WSU Jefferson County selected Dr. Michael Pavel, tribal member of the Skokomish Tribe as their outstanding faculty member. Dr. Pavel was honored by WSU when he gave a community presentation on 10,000 years of Cedar and the Tribal History of the Olympic Peninsula. “Naming a Distinguished faculty was one way we could bring together alumnae but also underscore that for over 80 years WSU Jefferson County has been linking University research directly to community problems”, said Katherine Baril, Director of the local WSU Jefferson County Extension program.On January 21, Dr. Pavel will be honored again by WSU as he receives the university’s first Diversity Faculty Award.
Dr. Pavel, was born and raised on the Skokomish Reservation and spent most of his life hunting, fishing, and learning the traditional wisdom of his people in southern Jefferson County. He is a Traditional Bearer of Southern Puget Salish traditional culture and has focused on learning the language, traditions, rituals, history, and ceremonial way of life among the Twana and other Pacific Northwest Salish peoples. Today, Pavel is an associate professor in Educational Leadership and Counseling Psychology.
WSU Diversity Faculty Fellow Alex Tan, speaking on behalf of the award selection committee, said Pavel’s contributions to diversity extend across all areas of teaching, research and outreach.
“Dr. Pavel’s commitment and passion for advancing diversity is remarkable,” said Tan. “He is nationally recognized for his work with the Native Indian population, he is an effective and passionate mentor, and his scholarly work is used as a tool that helps advance under-represented groups.”
Pavel said he is “honored” and “humbled” to receive the award emphasizing faculty members are core stakeholders of the university that can bridge diversity work from our offices to the classrooms and from our labs to the field.
“We all step forward in so many ways to find a place of appreciation that is central to our humanity,” he said. Pavel has also taught at the University of California-Los Angeles, as well as consulted with numerous tribes and indigenous organizations.