Governor Bob Ferguson Appoints David Frockt to the WWU Board of Trustees
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed David Frockt to serve on the Western Washington University Board of Trustees.
Frockt succeeded former trustee Chase Franklin in the seat he had held since 2014, and Frockt will serve a six-year term concluding on Sept. 30, 2031.
A longtime public servant and attorney, Frockt served in the Washington State Senate from 2011 to 2023, representing North Seattle and surrounding communities. During his tenure, he held leadership roles including Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee. His legislative work spanned key issues such as environment, healthcare, higher education, and public safety.
Most recently, Frockt has served in the Ferguson administration as Deputy Policy Director, where he has contributed to policy development on state budget priorities and emerging topics like artificial-intelligence regulation.
The WWU Board of Trustees — comprised of seven gubernatorial appointees and one student trustee — is charged with guiding the university’s strategic direction, overseeing institutional governance, and appointing the university president.
Frockt said he was looking forward to being a part of Western’s community of students, employees and more than 100,000 alumni.
“From early in my time in the State Senate, every interaction I had with Western students, faculty and leadership demonstrated to me what Western provides the region in terms of the quality of the instruction available, the value proposition that it afforded students and their families, and the social and economic benefits that Western graduates brought to our communities,” he said. “Western graduates are incredibly bright, informed and committed. They are doing amazing things in Washington and around the world.”
Frockt said his focus as a trustee will be on the ability for Washington’s high schoolers to know that there is an incredible opportunity waiting for them at Western.
“Access to higher education has been central to my mission in public life these last 15 years. There are and will always be financial challenges that students and institutions face due to the competing priorities of things like health care, public safety, and primary education, and doing whatever I can to help mitigate those obstacles will be at the top of my to-do list,” Frockt said. “I am excited to be a part of this.”
WWU President Sabah Randhawa said he was eager to work with Frockt in advancing the strategic mission of the university to serve the state and its students.
“David Frockt brings a deep commitment to public service and a clear-eyed devotion to the future of Washington’s students,” said WWU President Sabah Randhawa. “His insight, experience, and steady leadership will be invaluable as we continue advancing Western’s mission to serve our communities and broaden opportunity. We are delighted to welcome him to the Board of Trustees.”
“I also want to take this time for a sincere word of thanks to Trustee Franklin for his hard work and dedication to Western and its students during his time as a trustee,” Randhawa said. “He will be missed, and we wish him all the best.”
For more information on Western’s Board of Trustees, go to trustees.wwu.edu.