PULLMAN, WA – Washington State University announced that Courtney Meehan and Trevor Bond will step into permanent leadership roles as deans of the College of Arts and Sciences and WSU Libraries, effective Sept. 1.
The appointments follow year-long interim terms during which both leaders received strong support from faculty, university partners, and external stakeholders. According to WSU, recent surveys showed 80 percent of respondents gave positive feedback on their leadership, reflecting confidence in the direction of both colleges.
Provost and Executive Vice President Chris Riley-Tillman said both Meehan and Bond had effectively been “interviewing every day for the last year” and earned the confidence of university leadership. President Elizabeth Cantwell also endorsed the selections, citing their contributions to advancing WSU’s academic mission.
Meehan to Lead College of Arts and Sciences
Meehan, who has served as interim dean since 2023, guided development of a $25 million Integrated Sciences Building proposal, expanded student mental health programs, reduced the college’s structural deficit by more than $2 million, and broadened experiential learning opportunities such as the Seattle Experience program.
A WSU alumna, Meehan earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from the university in 2007. Her internationally recognized research focuses on maternal-child health, human milk composition, and the evolution of childhood. “I am honored to serve as the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,” Meehan said, adding her commitment to advancing education, research, and public service across the university.
Bond to Lead WSU Libraries
Bond has been with WSU for more than two decades, most recently as interim dean of Libraries. In that role, he oversaw a new strategic planning process, helped establish two endowments, integrated WSU Press into the Libraries, and expanded open-access publishing initiatives.
He has secured more than $4 million in grants and gifts throughout his tenure and worked extensively in digital archives, cultural heritage, and special collections. Bond earned his Ph.D. in Public and Western History from WSU and advanced degrees in information science and ancient history from UCLA. “The Libraries are a cornerstone of our academic community,” Bond said. “I look forward to advancing access, collaborative scholarship, and public engagement”.
