Executive Director to Lead Washington's Community and Technical College System
Nate Humphrey
Nate Humphrey is an accomplished executive leader in workforce development and higher
education policy, dedicated to advancing student success, economic vitality, and social
justice through strategic partnerships, innovation, and collaboration. With over 15
years of experience spanning nonprofit leadership, state system administration, and
national initiatives, Nate brings a proven record of driving systemic improvements
and fostering equitable pathways to quality education and family-sustaining careers.
Currently, as Director for Workforce and Regional Economies at Jobs for the Future (JFF), Nate leads large-scale national initiatives, including the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge Community of Practice and the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration’s Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs program. He supports regional sector partnerships, workforce training systems, and economic mobility efforts across 39 states and territories with an investment exceeding $600 million. His work focuses on building effective communities of practice, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and implementing data-informed strategies to expand equitable access to high-quality jobs.
Nate 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. In these senior leadership roles, he guided workforce and economic development strategies across 92 colleges, secured and administered over $500 million annually in public funds, and collaborated with state legislators, industry leaders, and labor organizations to advance initiatives such as Career Connect Washington, Guided Pathways, and credential attainment reforms. These efforts engaged the full spectrum of education and training partners, including secondary and post-secondary education, apprenticeship, labor-management partnerships, and community, government, and private-sector alliances essential to forging a more equitable, innovative, and responsive education ecosystem.
He is nationally recognized for his expertise in sector partnerships, workforce policy, apprenticeship expansion, employer engagement, and equity-focused technical assistance. Nate’s leadership emphasizes community engagement, systems thinking, and culturally responsive policy design aligned with the mission of open access, student-centered learning, and transformational social and economic outcomes.
A lifelong advocate for continuous learning and public service, Nate 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.
Nate resides in Reno, Nevada, with his husband, Dr. Brad Johnson, an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the University of Nevada, and their two golden retrievers, Rainier and Walter.
