We are pleased to welcome four outstanding leaders to the Board of College Spark Washington: Dr. Kristen French, Sili Savusa, Dr. Jeff Snell, and Judge Gloria Ochoa-Bruck.
Each brings a deep commitment to equity, systems change, and expanding opportunity for students across Washington. Together, they represent a powerful blend of expertise spanning education, community leadership, law, public policy, and organizational transformation.
Their collective experience will help guide College Spark’s continued work to ensure every student—especially those furthest from opportunity—has the support needed to succeed in postsecondary education and beyond.
Kristen French: Advancing Equity Through Education, Research, and Indigenous Partnerships
Dr. Kristen French is a nationally recognized educator, scholar, and leader in multicultural and Indigenous education. As a professor at Western Washington University, she has spent decades preparing educators to engage in culturally sustaining and justice-centered teaching practices.
Her work centers Indigenous knowledge systems, decolonizing education, and strengthening partnerships between schools and Native communities. She has led extensive research, curriculum development, and statewide initiatives focused on educational equity and tribal sovereignty.
Kristen brings to College Spark a deep understanding of how teacher preparation, curriculum, and institutional systems shape student outcomes—along with a lifelong commitment to transforming those systems to better serve Indigenous students and all learners.
Sili Savusa: Building Community Power and Educational Equity
Sili Savusa is a seasoned community organizer and systems leader with more than 20 years of experience in education, civic engagement, and nonprofit leadership. As Executive Director of the Pacific Islander Community Association, she has led efforts to strengthen community voice, family engagement, and equitable access to opportunity.
Her leadership has spanned school board governance, statewide policy work, and coalition-building across immigrant, refugee, and Pacific Islander communities. She is widely recognized for her ability to bring people together across difference to drive meaningful change.
Sili’s perspective will help College Spark deepen its connection to communities and ensure that investments reflect the lived realities of students and families.
Dr. Jeff Snell: Leading Systems with a Student-Centered Focus
Dr. Jeff Snell brings more than 30 years of experience in public education as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and now Executive Director of the Washington Association of School Administrators.
Throughout his career in Vancouver and Camas school districts, he has focused on improving student outcomes, strengthening instructional leadership, and building systems that respond to student needs. His work has consistently centered on collaboration, continuous improvement, and equity in K–12 education.
Dr. Snell’s experience leading complex school systems provides a valuable statewide and national lens on the challenges and opportunities facing public education today.
The Honorable Gloria Ochoa-Bruck: Justice, Equity, and Community Impact
Gloria Ochoa-Bruck is a Municipal Court Judge in Spokane and a nationally recognized leader in criminal justice reform, equity, and community engagement. Her career spans roles as a judge, attorney, and senior government leader, including service with the City of Spokane and multiple tribal and municipal courts.
She has worked extensively at the intersection of law, education, and public policy—particularly in efforts to reduce disparities in the justice system and expand culturally responsive practices. Her leadership extends across numerous civic and nonprofit boards focused on health, youth development, and equity.
Judge Ochoa-Bruck brings a powerful systems-level perspective on justice, access, and the role institutions play in shaping opportunity.
Looking Ahead
As College Spark Washington welcomes these four new trustees, we are strengthened by their shared commitment to equity and opportunity—and by the diverse ways they have each worked to expand access for underserved communities.
From classrooms and school systems to courtrooms and community organizations, their leadership reflects a common belief: that when systems are more just, students are more able to thrive.
We are honored to have Dr. Kristen French, Sili Savusa, Dr. Jeff Snell, and Judge Gloria Ochoa-Bruck join our Board—and excited for the impact they will help shape in the years ahead.
