OLYMPIA, Wash. — The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges today selected Nate Humphrey as the organization’s new executive director. Humphrey currently serves as director for workforce and regional economies at Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit focused on connecting education and the workforce. He will assume his new role July 1, pending agreement on terms of his employment.
State Board Chair Martin Valadez described Humphrey as a passionate leader with a background well-suited to advance the community and technical college system, close racial equity gaps and improve student completion rates.
“Nate Humphrey’s unique experience in education and nonprofits will provide our system of colleges a fresh perspective at this critical time,” Valdez said. “His expertise in partnerships, student and equity-centered learning, policy development, and employer and community engagement will prove invaluable. I’m confident Nate will continue Washington’s community and technical college system’s excellent legacy and lead it into its next chapter.”
At Jobs for the Future, Humphrey leads large-scale national initiatives, including Communities of Practice for the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, and the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration’s Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Program.
Humphrey previously served as the associate vice president for workforce and continuing education at the North Carolina Community College System and as the workforce education director at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a master’s degree in Public Affairs from UNC Greensboro, and is currently completing his Doctorate in Community College Leadership at North Carolina State University’s Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. Pending successful contract negotiations, he will replace interim executive director Chris Bailey.
“I’m tremendously honored to be selected as the next executive director of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges,” Humphrey said. “I’ve dedicated my career to advancing student success, economic vitality, and equitable opportunity. Washington’s community and technical colleges’ transform the lives of thousands of students of all ages and backgrounds as they work toward their goals. I’m excited to get to work.”
Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges comprise the state’s largest system of higher education and serve about 290,000 students. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges oversees the system, sets policy, allocates state operating and capital funds to the colleges, strategically plans the two-year college mission, and approves educational programs.
