Dear Colleagues:
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Margaret Shepherd as the University’s new Director of State Relations. Margaret has worked in Olympia for the past few years as the policy analyst on capital budget and transportation issues for the Washington State Senate Democratic Caucus. In this key position, she helped develop and manage the caucus’s legislative agenda, advising members and Senate leadership on a range of complex policy, budget, and political issues. She also has worked for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a Seattle nonprofit community development financial institution. Margaret is respected on both sides of the aisle for her thoughtful analysis, hard work and abundant energy. She brings a fresh perspective and new face to our representation in Olympia, and I am delighted she will be heading our presence there.
Margaret earned her B.A. in public affairs from Seattle University and is completing her master’s in public administration this December, also from Seattle University. She starts December 1 and will get out to meet many of you as quickly as possible prior to the start of the 2010 legislative session in January. Please join me in welcoming her to this position.