Release Date:
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Inslee has appointed Seattle native Dr. Paul Pitre to the State Board of Education. Pitre has served in higher education administration roles for over thirty years.
Pitre’s appointed term begins immediately. He fills the appointed Position 6 on the 16-member State Board of Education and will serve through January 2023.
“Paul is passionate and dedicated to providing equitable outcomes for all students,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “He has devoted a significant portion of his career to helping students transition from high school to college and careers. I am confident that he will be an outstanding addition to the State Board of Education.”
Currently, Pitre serves as Chancellor for Washington State University’s (WSU) Everett campus and as associate professor of Educational Leadership and Counseling Psychology. Prior to becoming Chancellor, he served as the Dean of WSU Everett. Pitre has also held administrative positions in higher education institutions in three other states, and has worked in both local and national government agencies.
His research and teaching has focused on P-20 education policy, leadership and governance in higher education, and college access and choice. He serves in many public service roles, including as Co-Chair of the United Way Community Conversations, on the Board of Trustees of Snohomish County YMCA, and as the Rotary of Everett Committee Chair for the Vocational Training Teams.
On his appointment, Pitre said, “I have always had a passion for providing equitable outcomes for students from diverse communities. I look forward to using my experience at the intersection between K-12 and higher education policy to contribute to the work of the State Board of Education.”
Pitre received his doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland. He earned his master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from New York University and his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Western Washington University. He lives in Seattle with his wife Charisse and their daughter Gabrielle.