Office of the President

1500 N. Warner St.
Tacoma, WA 98416-1094

253.879.3201
253.879.3938

"It is a great pleasure to serve the University of Puget Sound community as the institution’s 14th president. Puget Sound is an exceptional national liberal arts college that maintains an unwavering commitment to provide students a rigorous and student-focused education that fosters personal and intellectual discovery, and prepares them to become effective, engaged, and thoughtful global citizens. I have discovered here a welcoming community of educators, artists, musicians, scholars, researchers, and innovators—of students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and others—who exemplify the values of lifelong learning and service to community. I invite you to learn more about the university and its leadership on these pages, and to contact me at any time with your questions, ideas, and dreams for the future of this remarkable college."

- President Isiaah Crawford

About President Isiaah Crawford

President Isiaah Crawford

A distinguished scholar, teacher, and college administrator, Crawford became president of University of Puget Sound in 2016. Crawford’s academic work and achievements as a senior administrator are closely aligned with the values and aspirations of Puget Sound, and with the key areas of challenge and opportunity facing higher education today.

Crawford came to Puget Sound following service as provost and chief academic officer of Seattle University (2008–16), where he directed the Division of Academic Affairs and oversaw the university’s schools and colleges, libraries, enrollment, information technology, institutional research, and offices supporting student academic achievement, faculty affairs, and global engagement. From 2004 to 2008, he was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago, where he joined the faculty of the Department of Psychology in 1987.

Crawford earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from St. Louis University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from DePaul University. He is an accomplished clinician and well-published scholar in the areas of health promotion, human sexuality and the training of mental health professionals, and the recipient of numerous national awards, including three from the American Psychological Association.

Crawford serves on the board of directors for the American Council on Education, Independent Colleges of Washington, and the Northwest Conference, as well as Providence St. Joseph Health and Providence Health Plan.

Q&A With Puget Sound
Insight Into Diversity (September 17, 2024)

Pell Grants make college attainable for millions of Americans
The News Tribune (October 13, 2021)

President Crawford on the students, the sciences and more
Arches, Autumn 2021

What student want and how alumni connect
Arches, Spring 2021

On COVID-19, the Biden administration and the future
Arches, Winter 2021

The issues that have come to define 2020
Arches, Autumn 2020

A time unlike any other—or not
Arches, Spring 2020

“The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge”
Arches, Winter 2020

Isiaah Crawford: Nonprofit Director of the Year
Puget Sound Business Journal (September 13, 2018)

Northwest Now
KBTC (March 31, 2017)

'Get About It': Meet Puget Sound's 14th president
Arches, Autumn 2016

TV Tacoma interview with President Isiaah Crawford
CityLine (Oct. 13, 2016; interview begins at 17:46)

At Tacoma's University of Puget Sound, a "Freshman President" gets to work
Public Radio KNKX (Sept. 9, 2016)

UPS leader's national honors
Business Examiner (Aug. 8, 2016)

Crawford begins leadership role as UPS president
Tacoma Daily Index (July 6, 2016)

Meet University of Puget Sound's new president
South Sound Magazine (June 3, 2016)

Crawford ready to unleash power of liberal arts
Diverse Issues in Higher Education (April 20, 2016)

University of Puget Sound's first African-American president built his career at Jesuit institutions
The Chronicle of Higher Education (April 3, 2016)

The next president at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (Feb. 29, 2016)

Editorial: UPS makes historic choice for president
The News Tribune (Feb. 29, 2016)

Seattle U provost tapped to be University of Puget Sound president
The Seattle Times (Feb. 26, 2016)

University of Puget Sound names 14th president
The News Tribune (Feb. 26, 2016)

Joanna Carey Cleveland
Vice President and General Counsel, Chief of Staff, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
jcleveland@pugetsound.edu
253.879.2734

Liz Collins
Community Liaison Officer and Special Assistant to the President
lcollins@pugetsound.edu
253.879.3237

Jessica Dedrick
Executive Assistant to the President
jdedrick@pugetsound.edu
253.879.3202

Stefana Welker
Events Coordinator and Executive Assistant
swelker@pugetsound.edu
253.879.3201

Messages from the President
A History of Leadership