Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College
Beginning July 1, 2019, South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) alumna Daniela H. Suarez will serve a one-year term on the University of Washington’s Board of Regents as Student Regent following an appointment from Governor Jay Inslee. The Board of Regents is the university’s governing body, its officers selected by Washington State governors to supervise and coordinate university affairs.
After graduating from North Thurston High School in Lacey, Daniela began at SPSCC, where she served as the Senator of Legislative Affairs on SPSCC’s Student Senate and had the opportunity to intern for the Washington State Board of Community Colleges. She worked with student leaders across Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges on issues relating to higher education, and in the 2019 state legislative session she coordinated the Racial Equity Team on policies that affect communities of color. SPSCC President Tim Stokes describes her as “a powerhouse of intellect, compassion, and determination.”
Suarez is currently a senior at the Henry M. Jackson School of International studies, focusing on Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Peace, and Security as she pursues a minor in Political Science. She has dedicated herself to advocating for social justice and accessibility in higher education, participating in efforts to advance landmark legislation such as the Dream Act 2.0 to expand financial aid for undocumented students and the Fair Chance Act to promote equal housing and employment. In addition to her leadership work, she remains an active community member volunteering through the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington.
