Governor appoints Heather Flaherty as new WWU student trustee

Heather Flaherty of Bellingham has been appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve a one-year term as the student trustee at Western Washington University.

As a trustee during the 2013-14 academic year, Flaherty will represent all the citizens of Washington, but give a uniquely valuable perspective to the board because of her experience as a Western student.

“We are delighted to welcome Heather Flaherty to the board and are very pleased that we will have the opportunity to hear her insights as our new student trustee. She brings fresh perspectives not only as a Western student but also through her experience working in the Bellingham community,” WWU President Bruce Shepard said.

Flaherty has a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from Western and is currently a WWU graduate student earning a master’s degree in Business Administration.

"I am honored and excited to serve as the WWU student trustee alongside such extraordinary people, and I am looking forward to the experience and adventure ahead,” Flaherty said.

Flaherty currently is executive assistant to the CEO of Peacehealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. In the healthcare field, she also has worked as an administrative assistant for Bellevue Healthcare, as a special events coordinator for the American Red Cross in Bellingham and as a community health intern for the Whatcom County Health Department. At Western, she served as: student support staff for the Alumni Association; Admissions representative with Office of Admissions; Orientation student advisor with New Student Services and Family Outreach, and resident adviser with Residence Life.