Left to right: Danny Gourley, Pippa Pierce, Anna Plemons, Chris Cook, Andy Dephtereos, Wanda Tennant, Cynthia Prieto, Thad Hathaway, and Allen Thompson.
| Christopher Cook | Associate Director of Athletics, Academic Support Services |
| Andy Dephtereos | Academic Counselor, Rowing and Volleyball |
| Danny Gourley | Coordinator, Academic Resource Center/Academic Counselor, Swimming and Tennis |
| Thad Hathaway | Assistant Director, Academic Support Services/Academic Counselor, Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, and Women's Golf |
| Pippa Pierce | Director, Career & Personal Development |
| Anna Plemmons | Assistant Director, Learning Services/Academic Counselor, Football |
| Cynthia Prieto | Academic Counselor, Rowing, Track and Field/Cross Country, Volleyball and Women's Basketball |
| Wanda Tennant | Coordinator, Internal Operations |
| Allen Thompson | Academic Counselor, Football Monitoring and Soccer |
Chris CookChris Cook has been involved in academic support services at Washington State University over 9 years. As the Associate Athletic Director of Academic Support Services, Chris is responsible for the overall direction and management of WSU’s comprehensive academic support program. These programs assist all student-athletes in the identification and accomplishment of their academic goals leading to graduation and career advancement. Chris oversees the development and implementation of structured academic support programs to assist students with learning disabilities and/or significant learning challenges; he also coordinates the proactive monitoring systems to track student-athletes’ academic progress and performance each semester.
Chris enjoys counseling student-athletes regarding academic performance, course and major selection, graduation plans, time management, goal setting, career planning, and other skills necessary for academic success. As Associate Athletic Director, it is also Chris’ responsibility to ensure that all recruited, returning, and incoming transfers are properly advised with a graduation plan.
Chris graduated from Washington State University in 1992 with a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology. Several years later Chris returned to the Palouse and earned his Masters in Education from the University of Idaho with an ephasis on teaching methods.
At home, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Brenda, son Byran Ethan and daughter Kennedy Jean. When Chris is not burning chow on the barbeque or changing diapers, he enjoys pick-up hoops, extreme downhill mountain biking, and an occasional round of golf.
Andy Dephtereos
Andy Dephtereos is starting his first year as an Academic Counselor at Washington State University. He will be assisting with the Volleyball and Rowing teams, helping to coordinate the Peer Academic Counseling program, and providing Learning Services assistance with research and writing. Andy also teaches in the WSU English Department.
Andy played intercollegiate soccer at St. Lawrence University in northern New York, where he earned a BA in English. He received an MA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing from Colorado State University. After a few years in Japan, working as an interpreter for a municipal government in the Japan Alps, Andy taught English for CSU and other colleges and universities along the Front Range of Colorado. Andy also taught at Colby College in Maine before spending the last several years teaching high school English in coastal Maine, where he also coached girls soccer. Andy has his Maine State Firefighter I certification and spent ten years as a firefighter with the South China Volunteer Fire Department.
Andy still searches out competitive soccer whenever he can; he’s been playing for more decades than he’d like to admit, in the US, Canada, and Japan. He and his wife Pam are delighted to be back in the West and are looking forward to making a new home in the Pullman and WSU communities, where you just might find them walking their dogs up and down the hills of the Palouse.
Danny GourleyDanny Gourley, Coordinator, Academic Resource Center, joined the Cougars family in 2005. Danny’s task is to supervise and maintain the ARC and provide academic support to the WSU Tennis and Swim teams. Danny always enjoys working with student-athletes to improve academic performance, establish educational goals, practice time management techniques, select career paths, and develop the skills necessary for success in life.
Danny’s experience in academics began in 1997, and all but two and a half years of his academic counseling have been in athletics. Starting as a tutor for student-athletes at Middle Tennessee State University, Danny progressed to Learning Specialist from 1999-2002. After two and a half years of career development serving soldiers as an intern in the Army Continuing Education System, Danny has returned to athletics.
Danny graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1999 with a Bachelors of Arts in English. He completed his Masters in Education with and emphasis in administration of higher education at MTSU in 2002.
At home, Danny values spending time with his wife, Sarah, and young daughter, Cirel. Danny and his wife are avid video game players and enjoy hiking and backyard sports. Danny is also a fan of all-you-can-eat buffets.
Thaddeus S. HathawayThad graduated from the University of Idaho in 1997 with a Sport Science degree, emphasis in Sport Management. He immediately began working for a sport facility until offered a graduate assistant position with the University of Idaho Athletic Department in the fall of 1998. One year later he accepted the Academic Program Advisor position for Athletics while working on his Masters in Recreation, emphasis in Sport Administration. He finished his Masters in the fall of 2002.
In the fall of 2002 Thad made a career move to WSU as the Sr. Academic Counselor for Athletics. His role is to counsel, advise, support, develop and enhance academic performance for student athletes. Thad’s team assignments include Baseball, Men’s Basketball and Men's & Women’s Golf. In the summer of 2005 Thad became the Assistant Director of Academic Support Services. Thad has worked within the academic athletic field for nine years.
Athletics has always been a part of Thad’s life. He was a track & field athlete for two years at Eastern Oregon University before transferring to The University of Idaho to complete his eligibility. High Jump was his main event. Thad enjoys playing basketball, golfing, hiking in the Wallowa Mountains and spending time with his family. Thad’s family lives in Pullman. His wife’s name is Diane, his daughter’s name is Alison, and his boys’ names are Cody, Caleb, Gabe and Seth
Pippa Pierce
Pippa Pierce enters her ninth season at Washington State University, with this being her fith year within the Student-Athlete Development unit. Prior to her current position, she spent three years as an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach for the Cougars. Her role as Director, Career & Personal Development is to help provide opportunities that encourage healthy life choices for student-athletes. Through the P.R.O.W.L. Life Skills Program, student-athletes can learn and explore resources and programs available to them within the athletic department, on campus and within the local community. Other responsibilities include the New Student-Athlete Seminar, Career Development and Community Outreach and Services.
Pippa spent fourteen years coaching intercollegiate women’s basketball. Her first stint was with Saint Michael’s College of Vermont for six seasons. She then joined the staff at Saint Francis College of Pennsylvania for the next four seasons before moving on to coach at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
A 1988 graduate of Mount Union College (Alliance, OH) with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine, Pippa was also a four year starter and two-time team captain for the Purple Raiders Women’s Basketball team. Pierce was a member of Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Maysville High School (Zanesville, OH) has inducted Pippa into their Athletic Hall of Fame for performances in basketball, softball and volleyball in addition to time dedicated to local youth.
A Midwest native of Zanesville, OH, Pippa now considers her home to be in the Northwest. The area has provided her with many opportunities to pursue interests outside of her professional career such as spending time outdoors. She is completing a Master’s in Communication from WSU.
Anna PlemonsAs the Learning Services Coordinator and Academic Counselor for Football, Anna enjoys helping students achieve academic success at WSU. Her primary responsibilities include meeting individually with students for academic accountability, working with small groups on academic skill improvement, functioning as a liaison with academic support services on campus and management of the Guided Study Program.
Anna graduated from Washington State in 1999 with a degree in Speech and Hearing Science. While at WSU, Anna was a member of the Varsity Women's Rowing team for four years. After graduation she worked as a volunteer coach and academic intern. Anna returned to Washington State after pursuing a Masters of Secondary Education, Learning Skills at Kansas State University, where she also worked as the Graduate Learning Specialist for Intercollegiate Athletics.
Anna was born in southern California, graduated from high school in Sacramento, but has lived in Pullman longer than anywhere else. When not at work Anna loves hanging out with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Sarah. Hobbies include mountain biking, snowshoeing and traveling.
Cynthia PrietoCynthia Prieto begins her fourth year at Washington State University as the Academic Counselor for Women’s Basketball, Rowing, Track & Field, Cross Country, and Volleyball. She has a strong passion for both student development and athletics. As a team academic counselor, she provides quality academic and career counseling to help student-athletes excel. She is committed to building a learning environment and student relationships that foster academic and personal success.
Cynthia also oversees the Peer Academic Counseling (PAC) program, a peer mentoring program designed to assist new student-athletes with their transition from high school or another institution to WSU.
Cynthia graduated from the University of Arizona in 2002 earning a BA in Social Science/Psychology. During that time, she coached high school and club volleyball and worked as a crisis counselor for young children and their families. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sport Administration in the spring of 2004 from the University of New Mexico. There she worked as an Academic Advisement Intern and with the football program, dealing primarily with student-athlete recruitment and camp operations.
Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Cynthia enjoys playing sports, talking walks, and spending time with her partner Anthony and baby, Anthony Jr.
Wanda Tenant
Wanda Tennant has been with WSU Athletics Student Athlete Development since Spring 1998. However, Wanda has been on the WSU campus for over fifteen years with WSU Libraries—Owen Science and Engineering Library—and the WSU Foundation.
Wanda will try to answer all your "how to" questions--and help you navigate through WSU's official channels. She is responsible for compiling a lot of data about WSU athletes and their academic and graduation successes, so you may need to visit her for facts and figures for your reports and papers!
Wanda has four children: Dan, Sam, Desi, and Keagan. In fact, you may run into Wanda’s son, Sam, a member of the Cougar football team.
Wanda especially enjoys the daily student-athlete contact and cheering at Cougar sporting events. She spends her time away from campus quilting and crafting, camping with her family, volunteering, and watching her children participate in sports.
Allen Thompson
Allen Thompson enters his seventh year at Washington State University. The first four years he spent at WSU as a student-athlete participating in Football. Allen was a part of the last three bowl games that the Cougars were invited to, which would include the Sun Bowl, Rose Bowl and the Holiday Bowl. He decided to forgo his final year, due to chronic shoulder complications.
Allen graduated from WSU with his BA in Sociology and a minor in Business Administration. Soon after graduation he joined the staff as an Academic Counselor for Football.
Allen is a native of San Diego, CA and has adapted to the small but hometown feel of Pullman. His hobbies include weight lifting, attending sport events, listening to music, reading, bowling, watching Law & Order SVU, educational debates and good company.