[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 96 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3252-S3253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO KIRK SCHULZ
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, along with my fellow Senator from
Washington, Ms. Cantwell, I would like to talk about Dr. Kirk Schulz, a
dedicated educator and champion for innovation and leader in Washington
State and the Nation. We are here to commend his distinguished tenure
and celebrate his leadership and legacy to higher education as
president of Washington State University, WSU.
Dr. Schulz holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and served as a
tenured professor at WSU's Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical
Engineering and Bioengineering. During his presidency at WSU, President
Schulz led the university through a global pandemic, fostered statewide
partnerships, and strengthened the university's reputation as a world-
class research institution.
During his 9 years as president, WSU has transformed into one of the
world's top public research universities that offer exceptional
research and innovation in a number of key areas and industries. The
Pullman campus serves as the home and leader of agricultural research,
leading innovations in food security, crop science, animal health, and
public health. The model they have built in partnership with the
Agricultural Research Service is critical to the agricultural economy
in the Pacific Northwest.
Dr. Schulz has led WSU's Tri-Cities campus emphasis on clean energy
and has made it the home to the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering
Laboratory with strong partnerships with the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory and the Department of Energy. These collaborations have
supported Washington State in developing advancements in clean energy,
hydrogen, and hydroelectric power solutions that cement the Pacific
Northwest as an energy leader in the country. Central Washington is
also home to world-class wine producers and the university's
viticulture and enology programs. WSU's Wine Science Center is one of
the most technologically advanced wine science centers in the world and
represents the thriving partnership between the Pacific Northwest wine
industry and WSU.
Dr. Schulz also led partnerships that allowed WSU to continue
expanding access to healthcare education by preparing the next
generation of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. The institution has
continued to make significant advancements in public health and medical
research, with major
[[Page S3253]]
breakthroughs in biomedical engineering, cancer treatment, and vaccine
development.
We recognize and commend Dr. Kirk Schulz's tenure as president of
Washington State University and thank him for his incredible leadership
and transformative impact on student success, education, and for
pushing Washington State as a leader in innovation.
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