McKinzie Strait joins UW team in D.C.

McKinzie Strait is heading for Washington, D.C.

McKinzie Strait

Unfortunately for Shoreline Community College, Strait is going as a new member of the University of Washington’s Federal Relations team.

Strait came to Shoreline in July, 2012 as Executive Associate to the President for External Affairs. This past August, Strait added the words “and Resource Development” to her title and took on a new role with the Shoreline Community College Foundation, supervising Foundation staff and supporting the Foundation board.

“The experience at Shoreline has been great and I’m very thankful, but this is an opportunity I just can’t pass up,” Strait said. The position requires moving to Washington, D.C., an uprooting made somewhat easier by the fact that Strait has family who live in D.C. and also work in higher education.

Before coming to Shoreline, Strait worked as legislative assistant for state Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-32nd Dist. She also served as a policy intern for three members of the Washington State House of Representatives. A University of Washington graduate in Political Science, Strait also worked at the public relations firms of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, serving as account coordinator on the Microsoft Business Division team.

“This is a national opportunity for McKinzie and we’re quite excited for her,” said Ann Garnsey-Harter, Executive Director for the Virtual College and Resource Development. “While we will miss her, this means we’ll have a new friend in D.C. I wish her the best of luck.”

Interim President Daryl Campbell and others are discussing how to best fill the position. Strait’s final day on campus is scheduled to be Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.