WSU names Sandra Haynes EVP for statewide campuses

Washington State University has appointed Sandra Haynes as executive vice president for WSU statewide campuses, a role designed to strengthen coordination, efficiency, and strategic growth across its statewide network.

In this role, Haynes oversees the university's campuses in Everett, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver, aligning leadership and operations to better serve students, communities, and workforce needs across Washington. Her appointment comes as part of a broader systemwide redesign focused on integrating campus leadership, improving financial stewardship, and enhancing academic collaboration.

"Dr. Haynes is a leader who brings clarity, integrity, and a people-centered approach to her work," said WSU President Betsy Cantwell. "She is known for fostering trust and empowering others to create environments where innovation can thrive."

Advancing a unified statewide strategy

The leadership transition reflects WSU's ongoing efforts to modernize its organizational structure to match current enrollment patterns, financial realities, and academic priorities. Historically, campuses operated with a high degree of autonomy, an approach that no longer fully supports the system's evolving mission.

"My goal is to strengthen our system as one unified university by leveraging the distinct strengths of each campus to elevate the whole," said Haynes. "When one campus succeeds, we all succeed."

Under the new model, leadership integration will:

• Improve coordination across campuses in areas such as enrollment management, academic programming, and student pathways

• Reduce administrative duplication and align leadership scale with campus size

• Strengthen partnerships with regional industries and communities

• Support sustainable growth while preserving WSU's statewide access mission

The change also follows a series of alignment efforts initiated in 2025 across multiple campuses, signaling a continued commitment to a more connected and efficient system.

A key component of this transition includes restructuring leadership at all three campuses where the previously separate chancellor positions will be discontinued and incorporated into this new role.

The three academic colleges on the WSU Spokane campus remain under the leadership of Provost Chris Riley-Tillman, with a continuing focus on advancing health sciences education, research, and community partnerships. The Global Campus remains under the leadership of David Cillay, WSU Global Campus chancellor expanding WSU's land-grant mission by delivering high-quality, accessible online education to learners where they are.

A proven leader with a collaborative vision

Haynes brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience to the role, with a track record of building strong community partnerships, advancing student success, and guiding institutional transformation.

WSU announced last week Haynes is leading WSU Everett in addition to the WSU Tri-Cities and WSU Vancouver campuses. She has demonstrated an ability to lead across diverse campuses while maintaining a clear focus on mission and impact.

At WSU Tri-Cities, Haynes led significant initiatives that expanded access and inclusion, including the development of student support centers and programs designed to serve first-generation and underrepresented students. Her leadership contributed to record enrollment growth and helped establish the campus as a vibrant, community-connected institution.

At WSU Vancouver, she has guided major efforts to align academic programs and administrative services with strategic goals, using data-informed approaches to improve student outcomes and operational effectiveness.

Haynes is already familiar with the communities WSU Everett serves. In Snohomish County, for example, she has worked closely with regional partners to advance initiatives such as sustainable aviation fuel development and expand WSU's presence at Paine Field demonstrating her ability to connect academic programs with workforce and industry needs.

Her appointment reinforces WSU's commitment to strong regional partnership within a unified system.

Looking ahead

As executive vice president for WSU statewide campuses, Haynes will play a central role in advancing a more connected, student-focused system that emphasizes collaboration, shared success, and expanded opportunity across Washington.

The university will continue working closely with community partners, faculty, and staff to ensure that each campus remains responsive to regional needs while contributing to a unified, forward-looking WSU.