One day after starting her tenure as Washington State University’s 12th president, Elizabeth “Betsy” R. Cantwell will be in the Tri-Cities to become more familiar with all the WSU system’s campuses and their communities. 

The “whistle-stop tour” is aimed at providing faculty, staff and students the opportunity to connect with Cantwell through welcome receptions, campus tours and meetings, according to a news release. 

Her welcome reception at the WSU Tri-Cities campus will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. April 2 in the atrium of the Elson S. Floyd Building, formerly called the West Building. 

“I am eager to learn more about Washington state and how each component part contributes to the entire university system and creates value throughout the state and beyond — through vital education, student support services and so much more,” Cantwell said in a statement. 

The new WSU president’s tenure starts as the university system faces a number of challenges, including tens of millions of dollars in potential cuts in state funding along with furlough days for its employees and uncertainty about its research funding from federal agencies. 

Cantwell also plans to hold extensive listening sessions this fall with faculty, staff, and students — both undergraduate and graduate, to further the conversations begun during this initial tour.