Education & Talent

Spokane County seniors access free legal aid

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Gonzaga University's Elder Law Clinic supports a variety of legal needs, from planning for the future to addressing immediate challenges that could threaten the stability of everyday life.

2026 Small Business of the Year Winner: Ability Employment Services Inc.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Ability Employment Services has been named the winner of the Small Business of the Year category in the Journal's 2026 Inland Northwest Business of the Year Awards.

EWU Science Building approaches completion

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Eastern Washington University’s $110 million Science Building renovation is nearing completion and is scheduled to open to students and faculty by this fall.

New student housing hall planned at Cheney campus

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Eastern Washington University is preparing to replace a long-dormant residence hall on its Cheney campus with a new, larger student housing facility at 106 N. Ninth.

University of Washington expands access to health care

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500

At a time when the public is questioning the value of higher education, the University of Washington’s contributions in Eastern Washington offer some of the strongest examples of the power of our partnerships — and our commitment to improving the lives of all Washingtonians.

SFCC primes students for evolving workforce

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500

As artificial intelligence quietly becomes an everyday tool across industries, Spokane Falls Community College is moving toward educating students on how to work alongside it in their future careers.

Express Employment eyes expansion under new owner

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

After nearly 32 years under the leadership of Ira and Susan Amstadter, Spokane-based A.I.S. Inc., which operates as Express Employment Professionals, has been purchased by their daughter Beverly Amstadter, who took over operations in at the end of the year.

Five Takeaways: Inland Northwest Labor Market

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

For its latest episode of Elevating The Conversation, the Journal sat down with Wade Larson, the executive director of the Production & Manufacturing Institute and the owner of Optimal Talent Dynamics, to discuss the Inland Northwest labor market.

School psychology workforce gets a boost here

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Medical Lake School District has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant with the aim of creating a pipeline of highly trained and certified school psychology professionals to meet the critical needs of rural school districts across Northeastern Washington.

Gonzaga and McKinstry Co. launch new partnership

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Gonzaga University and Seattle-based energy-efficiency system designer and contractor McKinstry Co. have established a partnership to strengthen the region’s engineering workforce while creating career-connected learning opportunities for students in the Inland Northwest.

EWU prepares to launch dental therapy program

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Eastern Washington University is moving forward with plans to launch a master’s in dental therapy program, a move that would place the university among a small handful of institutions nationwide offering the credential and expand access to oral health care in rural Washington, says Dawn Lewis-Kinnunen, dean of EWU’s College of Health Science and Public Health.

Startup scene expected to build off strong 2025

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

As the Inland Northwest startup ecosystem matures, the year ahead is expected to build off what has been a strong 2025.

Our civic DNA: A partnership between business and higher education to boost our future labor market

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Readers 40 years from now will likely judge that I got little right about the regional industries of tomorrow. However, I do believe there are unchanging principles that will shape our civic life together. I bet I’m right about those.

College enrollment shortfall threatens future jobs

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Washington is falling short in producing enough four-year college graduates. The data has been consistent, and the implications are serious.

CLEVER program helps refugees reenter workforce

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Refugees are finding their way back into their professions with the help of a program offered through a pair of nonprofits in Spokane.

Spokane Valley Tech fills manufacturing labor gaps

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Spokane Valley Tech and Skills Center high school has emerged as a steady source of talent for Spokane manufacturers by providing hands-on training and exposure to career and employment opportunities in the Inland Northwest.

Develop clear expectations to create successful teams

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Strong leaders understand that building high-performing teams doesn’t happen by chance. It requires intention, consistency, and clarity.

Regional nursing graduates anchor care in Spokane

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Higher education institutions with nursing programs in the Inland Northwest are reporting high graduation rates, with many graduates landing health care jobs close to home.

New early learning center eyed at Palisades campus

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Palisades Christian Academy is planning a new $2.2 million early learning center.

Gonzaga, Providence invest in nurse anesthesia program

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

In response to rising demand for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and a national shortage of anesthesia providers, Gonzaga University and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center are embarking on a major expansion of the jointly owned and operated Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program.

Gonzaga prepares to launch new institute following $1M donation

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

As the American political climate becomes increasingly polarized and a decline in civil dialogue sows greater division across the country, Gonzaga University has been quietly working on the creation of an on-campus institution intended to serve as a regional hub for practicing civil discourse, engaged discernment, and the pursuit of the common good.

Five Takeaways: Women in Leadership

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

The Journal recently sat down with Gonzaga University's new president, Katia Passerini, for its latest episode of Elevating The Conversation to discuss women in leadership.

Whitworth introduces updated tuition model

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 03:00:27 -0400

Whitworth University is instituting what it calls a transparent tuition model, moving to clarify the cost of attendance.

From startup founders to CEOs, new programs invest in growth

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:34:01 -0400

A recent push in Spokane to grow more business leaders is taking shape at both ends of the career spectrum, from a Catholic Charities program aimed at helping residents who face steep barriers start a business, to a peer advisory group helping CEOs scale their companies to the next level.

Whitworth launches its first private spinoff

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Led by Whitworth University’s engineering and physics professor Phillip Measor, a team of faculty members and undergraduate students have launched the universities first corporate spinoff, Pacific Microdevices Corp.

Northwest Christian Schools to expand its high school

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Northwest Christian Schools, Inc., plans to break ground on a $3.25 million expansion of its Colbert-based secondary school this summer

SFCC president announces resignation

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:46:55 -0400

Spokane Colleges has announced Kimberlee Messina will resign from her role as president of Spokane Falls Community College to serve as chancellor of City College of San Francisco.

LaunchNW receives $2.5M grant from Ballmer Group

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:15:43 -0400

LaunchNW, an initiative of Spokane-based Innovia Foundation, has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from Ballmer Group to implement a post-high school education support system for students throughout Eastern Washington.

Women take the helm of INW higher education

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400

The Pacific Northwest is experiencing a significant shift in higher education leadership, with an increasing number of women assuming presidential roles at colleges and universities across the region.

Former professor launches free leadership program

tinas@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Stephy Nobles-Beans is taking what she’s learned from others in leadership and paying it forward.