Board
Graduate Washington is governed by a Chair and Board of Directors. These individuals are responsible for raising and distributing funds, organizing events, engaging the broader community and setting the strategic direction of the organization. Board members serve two year terms that are open to renewal.
Board of Directors
Isaac Prevost is a second-year student at the University of Washington School of Law. He lives in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood and grew up in Centralia. He recently completed a summer internship with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office. Isaac is a proud “Double Dawg,” having received his Bachelor of Arts from UW as well. He participated in the Political Science Honors program, chaired the student senate, and was active in campus politics during his time as undergraduate.
Isaac worked in state politics prior to attending law school. He managed a successful legislative campaign during the 2014 election and then served as the Legislative Assistant to Representative Strom Peterson. In that position, he had the opportunity to work on issues including the opioid epidemic, groundwater protection, and public construction projects. In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, and keeping up with the latest movies. Isaac joined Graduate Washington because he believes that an accessible and adequately-funded public higher education system is key to facilitating opportunities in our region.
Sabrina Bolieu is a Puyallup native (don’t mention the Puyallup Fair!) and lives in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood. Prior to her time at Seattle City Hall, where she is currently District Director for Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez, Sabrina worked in educational grantmaking for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She is passionate about access to education and breaking cycles of poverty. Sabrina is a graduate from the University of Washington. She completed the Institute for Democratic Future Program and serves on the the King County Women’s Advisory Board, and the 46th Legislative District Democrats.
Jay See is a Seattle native, raised in the Ballard community, and is a third generation graduate of Ballard High School. Jay earned his Associates degree from Shoreline Community College in 1994 and his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Washington State University in 1996. Jay’s passions include bettering our community’s future by supporting educational causes. Jay has served on the Board of Directors for the WSU Alumni Association and as President of the WSU Greek Alumni Organization. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Ballard High School Foundation. In addition, Jay volunteers with Seattle Works, WSU Impact, and the WSU Alumni Association – King County Chapter.
Professionally, Jay has worked in the finance industry since he was in college. He currently oversees Compliance and New Business for a Bellevue based regional financial services firm. Jay has always believed in the premise that in order to make the community a better place, one must to take action. Jay’s other passions and interests include spending time at his family’s vacation home on Whidbey Island, wine, travel, Sounders Soccer, and all things Cougar.
Sarah Merkel Reyneveld became an advocate for higher education during graduate school while serving as the Vice President and lobbyist for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) at the University of Washington. She is a 2011 graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, where she focused in environmental law and served as the Chief Articles Editor and founding member of the Washington Journal of Environmental Law and Policy (WJELP). Sarah is also a 2008 Graduate of the Evans School of Public Affairs, where she served as GPSS Vice President, earned an Environmental Management (EM) certificate, and was a member of Phi Alpha Alpha. Sarah received her undergraduate degree from Smith College in 2003 and graduated cum laude, receiving high honors from the government department.
Sarah currently works as an Assistant Attorney General for the Seattle Labor and Industries Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. During her graduate studies, Sarah worked at the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Natural Resources and Environment division in Washington, D.C. Prior to entering graduate school, Sarah worked as a Research Assistant for Governor Chris Gregoire’s comprehensive education study, Washington Learns, and as a Legislative Assistant for the Washington State Senate in Olympia.
Sarah served as President (2010-2011), Vice President (2009-2010 and 2007-2008), and Policy Analyst (2006-2007) of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) at the University of Washington. While serving GPSS, Sarah worked to ensure that graduate student tuition remained predictable and affordable and to expand access to healthcare, childcare and mental health care. As a Board Member of Graduate Washington, Sarah is passionate about ensuring that higher education remains world-class and accessible to all Washingtonians.
Thomas Pitchford is a native of Baton Rouge, LA, and has been active in politics since moving to Washington State in 2004. From 2009 to 2011, Thomas worked as the Development and Community Outreach Director with Equal Rights Washington. Prior to 2009, Thomas worked first with Colby Underwood, a firm specializing in campaign finance, then later as an independent consultant. In 2008, he worked as campaign manager for the 2008 re-election of Congressman Jim McDermott, and as the Field Director for the campaign of Congressman Jay Inslee in 2004. Prior to 2004, Thomas spent seven years as a student affairs professional.
Thomas earned Bachelor’s degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University and a Master’s degree in Higher Education from Indiana University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Victory Fund (National Campaign Board), the Institute for a Democratic Future (IDF), and World Arts Access, a Seattle-based arts-education NGO. Thomas also serves as a divisional officer and chapter advisor for Delta Tau Delta and served for the past five years on the board of the UW Alumni Interfraternity Council, including service as AIFC board president in 2011. Thomas and his partner of nine years, Andrew Kamins, live in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Rhianna Hruska has been an Olympia resident since 2014. She is an Affiliate Researcher for Portland State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. From 2016-2017, she served as a gubernatorial appointee on The Evergreen State College’s Board of Trustees and was President of the Washington Student Association.
Rhianna received a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She graduated with a Master of Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College in 2016. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree with a Public and Nonprofit Administration concentration; class of ’18.
Rhianna is passionate about expanding college affordability and accessibility and is grateful for the opportunity to support students in higher education through Graduate Washington.
Jessica Murillo-Rosales is an Exploratory Advisor at Central Washington University. Born and raised in the Wenatchee Valley (East Wenatchee specifically) Jessica moved to Ellensburg to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and complete her Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education.
Jessica has been involved in various things such as the treasurer for CWU’s Graduate Student Association, McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program, CWU’s SOURCE, Sociology’s Honors society and TRiO SSS student ambassador.
Jessica’s main involvement with Washington state’s educational climate was during her term as a student representative for the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). Collaborating with educational program coordinators and legislators helped spark an interest to continually learn policies that run higher educational institutes.
Alexander is a senior at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA where he is the chair of the Food Systems Working group that focuses on the campus Real Food Challenge. Previously he has been Chair of the campus Clean Energy Committee as well as the Student Union. As an undergraduate student he focuses primarily on history and sustainability. Post-graduation he plans on volunteering in the Peace Corps, teaching English and sustainability.
As a first-generation and non-traditional student, Alexander is passionate about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to seek higher education.
