About Dr. Vicky L. Carwein

About the Chancellor

Dr. Vicky L. Carwein became the second Chancellor of Washington State University Tri-Cities in September 2006.  She arrived shortly after the campus received Legislative authority to expand into a full, four-year university.  Her professional background and personal interests are ideally suited to leading the Tri-Cities’ campus through this next exciting phase of its growth. 

Dr. Carwein’s acceptance of this position was founded on her entrepreneurial passion — the opportunities associated with growing a university campus.  She immediately launched a fundraising campaign to provide scholarships to each incoming freshman, successfully gained approval of campus growth plans from the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, and championed the campus’ budget request with the State Legislature.  Her familiarity with the Tri-Cities and the Columbia Basin region, knowledge of the State’s higher education and political systems, and relationships with industry leaders are strong assets to the University in these endeavors.

Dr. Carwein was the President of Westfield State College, a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate college in Westfield, MA, from 2004-2006.  During this time she led the development of collaborations that resulted in federal appropriations, the creation of an environmental center, and the acquisition of an historic building for graduate student housing.

From 1995-2004, Dr. Carwein served as the Chancellor of the UW Tacoma.  Under her administration, UW Tacoma changed the face of the region architecturally, culturally and economically and became a major partner in the region’s economic development.  Dr. Carwein cultivated public-private partnerships in support of scholarships, accessibility and diversity, economic vitality and sustainability, and the arts.  An example of these partnerships was the construction of a 300-unit housing/parking complex that was completed in 2006.

Dr. Carwein began her career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she was a faculty member for 23 years and Dean of the College of Health Sciences for six years prior to moving to Tacoma.  She obtained her baccalaureate and doctorate degrees from Indiana University and a master’s degree from the University of California, San Francisco.  Dr. Carwein’s doctorate in nursing and research interests are an excellent match for our region’s growing prominence as a center for health care services and research.

With Dr. Carwein, the University and the community are working to build the region’s only public four-year university: Washington State University Tri-Cities.