Sheila Edwards Lange chosen as UW Tacoma chancellor

Press Releases

July 13, 2021

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce and President Mark A. Richards today announced the selection of Sheila Edwards Lange, President of Seattle Central College, as Chancellor of the University of Washington Tacoma. His appointment, awaiting approval from the UW board of regents, is expected to begin on September 16.

Edwards Lange has many years of higher education experience and is well known throughout UW, having served as Vice President of Minority and Diversity Affairs from 2007 to 2015. At UW Tacoma, she succeeds Mark Pagano, who has been Chancellor since 2015 and will now join the faculty of the School of Engineering & Technology.

“I am delighted that Dr. Edwards Lange is returning to UW to take on this leadership role at UW Tacoma. Throughout her career, Dr. Edwards Lange has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. She has been a tireless advocate for student experience and success – especially for students of color – in a number of academic settings, from community colleges to regional universities to research universities, ”said Cauce.

As President of Seattle Central College, Edwards Lange directs all college operations, including teaching, student services, fiscal resources, human resources, facilities, and community relations. She works closely with leaders of the Seattle College District to ensure that students receive high quality and relevant education and services.

“I was drawn to UW Tacoma’s urban service mission, its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and its excellent university programs. This unique combination has enabled UW Tacoma to be an active partner in economic development and prosperity in the South Sound, ”said Edwards Lange. “I am delighted to be a part of this work and look forward to leading the institution at this critical time in its history. “

While in Seattle Central, Edwards Lange led the college’s efforts to partner with industry, government, and local organizations to meet community needs and help fill gaps in opportunities in Seattle. and in Washington State. Some of these initiatives include the Seattle Promise, which guarantees Seattle high school graduates two years of free tuition and full support at any Seattle community college; and the Academy for Rising Educators, an associate of arts focused on education and social justice that aims to increase the percentage of teachers of color in Washington state schools.

She has also led transformative projects such as The Black Male Initiative, which aims to remove systemic barriers to academic success for black male students; and creating a focus on equity and social justice for associate’s degrees.

In addition, Edwards Lange has developed and maintained extensive community networks, serving on boards such as the Alliance for Education, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Community Development Roundtable. In 2020, she received the Washington Community College CEO of the Year award from the Washington State Association of College Trustees.

Under his leadership, UW’s Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity made great strides in work to expand access to colleges, support student success, and improve teaching and learning. diversity-related learning on campus. Among the many milestones taken with Edwards Lange at the helm were the appointment and renovation of the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, the fulfillment of a more than 40-year dream of building a longhouse-style facility on the campus of the ‘UW and passing a diversity course requirement for all UW undergraduates.

Edwards Lange received his doctorate in educational leadership and political studies, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from UW and his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine. She began her career at Western Washington University, before taking up leadership positions at Seattle Community Colleges. While earning her PhD at UW, she developed research and teaching interests in higher education policy, diversity in higher education, program evaluation and evaluation, and l ‘student access to under-represented STEM fields. She taught a graduate course in race and public policy for several years at UW Evans School.

UW Tacoma was established in 1990 to expand access to students in the South Puget Sound area in a way that transforms families and communities. As a university serving cities, its educational programs and research are linked to the needs and aspirations of its community. With an enrollment of approximately 5,300 students, the 46-acre campus was a catalyst for the rebirth of downtown Tacoma.

Tag (s): Mark Pagano • Office of Minority and Diversity Affairs • School of Engineering and Technology • Sheila Edwards Lange • UW Tacoma