PSO Board Elections are Open
The PSO Board represents all Professional Staff across the UW. Being part of the PSO board is a tremendous way to learn more about UW and the professional staff role, share ideas, resources, and connections, and make impactful contacts all across campus.
The UW Professional Staff Organization has officially opened the ballot for the annual board election. We accept new board member applications on a rolling basis from January through March each year. Board elections are held in April, with results announced in May. We’re always excited to see what the next election cycle will bring.
2026-2027 Candidates
Executive Officers
Sean C. Thomas
Executive Assistant, Clinical Regulatory Affairs, UW Medicine
Administrator, Office of General Counsel, UW Medicine Nonprofit Entities
My name is Sean C. Thomas, and I am running for PSO Secretary. I’ve served on the PSO Board since July 2022 and as secretary since June 2023. I am eager to continue guiding the organization’s compliance efforts while creating efficiencies for its administrative operations.
With my background as a former paralegal (13 years at Seattle-area law firms) and my current dual roles at UW (executive assistant with UW Medicine Clinical Regulatory Affairs / administrator for UW Medicine Nonprofit Entities), I bring over 20 years of experience to the role.
Below are a few highlights of my tenure with PSO:
- served as PSO Newsletter Editor since May 2022
- served as chair of the Elections and Recruitment committee since June 2022, with special focus on managing the PSO’s annual elections and onboarding of new board members
- served as PSO representative for multiple faculty councils and university-wide committees since September 2022
- served as chair of the ad hoc committee that revised the PSO’s mission statement in the spring of 2024
- served as lead for the revised PSO bylaws adopted in May 2025
- secured a third-party registered agent to assist with compliance of the PSO’s Washington State nonprofit entity status in the fall of 2025
- oversaw the administration of the 100% confidential Release Time Survey, addressing recent policy changes and its pending final report
- served as liaison between the PSO and various affinity groups
I’m looking forward to serving the UW tri-campus professional staff community for another two-year term.
Board Members
Soraya Bailey
Director, Innovation Training
CoMotion
My name is Soraya Bailey, and I have been part of the UW community since 2018. I joined UW as a lecturer and program director in Bioengineering, where I ran the Master of Applied Bioengineering program. A year after joining UW, I was promoted to the role of assistant teaching professor.
During my time with Bioengineering, I navigated complex student and departmental needs, strengthened program operations, and collaborated with other teaching faculty at the UW to evaluate and clarify promotion criteria.
Since 2023 at CoMotion, I have served the entire university by creating programs that help researchers translate ideas from academic research into commercial ventures. This cross‑campus work has deepened my appreciation for the diverse contributions of our professional staff.
I am interested in serving on the PSO Board to better understand what support UW provides, and to contribute my unique perspective as someone who has worked both as faculty and now as staff. I would be honored to represent and advocate for our professional staff community
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Sarah Lynch
Program Manager, Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH)
UW Pediatrics
My name is Sarah Lynch, and I am currently the LEAH Program Manager with the UW School of Medicine. I have been with UW for three years, and prior to UW I worked in public health and non-profit senior housing. In my current role, I am responsible for end-to-end logistics of an interdisciplinary fellowship program through the medical school and oversee various aspects of budgeting for the adolescent medicine division.
I am motivated to serve on the PSO board to help other professional staff find opportunities and community across UW, particularly those who feel disconnected from the broader campus community. Working primarily on the Seattle Children’s Hospital campus, I have experienced firsthand how easy it is to become siloed, and I am excited about the opportunity to help bridge those gaps.
Through my work managing complex programs and budgets, as well as completing a project management certification through UW, I bring strong organizational skills and a collaborative, detail-oriented approach. I would be excited to support PSO initiatives by helping to plan and strengthen programming and improve coordination so that opportunities for engagement are accessible and well-communicated. Serving on the PSO board would be a meaningful way to contribute to a more connected, supportive, and engaged professional staff community at UW.
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Mash Naini
Health Services Manager – Hematopathology laboratory
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
UW Medicine
I am Mash Naini, a Health Services Manager in Hematopathology. I’m interested in serving as a PSO representative because I’m passionate about supporting staff, improving communication, and helping bridge operational priorities with the day-to-day realities of our teams.
In my current role, I lead multiple groups across flow cytometry and related areas, with a focus on staffing, workflow optimization, and creating a supportive and accountable work environment. I bring a collaborative leadership style, strong operational insight, and a genuine commitment to staff engagement and development.
I would be honored to represent our professional staff and contribute to initiatives that strengthen our community and workplace experience.
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Chloe Thomas
International Student Services Advisor
International Student Services
Enrollment Management
I have been with UW’s International Student Services office for almost two years, after transitioning from three years at another Seattle institution and earning my M.Ed. in Student Affairs. I care deeply about creating an environment for students where they can thrive, and that starts with the staff who serve them!
In previous roles as well as my current position, I have developed and led networking events; created and published communication for departments and organizations, and advocated for unheard voices. I have dedicated my life to working in higher education and I would love to get to know other professional staff to build community and create spaces where we can make a difference.
I would love to contribute to planning fun events, helping staff to find joy in their work on campus, and advocating for issues important to all of us.