By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
University of Washington President Robert J. Jones has appointed Hasoni Pratts as his new chief of staff. Pratts brings extensive experience in finance, strategic consulting, public policy, and higher education leadership. Her career spans roles at Deloitte, the governor’s office, and the New York State Board of Regents, where she helped shape statewide education policy.
“Hasoni’s appointment reflects my ongoing commitment to recruiting visionary leaders who can help navigate the evolving landscape of higher education and staying true to the institution’s core mission of teaching, research, and public service,” said Jones in a statement from the University of Washington.
Pratts, who describes her appointment as a full-circle moment, says that her experience in higher education governance and national policy advocacy makes her uniquely qualified for this position.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. I feel that everything I have done in my career has prepared me for this moment. My mother was a student on this campus, and so coming back home is kind of like a full circle moment for me,” said Pratts. “Part of the reason I am here is because higher education is under attack. And as someone whose family has fought for this country, all I know is to fight for this country.”
“Higher ed and democracy are under attack, and UW is a great place to be able to fight for democracy and be in a position to protect what has been so great in this country, which is education,” she continued.
As she steps into her new role, Pratts said her top priorities for the first 90 days are to listen, learn, and observe, ensuring that she stays aligned with President Jones’ strategic vision as she becomes fully acquainted with the University.
“Right now, we are working on a strategic plan within listening sessions where I have had the opportunity to sit with first-year students who have been in leadership and listen to some faculty to just get a handle on this place,” Pratts said.
According to Pratts, one of her most urgent priorities is protecting UW’s federal research funding, which supports a wide range of services and innovations that benefit Washington communities.
“The most urgent goal is our federal funding. We are one research institution, and so the most important thing is protecting that because it also has a larger impact on the communities that we serve,” Pratts said. “So, if we are not able to provide health care, do research, or educate the population, then that is urgent because the majority of our students come from the state of Washington, so that is a huge priority for us to make sure that we can secure funding that we have initially relied on for so much.”
Jones said that Pratt’s qualifications and leadership style make her an ideal choice to help serve the University of Washington’s diverse community.
“Hasoni Pratts brings an exceptional combination of governance expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to educational excellence,” Jones said. “Her experience navigating complex policy landscapes and her dedication to expanding access and opportunity in higher education make her ideally suited to help us achieve our strategic objectives and serve our diverse community.”
Although UW’s culture is already deeply felt within the community, Pratts said that her goal is to embrace and strengthen that culture, not change it.
“This is the thing about UW; the culture is ingrained here. You can’t change culture; you can only just try to sit here and embrace it. The people here are so wonderful, the students are brilliant, amazing, warm, and friendly,” said Pratts. “I want to absorb all of that, and I feel so blessed to be in a position where I am being warmly welcomed into the culture. I am not trying to change the culture; I am only trying to be part of it.”
A former national director in higher education and a senior advisor to the CEO of the National Urban League, Pratts said her passion for public engagement is central to her leadership approach.
“That’s my sweet spot. Public engagement. I worked directly on various different projects that work directly within the community, so I love being directly engaged with those on the ground, and that is my actual sweet spot,” said Pratts. “I am looking forward to just being more actively engaged and learning more about the communities that we serve and the people around us.”
Pratts also sees deep alignment between the missions of the National Urban League and higher education.
“It is all the same things. What higher education does is that it allows those to rise into the middle class, and the National Urban League is all about economic empowerment, equity, and opportunity, and higher education gives you opportunity,” Pratts said. “The work is just continuous and along the same continuum. It is the exact same thing, providing opportunities like higher education does.”
“I am thrilled to be able to continue some of the same work, but just in a different capacity and in a different venue,” Pratts continued.
Despite her extensive background in higher education leadership, Pratts said it is her experience working with young people that has most shaped who she is today.
“Young people give me inspiration and hope, and they let me know we are going to be okay. From me, interacting with them it is like this nation is going to be okay because of these young people. They are smart, brilliant, and balanced,” said Pratts. “The vibrancy in them, that is the future, and I know we will get past whatever challenges because of them.”
Looking ahead, Pratts said she is excited to partner closely with President Jones in advancing the University’s commitment to access and equity.
“He is a seasoned leader, and he is just right for this moment when higher education is under attack. He understands it all. He is so interested in having debt-free college, which is huge when some people actually shy away from going to college because they can’t afford it,” she said. “He is focused on making sure that this institution is a place where people feel like they can belong and actually have the opportunity to higher education.”
