Heritage University announces events to celebrate the inauguration of its third president

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		February 22, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University announces events to celebrate the
inauguration of its third president

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University is hosting a series of events over the course of three days that celebrate the inauguration of Andrew Sund, Ph.D. as its third president. Dr. Sund will be formally installed as president on Friday, March 16, 2018. The Installation Ceremony at Heritage will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Smith Family Hall, and will be followed by a reception at 12:00 p.m.

Inaugurations are as much a celebration of the universities and the communities they serve, as they are of the incoming president. The inauguration celebration honors the Heritage mission, history, community and the people we serve. Pre-installation ceremony events include the President’s Inauguration Prelude on Wednesday, March 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Heritage University. We will honor our relationship with the Yakama Nation and the founding of Heritage University by two Yakama women, Violet Lumley Rau and Martha Yallup, along with Sister Kathleen Ross, with the dedication of the permanent installation of the Heritage tepee. The tepee will be a learning center and significant part of the Heritage campus. Brunch will be served following the ceremony.

Also on Wednesday, March 14, Heritage University and Columbia Basin College will celebrate their shared commitment to providing access to higher education to all, with a reception in the CBC Courtyard from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the universities are invited to the reception to welcome Dr. Sund.

On Thursday, March 15, K-12 educators from throughout the ESD 105 and ESD 123 region are invited to the Yakima Valley Educators Luncheon. At this luncheon, we will celebrate the men and women who dedicate their lives to educating our young people. This event will take place in Smith Family Hall at Heritage University from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The President’s Inauguration Jubilee will be held Thursday evening, March 15 at the Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This event will feature an evening of art and culture that celebrates the richness of the Yakima Valley and the people who call this area home. This multicultural repertoire of music, poetry, and dance features some of our community’s most talented artists. A pre-show reception will feature a gallery filled with works by local artists and Heritage University students. Tickets for the Jubilee are $50 each and can be purchased at heritage.edu/inauguration.

Dr. Sund joined Heritage University as its third president on July 1, 2017. He succeeded Dr. John Bassett, who retired after serving as president for seven years. President Sund came to Heritage University from St. Augustine College in Chicago, where he served as president from 2008 to 2017. Before St. Augustine, Dr. Sund was Dean of Workforce and Community Education at Olive Harvey College, one of the city colleges of Chicago, from 2004 to 2008.

Dr. Sund received a Bachelor’s degree in History and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s degree in History from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Sund is married and has three children. His wife Norma and his school-aged son moved to Yakima with him. His two adult children remain in Chicago.

The public is invited to attend all of the inauguration events, and are encouraged to RSVP at heritage.edu/inauguration. For more information, contact David Mance at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Administrative Changes Announced at Heritage University

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		February 12, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Administrative Changes Announced at Heritage University

Toppenish, Wash. – Today President Andrew Sund, Ph.D. announced several changes within the administrative ranks at Heritage University. Leaving the University will be Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Fathe, Ph.D. and Vice President, Student Affairs & Enrollment, Celestino Limas, Ph.D.

In a memo to campus, Dr. Sund explained that in any new administration, the President aligns his leadership team with his strategic goals for the University. He praised the accomplishments of both Fathe and Limas and thanked them for their service to the university. Further, he explained that this is the time of year when campuses across the nation make changes to their organizations such that new personnel can be in place by the start of the next academic year. By announcing his changes now, both Dr. Limas and Dr. Fathe will be able to take advantage of opportunities open to them at other academic institutions for the coming academic year.

Dr. Sund, who began at Heritage July 1, 2017 as the third president of Heritage took the first six months of his presidency to ensure he understood campus needs going forward, making no significant changes until he fully developed his strategy for the future. His first new appointment to his leadership team was Taylor Hall, CFO who began February 1. He will begin a national search for both positions immediately.

For more information, contact David Wise at (509) 865-0717 or wise_d@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Local Author, Heritage University Faculty Member to Celebrate Release of Earth Angels Book on Valentine’s Day

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		February 8, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Author, Heritage University Faculty Member to Celebrate Release of
Earth Angels Book on Valentine’s Day

Toppenish, Wash. – Richland, Wash. author Karen Nicksich and Heritage University Assistant Professor Miguel Juarez are celebrating the publication of their co-authored book, Earth Angels, a pictorial documentary chronicling the lives of “specially-abled” children. Earth Angels will be released at a book signing event at Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Avenue in Pasco, Wash., in the Library Building, room 102 on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Earth Angels features the personal stories of ten families who have children with special needs. It chronicles the joys and challenges the parents of these children face on a daily basis. Heritage University social work students Ana Tapia and Delaney Helmerson provided research assistance for Nicksich. The pair assisted with interviews and photo sessions with the families, and helped sort through 1,500 images to select the ones featured in the book.

Nicksich praised Tapia and Helmerson for their work with Earth Angels. “Seeing Ana and Delaney connect with great people will help them realize that they are part of something big and beautiful. I will be forever thankful for the truly limitless potential that these young women have,” Nicksich said. “Earth Angels is a book about community, empowerment, self-expression, self-esteem and love. It is a book about abilities, not disability. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with Miguel Juarez and Heritage University on this book.”

For more information, contact Miguel Juarez at (509) 840-3095 or Juarez_M@heritage.edu.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Heritage University and Dispute Resolution Center Forming Community Response Teams to Respond to Crises

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		January 29, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University and Dispute Resolution Center Forming Community
Response Teams to Respond to Crises

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University and the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties (DRC) are forming Community Response Teams to create safer, more peaceful communities. Each team will have 16 members which represent elected officials, law enforcement, neighborhood activists and students. The goal of each team will be to respond to crises in a timely, informed and unified manner by offering active listening, mediation and conflict resolution.

The creation of the community response teams is part of a three-year partnership between Heritage University and the DRC. It is funded by Washington Campus Compact/AmeriCorps VISTA and by a grant from the Yakima Valley Community Foundation.

According to Community Communication Program Coordinator Vanessa Alviso, “This program is ultimately about community self-determination. We believe that the solutions to community crises are the community members themselves.”

As part of this program, Alviso has joined Heritage University as an adjunct instructor, teaching mediation and community communications courses. DRC Director Sarah Augustine, with Heritage faculty support, will provide the structure and training needed to form strong, supportive networks that help team members work together towards a shared goal: a peaceful community. Training sessions for team members took place in late January in Yakima and Sunnyside.

For more information, contact Vanessa Alviso at Alviso_V@heritage.edu or 509-453-8949.

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Heritage University Faculty Member Named Among Top 100 Leadership Speakers for 2018

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		January 22, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University Faculty Member Named Among
Top 100 Leadership Speakers for 2018

Toppenish, Wash. – Dr. Matt Kincaid, an associate professor of business at Heritage University, is named on The Top 100 Leadership Speakers for 2018 list as published by Inc. Magazine. Author Kevin Kruse compiled the list and selected speakers based on the uniqueness of their ideas and their ability to present their ideas in a compelling manner.

Along with selecting Kincaid for this list, Kruse also reviewed his book, Permission to Speak Freely: How the Best Leaders Cultivate a Culture of Candor, giving it a perfect five-star rating on Amazon and calling it a “must read for all managers/leaders.”

In Permission to Speak Freely, Kincaid and co-author Doug Crandall explain how open and direct communication enhances innovation, ownership, engagement and performance. The authors describe the benefits of candid communication, illustrate the inhibitors that prevent it from happening, and offer tools for leaders to cultivate a culture where everyone, regardless of rank or status, is encouraged to speak freely.

The alphabetical list of speakers which appears on Inc.com, can be viewed here. Kincaid was humbled to be chosen as a top speaker in his field. “It’s an honor, definitely, but I’ve been really lucky to have worked closely with some amazing leaders who are incredible teachers and presenters. Their examples and guidance have helped me a ton.”

Kincaid is also the managing partner of Blue Rudder, a leadership development consulting firm that works with a wide range of organizations, from small nonprofits to Fortune companies. Several international scientific journals have featured his work, and he has been featured in two widely distributed business textbooks.

In addition to instructing business students at Heritage, Dr. Kincaid is also involved with the student organization Heritage Enactus, helping prepare its presentation team for its regular appearances at regional and national competitions.

For more information, contact Matt Kincaid at (509) 865-8614 or kincaid_m@heritage.edu

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu

Heritage University to Hold Events Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

3240 Fort Road • Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500

Date:		January 11, 2018
Contact:		David Mance, Media Relations Coordinator, 509-865-0731 or mance_d@heritage.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University to Hold Events Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Toppenish, Wash. – Heritage University will hold three events on January 18-19 to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The first, The Power of Sound; Embodied Approaches to Sonic Activism will feature a keynote address by Dr. Lauren Eldridge of Spelman College. Dr. Eldridge will discuss how music has paved a way for change, and how sound highlights the struggles that bring us together. Highlighting this event will be students reading excerpts from Letter from Birmingham Jail. This event will be held Thursday, January 18 in Smith Family Hall from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The second, The Long Red Power Movement: A Tribute to Dennis Banks, will continue the celebration honoring the Civil Rights struggle of Native Americans.

A community salmon dinner (first-come, first-served) will honor the work of Native American civil rights activist Dennis Banks who passed away in the fall of 2017. Keynote speaker Ryan Booth, Ph.D. candidate at Washington State University and Swinomish tribal member will recount the complex roles of Native Americans in resistance movements throughout history. This event will also feature an open mic and traditional performances by dancers and a drum group. Heritage art professor Gloria Garcia will facilitate a special art project for children who attend. The event takes place Thursday, January 18 in Smith Family Hall from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Finally, Dr. Chad Hamill of Northern Arizona University will present Coyote Made the Rivers: Indigenous Ecological Continuity in the Era of Climate Change, a presentation and performance which blends music and visual imagery to recount the current state of health of the Columbia River and its tributaries. This event will take place Friday, January 19 in the Donald North Library from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

These events, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by Heritage University’s MMUF Program. For more information, contact Winona Wynn, Mellon & Leadership Alliance Coordinator at (509) 865-8633 or wynn_w@heritage.edu

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Heritage University is a non-profit, independent, regionally accredited institution of higher education offering undergraduate and graduate education across the state of Washington. Visit our website, www.heritage.edu