The University of Puget Sound Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome five newly elected trustees, effective July 1, 2024. As the university continues to chart its course for the future, trustees play a vital role. Their varied expertise will be instrumental in shaping the future of Puget Sound and propelling its mission forward.
New Trustee:
Michael Amend ’86, a retired vice president of corporate development at T-Mobile, brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, financial planning and valuation, regulatory affairs, and joint ventures and other partnerships to the board. During his time at Puget Sound, he was actively involved in student government, The Trail, and the French House, and earned membership in Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies. He majored in Foreign Language (French)/International Affairs and went on to earn his Master's degree in International Affairs from the University of Washington. Amend has maintained strong ties with the university. As an alumnus, Amend has volunteered with the Alumni Council as a class agent, a class reunion volunteer and reunion committee volunteer, and a regional programs volunteer. He has been an ongoing supporter of the Puget Sound Fund, most recently through a four-year named scholarship, and also established the Amend Family Endowed Fund to support student experiential learning, particularly at nonprofits or community groups.
Returning Trustees:
William Canfield ’76, P’08, physician-scientist, glycobiologist, and chair of Nova Venture Services, LLC, a biotech startup consultation and management firm, brings expertise in biochemistry and entrepreneurship to the board. As a student at Puget Sound, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Washington. Canfield has maintained a strong connection with the university and previously served on the Board of Trustees from 2004–13 and 2014–23. Canfield was previously an associate professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and chief scientific officer and founder of an Oklahoma City-based biotechnology company, Novazyme Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Genzyme in August 2001. Novazyme developed a technology based on his academic research that can stabilize Pompe disease, a rare form of severe muscular dystrophy. He is a longtime supporter of the university including gifts to the Puget Sound Fund, Canfield Science Research, and the Welcome Center.
Fred Grimm ’78, co-founder and CEO of Triad Development, brings significant experience in real estate development and venture capital to the board. While a student at Puget Sound, he was an active member of Phi Delta Theta and Phi Kappa Phi, served as ASUPS president and vice president, played varsity football, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Business Administration, and he went on to earn his JD from the University of Washington School of Law. Grimm has maintained close ties with the university, previously serving on the Board of Trustees from 2004–13, and 2014–23. He is also a strong advocate of the Posse Leadership Scholar Program at Puget Sound. In 2019, he and Trustee Sunshine Morrison ’94 became the first trustees of any university to participate in a Posse Plus Retreat and went on to attend again in 2023 and 2024. A strong supporter of student success, Grimm has generously contributed to the university, including gifts to the Puget Sound Fund, Logger Club, Athletics & Aquatics Center, and the construction of Harned Hall.
Laura Inveen ’76, a retired judge and current mediator/arbitrator at Hilyer Dispute Resolution, brings a wealth of legal expertise and leadership experience to the board. While at Puget Sound, she was active in student government and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and went on to earn her JD from the University of Washington School of Law. She retired from serving as a King County Superior Court judge in 2019 after 27 years. During that time she served as the court’s Presiding Judge and as President of the Washington State Superior Court Judges Association. She has received numerous awards related to her legal career, including the 2014 President's Award of Washington Women Lawyers and the 2013 Washington State Bar Association's Outstanding Judge Award. Inveen maintains a strong connection with the university, having served on the Board of Trustees from 2014–23 and holding various leadership positions, including vice chair of the board. She has demonstrated a commitment to student well-being, through her transformative support to the Puget Sound Fund, Weyerhaeuser Hall, and the university's COVID-19 response.
Erin Shagren ’88, P'17, president of the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation and director and treasurer of the Names Family Foundation, which has long supported the University of Puget Sound, brings a wealth of knowledge in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy to the board. Shagren earned her Elementary Education teaching certificate from the University of Puget Sound, building a strong foundation for her future endeavors in education and community service. Shagren has remained close with the university, serving as a trustee from 2014–23, and holding various leadership positions, including chair of the Committee on Trusteeship and co-chair of the Campaign Steering Committee. She is a longtime supporter of the university including support for the Tom and Meg Names Endowed Fund for Athletics, Puget Sound Fund, Athletics & Aquatics Center, and the Wilson Welcome Center.
The Board of Trustees is the university's governing body, comprised of volunteer leaders who support the mission and values of the university. The board includes alumni, parents, community members, and the president. They are charged with assuring the long-term success of the university, including oversight of academic and student affairs, enrollment, finance and facilities, university advancement, and strategic initiatives. They also oversee executive compensation, institutional audit, and enterprise risk management.
