Meeting University of Puget Sound’s New President Isiaah Crawford

A distinguished scholar, teacher, and college administrator, Isiaah Crawford became president of University of Puget Sound on July 1, 2016, following an extensive national search. Crawford's academic work and achievements as a senior administrator are closely aligned with the values and aspirations of Puget Sound, and with the key areas of challenge and opportunity facing higher education today.

Crawford comes to Puget Sound following service as provost and chief academic officer of Seattle University (2008–16), where he directed the Division of Academic Affairs and oversaw the university's schools and colleges, libraries, enrollment, information technology, institutional research, and offices supporting student academic achievement, faculty affairs, and global engagement.

Key areas of focus during his service to Seattle University included strategic planning; strengthening shared governance; securing grants and other gifts in support of fundraising objectives; supporting teaching, research, and service activities of the faculty; and establishing the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability, the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture, and the School of New and Continuing Studies, which began operation in academic year 2015–16. Working with university leadership, he participated in the development of more than $200 million in key facilities projects, including renovation of the library and establishment of a learning commons; a new residence hall; a new fitness center and remodeled intramural athletic field; the School of Law annex; an admission and alumni center; and planning for a new science facility.

A licensed clinical psychologist, Crawford earned his bachelor's degree from St. Louis University, and master's and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from DePaul University, where his research focused on personality theory and community psychology. He completed a pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center; worked as a clinical specialist at Charter Barclay Hospital and staff therapist at DePaul University Community Mental Health Center; and maintained a private clinical practice in Chicago from 1987 through 2002.