The Faculty of The Evergreen State College’s Master of Public Administration program have selected Virginia Cross as our 2024 Public Official of the Year. We make this award annually to a state, local, tribal, or nonprofit leader in Washington whose record of public service exemplifies our program’s motto, “Be the Change.” 

For over four decades, Virginia Cross’s role as Councilmember and Chairperson of the Muckleshoot Tribe and as Director of Native Education Programs for the Auburn School District has directly benefited students, Muckleshoot citizens, and the greater Puget Sound region as a whole.

As an advocate and leader for Native education, she has laid the foundations for the academic success of Native students across our region in Auburn’s Native American Education Program. This program helps to meet the health, cultural, and other needs for hundreds of students in our region. In addition, Virginia’s leadership in guiding the development of Muckleshoot Casino and other tribal enterprises and in acquiring and managing land in the White River Forest create a secure economic future for Muckleshoot citizens and contribute significantly to the natural and economic well-being of communities across King and Pierce Counties. In these ways and more, Virginia’s commitment to public service truly illustrates the transformative change a person can foster over their lifetime.

For additional information about Virginia Cross please see: Asian Hall of Fame honors its first Indigenous Inductee

See Virginia’s biography (PDF)