The Faculty of The Evergreen State College’s Master of Public Administration program have selected Kris Peters as our 2022 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.”
Kris received his bachelor’s degree in Native American History and Tribal Government in 2014 and his Master of Public Administration in Tribal Governance in 2016. He has been an adjunct faculty member teaching in the Native Education Program at The Evergreen State College. Kris has also continued his work with the MPA program, collaborating with faculty member Amy Gould to write a book chapter in the Tribal Governance and Administration Handbook. Kris is a direct descendant of the Steh-Chass Band, one of the seven bands making up the Squaxin Island Tribe in the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek, upon whose land Olympia and The Evergreen State College sits today.
Kris was named Chair of Tribal Council by the Squaxin Island Tribe in August, 2020. Kris was most recently appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to The Evergreen State College Board of Trustees in October 2021. Previously Kris served as Tribal administrator and chief of police. “Kristopher knows the importance of a rigorous and ever-evolving education that will give life-long lessons to take you wherever you want to go in life and that is what The Evergreen State College offers,” said Governor Inslee. “His depth of experience, as a student, a professor at Evergreen, and as a leader with the Squaxin Island Tribe, gives him the uncanny opportunity to meet people where they are at. He is a true leader and will be at the forefront with Evergreen as the college celebrates its 50th anniversary. He will help lead the college into its next 50 years.”
We are very much looking forward to recognizing Kris Peters at our virtual Master of Public Administration Hooding Ceremony on June 9th. This ceremony is especially meaningful to us this year as students from our program’s 20th Tribal Governance Cohort graduate this year. We are extremely pleased to recognize and honor someone who has been an outstanding leader in the Tribal community.
For additional information about Kris Peters please see: MPA Alumni Spotlight and Evergreen News & Stories on Evergreen Board of Trustees Appointment.
By Lacey Chen, MPA Program Assistant