Digital Den: Welcome to the Global Cougar Community

Welcome to the first episode of Digital Den, the WSU Global Campus podcast where the Global Cougar community comes together to connect, learn, and belong.

In our premiere episode, host Andria Donnenwerth is joined by WSU Global Campus Chancellor Dave Cillay, Global Connections Coordinator and Global Campus alumna Mia Darnell, and student leader Karizmah King.

Chancellor Cillay shares his perspective on what makes WSU Global Campus unique, the importance of connection and belonging, and his advice for the year ahead. Mia takes us inside Week of Welcome and introduces the many ways students can build connections and get involved throughout the semester. Then, Karizmah shares her experience as a Global Campus student leader and how getting involved has shaped her own Cougar experience.

Along the way, we’ll highlight the Chancellor’s Excellence Fund in our Den Difference, discover Global Connections in our Den Discovery, and wrap up with a simple Den Challenge: attend one Week of Welcome event and take that first step toward connection.

Whether you’re a current student, alum, faculty or staff member, donor, volunteer, mentor, or friend of WSU Global Campus, you’re part of the Global Cougar community. Whether you’re tuning in from across the state or across the globe, you’re right where you need to be.

Stay connected, keep learning, and as always, Go Cougs!

For questions about the Digital Den, please email global.podcast@wsu.edu.

Episode Transcript

Andria Donnenwerth: Hello and welcome to Digital Den, where the global cougar community comes together to connect, learn and belong. I’m your host, Andria Donnenwerth, director of development at WSU Global Campus. Throughout my time working with students, alumni, donors and campus partners, I’ve seen firsthand that some of the most meaningful connections begin with a simple conversation. That’s exactly why we created Digital Den. Whether you’re a current student, alum, faculty, staff member, donor, volunteer, mentor, or simply someone who believes in the power of online education. This podcast was created for you. Each month, we’ll introduce you to the people, programs, resources, and stories that make WSU Global Campus such a special place to learn, grow, and stay connected.

Andria Donnenwerth: Today, we’re kicking off our very first episode by welcoming you to the Global Cougar community. With a new academic year just around the corner. There’s no better time to explore what makes this community so special and discover ways to get connected throughout the year. Whether you’re tuning in from across the state or across the globe, you are right where you need to be. Let’s get started.

Andria Donnenwerth: To help us kick off the very first episode of Digital Den. I am excited to welcome Chancellor Dave Cillay as Chancellor of WSU Global Campus. Dave provides leadership and vision for our campus community, and is a passionate advocate for expanding access to education and helping students succeed wherever they call home. Dave, thank you so much for helping us launch Digital Den and welcome to the podcast.

Dave Cillay: Absolutely. Thanks for having me.

Andria Donnenwerth: So, Dave, could you please tell us a little bit about yourself? How long have you been advocating for Global Campus students as the Chancellor?

Dave Cillay: As the Chancellor since 2019. But I developed my first distance course in 1992. It was very new to me. Obviously, the technology was very different back then. You know, the study guides, textbooks, video cassettes. All the interaction was done via US mail and sometimes phone bridges. But it really got me hooked. You know, there’s something about a land grant university that it really has always been appealing to me that the mission is about access, providing education to folks regardless of location, and time. And so finding ways to help connect Washington state citizens, citizens from around the globe, to Washington State University. We have a saying that started back in 2012 when we launched the Global Campus. That global is the 21st century embodiment of the land grant mission. We do things that seemed impossible. You know, three decades ago when we launched the distance degree program at WSU back in 1991. Yeah. So I, it’s something that just seems to be part of my DNA. I really, I love the mission of higher ed. I love the fact that we can extend the power of Washington State University to folks around the world. And we have folks from 48 different states, in the United States, taking courses on the Global Campus and 37 countries that are taking Global Campus courses. We truly are a Global Campus. And it doesn’t matter if you reside, ten feet from WSU Pullman campus, or a thousand miles across the country. We’re all Cougs. We’re all connected. We’re all part of that family. It’s very appealing to me.

Andria Donnenwerth: Thank you, Dave, so much, and we really appreciate your passion and your dedication to access for everybody. And it’s such an amazing program and wonderful campus to work for and to be a part of the community. And so about the community I’d like to go into for someone that has never experienced WSU Global Campus, how would you describe our community here?

Dave Cillay: Sure. We’re Cougs. You know, the really great thing about Washington State University? We’ve got six unique campuses that are distributed throughout the state and for us around the globe. And the degrees are the same. Unlike other institutions, you know, if you’re at Vancouver or Tri Cities or global, you don’t get a WSU global degree. You get a Washington State University degree, a degree from the Global Campus. We use the same faculty that you would find on our physical campuses, and we use the same curriculum. So it really is a bonded experience. And I think the way that I think demonstrates this most effectively is our graduation ceremony. We have over on the West side. You know, we started out with, I think, around 200 people in attendance. 5 or 6 years ago. And I think this last one, were over 1500 people who attended the graduation ceremony. And to hear those graduates talk about their experience, but most importantly, the message that comes through loud and clear is they’re Cougs, they’re part of our family. We’re all connected, regardless of the campus that you attend. And to me, that’s that’s a that’s a really powerful attribute of Washington State University.

Andria Donnenwerth: Oh, great, Dave, that is great. I really appreciate that you said that we’re Cougs, right? Because being a cougar makes you part of this Cougar community. That is just an amazing support system, a network, like you’re in a family you never knew you needed. I really appreciate that. And that kind of leads into our next question. We often say online doesn’t mean being alone. What does connection and belonging mean to you, and how do you see that come to life at Global Campus?

Dave Cillay: Yeah, I think it’s one of the essential elements of a higher education experience that you’re talking to people that may not think like you, challenging ideas that you have, you’re challenging ideas that they have. It’s that connection to faculty, to students, to staff that’s made possible by the by the Global Campus. And if you think about our world today, now, if we had this conversation 15 years ago, it’d be a very different type of experience. But you think about the world we live in, we shop, we bank, we date all online, we communicate. And I think Global campus is just an extension of society at large. We’re able to engage not just in a one way transaction, but a true network experience between individuals and groups.

Andria Donnenwerth: Wow, Dave. Yeah, that is such a great point you made about how just we do everything online and so why not continue that connection through your education and be part of the community and get your degree at the same time?

Dave Cillay: Absolutely.

Andria Donnenwerth: Excellent point Dave. So as we begin another academic year, what excites you most about what is ahead for our students?

Dave Cillay: You know, I think for those that are just beginning on the Global Campus, what I found and what’s exciting is the aha moment that, oh, my goodness, I’m truly on a campus. I may not walk through a physical door. I may not meet somebody in the hallway physically, but all of those experiences that you’d have on a campus are done virtually. And there is that connection. And you just see that lightbulb go on like, oh my goodness, this is not just a one way. Watching a streamed piece of media, I’m actually engaging in my education and I get access to top quality faculty. I get access to peers again that challenge me that I’m not just in isolation, I’m part of this community. I am a Coug and the experience is what you make of it. And, you know, as you and I know it’s those students that choose to engage in our Global Connections experiences, from virtual book clubs to tailgate parties to dance parties to bingo. You know, you have that opportunity to find friends. You have an opportunity to find affinity with individuals who enjoy the things that you enjoy, just like you would on a physical campus, so that when you come to the classroom, although it’s virtual, you’re going to know folks that you’ve met outside of that classroom that are part of your family, your community. And it takes a while. It’s not immediate, but it really is an experience over time. And so I’m excited for those students that have never set foot on the Global Campus to see how powerful it actually is, how connected you actually are to your courses, to your education, to the faculty and to fellow students and staff.

Andria Donnenwerth: Dave. That’s great. I appreciate you saying that. That aha moment and engagement are important. Later in this episode we’re going to talk about Week of Welcome. And I think that’s going to be a great opportunity for a lot of our students to get that aha moment to attend those events and really see the wider Global Campus community that we have to offer them. So that is great.

Dave Cillay: Yeah. Absolutely. You know, one of the things that we’ve said for years, global is not a place where you come to click a button and get a degree. It’s an experience. We want those students that want a higher education rather than just a credential. Now the credentials are important, but it’s the journey that you take as part of that education. I think that’s so important for our students.

Andria Donnenwerth: Oh yeah, that’s a valuable insight right there, Dave. And so as a brand new student that’s listening today, what is one piece of advice, one thing that you want them to remember throughout their WSU journey?

Dave Cillay: Slow down. This is not a sprint. This is a marathon. And I always say enjoy the experience. It doesn’t mean it’s always fun. Learning is hard work. It takes a lot of effort, but the accomplishment that you feel at the end of that journey is so satisfying. And so I hope you just take the time. There’s going to be bumps. There’s going to be hurdles. There’s going to be complications along the way. Hang in there. We got you. We are here to support what you need as a student. Now, that doesn’t mean we’re going to do it for you. But we’re going to open the doors so that you can walk through, and you make that choice to get that degree.

Andria Donnenwerth: Thank you Dave. Those are some very important points and great advice for our new students. So now one last question. If you wanted our listeners to take away anything from this conversation, what is the one message you would love for them all to take away today?

Dave Cillay: I’m going to repeat a little of what I just said. And that message is we’ve got you. We’ve not designed the Global Campus to be a one size fits all experience. We understand that our students come to us with different experiences, different needs, different opportunities that they’re looking for. We got you. We’re here to support you in your educational journey.

Andria Donnenwerth: You said we and I just want to reiterate the we is the Cougar community. It’s the Global Campus staff. It’s the faculty. It’s your peers. There is an enormous number of Cougs that have your back, whether you see them every day or communicate with them, they are there. They are helping provide resources, and they care about each and every one of our students and our other Cougs. I think that’s a great point, Dave. I agree.

Dave Cillay: You know, the one that I’ve got so many, so many stories. But the one I think that kind of emphasizes that message, Andria, is, we had a woman, she was looking for an online university that was a grounded, well established public university. And she found Washington State University Global Campus. And she talked about the fact that as she went through the experience, she was like, well, am I really a Coug? What are the students on the Pullman campus going to think of me. And as she went through her educational journey, she realized she’s part of the family. And as she graduated, she was a working professional. She still is, but became the president of the WSU Alumni Association, not the WSU Global Campus Alumni Association, but the WSU Alumni Association. And that may not sound like a lot, but she’s representing all Cougs throughout this world. That’s a really powerful message and experience, and I think says a lot about WSU and our six campus system.

Andria Donnenwerth: Perfect, Dave. I couldn’t say it better. So Dave, thank you so much for helping us launch the very first episode of Digital Den and for sharing your vision for the global Cougar community. Thank you.

Dave Cillay: Thank you. It’s been a really good conversation, Andria. All I have left to say is, go Cougs.

Andria Donnenwerth: Go, Cougs. Thank you, Dave.

Den Difference

Andria Donnenwerth: You know, one of the things I appreciate about WSU Global Campus is that our commitment to students doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of people who believe in our mission and choose to invest in it. Every episode will take a moment to recognize one of the people, programs, or funds that helps strengthen our community. We call this the Den Difference. Today’s den difference highlights the Chancellor’s Excellence Fund. The Chancellor’s Excellence Fund provides flexible support for innovative programming, student engagement opportunities, and initiatives that strengthen the global Cougar community. It’s one more example of Cougs helping Cougs. To learn more about the Chancellor’s Excellence Fund and other ways to support WSU Global Campus, visit online.wsu.edu/give.

Andria Donnenwerth: And one of the ways that investment comes to life is through the programs and experiences that help students build meaningful connections. And one of the people leading those efforts every day is our next guest, Mia Darnell. Joining us now is Mia Darnell, Global Connections Coordinator for the WSU Global Campus and proud WSU Global Campus alumna, where she earned not one but two bachelor’s degrees. Having experienced learning as a Global Campus student herself. Mia now helps create opportunities for students to get involved, build relationships, and experience a true sense of belonging, no matter where they’re learning from. Mia, welcome to Digital Den.

Mia Darnell: Thank you Andria. I am very excited to be here and I appreciate you inviting me to your pilot episode.

Andria Donnenwerth: Yes. Thank you Mia. I couldn’t think of a better person to have on our first episode. Now, Mia. Before we dive into Week of Welcome, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming the Global Connections Coordinator?

Mia Darnell: My journey has been really exciting because like all of our global Cougs right now, I started as a student. I started as a student wanting engagement, wanting to be involved and wanting my journey to be a community experience and not just me by myself on my computer, because I am a person who loves to talk, who loves to be around people. So, I started participating in events and eventually that participation led me into becoming an ASWSUG executive board member.

Andria Donnenwerth: Real quick. Is that our student government? Were you part of student government?

Mia Darnell: Oh, yes. I was in the Associated Students of Washington State University Global Campus. So yes, we do have a student government, and I was a part of it for two terms. And after that I became the Global Connections Program coordinator. So everything just opened up for me from being an engaged student to being a member of the student government and now as a staff member, program coordinator for Global Connections.

Andria Donnenwerth: That’s awesome. Mia. And one of the things that we’re going to talk about today that Global Connections hosts is Week of Welcome. So what is Week of Welcome and why do you put it on?

Mia Darnell: Well, I’m glad that you asked, because it is coming up pretty soon Week of Welcome, or WOW, is a week of virtual events created to help WSU Global Campus students begin the semester feeling informed, supported, and connected. So it is on August 17th through the 21st where students can meet support staff, explore important resources, connect with other Cougs and learn how to become involved beyond the classroom. We do this because online students deserve a genuine campus community, not simply access to courses. Week of Welcome helps students know where to turn for support and reminds them that wherever they are, they are part of the Cougar community.

Andria Donnenwerth: That’s awesome. So how many years have you been doing this? Is it really popular? Do students join and have lots of fun? What can students expect?

Mia Darnell: So students can expect a welcoming mix of practical information, personal development and fun. So I’ve been doing this both as a student and as a staff member roughly four years. So we do this in the spring, and we also do it in the fall, just to make sure that we welcome incoming students and even current students who might not have found their way into our spaces yet. So this year’s sessions cover mindfulness, adapting to school and life, mentorship and career readiness, accessibility, civic engagement, tutoring, library services, technology support, financial resources, wellness programs, clubs, and student leadership. And these sessions are often interactive and designed to give students information they can use immediately. There are also engaging activities including Jeopardy style financial challenge, games, music, random drawing, and opportunities to meet other students.

Andria Donnenwerth: Wow, that is a lot of events in one week. That is amazing. You listed a whole bunch of things: mentoring, wellbeing, clubs, and accessibility information. So what are you particularly excited about if you had a favorite about Week of Welcome. What is the moment you’re most excited for?

Mia Darnell: I’m excited for all of them, but I would say I am especially excited about Jam and Connect: Music, Mingling and Semester Tips on Friday evening because it brings the week to a close with music, casual networking, games, Canvas tips, and student to student support. I like this event because it captures what Week of Welcome really is about. Students receive useful information, but they also get to relax with people and recognize that they are entering the semester as part of a community, rather than doing everything alone. So yes, I recommend for students who have not found our space yet at Global Connections to please attend Jam and Connect

Andria Donnenwerth: And when is Jam and Connect? What day of the week is that on?

Mia Darnell: It closes the Week of Welcome. It is Friday, August 21 at 5 p.m.

Andria Donnenwerth: Nice. Very nice. So what would you say for someone that’s maybe a little nervous about attending this? That’s a lot. And you know, it’s online and I don’t know anybody. So like, I don’t know if I really want to jump on a zoom meeting. So like, what would you say to students that are a little bit nervous or not sure if they want to join?

Mia Darnell: Oh, yeah, that’s a good one because sometimes it can cause anxiety when you come into a space you’re not familiar with. So just like even when going into a physical school, it also is true even in an online setting. So I would say come exactly as you are and participate at the level that feels comfortable. You do not need to turn on your camera or microphone. You can begin by listening. Use the chat if you want to participate and join late or leave early if your schedule requires it. Most events last 60 minutes, maybe shorter, maybe longer, and no special software is required. Everyone understands that attending something new can feel uncomfortable, but that first click may lead to a helpful resource, a new friend, or a stronger sense of belonging. Hence, we encourage you to take that first step and attend even one. But we would love for you to attend all our Week of Welcome events.

Andria Donnenwerth: Oh, that’s so great. I love that you allow students to come as they are. I’ve been part of an event where students even attend as avatars. So I’m sitting there talking to a cat or a squirrel. And so, you know, you really are allowing and welcoming students to participate at their comfort level. And that’s, that’s really amazing. And so also are they recorded if I miss it or I can’t be there. Am I out of luck or is there still an opportunity to get that information without attending?

Mia Darnell: Yes, we do record most of our sessions, especially those sessions where we have panelists from the different academic and financial resources that we do offer at Global Campus. So, most events will be recorded. And then once the recording has gone through editing and captioning, we will post this or publish it in our connections website, which will lead to our YouTube page. And once you find one video of Week of Welcome videos, you will most definitely find the rest of the Week of Welcome videos and other videos that we recorded in the past and future videos that we will be recording as well.

Andria Donnenwerth: Wow. Yeah. Week of welcome. Sounds almost like orientation put into a fun, engaging way with other students. That just sounds like a great way to get involved. Also, if I were a student and I was getting involved, do I get anything? Should I anticipate swag? I’ve heard something about points. Is there something about that? What might I expect? Is there anything in it for us for attending besides getting the wonderful information?

Mia Darnell: I’m glad that you asked, because we do have what we call the Involve system, and it’s a point system where when you attend events, you earn points. And for this Week of Welcome, each event earns you 15 points. And if you attend all of them, you would start the semester with a solid number of points. However, we also award 50 additional points if you attend at least five Week of Welcome events. Aside from that, we will also be doing random drawings, so make sure to register to be entered into the random drawing where you could potentially win some WSU Global Campus swag. So yes, we do want to make it exciting. We also want to incentivize it because, coming into a space where you’re not familiar with, where you’re not comfortable, we want to offer a bridge and make sure there are things so students can get excited to attend or even consider attending. Week of welcome. Because, as you mentioned, aside from the great information that they could learn from Week of Welcome, we also want to build that community and to show that we do have a robust Global Campus community that you as a student do not have to be going through your academic journey alone. You have an awesome, fun community that you can tap into for support.

Andria Donnenwerth: That sounds great. So as a student you attend Week of Welcome. You not only get great information, meet your fellow Cougs, but then you also get to earn points. And those points then are redeemed. If I’m correct for things like. Flags or cheese or stickers. And when I say cheese, Cougar gold cheese. Right. That’s the biggest, highest thing that I can earn. So I think that’s amazing in itself. What an incredible point store and variety of things to purchase with those points. That’s incredible. So beyond Week of Welcome. What are some of the ways that students can stay engaged that we might cover in our next episode when we dive deeper into global connections?

Mia Darnell: So yes, Week of Welcome is the starting point. It is not the end of the experience. So students can continue participating in Global Connections events. Join or create a student club, attend wellness and skill building programs, become a student ambassador or club leader. Participate in civic engagement. Explore mentorship through Crimson Compass, and prepare professionally through Virtual Career Week. So the best place to begin is Involve, WSU Global Campus’ online hub for organizations, events, opportunities, resources, involvement points, skill badges, and graduation cords so we will explore those opportunities, as Andria mentioned more fully in the next episode. But yes, we do have a wide variety of engagement or participation opportunities that would meet your needs and your schedule. But yes, we do this because we want to ensure that your journey into earning your degree could be comparable to the in person experience. It is not going to be fully similar. But at the very least, we try to create this college experience for our online Cougs.

Andria Donnenwerth: It’s really what makes us a Global Campus, right? We are an actual campus with student engagement opportunities and ways to get involved. So that is an incredible program that you help host, Mia. So Mia, thank you so much for joining us today and giving us a glimpse into everything happening during Week of Welcome. I hope our listeners are just as excited as I am to jump in and start making those connections.

Den Discovery

Andria Donnenwerth: If today’s conversation sparked your interest, let’s take a closer look at one of the resources that makes it all possible. It’s time for today’s den discovery. Today’s Den Discovery highlights Global Connections, the team dedicated to helping students build meaningful connections beyond the classroom. From Week of Welcome and student clubs to virtual events, leadership opportunities and involvement programs, Global Connections offers countless ways to connect and get involved throughout the year. Today’s episode is just the beginning. Next episode, we’ll take a deeper dive into involvement at WSU Global Campus, exploring Global Connections, ASWSUG, our student government, student clubs, leadership opportunities, and the many ways you can find your place within the global Cougar community. To learn more about upcoming Global Connections events and opportunities, visit connections.wsu.edu. We’ll also include a direct link in the episode description and transcript.

Cougs Spotlight: Karizmah King

Andria Donnenwerth: Of course, discovering these opportunities is one thing. Experiencing them is another. Let’s hear from someone who’s done exactly that. It’s time for our very first Cougs spotlight. Joining us today is Karizmah King, a WSU Global Campus student ambassador and student leader who serves as president of the Pre Health Club and founded the Study and Club Hub. Through her leadership, she’s helping students connect, collaborate and build community across the miles. Karizmah, welcome to Digital Den.

Karizmah King: Thank you. Thank you for having me. That was such a great introduction.

Andria Donnenwerth: Oh, it’s so good to have you. You are our first student on our first episode, and could you please just tell us a little bit about yourself? What are you studying and how long have you been a Global Coug?

Karizmah King: I have been a Global Coug since fall of 2024, right after high school, and I am studying psychology.

Andria Donnenwerth: Psychology. That’s a really great program. I know quite a few of our Global Campus students go through the psychology program at WSU Global Campus. But Karizmah, I want to know, what got you inspired to be involved on Global Campus outside of your psychology degree?

Karizmah King: I started off by joining a club randomly. One of the clubs I lead now is the Pre Health Club. It was formerly the premed club. And just joining that meeting, the leader at the time was telling me all about the other clubs and the student ambassador program, and that’s how I really got started.

Andria Donnenwerth: So all it took was one meeting. That’s great. Karizmah. It just took you one meeting to join, and then you were hooked. You were involved. So if you could convince a new student to attend just one Week of Welcome event, what would you tell them?

Karizmah King: That’s really hard because I feel like all of them you can get something out of. But I feel like there’s one that stands out and that would be student involvement night. Which is very helpful for students who may not know everything that is offered here at Global Campus. There will be like different breakout rooms led by club leaders, or student ambassadors, just kind of selling you on the club. And at the end of it, you can decide if you’d like to join, and you can also hop around breakout rooms just to see if there’s anything that catches your eye.

Andria Donnenwerth: Okay. Karizmah. So you mentioned that the involvement night was the one event that you would definitely recommend. Do you know what day of the week that is?

Karizmah King: That is Wednesday evening.

Andria Donnenwerth: So tell me, do you have one piece of advice you’d like to share with your fellow Global Cougs as they begin their semester?

Karizmah King: My number one advice is always get involved. And that looks different for everyone. You don’t have to join, you know, five different clubs to be involved. You don’t even have to join club meetings to be involved. Even though I highly recommend club meetings, involvement can also look like keeping up with another WSU Global Coug that you’ve met along the way and supporting each other throughout the journey. So yeah, I would say just build connections with people.

Andria Donnenwerth: The number one event you suggest during Week of Welcome to attend is Involvement Night, and that is on Wednesday to learn all about the clubs. You can earn points while you’re doing it and figure out how to be involved and part of that Cougar community. That sounds amazing. Karizmah. Thank you so much for being here and everything that you do to build the Global Cougar community.

Karizmah King: Thank you. Andria.

Andria Donnenwerth: Your story is a wonderful reminder that getting involved can truly shape your college experience. We really appreciate having you here today. Thank you so much.

Den Challenge

Andria Donnenwerth: Before we wrap up, it’s time for this episode’s Den challenge. Throughout today’s episode, you’ve heard Chancellor Dave Cillay share his vision for the global Cougar community. Mia Darnell introduced this year’s Week of Welcome and Karizmah, reminded us how one simple decision to get involved can make all the difference. So here is your challenge. Attend just one Week of Welcome event. Whether you’re beginning your first semester, returning for another year, reconnecting as an alum, or supporting the Global Campus community in another way. Taking that first step is one of the best ways to strengthen your connection to WSU Global Campus. As always, you’ll find links to today’s resources, Week of Welcome information, and a full episode transcript in the episode description.

Thank you to Chancellor Dave Cillay, Mia Darnell, and Karizmah King for joining us on our very first episode of Digital Den, and thank you for joining us. If you enjoyed today’s conversation, be sure to subscribe and share Digital Den with another member of the Global Cougar community. Next episode, we’ll explore what happens after Week of Welcome in finding your place at Global Campus. We’ll explore student government, student clubs, leadership opportunities, and other ways to find your place within the global Cougar community. Until next time, stay connected, keep learning and as always, go Cougs.