In this section

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee, composed of trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and administrators, was charged in 2017-18 by President Crawford with providing advice and feedback on the strategic planning process; identifying key issues and questions that will have a particularly strong impact on the future of the college; and making recommendations to ensure a successful process in which all would have the opportunity to share their viewpoints and perspectives.

Kris Bartanen
Provost

Dave Beers P’11
Vice President for University Relations

Gwynne Brown ‘95
Associate Professor, School of Music
Co-chair, Goal Team 2

Lynnette Claire
Professor and Director, Business and Leadership
Co-chair, Goal Team 5

Isiaah Crawford
President and Steering Committee Chair

Andrea Tull Davis ’02
President, Alumni Council

Laura Martin-Fedich
Vice President for Enrollment

Maya Fletes-Martinez ’19
Student

Fred Hamel P'12, P'15
Professor, Education
Co-chair, Goal Team 4

Suzanne Holland
Professor, Religious Studies; John B. Magee Professor of Science and Values
Co-chair, Goal Team 1

Janice Jackson-Haley
Director of Human Resources
Co-chair, Goal Team 3

Jeremy Korst ‘97
Trustee

Grace Livingston
Professor, African American Studies
Co-chair, Goal Team 2

Gayle McIntosh
Vice President for Communications and Chief of Staff

Kyle Miller ’18
Student

Nick Mitchell ’18
Student

Maggie Mittuch ’82
Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services

Sherry Mondou
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Deanna Oppenheimer ’80, P’11, P’14
Trustee

Ellen Peters P’19
Director, Institutional Research and Retention
Co-chair, Goal Team 5

Robert Pohlad P ’07
Parent and Chair, Puget Sound Board of Trustees

Renee Simms
Assistant Professor, African American Studies
Co-chair, Goal Team 3

Moe Stephens II
Director, Student Activities
Co-chair, Goal Team 4

Lyle Quasim ’70, Hon. ’05
Trustee

Peter Wimberger
Professor, Biology
Director, Slater Museum of Natural History
Co-chair, Goal Team 1

Goal Teams

Advance institutional excellence, academic distinction, and student success.

Advance educational excellence and our academic and institutional distinctions to: 1) ensure that all students have high impact engagement that leads to deep learning and strong outcomes; 2) enhance student recruitment and retention; and 3) promote the visibility and reputation of Puget Sound.

Co-chairs

  • Suzanne Holland, Professor, Religious Studies; John B. Magee Professor of Science and Values
  • Peter Wimberger, Robert G. Albertson Professor, Biology; Director, Puget Sound Museum of Natural History

Team Members

  • Greta Austin, Professor, Religious Studies; Director, Gender and Queer Studies Program
  • Katie Barosky, Director of Marketing and Communications
  • Shannon Carr, Associate Vice President for Admission
  • Erin Colbert-White, Assistant Professor, Psychology
  • Jeremy Cucco, Chief Information Officer; Associate Vice President for Technology Services
  • Amy Hackett, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Alana Hentges, Director of Career Services
  • Renee Houston, Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Civic Scholarship; Professor, Communication Studies
  • Nick Kontogeorgopoulos, Professor, International Political Economy; Director, Global Development Studies Program
  • Nicholas Mitchell ’18, Student and Steering Committee Member
  • Jennifer Pitonyak, Clinical Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
  • Elise Richman, Professor and Chair, Art and Art History
  • Douglas Sackman, Professor, History
  • Alumni Liaison: Joe Kurtis ’87, Director of Partner Services - U.S. Private Client, Russell Investments
  • Trustee Liaison: Kenneth Willman ’82, P’15, P’18, Chief Legal Officer, Russell Investments
  • Cabinet Liaison: Kris Bartanen, Provost; Interim Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs

Enrich our learning environment through increased diversity, inclusion, and access.

More fully develop a welcoming learning environment through initiatives that increase and support equity, inclusion, access to, and successful graduation from Puget Sound.

Co-chairs

  • Gwynne Brown ’95, Associate Professor, Music
  • Grace Livingston, Professor, African American Studies

Team Members

  • Michael Benitez, Chief Diversity Officer and Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
  • Sarah Comstock, Associate Dean of Students
  • Stacey Cook, Editorial Director
  • Brittney Jackson, Assistant Director of Admission and Multicultural Admission Coordinator
  • Leslie Saucedo, Professor and Associate Chair, Biology
  • Vivie Nguyen, Director of Intercultural Engagement
  • Laneka Viney ’20, Student
  • Dave Wright ’96, University Chaplain and Director for Spiritual Life and Civic Engagement
  • Alumni Liaison: T’wina Franklin ’06
  • Trustee Liaison: Laura Inveen ’76, Judge, King County Superior Court
  • Cabinet Liaison: Dave Beers P’11, Vice President for University Relations

Support and inspire our faculty and staff members.

Support the wellbeing, professional development, retention, and success of our faculty and staff members in their engagement with each other and work with students.

Co-chairs

  • Janice Jackson-Haley, Director of Human Resources
  • Renee Simms, Assistant Professor, African American Studies

Team Members

  • Julie Nelson Christoph, Professor, English; Director, Center for Writing, Learning, and Teaching
  • Anna Coy, Admin Specialist, Office of the Associate Deans; Chair, Staff Senate
  • Alyce DeMarais, Professor, Biology
  • Rachel Greiner ’18, Student
  • Rebecca Harrison ’01, Director of Donor Relations and Campaign Programs
  • Kristin Johnson, Associate Professor, Science, Technology, and Society
  • Sunil Kukreja, Professor, Sociology and Anthropology; Associate Academic Dean
  • Tammy Smith, Senior Facilities Planner and Designer
  • Jennifer Utrata, Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
  • Trustee Liaison: Janeen Solie McAninch ’77, P’06, President and CEO, Becker Capital Management
  • Cabinet Liaison: Laura Martin-Fedich, Vice President for Enrollment

Enhance engagement with the community

More deeply engage with and learn from our broader community—individuals, schools, nonprofits, neighborhoods, tribes, businesses, and others—to strengthen the quality of a Puget Sound education and our role as a community asset. In this and all goals, we will work closely with alumni to build their lifelong engagement with the university and each other, and to leverage their ability to mentor and guide current students.

Co-chairs

  • Fred Hamel P’12, P’15, Professor, Education
  • Moe Stephens, Director of Student Activities

Team Members

  • Michaela Alden ’13, Production Specialist, Office of Communications
  • Skylar Bihl ’08, Assistant Director for Spiritual Life and Civic Engagement
  • Allison Cannady-Smith, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations
  • Monica DeHart, Professor and Chair, Sociology and Anthropology
  • Dexter Gordon, Professor and Director, African American Studies; Professor, Communication Studies
  • John Hickey ’83, Executive Director of Community Engagement; Associate Vice President for Business Services
  • Andreas Udbye, Assistant Professor, Business and Leadership
  • Shannon Woods ’19, Student
  • Alumni Liaison: Erika Tucci ’01, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager and Website Manager, Tacoma Public Utilities
  • Trustee Liaison: Erin Shagren ’88, P’17, Executive Director, Names Family Foundation
  • Cabinet Liaison: Mary Elizabeth Collins ’81, P’02, Director of the Office of the President; Board Secretary

Fully leverage and expand our assets as an institution by pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Pursue entrepreneurial opportunities consistent with our mission and values that will expand the value of a Puget Sound education, strengthen the institution and our financial position, and enhance our ability to anticipate and respond to technological and social change.

Co-chairs

  • Lynnette Claire, Professor and Director, Business and Leadership
  • Ellen Peters P’19, Director of Institutional Research

Team Members

  • Jane Carlin, Director, Collins Memorial Library
  • David Chiu, Associate Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Jamie Daniel, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Information Services/Network and Server Systems
  • Bob Kief, Associate Vice President for Facilities Services
  • Paige Phillips, Conference Manager
  • Erin Rasmussen ’20, Student
  • Siddharth Ramakrishnan, Associate Professor, Biology; Jennie M. Caruthers Chair in Neuroscience; Director, Neuroscience Program
  • Maria Sampen, Professor, Music
  • Alumni Liaison: David Poston ’85, Chief Operating Officer, EpiThany Inc.
  • Trustee Liaison: Jeremy Korst ’97, Chief Marketing Officer, Avalara
  • Cabinet Liaison: Sherry Mondou, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer