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Washington State University
College of Education

March 2024

#ThrowbackThursday: Matthew Rinaldi

Matthew Rinaldi – Athletic Training

 

Tell us a little about your background.
I was born in Moscow, ID and grew up in Spokane. Growing up coming down to Pullman for football and basketball games was a regular occurrence so I’ve always been a Coug at heart.

What did you study at WSU? Did you always know you wanted to study that?
At WSU I studied athletic training. When I was young I helped my mom study while she was going through massage therapy school.  Early on that cultivated an interest in medicine for me. I had further exposure to athletic trainers and physical therapists through playing sports and always had such great experiences with them and saw how much they helped us all. So, going into college I knew iI had an interest in the medical field and wanted to have a profession that put me in a position to help people so athletic training was a natural fit.

What has been your favorite thing about WSU, as well as the College of Education?
The sense of community around WSU is truly incredible and I have been fortunate to experience that community for most of my life. Whether that’s the random “go cougs” in an airport, a flag flying on TV, or a professional connection, it is alway easy to find support of a coug somewhere. Within the College of Education, the professors are what made it feel special. Professors who frequently went the extra mile to ensure success of the student.

Is there a memory you have from WSU that stands out in your mind as unforgettable, transformative, etc.?
So many fond memories that stand out in different ways. As part of the athletic training program I had the great experience to work alongside all of the athletic teams including spending my senior year with the football team. Being able to travel with the team was an incredible experience both for my education and professional experience, but also just a lot of fun being able to travel to other stadiums and have great times with co-workers and classmates. Another memory that has been transformative for me probably seemed like just another day in the classroom. I had a professor, Dr. Hildenbrand, who shared with us a quote: “attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal.” While I’m sure this is not an original quote to her, but how she presented it that day made a large impact and is a quote I come back to very frequently, sometimes daily, to help guide how I approach challenges.

What has your career path been since you left WSU? What do you currently do? Tell us about your NOW life!
After leaving WSU I went to EWU for physical therapy school. From there I worked in a physical therapy clinic in Spokane and worked to establish athletic training coverage at a local high school. My wife and I then moved to Denver for 3 years where I worked as a physical therapist and took on a new job, DAD! During that time we had our two lovely daughters and have since moved back to Pullman this last July where I work for Summit PT as a PT and help educate current WSU athletic training and kinesiology students in the clinic.

What makes you an agent of change?
Professionally, I strive to be an agent of change in each patient I interact with. My goal is to inspire and curate in themselves skills and habits that will help improve their quality of life, whether that be reducing pain, getting back to work, or being able to run 10 miles. Outside of work, I see myself as an agent of change each day to my daughters, hoping to instill in them qualities I feel allow me to facilitate change: kindness, optimism, patience, responsibility, and open-mindedness.

Favorites

Food: Peanut Butter 

Restaurant in Pullman: Sella’s

Band: No favorite, just love good music in all genres.

Song: Currently, Achilles Come Down, by Gang of Youths

Movie: Saving Private Ryan / O Brother, Where Art Thou?

TV show: LOST

Favorite Coug sport: Football

Favorite spot on campus (when you were a student): Kimbrough Hall… roof.

Hobby: Board Games!

Place to visit (you’ve been to): Manarola, Italy

Dream vacation spot (you haven’t been to): Cuneo, Italy

College of Education alumna Lane Salvig receives Fulbright Award

In the heart of Kelso, Washington, stands Lane Salvig, an alumna of the WSU College of Education. Lane has dedicated the past eight years to shaping young minds as a high school math and social studies teacher. Her commitment to fostering global understanding and cross-cultural collaboration recently earned her a prestigious recognition: a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program award.

Lane’s award comes with a journey. She will go to Morocco in April, where she will collaborate with educators from the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE). Her mission? To explore how students from different cultures can learn from each other and work together.

The Fulbright Program, managed by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, is all about international educational exchange. For over 75 years, it has provided countless individuals with opportunities to learn, teach, and connect across borders.

Lane’s selection for the Fulbright award highlights her passion for global learning and teaching innovation. Through the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, she hopes to not only share her knowledge but also build meaningful connections that span continents.

As Lane embarks on this journey, the College of Education is honored to have her represent Cougs, demonstrating the profound impact educators can make in fostering understanding and collaboration across diverse communities. She encourages her colleagues and peers to embrace the spirit of international exchange. By sharing her experiences when she returns, Lane hopes to inspire others to explore the world, learn from different cultures, and foster connections that transcend boundaries.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, please visit, https://eca.state.gov/fulbright.



Art Integration: Students visit JSMOA.

On a brisk February day on the Palouse, education students at WSU in the K-8 Art Methods Integration class visited the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMOA) to learn the effectiveness of art in the classroom.

TchLrn 390 equips future educators with the tools to seamlessly integrate art into the curriculum. This course operates on the belief that learning through the arts enriches experiences, extends learning, and deepens understanding across subjects. During the museum tour, students engaged with art and exhibits firsthand, guided by Kristen Becker, Curator of Education at JSMOA. The tour provided practical examples and resources for integrating art into the classroom, emphasizing its potential to enhance learning outcomes across various subjects.

In a landscape of standardized testing, classes like TchLrn 390 emphasize non-traditional learning experiences. Art isn’t just another subject; it’s a tool for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and empathy among students.

As educators, we must recognize the profound impact of art integration in education. Initiatives like TchLrn 390 class inspire future educators to embrace the transformative power of the arts.

The College of Education remains committed to providing students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to become visionary education leaders. We actively advocate for the integration of art into teaching and learning through initiatives like TchLrn 390 and partnerships with institutions like the JSMOA.