Leadership

Andrew Harris, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Andrew Harris has served as the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs since 2022. He is the chief academic officer overseeing undergraduate and graduate education, curriculum planning, faculty development, and academic resource allocation. A historian by training, Dr. Harris earned his Ph.D. in History from Stanford University and his undergraduate degree from Pomona College. Before joining UW Tacoma, he was Dean of the College of Liberal & Creative Arts at San Francisco State University and previously held leadership roles at Keene State College and Bridgewater State University. Dr. Harris has championed initiatives to support student success and faculty development, recruit and retain an accomplished and diverse faculty, expand undergraduate research opportunities, and increase funding for research and scholarships.

• Academic Affairs website 

Mentha Hynes-Wilson, Ed.D. 
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Mentha Hynes-Wilson serves as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Washington Tacoma, where she leads programs and services that foster access, well-being, and student success. Since joining UW Tacoma in 2017, she has championed initiatives that advance educational equity and create inclusive campus environments. Her career spans leadership roles at UC San Diego, Princeton University, Smith College, and the University of Oregon, where she focused on student life, multicultural affairs, and enrollment management. Dr. Hynes-Wilson earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies from Bay Path University and an M.Ed. in Educational Policy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

• Student Affairs website

Sylvia James 
Vice Chancellor for Planning & Administration

Sylvia James was appointed vice chancellor for Finance & Administration in February 2023, providing strategic leadership for finance and budgeting, facilities and capital planning, information technology, human resources, and campus safety. She brings more than two decades of higher education experience, including service as Vice President for Administrative Services at Pierce College. A first-generation college graduate, James earned her B.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. She has led statewide initiatives in budgeting and reporting and has been recognized as the Washington State Board of Community & Technical Colleges BAR Member of the Year (2018) and a recipient of the Washington State Auditor’s Stewardship Award (2016).

• Finance & Administration website

Joe Lawless, MBA
Chief Strategy Officer

Joe Lawless serves as Chief Strategy Officer at UW Tacoma, where he oversees strategic planning, institutional assessment, and initiatives that advance the university’s mission and long-term objectives. He joined the UW Tacoma leadership team in September of 2018, bringing more than three decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and philanthropic strategy. Lawless began his UW Tacoma tenure in 2007 as founding director of the Center for Leadership & Social Responsibility, where he launched global programs focused on corporate responsibility and board governance. Prior to his academic career, he held senior leadership roles with Tacoma Goodwill and the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation, driving community impact and organizational growth. A proud UW Tacoma alumnus, Lawless earned his MBA from the Milgard School of Business.

Ali Modarres, Ph.D. 
Assistant Chancellor for Community Partnerships

Ali Modarres was named the first Assistant Chancellor for Community Partnerships in 2018. He also served as Dean of the School of Urban Studies from 2013-2024. Dr. Modarres earned his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Arizona. He has published in the areas of social geography, immigration, urban development, planning, and policy. Dr. Modarres has focused a significant portion of his public scholarship on economic development through an equity lens that includes global labor migration within the larger political and economic discourses. 

• Community Partnerships website

Tanya Grace Velasquez, MA 
Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion

Tanya Grace Velasquez has served as the interim vice chancellor for Equity & Inclusion since 2024 and is also a Teaching Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. Her teaching and scholarship focus on race and ethnicity, intersectionality, Asian American studies, and anti-racist pedagogy. Velasquez is recognized for using high-impact, community-engaged teaching practices and received the UW Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020. She has served as Director of Faculty Engagement and Racial Equity Initiatives and currently contributes to campus-wide equity efforts, including co-leading UW’s first AANAPISI grant to support AAPI and low-income students. She is a UW Tacoma alumna, having earned her M.A. in interdisciplinary studies here in 2011.

• Equity & Inclusion website

Amanda Walker Richardson, Ph.D. 
Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Amanda Walker Richardson joined UW Tacoma as vice chancellor for Advancement in December 2023, where she leads development, alumni relations, marketing, and communications to strengthen the university’s reputation, relationships, and resources. Before joining UW Tacoma, Dr. Walker Richardson was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Purchase College (State University of New York) and Executive Director of its Foundation. She previously held senior advancement roles at The Evergreen State College, leading efforts that tripled foundation assets and launched its first comprehensive campaign. Dr. Walker Richardson earned her Ph.D. in Education from University College London and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

• Advancement website