Regent Joanne R. Harrell

Joanne Harrell is Chief of Staff for the Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) Division at Microsoft, where she has worked for the past eight years. While at Microsoft she has worked in a variety of senior roles within the Global Sales, Marketing and Services disciplines.

Ms. Harrell's pre-Microsoft work history is extensive and encompasses senior operational and strategy roles within the high-tech, telecommunications and non-profit environments. Past positions include Senior Vice President (SVP), InfoSpace; President and CEO, United Way of King County (UWKC) and Vice President and CEO, US WEST Nebraska operations.

Joanne has received awards for excellence in Marketing and Brand Management programs. She is a Conference Board/Brookings Institution Congressional Fellow and has attended marketing management programs at Columbia University and Stanford University. Joanne has also completed the University of Southern California "Advanced Management Program in Telecommunications"; Stanford's Advanced Management College and a non-profit management program at Harvard Business School. Joanne's BA and MBA are from the University of Washington.

Ms. Harrell is a member of the Board of Directors of AAA of Washington and REI. She has served as AAA Board Chair and currently leads the Personnel Committee. Joanne led REI's Compensation Committee (as Chair) for five years and has been a board member for the past nine years.

A trustee of the Evans School of Public Affairs (University of Washington), Joanne is also a member of the International Women's Forum and is a 2009 Inductee of the University of Washington School of Communication Hall of Fame.

Joanne is married to Bruce Harrell, a member of the Seattle City Council and is the mother of three children.