New Trustees Named to Eastern’s Board

In September, Drew Shirk, director of the Washington State Department of Revenue, was named by Gov. Jay Inslee to the university’s Board of Trustees. He joins new members Carol Evans ’91 and Alexis Alexander ’08, ’14, who were also named to the eight-member board in 2024.

As Eastern’s governing body, the Board of Trustees establishes and reviews university policies and oversees the general management of EWU. It also sets the university’s strategic direction, approves budgets and ensures its fiscal integrity.

Shirk comes to the board with a long history of public service. In his current role as director of the Department of Revenue, he leads an agency of 1,500 employees. The Wenatchee native earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington, and attended the Master of Public Administration Program at EWU. Shirk received the Governor’s Leadership in Management Award in July 2013.

Carol Evans was named to the board earlier in 2024. She was the first woman to serve as tribal chair for the Spokane Tribe of Indians, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of Indigenous women leaders.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree from EWU, Evans was awarded an honorary doctorate from Eastern last June in recognition of her outstanding contributions to her tribe and community. “We must continue to educate ourselves throughout life,” says Evans “I am honored to be appointed to the EWU Board of Trustees, and hope to help make college education a success for all students.”

Alexis Alexander, also appointed earlier in 2024, holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern, where he was a standout student athlete. He currently serves as director of information-technology infrastructure with Spokane’s Avista Corporation. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the university, particularly among such a talented leadership team,” says Alexander.