She treats them well and they respond well as a result,” said WSU President V. Lane Rawlins, in making the presentation. “She is the perfect recipient for the highest award we give to our alums.”

“I was fortunate to be able to repay some of what I received by serving as a regent for 13 years,” Campbell said. “Washington State University is truly a world-class institution and I am thrilled to be recognized in the company of other world-class distinguished alumni."

In other business, the board granted authority to President V. Lane Rawlins to sign two labor contracts, pending approval of the unions involved. One contract covers four bargaining units including 138 employees, primarily at research extension stations and the College of Nursing. The other contract covers 14 employees of the Washington State University Police Guild.

The regents also began the process of hiring consultants for the design of the master plan for the College of Engineering and Architecture precinct on the Pullman campus and the applied technology building on the Vancouver campus.

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WSU News Service, Washington State University, PO Box 641040, Pullman WA 99164-1040 | (509) 335-3581 | wsunews@wsu.edu or bcampbell@wsu.edu