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Mission

The Board of Trustees of Eastern Washington University will assure students, their families and the citizens of the state of Washington that the university will provide high quality, student-centered educational and service programs. Promoting excellence, the Board will further assure that the university is accountable, both academically and financially. The board will serve as an advocate for the university, as a steward of the public trust, and as a participant in charting the future course of Washington post-secondary education.

Meet the Board Members

Uriel Iñiguez Christine JohnsonJay J. Manning

Vicki WilsonCarol EvansAlexis AlexanderDrew Shirk

 

Uriel Iñiguez, Chair of the Board

Original Appointment: Jan. 1, 2014
Term Expires: Sept. 30, 2025
Hometown: Olympia, WA

Uriel Iñiguez holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on human resources from Eastern Washington University, and he has a master’s degree in public administration from City University. Iñiguez is a first-generation immigrant from Michoacán, Mexico. He is the oldest of 11 children, six of his siblings and his two sons have graduated from Eastern Washington University. Gabe graduated in 2014 with a BA in business administration, and Uriel’s youngest son, Max, graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Appointed by Gov. Inslee to the EWU Board of Trustees in 2014, Iñiguez is the director of community relations at the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries. He also served as the director of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs from 2005-2016. Prior to his appointment as executive director, he worked for the Department of Corrections, where he held various management positions.

In October 2013, four of the Iñiguez alumni from Eastern Washington University began the Iñiguez Family Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will help first-generation Latino students complete their college degrees.

Trustee Iñiguez looks forward to working with the other trustees and the president to ensure EWU continues to fulfill its mission of expanding opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning and in making EWU one of the leading educational institutions.

Christine Johnson, Vice Chair

Original Appointment: March 23, 2023
Term Expires:  Sept. 30, 2027
Hometown: Spokane, WA

Dr. Christine Johnson served as the Community Colleges of Spokane chancellor from 2010-2022. She has decades of collaborative management and mentoring experience and brings skills in executive direction, policy, and civic leadership, as well as a demonstrated commitment to higher education. She advocates for the sustained improvement in the quality and delivery of education that results in positive student outcomes and institutional transformation.

“EWU plays a vital role in the higher education ecosystem in eastern Washington and throughout the state,” says Johnson. “Eastern serves a key role as transfer partner for 40 percent of Community Colleges of Spokane students who choose to transfer. I’m honored to have an opportunity to support student success as job number one to ensure the region’s economic and workforce development is strengthened as a result of EWU’s priorities and actions.”

Johnson also previously served as the president of the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC) – 2021-2022, and was named Pacific Region CEO and National CEO of the Year in 2022.

Jay J. Manning, Trustee

Original Appointment: Nov. 25, 2015
Term Expires: Sept. 30, 2027
Hometown: Olympia, WA

Jay J. Manning rejoined Cascadia Law Group in 2011 after more than six years as director of the Washington Department of Ecology and Gov. Gregoire’s chief of staff. His practice focuses on environmental and energy matters, providing consulting, legislative and legal assistance.

As chief of staff from 2009-2011, Manning worked closely with the governor and her cabinet and senior staff to address budgetary and public policy challenges facing state government.  As director of ecology from 2005-2009, he focused on managing the state’s water resources, including creation of the Office of Columbia River, guiding the effort to bring the Puget Sound back to good health by 2020, including the creation of the Puget Sound Partnership and addressing climate change and the daunting threat it poses to Washington’s economy and environment.

Manning co-chaired the Washington State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification in 2012, which led to an executive order directing the state’s implementation of the panel’s recommendations for a coordinated, regional response. Manning is board chair for Washington Environmental Council, vice chair of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council, a member of the Board of the Ruckelshaus Center, a member of the University of Washington’s College of the Environment Board and—most importantly—a proud Eastern Washington University alum.

Manning has three grown children and two lovely and brilliant grandchildren. He enjoys riding his bicycle, traveling, reading, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Vicki Wilson, Trustee

Original Appointment: Oct. 16, 2012
Term Expires: Sept. 30, 2024
Hometown: Richland, WA

Vicki Wilson is a software engineering services manager in the Information Management organization for Mission Support Alliance in Richland, Washington. She earned her BA in business administration from Eastern in 1981.

Wilson serves as a foundation board member of Columbia Basin College (CBC) in Pasco, Washington, and also serves on the advisory council for CBC’s Information Technology Department and is a Class V Leadership Tri-Cities graduate.

“I am very honored to be appointed to the board of trustees for Eastern Washington University,” said Wilson. “EWU’s president, faculty, staff and board of trustees have truly made Eastern an outstanding place to receive your college education. EWU was a very important part of my early adult years and has played a significant role in who am I today. I’m excited and look forward in helping to continue the great tradition of EWU.”

Carol Evans, Trustee

Original Appointment: July 2, 2024
Term Expires: Sept. 30, 2029
Hometown: Wellpinit, WA

Carol Evans recently retired from her role as Chairwoman of the Spokane Tribal Business Council after serving in that position for 10 years. She was the first woman to serve as Tribal Chair following her mothers footsteps as the first tribal council woman of her tribe. Prior to her work on the council, Evans worked as the Chief Financial Officer for the Spokane Tribe of Indians for 28 years.

Evans earned her BA in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and retains a CPA Inactive Certificate from the State of Washington. In 2024 Evans received an Honorary Doctorate from EWU in recognition of her outstanding contributions to her community, her tribe, and the Pacific Northwest.

Evans and her husband Terry enjoy living on the banks of the Spokane River on the Spokane Indian Reservation. They have four children.

Drew Shirk, Trustee

Original Appointment: October 1, 2024
Term Expires: Sept. 30, 2030
Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Drew serves as Director of the Washington State Department of Revenue. Drew was appointed Director by Governor Jay Inslee in June 2023. “It is a privilege to work with so many dedicated professionals who proudly strive to fairly and efficiently collect revenues and administer programs to fund public services and advocate sound tax policy.”  The Department of Revenue is Washington state’s primary tax agency. Revenue administers nearly 60 categories of taxes that help fund education, social services, health care, corrections, public safety natural resource conservation and other important services Washington residents count on.     

Drew previously served as the Executive Director of Legislative Affairs for Governor Jay Inslee. Since taking the position in 2017, he has served seven legislative sessions helping guide the Governor’s legislative agenda and managing relations with House and Senate members and leadership. Drew possesses a comprehensive understanding of policy making and strategy as well as strong and extensive stakeholder relationships. 

Preceding his time with the Governor’s Office, Drew served nearly 30 years at the Department of Revenue (DOR). He started with the Compliance division in 1989 and was promoted to various policy positions within the agency. Most recent as the Senior Assistant Director for Tax Policy where he oversaw the Research and Fiscal Analysis, Interpretations and Technical Advice, Legislation and Policy, Property Tax, Administrative Review and Hearings divisions and had overall responsibility for agency tax policy development. Prior to this role, Drew spent seven years representing DOR with policymakers as Assistant Director of the Legislation and Policy Division.  

The Wenatchee native earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington and attended the Master of Public Administration Program at Eastern Washington University.

Alexis Alexander, Trustee

Original Appointment: TBD, 2024
Term Expires: Sept. 30, 2030
Hometown: Medical Lake, WA

Alexis Alexander received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from Eastern in 2008, and a Master of Business Administration degree from EWU in 2014. He currently serves as director of information technology infrastructure with Spokane’s Avista Corporation. A native of Medical Lake, Alexander was an outstanding two-sport star at Medical Lake High School and was elected to its athletic Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals and played MiLB professional baseball for nearly four years before returning to his home state. While at EWU, he earned two All-Big Sky Conference awards as a running back, and was named as a member of the EWU Football 2000-2009 All-Decade Team.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the university, particularly among such a talented leadership team,” says Alexander. “I do not take the responsibility lightly and will do all I can to carry forward the university’s long-standing legacy of success.”