Matthew Jeffries, who serves as assistant dean of students and director of Student Accommodations and Disability Resources, is among the distinguished winners of this year’s Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award.
Each year, outstanding state employees who demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities that drive better results are recognized by the governor’s office.
“I was a little flabbergasted to see I had been recognized this year,” Jeffries said. “When you look at the past winners, you see folks who are doing some tremendous work in our state, and so it’s a real honor to be among them.”
Jeffries was nominated for the award by Dan Welter, director for the Center of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Welter recalled knowing immediately upon reading about nominations being open that Jeffries was just the sort of Coug who deserved the recognition.
When you look at the past winners, you see folks who are doing some tremendous work in our state, and so it’s a real honor to be among them.
Matthew Jeffries
Assistant dean of students
Director of Student Accommodations and Disability Resources
Washington State University
“Matthew has worked tirelessly to transform the student disability and accommodation center in his time in the role,” Welter said. “He’s created a culture that strives for continual improvement in terms of making the accommodations process more streamlined and satisfactory for our students.”
Jeffries and Welter’s teams have also recently worked together to better educate the Greek Life community at WSU about making the experience more inclusive of students with disabilities. Students involved in fraternities and sororities want to help their peers get involved, and just need guidance on how to do so, Welter said.
An opportunity to work as a hall director brought Jeffries to WSU more than a decade ago after completing his Master’s degree at Ohio State University. In the years since moving to the Palouse, Jeffries has served as an academic advisor and director of the LGBTQ+ Center, among other roles. In his current role, Jeffries and his team work with students seeking services such as assistive technology or interpretive help in the classroom.
“Since the pandemic, we’ve seen significant growth in the number of students seeking accommodations,” Jeffries said. “Forty-five percent of the students we serve have ADHD, which really highlights the need to understand their needs and how we can make improve their experience.”
Two other employees were also nominated for the recognition this year:
- Mary Sanchez Lanier, assistant vice provost, Academic Achievement and Student Achievement
- Emily Goodwin, HCM manager, Human Resource Services
Jeffries will travel to Olympia to be recognized during a luncheon with the governor on Sept. 23.
