Chemistry’s Mark Bussell elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences

Becomes only the second Western faculty member to be elected to the WSAS

July 24, 2023

by John Thompson

WWU Communications

Mark Bussell has become only the second WWU faculty member to be elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences, joining retired SMATE director George "Pinky" Nelson, who was elected in 2012.

Western Washington University Professor of Chemistry Mark Bussell has been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences, and will be inducted at the 16th Annual Members Meeting in Spokane on Sept. 13. 

Bussell, who has taught at Western for 33 years, is only the second Western faculty member to be elected to the WSAS; George “Pinky” Nelson, former director of Science, Math and Technology Education at the university, was inducted in 2012. 

“I am very honored to receive this recognition and I look forward to participating in WSAS committees focused on energy and environmental issues important to our state,” Bussell said. 

This year’s incoming cohort includes scientists from the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Boeing, and more. 

Janelle Leger, dean of Western’s College of Science and Engineering, said the election is an important honor for both Bussell, in recognition of his lifetime of scholarship and teaching, and for Western as a whole. 

I certainly look up to (Mark's) long, productive career as an example that I would like to emulate.

P. Clint Spiegel

WWU Chemistry chair

"The election of Mark to the Washington State Academy of Sciences represents an important recognition of his contributions to his discipline, his standing in the scientific community, and his commitment to broader community engagement in service to the State of Washington," she said. “As the only current member of WSAS from Western, Dr. Bussell will also bring enhanced visibility and state-wide impact to the outstanding work of the faculty and programs in the College of Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemistry at Western. We're incredibly proud of this exceptional and well-deserved accomplishment." 

WWU Chemistry Chair P. Clint Spiegel echoed Leger’s thoughts. 

“Professor Bussell has maintained a vibrant research program for the past 30 years. He has been a transformational mentor to many students and continues to inspire the faculty in the Chemistry Department as a highly impactful teacher-scholar. I certainly look up to his long, productive career as an example that I would like to emulate,” Spiegel said. 

Bussell will be unable to attend his induction in person due to the fact that he will have just begun a Fulbright Scholar Award in Hungary alongside his wife, WWU Professor of Psychology Kristi Lemm. Bussell is the recipient of numerous awards during his career, including a Cottrell IMPACT Award (2023) from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the Arlan Norman Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring (2021), and the Paul J. Olscamp Outstanding Research Award (2000). 

The Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS) is an independent, nonprofit organization of more than 300 elected members who are nationally recognized for their scientific and technical expertise. Members are elected in recognition of their scientific and technical contributions to the nation and their desire to contribute their expertise to inform issues in Washington state. For more information on the Washington State Academy of Sciences, go to http://www.washacad.org.