OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire announced on Monday, Sept. 10, the appointment of Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer Scott Carson of Federal Way to the WSU Board of Regents.
“Scott Carson has a deep interest in education issues and WSU has been an important part of his life ever since he graduated as a Cougar with his bachelor’s degree,” said Gregoire. “He will be a strong advocate for WSU and I am pleased to welcome him to the Board of Regents.”
“We are delighted by this appointment. Scott Carson is a long-time
supporter of this university and one of our nation’s outstanding business leaders. He will be a great addition to our board,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd.
“This appointment has double importance for me,” said Carson. “First of all, it’s especially meaningful because of my own association – and that of my family – with this wonderful university. But there’s added significance because of the tremendous contribution that our educational institutions and their graduates provide to the economic vitality of Washington and to businesses across the state.
“I am deeply honored to receive this appointment from Gov. Gregoire, who has taken such a bold lead herself on improving education in this state from her leadership on Washington Learns to her support of the K-12 and higher education systems,” Carson said.
Carson is a 1972 graduate in business administration from WSU. He received his MBA from the University of Washington. He serves on the board of governors of the WSU Foundation, is chair of the WSU College of Business national board of advisors and is on the College of Engineering and Architecture advisory board.
In 2006, he received Washington State University Alumni Achievement Award. He also served as a member of the presidential search advisory committee that helped select Floyd as WSU’s 10th president.
Last year, Carson and his wife Linda committed $1 million to help
internationalize the WSU College of Business. The Carsons’ gift establishes the Carson International Business Scholars Fund to further educate tomorrow’s global business leaders by providing need-based scholarships to WSU students participating in College of Business international education initiatives.
Carson will assume the regents’ seat previously occupied by Ted Baseler, president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Baseler, who joined the board in February 2006, decided not to seek another term on the board because of the growing time and travel commitment required by his business interests.
