Author: dahnbi

Rolita Flores Ezeonu

Associate Vice Chancellor, Seattle Colleges  

Dr. Rolita Flores Ezeonu is the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and has served and led in South King County for over 25 years. From July 2018 to February 2025, she served as Vice President of Instruction at Green River College, where she provided executive leadership in faculty recruitment, development, retention, and evaluation. She oversaw curriculum and instruction while advancing anti-racist practices both in and outside the classroom. Dr. Ezeonu also strengthened instructional leadership and forged partnerships with institutions, public agencies, and community organizations. Equity and social justice are at the center of her work. Prior to her role at Green River College, she was Interim Vice President of Instruction at Highline College from April 2017 – June 2018 and Dean of Instruction for Transfer and Pre-College Education from July 2008 – March 2017. She also taught as a tenured faculty member and adjunct faculty member in Communication Studies at Highline. Dr. Ezeonu holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus on higher education from Seattle University, as well as a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Washington State University.

Dr. Maribel Jiménez

Associate Vice Chancellor, Seattle Colleges  

Dr. Maribel Jiménez is the inaugural vice president for Equity, Diversity, and Transformation at Highline College. She is a first-generation college student that continues to learn to navigate higher education at multiple levels with ancestral knowledge, guidance, and mentoring from the great leaders and pioneers that served before her. Dr. Jiménez has been an educator for over 18 years. She combines nine years of K-12 experience, serving as a teacher and school counselor, and working in higher education. Previously, Dr. Jimenez served as the Dean of Academic Transfer Pathways and Partnerships at Highline College. Her scope of experience includes tenured faculty counselor and Title V grant director at Yakima Valley College. Dr. Jimenez holds a Master of Social Work from Eastern Washington University and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University.

Becky Corriell

Assistant Dean of Students & Learning Innovation, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington

Becky Corriell is the Assistant Dean of Students & Learning Innovation for the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Becky’s work focuses on the creation of professional learning opportunities that are intentionally co-designed to advance personal, organizational, and collective learning. She has more than fifteen years of experience in teaching and training, program design and implementation, and organizational development. Becky also brings a deep commitment towards anti-racism, equity, and inclusion to all facets of her work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy from the University of Washington. She is currently finalizing her doctoral dissertation in Education Policy, Organizations, & Leadership, also at UW.  

Isaiah Wright

PhD Candidate, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington

Isaiah Wright began his Ph.D. journey with Evans in 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) as well as a Masters in Public Policy from UCR as well. Prior to Evans he worked for Rady’s Children’s hospital in San Diego, CA as a contractor to the County of San Diego examining the effectiveness of substance use and mental health programs in the County. Isaiah completed a capstone project during his time at UCR entitled “Understanding Latina Entrepreneurship in the IE” using mixed methods. This project involved a survey design informed by interviews and utilizing ACS data in order to understand the needs of minority business owners in the Inland Empire region. Isaiah has an interest in research pertaining to Urban and social issues revolving around race and inequality, specifically examining spatial relationships. Advised by Dr. Scott Allard, Isaiah works on issues relating to social mobility and non-profits, as well as collaborates with the Evans Policy Innovation Collaborative(EPIC) on Washington State Ballots.

Ph.D. Student, Evans School

Arielle Weaver joined the Evans School Ph.D. Program in Public Policy & Management in 2021. Broadly, Arielle’s research interests are aligned with addressing issues of social equity, access, and opportunity for marginalized populations with an emphasis on women of color. Arielle seeks to bring a critical lens to her research, drawing attention to racial disparities resulting from policy and the policy process.

Prior to beginning her Ph.D. studies, Arielle had a career in Student Affairs and has experience in the areas of residence life, student conduct, leadership development, and mentorship for women of color. Through that work, Arielle had the opportunity to develop, advocate for, and mentor women of color student leaders, which informs her current research interests.

Faculty, Highline CollegeDr. Conrad Webster is a tenure-track assistant professor of Political Science at Highline College. He earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University.His research sits at the intersection of race, politics, and public policy, exposing how punitive systems target Black and Brown communities and pushing for policy change rooted in equity and justice. In 2023, he received the NAMI Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Award for his contributions to minority mental health awareness in Washington State.Dr. Webster is the author of “I Don’t Think They Like Us: School Suspensions as Anti-Black Male Practice” (Journal of African American Males in Education) and “Black Bodies, Dueling Pandemics, and the Hidden Rules for White Profit in the NBA” (Philosophy, Sport, and the Pandemic, 2022). He has spoken at national conferences on race and equity and works with school districts to reconstruct policies that better support Black males. His teaching and scholarship share one mission: disrupting systems of harm and expanding community power through political knowledge.

Faculty, Highline College, Planning Committee Member
Dr. Diego Luna is tenured faculty in Ethnic & Gender Studies at Highline College. Born and raised in rural Northern California, Diego is a Chicano/Anglo who knew he wanted to be an ethnic studies professor after his first Chican@ Studies class.

Encouraged by his Chican@ mentors to pay it forward, Diego earned a Ph.D. in Education, Culture, and Society from the University of Utah. When he is not in the classroom teaching EGS 100 Introduction to Ethnic Studies, EGS 150 Latino/a Histories: Race, Migration, and Resistance, EGS 295 Ethnic Studies: Special Topics, EGS 352 Ethnic Studies for Educators, and HIST 148 Modern U.S. History, Diego pursues his love of running, gaming, and speculative writing.

Director of Center for Leadership and Service, Highline College

Mabuheeeey! Geomarc Panelo was born in the beautiful islands of the Philippines but moved to the US as a young child with his family. His intersecting identities and lived experiences inform his practice as a student affairs practitioner. Geomarc has an A.T.A. degree in Culinary Arts, but his involvement in student life as an undergraduate student has led him to take the path to the higher education field. He received his B.A. in American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington. Geomarc joined the Highline College family in the spring of 2019 after finishing his service with Peace Corps Indonesia. He has served as the Mentorship Programs Leadership advisor in the Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence (CCIE) before stepping in as the Director of the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS). Community is an integral part of his work, and he always find ways to build meaningful relationships and collaboration with others!

In his free time, Geomarc loves to go on different adventures. He goes camping and hiking almost every weekend during the spring and summer months–his favorite campground? Cougar Rock inside Mount Rainier National Park. He enjoys meeting friends for plays (Hamilton karaoke anyone?), happy hour kiki, and playing volleyball religiously!

Faculty, Highline College, Planning Committee Member

Jennifer Ritchey teach courses in Political Science and Global Studies. Students should stop by office hours for more information regarding careers in international development, diplomacy, or political science. I am also available to talk about Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Study Abroad.

She have master’s degrees in Political Science and Applied International Studies. She loves to spend time abroad and was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in community health to Swaziland (Eswatini). She enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and hiking in her free time as well.

Faculty, Highline College
Dr. Jennifer Jones teaches courses on geography, global studies and social policy. She is currently Faculty Lead for the first Certificate Program in Housing and Homelessness in WA State.  A Chicago native, Dr. Jones earned her undergraduate degree in political science at Carleton College in Minnesota. She then earned a Masters in public policy at the University of Chicago and a Doctorate in geography at the University of California, Berkeley. She worked as a social worker in Chicago, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Congo and the Dominican Republic. When she is not teaching, Dr. Jones loves knitting, reading mysteries and traveling the world.

Dean of Academic Alignment and Strategic Transformation, Highline College

Justin Damper plays a critical role in strengthening connections and integration between Academic Affairs and EDT divisions, particularly engaging with leadership and faculty on professional development, learning communities, and overall alignment of strategic institutional goals. Justin supports the Cultural Learning Communities, Benefits Hub, and Student Success Center which provides wrap around services to all students at Highline College. Justin serves as a key point of contact for faculty and department coordinators pertaining to the learning communities including Juntos, UMOJA, and Highline Promise. Justin leads a team of staff responsible for high school to college transitions and student support services. Justin’s primary focus is managing and supporting projects to increase transition to credit, increasing enrollment and retention, and closing equity gaps and serve as a liaison to align the work of the EDT division and Academic Affairs.

Vice President, Administrative Services, Highline College

Dr. Michael Pham joined Highline College in 2015 and oversees the  Administrative Services division. Previously, he spent over 24 years working for Seattle Central College and Seattle College District in various leadership positions, including executive director of financial services and vice president of administrative services. Michael holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Washington Tacoma and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration.

Faculty, Highline College
Director of the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management

Dr. Salma Silva-Licon is tenure-track faculty lecturer in Political Science and Ethnic and Gender Studies at Highline College.

Director of the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management>

Sam is the director of the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management, which connects industry and education in Washington around workforce development issues. The Center maintains data on the industry, including how many jobs, where they’re located and the average wage; organizes a Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad program; and has worked with colleges around the state on global trade and logistics curriculum. The Center’s website includes a jobs dashboard where students and others can find detailed information on global trade and supply chain jobs, what kind of education is needed for the jobs and soon a list of job openings. The Center collaborates on developing mentorship programs, including and especially with the Transportation Club of Seattle, between colleges and business organizations.

Sam Kaplan is the director of the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management, which connects industry and education in Washington around workforce development issues. The Center maintains data on the industry, including how many jobs, where they’re located and the average wage; organizes a Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad program; and has worked with colleges around the state on global trade and logistics curriculum. The Center’s website includes a jobs dashboard where students and others can find detailed information on global trade and supply chain jobs, what kind of education is needed for the jobs and soon a list of job openings. The Center collaborates on developing mentorship programs, including and especially with the Transportation Club of Seattle, between colleges and business organizations.

Sam also publishes the weekly newsletter, International Need to Know and wrote a book about China and America—Challenging China: Smart Strategies for Dealing with China in the Xi Jinping Era– that was published by Tuttle Publishing on April 6, 2021.  In 20 years at the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, the last five as president, Sam was engaged in promoting, connecting and educating the Greater Seattle region internationally for trade and business. Previously Sam worked as a legislative assistant handling foreign affairs and trade issues for now retired U.S. Representative John Miller. Representative Miller served on the Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on International Trade.

Sam also publishes the weekly newsletter, International Need to Know and wrote a book about China and America—Challenging China: Smart Strategies for Dealing with China in the Xi Jinping Era – that was published by Tuttle Publishing on April 6, 2021.

Professor, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance  

Scott W. Allard is the Daniel J. Evans Endowed Professor of Social Policy at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and served as Associate Dean for Research and Engagement from 2021 to 2025. At UW, Allard is an affiliate of the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology (CSDE) and of the West Coast Poverty Center. Allard is a research affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served on the National Advisory Board from 2018-2020. He also served as a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program from 2010 to 2020. He previously held faculty positions at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University (2000–03), the Department of Political Science at Brown University (2003–08), and in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago (2008–14). 

His primary areas of research expertise are urban poverty, employment among low-skill workers, food security, safety net utilization, and the spatial accessibility of governmental and nongovernmental safety net programs. 

Faculty, Seattle University

Academic Operations & Strategy Manager, Evans School
Yvette Gutierrez‑Morfin serves as the Academic Operations and Strategy Manager at the Evans School, where she oversees academic planning, program development, and strategic initiatives that support faculty, students, and staff. With a background in higher education administration and organizational leadership, she plays a central role in strengthening academic processes and advancing equity‑centered practices across the school. Gutierrez‑Morfin is known for her collaborative leadership style, her commitment to student success, and her ability to build systems that support inclusive and effective learning environments.

Executive Director, Washington Labor Education & Research Center
Mara Rafferty (she/her) is the Director of the Washington Labor Education and Research Center at South Seattle College, where she helps run programs across the state that help people know how to exercise their rights at work and advocate to win new rights. Before coming to the LERC, Mara served as Lead External Organizer for the United Autoworkers union, Local 4121, where she helped lead thousands of workers in creating new unions and winning better working conditions. Before joining the UAW, Mara worked for multiple nonprofit and community organizations in the US and in the Middle East where she worked on civic and community education, as well as economic policy research. Mara has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Masters degree in Economics, and is a huge nerd who loves spreadsheets and data analysis. She’s proud to be the first transgender woman to serve in her position, and looks forward to continuing to make organized labor and higher education place where queer and trans people can thrive and be their best selves.

Former Washington State Representative
Jesse Johnson is the oldest of 4 siblings and a lifelong resident of Federal Way, a suburban city just south of Seattle. He is a double graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Masters of Education. At the UW, Jesse interned for Congressman Adam Smith and volunteered for the Obama campaign. Johnson was the youngest City Council member in his hometown Federal Way history when he first took office at the age of 27 after winning the election over a 2-term incumbent. He then ran and served as the youngest member in the Washington State Legislature, where he worked on community safety issues sponsoring police accountability legislation in addition to juvenile justice reform, addressing workforce development in the trades for young people and families struggling with housing insecurity across the state. Johnson’s values are rooted in equity and social justice. His focus comes from his close partnership with community in the South King County region, where he has also worked as a High School Career and College Counselor and in Workforce Planning and Development for the Seattle School District. He now serves as the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement for the Office of the State Treasurer working to address wealth inequity and close generational wealth gaps for historically and currently marginalized communities. Jesse is a proud husband to his wife Epiphany, a Family Medicine doctor, and father to two boys 3 year old Elijah and 1 year old Ezra.

Executive Director, Oceania Northwest
Joseph Seia, MPA, has ancestral roots in Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa. He has 20 years of experience in direct service and providing leadership oversight over nonprofits that serve most impacted populations. He is currently the Executive Director of Oceania NW. Joseph is an anti-racist community organizer that labors to build intergenerational spaces rooted in cultural belonging, healing justice and in the commitment to abolishing the cruelties of poverty.

The NASPAA Global Conference is the premier annual gathering for public policy and public administration programs.

Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

• Master of Public Administration
• Public Service & Policy Major

Seattle University

• Seattle University Master of Public Administration Program

KC Green Jobs Initiative

National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)

D’Andre Fisher 

Associate Vice Chancellor, Seattle Colleges  

Prior to his appointment as the first Associate Vice Chancellor of the Division for Access, Community, and Opportunity at Seattle Colleges in June of 2022, D’Andre Fisher served as Associate Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for North Seattle College from 2018 to 2022. 

Fisher has experience as a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, and prior to establishing his consultant firm, he served as the Special Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Operations in the Office of University Community at the University of Oklahoma (OU), working alongside Vice President Jabar Shumate to promote campus diversity and inclusion. In these positions, Fisher served as a liaison to faculty and staff departments with Diversity and Inclusion Programs, including Admissions and Recruitment, Student Sffairs, and the Center for Student Life. He assisted with the cultivation of faculty, staff, and alumni advisory boards for the Office of University Community and helped implement their recommendations. 

Fisher has a passion for working with college students and earned his Master’s in Adult and Higher Education from OU. Before his work in the Office of University Community, he served as Assistant Director of Diversity Enrichment Programs in OU Admissions and Recruitment. He met with thousands of high school students each year, primarily reaching out to under-represented minorities and students with low socioeconomic backgrounds. While there, Fisher co-founded the George McLaurin Male Leadership initiative, which is now supplemented by the Sylvia A. Lewis Women’s Leadership Initiative. These programs are now under the Office of University Community and annually bring approximately 150 prospective students to OU’s Norman campus for a conference that builds relationships with first-generation college students. Fisher has also served as an adjunct instructor in Human Relations. 

Becky Corriell 

Assistant Dean of Students & Learning Innovation, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington  

Karin Martin

Associate Professor, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance  

Karin D. Martin is a crime policy specialist whose areas of expertise are monetary sanctions, racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and decision-making in the criminal justice context. These issues come together in her current projects, which examine the use of money in punishment (e.g., fines, fees, restitution, etc.).
She is currently co-PI in a five-year research project examining the use of monetary sanctions in eight states and she has given testimony on the issue of criminal justice debt to the New York State Assembly and to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. 

Karin studied Psychology at Stanford University and worked in the non-profit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area before attending University of California, Berkeley where she earned an MPP, an MA in Political Science, and a PhD in Public Policy. She was a post-doctoral scholar in the Psychology Department at UCLA where she was also a Fellow with the Center for Policing Equity. She was Assistant Professor of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (2013-2017) and was a Visiting Professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2016. 

Arielle Weaver

Ph.D. Student, Evans School  

Arielle Weaver joined the Evans School Ph.D. Program in Public Policy & Management in 2021. Broadly, Arielle’s research interests are aligned with addressing issues of social equity, access, and opportunity for marginalized populations with an emphasis on women of color. Arielle seeks to bring a critical lens to her research, drawing attention to racial disparities resulting from policy and the policy process.

Prior to beginning her Ph.D. studies, Arielle had a career in Student Affairs and has experience in the areas of residence life, student conduct, leadership development, and mentorship for women of color. Through that work, Arielle had the opportunity to develop, advocate for, and mentor women of color student leaders, which informs her current research interests. 

David Suárez

Associate Dean & Professor, Evans School  

David Suárez, Ph.D., is a professor at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington. His current research focuses on social sector organizations (nonprofits and foundations) and explores: how management strategy shapes organizational performance; the relationship between service-provision and social change activity; and the consequences of professionalization. He is particularly interested in cross-sector collaboration, advocacy, and civic engagement—issues that link social sector organizations to public agencies and the policy process. Ongoing projects include research on: the emergence and development of participatory grantmaking in foundations; the Civic Life of Cities – a multi-team project exploring how nonprofits contribute to the communities they serve; public-nonprofit partnerships in national parks and schools; monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices in development NGOs; and the role of foundations in generating social change. 

His research has been supported by the Ford Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Aspen Institute, the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His work has been published in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, the American Review of Public Administration, Administration & Society, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Voluntas, Sociology of Education, and many additional outlets. He teaches courses on public management, organizational theory, philanthropy, and leadership in the nonprofit sector. Prior to pursuing a career in academia, David worked briefly as an elementary school teacher for dual language learners in California (Spanish-English) and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. 

Izzy Sederbaum

Postdoctoral Fellow, Evans School  

Isaac “Izzy” Sederbaum started the Evans School Ph.D. program in Public Policy & Management in 2019. His interests span a wide array of topics, including how policies often work to punish and criminalize queerness, particularly in young people; participatory action research (PAR); and the continued prevalence of wage theft in vulnerable communities.

Prior to joining the program, Izzy was a Research Associate in the Vera Institute of Justice’s Center on Youth Justice (CYJ), where he primarily focused on working with jurisdictions across the country to rethink their approaches to arresting and incarcerating youth for status offenses. Before Vera, he was a field researcher at the Center for Court Innovation and a research consultant for the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United. He earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance in 2014 and his BA in Community Development from Portland State University in 2011. 

Jill Lane

Faculty, Seattle Colleges; Planning Committee Member  

Jill Lane is a longtime faculty member within Seattle Colleges and a dedicated advocate for student‑centered learning and institutional collaboration. She served as interim president of North Seattle college from July 2023-July 2024, and has been with the college since 2005. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. At North, Lane has served in various roles, including co-accreditation liaison officer and chair of the North Seattle College Council. She previously served as faculty chair for North’s Assessment Committee and program coordinator for North’s Political Science program. She has been a full-time faculty member at North since 2018 and tenured since 2021. 

Larry Cushnie

Faculty, Seattle Colleges; Planning Committee Member 

Larry holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Washington and a masters in Sociology of Law from the International Institute for the Sociology of Law in the Basque Country. His teaching and research interests are interdisciplinary and span many aspects of American politics, political theory, law, social movements, and political resistance.

Since being hired in 2017, Larry has been building more courses within the political science department to offer students a wide-reaching experience as they prepare to transfer to a four-year institution. His teaching approach strives to be inclusive with an emphasis on social justice and political participation. 

Olivia Atkinson

Faculty, Seattle Colleges; Planning Committee Member 

Olivia Atkinson is a political science faculty member at Seattle Central College whose work centers on public policy, social movements, and civic participation. She is committed to creating inclusive, discussion‑driven classrooms where students explore the connections between policy decisions and lived experience. Atkinson’s teaching and research reflect a deep interest in how communities organize for change and how institutions can better respond to public needs. Her contributions to the planning committee draw on her experience designing collaborative learning experiences that bridge academic study and community engagement. 

Scott Allard

Professor, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance  

Scott W. Allard is the Daniel J. Evans Endowed Professor of Social Policy at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and served as Associate Dean for Research and Engagement from 2021 to 2025. At UW, Allard is an affiliate of the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology (CSDE) and of the West Coast Poverty Center. Allard is a research affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served on the National Advisory Board from 2018-2020. He also served as a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program from 2010 to 2020. He previously held faculty positions at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University (2000–03), the Department of Political Science at Brown University (2003–08), and in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago (2008–14). 

His primary areas of research expertise are urban poverty, employment among low-skill workers, food security, safety net utilization, and the spatial accessibility of governmental and nongovernmental safety net programs. 

Tracy Furutani | Deputy Mayor, City of Lake Forest Park; Faculty, North Seattle College  

Tracy Furutani serves as the Deputy Mayor of Lake Forest Park and as a full-time faculty member at North Seattle College, where he teaches earth sciences, environmental sciences, chemistry, physics, anthropology and biochemistry.. His dual roles reflect a career dedicated to public service, environmental stewardship, and community‑based education. In local government, Furutani works on issues ranging from climate resilience to transportation planning, bringing a scientific lens to policy decisions. In the classroom, he emphasizes hands‑on learning and the importance of civic responsibility. His ability to connect policy, science, and community engagement makes him a valued facilitator and mentor.

Yvette Gutierrez‑Morfin

Academic Operations & Strategy Manager, Evans School 

Yvette Gutierrez‑Morfin serves as the Academic Operations and Strategy Manager at the Evans School, where she oversees academic planning, program development, and strategic initiatives that support faculty, students, and staff. With a background in higher education administration and organizational leadership, she plays a central role in strengthening academic processes and advancing equity‑centered practices across the school. Gutierrez‑Morfin is known for her collaborative leadership style, her commitment to student success, and her ability to build systems that support inclusive and effective learning environments. 

Mara Rafferty

Executive Director, Washington Labor Education & Research Center  

Mara Rafferty (she/her) is the Director of the Washington Labor Education and Research Center at South Seattle College, where she helps run programs across the state that help people know how to exercise their rights at work and advocate to win new rights. Before coming to the LERC, Mara served as Lead External Organizer for the United Autoworkers union, Local 4121, where she helped lead thousands of workers in creating new unions and winning better working conditions. Before joining the UAW, Mara worked for multiple nonprofit and community organizations in the US and in the Middle East where she worked on civic and community education, as well as economic policy research. Mara has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Masters degree in Economics, and is a huge nerd who loves spreadsheets and data analysis. She’s proud to be the first transgender woman to serve in her position, and looks forward to continuing to make organized labor and higher education place where queer and trans people can thrive and be their best selves.

Jesse Johnson

Former Washington State Representative  

Jesse Johnson is the oldest of 4 siblings and a lifelong resident of Federal Way, a suburban city just south of Seattle. He is a double graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Masters of Education. At the UW, Jesse interned for Congressman Adam Smith and volunteered for the Obama campaign. Johnson was the youngest City Council member in his hometown Federal Way history when he first took office at the age of 27 after winning the election over a 2-term incumbent. He then ran and served as the youngest member in the Washington State Legislature, where he worked on community safety issues sponsoring police accountability legislation in addition to juvenile justice reform, addressing workforce development in the trades for young people and families struggling with housing insecurity across the state. Johnson’s values are rooted in equity and social justice. His focus comes from his close partnership with community in the South King County region, where he has also worked as a High School Career and College Counselor and in Workforce Planning and Development for the Seattle School District. He now serves as the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement for the Office of the State Treasurer working to address wealth inequity and close generational wealth gaps for historically and currently marginalized communities. Jesse is a proud husband to his wife Epiphany, a Family Medicine doctor, and father to two boys 3 year old Elijah and 1 year old Ezra.

Joseph Seia

Executive Director, Oceania Northwest  

Joseph Seia, MPA, has ancestral roots in Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa. He has 20 years of experience in direct service and providing leadership oversight over nonprofits that serve most impacted populations. He is currently the Executive Director of Oceania NW. Joseph is an anti-racist community organizer that labors to build intergenerational spaces rooted in cultural belonging, healing justice and in the commitment to abolishing the cruelties of poverty.

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The NASPAA Global Conference is the premier annual gathering for public policy and public administration programs.

Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

• Master of Public Administration
• Public Service & Policy Major

Seattle University

• Seattle University Master of Public Administration Program

KC Green Jobs Initiative

National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)