On Oct. 8, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced that Joanne Harrell would become the newest officer on the UW’s Board of Regents.  Her appointment became effective last Friday. Harrell will be succeeding Constance L. Proctor, whose term expired this September.

Harrell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the UW in 1976 and later received a Master of Business Administration in marketing from the Foster Business School in 1979.  She has held leadership positions at InfoSpace and US West Communications. Currently, Harrell serves as the chief of staff for the Original Equipment Manufacturing division at Microsoft.

Harrell was given Seattle’s “Women of Achievement Award” in 2007 and has served on a variety of boards including the YWCA, the Salvation Army, and UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs.

In a press release from the governor’s office, Harrell said: “I am deeply honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve the University of Washington, as well as all Washington state citizens.  This is a rare opportunity to give back to my alma mater — which gave me so much — and work with an impressive team to further improve our state’s higher education system.”

The regents act as a governing body for the university.  They manage UW’s property, oversee new regulations, establish new colleges and departments, choose the president, and accept grants.  Each officer must be appointed by the standing governor and serves a six-year term.  The position carries no salary.