Gov. Jay Inslee Appoints Faith Li Pettis to WWU Board of Trustees

Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed attorney Faith Li Pettis of Seattle to Western Washington University’s Board of Trustees.

“Faith has a long record of service to our state and region and she will make an excellent addition to the WWU Board of Trustees,” Inslee said. “She understands how education is interconnected with so many other issues and will help ensure that Western’s students will have a broad, well-rounded education.”

Pettis’ six-year term on the Board of Trustees started Oct. 22, 2018 and ends Sept. 30, 2024.

“Faith Pettis brings a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors that will be a tremendous asset to Western’s Board of Trustees.  Her commitment to serving the public interest on issues that align with our values make her a superb choice for the Board, and we very much look forward to working with her to advance Western’s priorities, and those of our region,” said WWU President Sabah Randhawa.

An attorney with Pacifica Law Group in Seattle, Pettis was appointed in 2015 by the Mayor of Seattle to co-chair the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability task force, which was charged with delivering a 10-year plan to address housing affordability in the city.  She was also appointed in 2012 by Gov. Christine Gregoire and served two terms as chair of the statewide Affordable Housing Advisory Board. 

Prior to Pacifica, Pettis practiced as a public finance attorney for 18 years with Preston Gates & Ellis and its successor firm, K&L Gates.

Pettis served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL) from 2010 to 2011 and from 2012 to 2015, and as a trustee for College Spark Washington, an education grant-making organization, from 2010 to 2016.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve Western Washington University and am committed to ensuring that its students are prepared to succeed in a world of accelerating change,” Pettis said.

Pettis has a bachelor’s degree in Russian language and Russian/East European area studies from the University of Washington and a law degree from Harvard University. She also attended the National Taiwan Normal University, Mandarin Training Center, from 1989 to 1990.