John Carmichael

President, Evergreen State College

Dr. John Carmichael was appointed as Evergreen’s seventh president in 2021. John has deep ties to the college, earning Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from Evergreen. He joined the college’s staff in 1998 as a secretary and served in a variety of roles for more than 20 years, including chief of staff and secretary to the Board of Trustees, and as vice president for finance and operations. John earned a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University and attended Harvard’s Finance for Senior Executives program. John is a lifelong Washington state resident and lives in Olympia with his husband, Michael Partlow.

The President is responsible for engaging the campus, community, and external groups in promoting a liberal arts education and learning community models. He represents the college and helps develop and maintain a comprehensive vision for Evergreen’s students, works to build relationships, strengthen partnerships, and collaborate with other college leaders to develop creative solutions.

Michael Meotti *

Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council

Michael Meotti was appointed Executive Director of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) by Governor Jay Inslee in December 2016. Mr. Meotti previously served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and Executive Vice President of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.

WSAC is the state’s higher education agency with the primary responsibility to facilitate the development of state policy on higher education, working with elected officials, colleges and universities, employers, nonprofits, and other organizations interested in increasing higher education attainment. The agency manages Washington’s extensive student financial aid programs, college readiness programs, and the 529 programs, GET, and DreamAhead.

Michael has extensive experience in higher education policy, finance, and innovation. Prior to joining WSAC, he consulted on a number of national higher education initiatives supported by foundations and worked on regional and state strategies to increase student access and success. He taught higher education policy at George Washington University.

Mr. Meotti served in leadership positions in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. He was the President of the United Way of Connecticut and President of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council. He also served in the Connecticut State Senate for four terms. Michael holds a bachelor’s and a law degree from Georgetown University.

Gerry Pollet

Representative, Washington State Legislature

Representative Gerry Pollet has served in the Washington State House since December 2011. Pollet is an attorney and faculty member at both the University of Washington School of Public Health and Western Washington University. Pollet serves on the Postsecondary Education, Education, Appropriation and Rules Committees. Pollet was deeply involved in developing and passing the Washington College Grant, accompanied by dedicated funding, to provide one of the nation’s broadest need-based aid programs. He was the author of a program responding to the critical shortage of teachers in Washington, including a grant program to pay tuition for low-income students seeking to be teachers in underserved areas. Pollet has been honored several times as the Legislator of the Year for his work to improve affordable access to higher education and improved student success. He is the House sponsor of The Washington Promise, for free community college tuition.

Debra Entenman

Representative, Washington State Legislature

Mari Leavitt

Representative, Washington State Legislature

Gerry Pollet

Representative, Washington State Legislature

Representative Gerry Pollet has served in the Washington State House since December 2011. Pollet is an attorney and faculty member at both the University of Washington School of Public Health and Western Washington University. Pollet serves on the Postsecondary Education, Education, Appropriation and Rules Committees. Pollet was deeply involved in developing and passing the Washington College Grant, accompanied by dedicated funding, to provide one of the nation’s broadest need-based aid programs. He was the author of a program responding to the critical shortage of teachers in Washington, including a grant program to pay tuition for low-income students seeking to be teachers in underserved areas. Pollet has been honored several times as the Legislator of the Year for his work to improve affordable access to higher education and improved student success. He is the House sponsor of The Washington Promise, for free community college tuition.

Vandana Slatter

Senator, Washington State Legislature