Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

James R. (Dick) Pratt joined Washington State University Tri-Cities as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on Aug. 1, 2008.

Previously, Dick was founding Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Biology at Clarkson University in New York.  Prior to his service at Clarkson, he was Dean of Arts and Sciences at Idaho State University.  He served as Professor of Environmental Science and Director of the Environmental Sciences and Resources Program at Portland State University, where he held administrative appointments as Associate Vice Provost for Sponsored Research in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and as Vice Provost for Academic Personnel and Budget in the Office of Academic Affairs. 

In 1998-99, he was selected as a fellow by the American Council on Education and participated in the ACE leadership program in higher education.  Dick served on the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University as an assistant and associate professor of aquatic ecology in the School of Forest Resources.  At Penn State, he was affiliated with programs in Environmental Resource Management, Ecology, and Environmental Pollution Control. 

Dick has served on several national and international committees on environmental pollution, environmental indicators, and environmental restoration.  He has published more than 100 papers, book chapters, reports, and related materials in environmental toxicology, environmental restoration, and microbial ecology, and he is a regular reviewer for professional journals and research agencies.  He has also served as the Director of the Hancock Biological Station at Murray State University in Kentucky and taught science at the middle school and high school levels for 10 years. 

Dick received his doctoral degree in zoology from Virginia Tech, his master’s of science in biology from Eastern Washington University, and his bachelor’s of arts in biology from the University of Washington. He graduated from Kennewick High School in 1968.

Dick’s thought about WSU Tri-Cities:

WSU Tri-Cities is well-positioned to serve more and more students and to engage in research and other development work important to the region.  We have a great group of faculty and staff committed to building this campus, serving students, and placing the resources of an important research university right here in the Tri-Cities.