First-Year Team

Location: Smith Center for Undergraduate Education – Suite 503

Our Team

Samantha Solomon, Interim Director of First-Year Programs starting in fall 2025.

Samantha Solomon, Ph.D.

Associate Director of First-Year Programs
Assistant Professor
samantha.solomon@wsu.edu
509-335-5488

About Samantha

Samantha directs the First-Year Focus program and teaches general and mid-semester sections of UNIV 104: College Success Seminar.


Christel Woods, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, First-Year Programs
christel.woods@wsu.edu

About Christel

Christel teaches UNIV 104: College Success Seminar and assists with the First-Year Focus Program.


Nora Rye.

Nora Rye, MSW

Instructor, UNIV 104
Director, LSAMP
nora.rye@wsu.edu

About Nora

Nora serves as the Director for LSAMP and teaches UNIV 104: College Success Seminar.


DAESA and Office of the Provost Administration & Staff in Support of First-Year Programs

The Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement (DAESA) supports the administration of First-Year Programs at WSU. DAESA is part of the Office of the Provost.

Mary Sanchez Lanier

Mary Sánchez Lanier
Assistant Vice Provost
DAESA
sanchez@wsu.edu

DAESA staff member Jaclyn Gotch whose work supports the LSAMP program.

Jaclyn Gotch
Program Coordinator, Office of Undergraduate Research
DAESA
jgotch@wsu.edu

Jeffery Moss

Jeffery Moss 
Administrative Assistant
DAESA
jmoss@wsu.edu

Hailey James.

Hailey James
Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Administration
Office of the Provost
hrupp@wsu.edu

Daniel Rieck

Daniel Rieck
Digital Communications Manager
Office of the Provost
daniel.rieck@wsu.edu