News and Information Archives - Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Event Recap – Dean’s Forum

Public Impact Research in Action: Partnering with Communities for Coastal Hazard Preparedness

On December 2, 2025, Dean Jodi Sandfort hosted a conversation with panelists Ann Bostrom (Evans School), Jenna Tilt (Oregon State University), and Maximilian Dixon (Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division) about the work of the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub. CoPes Hub is a National Science Foundation–funded initiative helping Pacific Northwest coastal communities prepare for major earthquakes and other coastal hazards. The discussion emphasized how researchers and local leaders are co-developing tools for hazard assessment, disaster mitigation planning, and long-term adaptations that are grounded in local expertise, scientific evidence, and inclusive engagement.

Event Resources

To support continued learning, we’ve included several follow-up materials for your reference:

Event Recording

Resource Document

Event Speakers

Jodi Sandfort

Dean and Professor

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Ann Bostrom

Weyerhaeuser Endowed Professor in Environmental Policy

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Jenna Tilt

Assistant Professor

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Oregon State University

Maximilian Dixon

Earthquake Program Manager, WA Military Department’s Emergency Management Division

Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network

Keeping the Promise

Abel Lee Pacheco’s Journey of Service and Community

Fifteen years ago, Abel Lee Pacheco MPA ‘12 packed his car, said goodbye to his family in Los Angeles, and drove north toward a city he had never been to before. Seattle was cold, unfamiliar, and far from home, but Abel carried with him something stronger than fear: a promise to his parents that he would make them proud and a determination to serve the public good.

Those early days were filled with both excitement and uncertainty. Abel arrived from Venice Beach, trading year-round sunshine for the rain and long winters of the Pacific Northwest. As the son of a Black man from Compton and an immigrant mother from Mexico City, he came to a place where he had no family or established community.

What he did have was the faith and perseverance instilled in him by his parents. Qualities that carried him forward and ultimately led him to the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, where he began to find his community and purpose.

At Evans, Abel found mentors who believed in him, classmates who inspired him, and a community grounded in shared values and a belief in the power of public service. He discovered that leadership is not about individual success but about collective progress. It is about showing up for one another and for the communities we serve.

That belief has guided Abel throughout his career. From serving as a Seattle City Councilmember to his work as Director of Government and Community Relations at Sound Transit, and as an Intelligence Analyst in the Washington Army National Guard, Abel’s path reflects the courage, equity, and service at the heart of the Evans School mission.

In February of last year Abel received devastating news that his father had been killed by a drunk driver on his way to work. In that moment of profound loss, he found strength in his father’s lessons. “You can’t keep a good man down,” his dad used to say. Even in grief, Abel continued his father’s legacy of compassion and perseverance.

“Home isn’t about location,” Abel reflects. “Home is about people.”

For Abel, the Evans School helped him find that home. It became the place where his purpose took shape, where his promise to his parents was fulfilled, and where he learned that public service is a lifelong calling.

“I stand here today because of the people who believed in me—my family, my community, and this school,” Abel shared at a recent Evans event. “Now it’s our turn to believe in the next generation.”

Abel’s story is a reminder that public service begins with a promise: to our families, our communities, and ourselves, to leave the world better than we found it. The Evans School continues to nurture that promise, preparing leaders who carry forward the same spirit of courage, equity, and service that shaped Abel’s journey. Staying engaged—through mentorship, connection, or support—ensures that more students like Abel can find their path, their purpose, and their home in service to others.

The Evans School would like to extend our special thanks to Abel Lee Pacheco for sharing his story with our community and for his dedicated service to the public good.

Building Connections and Giving Back

Evans Alum Nathan Woo (MPA ’24) on His Experience with Huskies@Work

When Nathan Woo (MPA ’24) graduated from the Evans School, he was eager to stay connected to the UW community and give back to students who were just beginning their public service journeys. That desire to support and stay engaged led him to participate in Huskies@Work, a University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA) program that matches current UW students and alumni for conversations about career paths and professional experiences.

“There’s a saying out there, ‘it’s not the grades you make; it’s the hands you shake,’” Nathan shared. “I don’t necessarily believe that 100 percent, but it has a point. I joined the Huskies@Work program to start building connections outside my program and hear about different folks’ experiences.”

Through the program, Nathan has already connected with two undergraduate students. Their conversations have touched on everything from finding purpose in their academic paths to exploring possible career directions after graduation. “We’ve discussed their life paths, what led them to their degree choices, what they want to do in the future, and the ‘whys’ behind their actions,” Nathan said. “It’s been rewarding to share my own experiences, offer advice when asked, and see their excitement about the future.”

For Nathan, mentorship is more than guidance; it is about mutual growth and community building. “I’m a believer in strong mentorship programs,” he said. “Mentorship done right can be valuable for both mentor and mentee. The MPA degree can lead to many different career paths, some of which can feel niche or hard to navigate. Programs like Huskies@Work help peel back that layer of mystery for new grads and current students who might feel uncertain about what comes next.”

Nathan encourages other Evans alumni to get involved. “What’s the harm?” he said. “It takes five minutes to sign up, and at worst, it’s another connection you’ll have in your back pocket.”

The Evans School is proud to partner with UWAA’s Huskies@Work program to expand mentorship opportunities for our community. Alumni have long expressed interest in connecting with current students, and this partnership provides an easy and flexible way to make those connections happen. Whether you are looking to share your story, support a student exploring their career path, or even seek guidance yourself. For the first time ever, alumni can sign up as mentees, for those who want support on their own journey. Huskies@Work offers a meaningful way to stay engaged and strengthen the Evans network.

For those who have been looking for an opportunity to give back or reconnect, this is your time to get involved. Learn more and sign up for Huskies@Work today.

Learn more about Huskies@Work

Walk Ambitiously with Me

By Xitlaly Mendoza, '26

As I reflect back on my summer, something I will carry forward with me into this final year at UW and beyond is my NextGen Summer Policy Academy experience. I am a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in Sociology and Law, Societies & Justice, and double-minoring in Leadership and Spanish. I am also a first-generation Chicana student, the proud daughter of migrant farmworkers, and come from a Mexican, Mixtec-Indigenous family. My family’s values, sacrifices, and unwavering resilience instilled in me a profound commitment to cultural exchange and public service, and taught me the transformative power of education.

At the University of Washington, I have served in the College Assistance Migrant Program, the Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment office, the grassroots organization La Resistencia, and of course, the NextGen Civic Leader Corps. Having developed a passion for expanding access to education and other resources for underrepresented communities, I decided to apply for the NextGen Summer Policy Academy to gain a deeper understanding of public policy, learn about public service through the lens of leaders, and network with like-minded peers.

The NextGen Summer Policy Academy provides undergraduate students like me from across disciplines with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in public policy. We began with a week in Washington D.C. where we attended professional development workshops, networked with government leaders and inspirational change-makers, and visited federal departments and agencies. Afterward, we headed to Seattle for two weeks at the Evans School to gain exposure to nonprofits and government agencies working on creating and implementing social policies.

One of the most memorable experiences was going on a night tour of the U.S. Capitol with Congressman Baird—an evening that was not only unforgettable but deeply moving in these challenging times. Hearing our governmental and public leaders speak about the current state of our nation reminded me that true leadership goes beyond a position or title: it means turning uncertainty into opportunity, fear into courage, and division into collective strength, where resilience is stronger because it is shared.

This experience has given me so much: I met extraordinary people from diverse backgrounds who have now become lifelong friends and mentors, enriching the village that continues to support and inspire me. From Congressman Baird to public leader Johanna Gusman to our very own Dean Jodi Sandford, and even U.S. Capital Tour Guide Mr. Ronn Jackson, with his memorable phrase of “walk ambitiously with me”—each left a powerful mark on my journey.

Moving forward, this program has reignited my passion for pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration while deepening my commitment to serving underrepresented communities and working across borders. Carrying the identity I hold, I never imagined that at just 21 years old I would have the transformative experience of visiting our nation’s capital.

It is programs like the NextGen Summer Policy Academy and Civic Leader Corps that give students like me the opportunity to learn from the leaders of yesterday while shaping the leaders of our future. In times like these, they do even more: they give us the courage to keep moving forward together, to protect the spark that keeps hope alive, and to fuel the movement towards a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.

NextGen SPA 2025 Group — NextGen SPA students celebrate the end of their program with certificates.

Evans in Government Network Taps Into Community at Summer Happy Hour

On August 20, the Evans in Government affinity group gathered at Métier Brewing Co. for our Summer Happy Hour, a casual but meaningful opportunity to connect, share stories, and enjoy time together in community.

The atmosphere was warm and lively, with Evans alumni from across the decades. Recent graduates mingled alongside alumni from as far back as the class of 1973. These multigenerational connections are what make gatherings like this so special. In small conversations over pints, we found common ground in both our current challenges and shared histories.

At one point, we even ran into other Evans alumni who happened to be meeting at the brewery at the same time. It was an unexpected but fitting reminder of how wide-reaching and deeply connected our community really is.

As conversations unfolded, we traded stories about the rise of AI in our professional worlds, the excitement of summer events at Marymoor Park, and the hustle of balancing personal and professional life. We also found time to reflect on memories from the Evans School, reminders of the shared experiences that continue to link us long after graduation.

These moments, small but powerful, are what community looks like. They remind us that we are not alone in navigating the complexities of public service. Evans is more than a school; it is a place where connection and support extend far beyond the classroom.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event. Your presence and your stories made it a wonderful evening.

The Evans in Government affinity group exists to build these kinds of connections year-round. Through social gatherings, professional development opportunities, and conversations about the issues shaping our communities, we aim to support one another in our public service journeys.

If you would like to join the Evans in Government network, please reach out to Justyn Jacobs at justynj@uw.edu. We would love to welcome you into the community.

Celebrating Community: Evans Alumni and Students Come Together Downtown

On September 17, the Seattle Municipal Tower buzzed with energy as Evans School alumni and students came together for a special luncheon hosted by Evans interns working at the City of Seattle. With support from the Evans Student Organization and leadership from Emilio Castañeda, Vice President of Outreach, the gathering brought together Evans graduates and current students serving across city departments including the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Seattle City Light, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Sustainability & Environment, and many more.

For some, the event was a chance to meet fellow alumni for the very first time, even though they work just floors apart. For others, it was a joyful reunion that highlighted the strength of the Evans network. Again and again, participants remarked with pride that “Evans alumni are everywhere.”

As the group enjoyed pizza, they played a lively round of networking bingo. The prompts sparked both laughter and storytelling, with questions like “someone who commutes via ferries,” “someone who has worked under three different mayors,” and “someone who has been to all three Washington National Parks.” Conversations flowed easily, covering everything from historic light rail testing across the floating bridge, to Seattle’s iconic film Singles and its public service subplot, to celebrating the interns as they wrapped up their summer assignments.

The room was filled with energy, joy, and the unmistakable pride of being part of the Evans community. Alumni reminisced about past events like this one and shared their hopes for keeping these connections alive. Before the afternoon wrapped up, ESO raffled off Evans swag, adding an extra layer of fun to the gathering. I also had the chance to share updates from the school and invite alumni to find more ways to stay connected.

I left the event feeling deeply grateful. Watching our community show up for one another, even in casual settings, was inspiring. These connections are not just about friendship, but about collaboration across departments that will shape the future of our city. Moments like this remind us that the Evans School’s greatest resource is its people. When we come together and lean on each other, we strengthen not only our community, but the impact of our collective work.

Thank you to ESO, the City of Seattle, and everyone who joined us for this gathering.

If you are interested in hosting an Evans alumni gathering at your workplace or would like to help organize a social event, please reach out to Justyn Jacobs at justynj@uw.edu. We would love to support you in creating more opportunities for connection.

Strategic transactions of Colorado River rights could help conserve water and restore fish habitat

Megan Utemei, EMPA ’25

As the King County Outreach Director and a dedicated public servant, Megan has spent over eight years working in U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s office. She began her career as an intern in Congressman Adam Smith’s office and gradually advanced to work in Senator Murray’s office in Washington, D.C. Currently, she continues her work for Murray’s office in Washington state as the King County Outreach Director. She demonstrates dedication, resilience, and a deep commitment to public service throughout her career.

Megan, born and raised in the islands of Palau and Guam, brings a wealth of professional experience and a strong sense of identity and purpose. She completed the Evans School’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program in March 2025, balancing full-time work and studies with grace, humor, and grit. She has effectively applied what she learned in the program, gaining new insights and a broader perspective to support her daily work.

Over the past 18 months, Megan’s cohort has become very close. Together, they supported each other through grief, newborn babies, and just through life. They continue to embrace their collective experiences. “They’ve become like family,” she says. She feels honored that her Cohort chose her to deliver the message, and she feels a great responsibility not only to represent herself but also to honor her colleagues, making it essential for her to convey the feelings and essence of their cohort in her speech.

What stood out most during Megan’s journey through the program was learning to lead in public service with empathy and kindness. She expressed, “The program taught me the importance of work-life balance and how crucial it is to give others grace because we are all going through something. That’s life.” At times, she could introduce real issues to the class and seek advice from the Cohort. Megan credits the Evans curriculum and faculty members, like Dean Jodi Sandford and Ben Brunjes, for helping her apply course content directly to her work. This experience has enriched her view on leadership, allowing her to appreciate its depth and complexity.

In her speech, Megan focuses on joy and the importance of continuing in public service. She states, “I want to be genuine and give people hope, even though things are really hard right now. Our work is important at every system level, and even though change may be slow, it is still happening.” She aims to help people recognize that, no matter their situation, they should not lose hope.

As Megan reflects on her journey at Evans and thinks about the future, she feels honored to speak on behalf of her cohort. “We have accomplished something challenging together, and I hope we all carry forward the lessons of compassion, courage, and community.” Looking ahead, Megan aims to continue supporting her peers and the broader Evans network.

Learn more about the Evans EMPA program

Josie Jackson, MPA ’25

Born and raised on a horse farm in rural Michigan, Josie’s earliest lessons in public service came from watching her family and neighbors show up for one another. Whether through agriculture or her early involvement in community organizations like 4H, Josie learned early on that real change starts close to home.

After earning her legal studies and political science degrees with a minor in African American studies at Grand Valley State University, she spent two years working at a legal advocacy nonprofit in Grand Rapids. Her work brought her into direct contact with communities facing systemic barriers, eventually leading her to the DC to advocate for student debt relief.

That drive to make a difference led Josie to Seattle and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. The transition wasn’t easy. “I moved here with my best friend, but Seattle was a culture shock,” she says. “It was bigger, different, and I didn’t expect how much it would stretch me.”

Yet, Josie found herself not just adapting, but leading. Over the past two years, she served as Vice President of Students for the Evans Student Organization (ESO), placing her at the center of student advocacy. “My job was to be present, listen, and speak up,” she says. “If there was a student concern, I took it seriously. That work connected me deeply with our Evans community.”

This spring, Josie was selected to serve as the 2025 MPA student commencement speaker, a moment that she expressed still feels surreal. “I wasn’t expecting to be chosen. There is pressure, of course. You want to be encouraging but also real in the speech. We are stepping into policy work in a challenging world, and you can’t ignore that.”

She will shape her speech around two guiding ideas: pride and gratitude. “I want my classmates to feel proud of themselves and everything they’ve pushed through to get here. I want to thank the people who supported us, who helped us not lose ourselves when the world feels heavy.”

Josie credits two mentors, King County Council Member Sarah Perry and State Senator Victoria Hunt, for their steady guidance. She also highlights the hard work and dedication of Evans faculty and staff, such as Becky Corriell, Kate Sykes, and Crystal Hall, who she says “consistently show up for students.”

A passionate advocate for racial equity, Josie says one of the main reasons she chose the Evans School was their clear commitment to anti-racist work. “It wasn’t just talk. Evans named it, and that matters, especially coming from the Midwest, where those conversations aren’t always vocalized.” She hopes to carry that energy forward in her career, working to empower diverse communities and push policy beyond performative Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work and toward meaningful, systemic change.

She also sees a bright future for the Evans School. “I’m really excited for the incoming ESO leadership. They are dedicated and ready to keep pushing for progress. The school is in good hands.”

Looking ahead, Josie is attracted to environments where values and actions align, where policies are not only theoretical but also genuinely transformative. Evans reminded her of why she started this work, and she hopes to continue making a meaningful impact.

Learn more about the Evans MPA program

From Insights to Impact: HCA’s Experience in the Leading Public Innovation Certificate

A group of six people wearing blue graduation caps in front of a presentation screen, with a vase of flowers in the foreground. — Members from the Washington State Health Care Authority team at the Leading Public Innovation Capstone Day.

In early 2024, the Evans School launched the Leading Public Innovation (LPI) Graduate Certificate to equip working professionals in the public sector with the tools they need to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, and equity of systems within their organizations. The initial LPI cohort was comprised of 40 participants from eight public agencies. Over nine months, the cohort learned new ways to lead equity-driven, human-centered innovations and bring systems-level change to their organizations.

We sat down with two members of the pilot cohort—Chief of Staff Taylor Linke, and Customer Experience Administrator Amy Dobbins—to reflect on how the program shaped their efforts to improve service delivery at the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) in the months following their LPI experience. Taylor and Amy were joined by several of their colleagues from the HCA in the cohort, which sponsored the participation of a diverse team including communications experts, process designers, and executives, to move projects forward within their organization.

For the HCA team, the LPI program provided a timely opportunity to improve outreach to Medicaid participants at risk of losing coverage—not because they were ineligible, but due to minor administrative reasons. Taylor remarked, “We didn’t want to see individuals lose coverage due to the fact that there was an administrative step that could have been resolved…we wanted to tackle a real-life project within our organization that could help us move forward.” The LPI program’s curriculum rooted human-centered design helped them focus on the journey and needs of their clients. They moved quickly to implement a set of questions for their call center agents to ask to learn more about the client’s perspective and communication preferences. HCA’s team also prototyped a series of interventions, from implementing a new text messaging campaign and robocalls, to adjusting the sequencing and content of other communications.

The collective efforts of program-level staff and HCA executives helped turn the team’s insights from the program into reality. Taylor notes that the intentionality behind the team gave them the ability to “target a critical project for our organization and actually do something with what we were learning.” These dynamics enabled the seamless implementation of thoughtful, co-created solutions across the HCA.

Although the project is still in the early stages of full implementation, Amy and Taylor have already seen improvements from adjusting their processes. Changes to their communication methods have resulted in fewer Medicaid/Apple Health recipients experiencing gaps in their coverage, as more enrollees resolve minor administrative issues within the 90-day grace period.

As Amy reflects on her experience in the LPI program, she notes how the emphasis on human-centered design pushed her to reconsider her default ways of thinking. “It’s really important to check your assumptions,” she says. “I have an added sort of perspective…I’m really thinking about the importance of understanding a person’s story, the human story.” Through the internal leadership of folks who participated in LPI, the HCA is working on embedding LPI’s tools and practices across other parts of the agency’s work, such as their lean and health-equity work. Taylor added, “We’re looking at the vision of how we do this overall—not just in one-offs, but how it can embed and mature these sorts of activities moving forward.”

While balancing graduate coursework with full-time roles was challenging, both Amy and Taylor agreed the experience was well worth it—for the insights, the growth, and the strengthened team cohesion. As we look to future sessions of LPI, Taylor closed by noting she hopes their peer agencies will continue to invest in sending folks to the program, particularly groups that include leadership team members that can champion implementation. “I’m hopeful that, even with budget reductions, other agencies will continue to see the real ROI in having sent people through the program and recall this when the budget improves. There is something to learn for every level of individual in the program.”

Visit our Leading Public Innovation page to learn more about this graduate certificate. Applications for the next cohort open in Autumn 2025.