When Dr. Sheila Edwards Lang was named chancellor of the University of Washington, Tacoma in fall 2021, she became the highest-ranking Black administrator within the University of Washington System.
Under her leadership, the University of Tacoma has raised and diversified admissions and academic standards, supported by programs such as Pathways to Promise and Transfer Student Success and Equity Intensive. Additionally, her advocacy for additional Pell Grant funding and support from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray resulted in increased federal funding for the Tacoma campus.
Edwards-Lang collaborated with President Julie White of neighboring Pierce College on a focus on transfer student success and equity.
“One of the most impactful things for me as chancellor was participating in focus groups with students who had transferred from Pearce,” Edwards-Lange told the trade publication. Inside higher education. “When I first asked them questions about what the process was like, they all said really good things, but when you dig deeper, they say things like how difficult it is to get into UC Tacoma. I shared my thoughts: We didn't provide enough information to our students about the transfer process.
“(White) was already at Pierce and Julie, we were working together. The relationship between the leadership and our team is what makes this work.”
That ability to build and maintain relationships was a hallmark of Edwards Lang's rise and success. She has held a variety of positions in higher education, including Deputy Director of the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity at the University of California, Seattle Campus. She is president of Seattle Central College. And she is currently the president of the University of Tacoma.
“It's no surprise that she was successful in every role,” says Anna Mari Coase, president of the University of Washington. “Not only is she strategic, hard-working, and determined, she is also caring, considerate, and a great listener.”
Edwards Lang's success has also been fueled by a spirit of innovation and social justice, and the rise of the University of Tacoma has paralleled the city's own renaissance.
“Dr. Lange University adds depth to the University of Tacoma as a city service institution,” said Dr. Constance Rice, California State University regent and former president of Seattle Central College. “She has expanded programs for veterans and Indigenous people. All of our students praise her accessibility. We are so lucky to have her.” Edwards-Lang said. She is one of the few black female corporate directors in the state. She serves on the boards of Pew Capital Management, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Seattle Branch, and AAA Washington. She also serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.
In addition, she founded a leadership group with the Washington chapter of the American Council on Education to train more women to become university presidents.
