Sally Savage to retire from WSU

PULLMAN – Sally Savage, who has served in key administrative positions at WSU for nearly 30 years, announced today that she will retire from WSU effective March 31, 2009.

Savage, who currently serves as general counsel and acting chief human resources officer, has served WSU as vice president for university relations, vice president for advancement, vice president for administration, and as general counsel for two presidents over the course of her career.

Savage said she is making her announcement now in order to provide a transition period for reorganization for President Elson S. Floyd.  During this transition, she will serve as special assistant to the president, continuing to provide advice and counsel on administrative and legal matters.

“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve the university in a variety of challenging and rewarding roles.  When the Board of Regents began the search for a new president more than a year ago, I indicated that I would like to finish my career at WSU assisting the new president in organizing his administration. I am delighted to have been given that opportunity by President Floyd and I look forward to continuing to help him implement the administrative framework he envisions to address the exciting agenda of his presidency,” Savage said.

“I requested this change now in order to be able to utilize the expertise I have gained in a more focused way.  I would like to use what I have learned over my many years at WSU in this way as the capstone to what has been for me an extremely rewarding career,” she said.

“Sally Savage has given this institution truly remarkable service over a period of 30 years in a variety of significant administrative roles,” Floyd said.  “Through this experience, she has gained invaluable and unique expertise which has been of great assistance to me since I arrived here.  Her extensive knowledge of WSU and her legal expertise will continue to contribute in very meaningful ways to decisions I need to make as I move into the second year of my presidency.”

Savage came to WSU in 1978 as an assistant attorney general and two years later was named the senior assistant attorney general and chief legal counsel for the university by then attorney general Slade Gorton.  WSU President Samuel H. Smith hired Savage to serve as university counsel in his office in 1990. Eight years later, Savage’s role was expanded to include service as vice president for administration.

In 2000, President V. Lane Rawlins named her interim vice president for advancement and then vice president of university relations, where she led a staff of some 150 people in areas including marketing communications, the WSU News Service, Washington State Magazine, WSU Today, university events, Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, university publishing and alumni relations.

Savage holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn., and a juris doctorate from the University of Idaho.

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