Wendy Endress

As Chief Learning Officer, I work with the Workforce Learning & Performance team which provides business-connected learning solutions for State of Washington employees as well as other public employers.I work closely with State HR and agency stakeholders to influence learning, development and culture changing policies and services, in order to strengthen the business of government as well as cultivate satisfied customers, satisfied teams and financial health.I bring experience in promoting practices that support individual and collective success. Naturally empathic and adept at recognizing talents in others, I am passionate about building the capacity of people and teams to contribute at the highest level.My management style is founded in keen observation and careful listening with an eye to strategic planning, decision making, and policy development to advance aspirations. I am inspired when colleagues engage with each other to have candid, courageous conversations. Committed to transparent collaboration, I do my homework, connect the dots, and partner across functional areas to implement proven and promising solutions.I have held positions at The Evergreen State College and Portland State University; and have over 15 years of experience in senior administrative roles and with responsibility for up to 170 FTE, over 15 departments, and budgets of more than $15 million. I have worked collaboratively to improve support for underrepresented members of the college community and to foster change and a more inclusive, welcoming campus. I began my career at Columbia University and have served in positions of increasing responsibility at Bluffton University, University of Maryland, and Semester at Sea. In 2019 I was recognized as a Pillar of the Profession by NASPA.I hold a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, a Master of Arts from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a Bachelor of Arts from Union College in New York. In 2014 I completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.I take to heart the advice of a beloved mentor who instilled the philosophy, “it’s all about relationships.”