Nancy Deringer has been named the associate dean for student success and academic programming (SSAP) in Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS).

Deringer assumed the permanent position on Jan. 1 after previously serving as interim associate dean.

"Dr. Deringer has shown great leadership as interim associate dean, helping our college prepare students for career success after graduating from WSU," said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS. "I look forward to seeing her continued excellence in recruiting, retaining, and graduating students into the workforce."

Deringer's office and staff include recruiters, advisors, industry liaisons, and more.

One of her main priorities is increasing retention and ensuring students finish their degrees. Currently, around 80% of students who enroll in a CAHNRS major will earn a WSU degree. She wants to boost that figure to 95%.

"It's a big goal, but finishing a degree can make a huge difference in students' lives," said Deringer, herself a first-generation college graduate. "We need to give students a sense of belonging in the CAHNRS community, so they feel comfortable and involved."

We need to give students a sense of belonging in the CAHNRS community, so they feel comfortable and involved.

She also wants students to know they don't have to stick with their original academic plan.

"It's OK to change your major as you learn more and see additional opportunities," Deringer said. "We want students to explore career options earlier and realize the vast array of careers available to them."

That requires time spent with companies and organizations in their field. Each semester, she and her team host recruiting events, such as Networking Night, where students can talk with several potential employers about internships, jobs after graduation, or what they might be looking for in an employee.

Working with potential employers also leads to curriculum updates.

"We conduct employer surveys and focus groups to find out what skills they want students to have upon graduation," Deringer said. "This helps students be career-ready on day one and increases the value of their WSU degree. We want students to have a fantastic experience while they're in school, and also be prepared to go on to rewarding careers. We also want our industry partners and alumni involved with our curriculum offerings, so our students are meeting the demands of employers."

Beyond industry internship experiences, she also emphasized the value of faculty-led undergraduate research experience internships, where students conduct applied research in their areas of interest. Supporting WSU's land-grant mission of community service, the SSAP office facilitates such connections between CAHNRS students and the college's Research and Extension Centers, tribal Extension office, and other state-wide Extension locations.

"We are excited about our 24 new faculty-led undergraduate research experience internships, including a few for first-year students," Deringer said. "If we can get students working hands-onearlier in their degree program, then they can see if they are interested in pursuing a career in this area. Working in a lab or in the field often exposes students to many jobs they never even knew about, and many go on to graduate school because of that experience."

Students can encounter an overwhelming variety of pressures, from financial hardship to social anxieties and academic stress, so Deringer also wants to help steer them to available resources and services. The SSAP office is currently developing student programming that will focus on improving study habits, financial literacy, and professional skills such as communication and leadership.

"We want to work with all students to be successful while also being that 'home away from home' for them," Deringer said. "As a college, not only do we provide the hands-onexperiential learning opportunities, but we also truly care for each one of our students and want them to feel valued, comfortable, and empowered."