Meet the members on our Board of Trustees.

Monica Alexander

Expiration of term: September 30, 2022

Monica began her career with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) in 1996 as a Trooper Cadet. She was commissioned as a WSP Trooper on May 1, 1998. Monica spent many years as a line trooper and sergeant working the South Seattle freeway. Currently Monica serves as the Captain of Government and Media Relations, where she is the legislative liaison for the WSP.



During Monica’s career, she received numerous honors and awards including the Educational Excellence Award from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. In 2003, Monica was inducted into the Tacoma African American History Museum for her service to the community and her work with the WSP. In addition to her duties as a trooper, Monica was the traffic reporter for KOMO-TV for six years.



Monica is the first and only African American female to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain in the history of the WSP.

Lucera Cox, Student Trustee

Expiration of term: June 30, 2020

Lucera (She/Her) is a fourth-year student at Evergreen working toward her Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Computer Science. She grew up in Eastern Washington until she came to Evergreen in 2016 as a first-year student.

Lucera first and foremost identifies her Latinx roots as a core piece of who she is and how she interacts with the world. Throughout her time at Evergreen, she has been involved in many aspects of campus life. Most notably, she served as a Resident Assistant (RA) in Residential Life for two academic years supporting new and returning students.

In spring 2017, Lucera studied abroad with her academic program Alternatives and Resistance to Global Capitalism in Oaxaca City and San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico. This experience taught her a great deal about connecting with people across significant differences.

She hopes to pursue a career in UX Design and work to diversify and increase access to opportunities in technology for women of color and people from low-income communities. She is excited to start fulfilling this dream in October 2019 when she travels to the Grace Hopper Celebration in Orlando, FL, celebrating the representation of women in technology.

Lucera is looking forward to the opportunity to represent her student body as a member of the Board of Trustees. In doing so, she hopes to bridge the gap between administrators and students. She believes in fostering a student-centered culture where all students can feel accepted, supported, and able to thrive.

Karen Fraser, Chair

Expiration of term: September 30, 2021

Karen Fraser is a life-long Washingtonian and Puget Sound-area resident. She was born in Seattle, graduating from Roosevelt High School. She earned two degrees from the University of Washington---a BA in Sociology (with departmental honors) and a Master of Public Administration from the Graduate School of Public Affairs (now renamed the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance).

Karen has lived in the state capital area for more than 50 years. She recently retired from a public service career that included serving in the state Senate for 24 years, holding several key leadership positions and receiving wide-ranging recognition for her service. Prior to this, Karen was elected State Representative, Thurston County Commissioner, President of the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lacey Mayor and City Council Member. She worked as a staff member for the Legislature and several state agencies.

She has been involved in a variety of ways with Evergreen since it was founded, serving as adjunct faculty in the MPA program for many years. As a legislator, she engaged with many of Evergreen’s legislative issues.

Karen has been active for many years in a wide variety of civic affairs, political activities, and outdoor recreation pursuits.

Fred Goldberg, Vice Chair

Expiration of term: September 30, 2020

Fred Goldberg was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Gov. Jay Inslee March 20, 2013. A philanthropist, Army veteran, banker and entrepreneur, Fred helped found Saltchuk Resources, a global logistics company, currently the largest private company in Washington State. Recently retired from active management of the company, Fred continues to serve on the Saltchuk board. As a banker, Fred saw the evolution of the Thurston County State Bank into Puget Sound National Bank and then into Key Bank, serving in various leadership roles throughout the decades. He currently serves on the board of Columbia Bank.

Fred has deep roots in Olympia, where he operated his family's third-generation furniture business, volunteered at the Washington State Capital Museum and helped the Panorama City retirement community regain financial stability in the 1990s. His leadership commitment to community, education and global health issues is manifest in his extensive service to organizations such as the Civil Service Commission of Olympia, Providence Saint Peter Foundation, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, The Evergreen State College Foundation and the University of Washington Alumni association.

As a mentor, he has worked with students at UW's Graduate School of Business and officials at the Gates Foundation. In addition to his service at Evergreen, Fred currently serves on the boards of Panorama City and the Initiative for Global Development, which focuses on relieving poverty in Africa by co-coordinating investment by world funds.

Read Fred’s Academic Statement.

Irene Gonzales, Secretary

Expiration of term: September 30, 2021

Irene Gonzales serves as Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Services for Spokane Public Schools in Spokane, Washington. In this capacity she mentors, supervises, and evaluates 17 principals. She proudly partners with principals in guiding the district's instructional initiatives to improve student achievement through the examination of academic achievement data and setting a plan of action. She supports approximately 8,000 students each and everyday in her role. Prior to joining Spokane Public Schools, Irene served as an elementary principal for 13 years in Yakima and Walla Walla.

Irene's connections to higher education are vast. She has been an adjunct professor for Whitworth University's educational graduate programs for the past two years. She also serves as an advisor to the WSU President's Council and the WSU National Education for Women's Leadership Council; is a member of Gonzaga University's Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Research, WSU Cougar Admission Support Team and is in partnership with the University of Washington's Center for Educational Leadership (CEL).

In addition to spending time in higher educational institutions, she is an active community member; she serves as Vice-President of the Hispanic Business Professional Association Foundation, is a board member of YWCA and a member of the Inland Northwest Latino Chamber of Commerce.

She has been blessed with many honors. As Irene completed her doctoral studies she was chosen as the WSU Student Commencement Speaker. In addition, she was awarded the David L. Clark National Award for Excellence in Educational Administration Research, and the WSU Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence. Other notable mentions are: Washington Association of School Administrators—Doyle E. Winter Scholarship; Walla Walla Public Schools—Graduate of Distinction; Rotary—Paul Harris Fellow and Group Study Exchange Team Leader to Sweden; Milken Family Foundation National Educator, and an Olympic Torch Relay Runner chosen as a local community hero.

Irene received her bachelor's degree in Education from Washington State University, her master's in Educational Policy and Management from the University of Oregon, and her doctorate in Educational Administration from Washington State University. She also is a member of numerous professional organizations.

She is married to Kirk Hirota, a professional photographer and has two daughters, Camina and Kimiko.

David Nicandri

Expiration of term: September 30, 2020

David Nicandri was formerly director of the Washington State Historical Society, serving from July 1987 to October 2011. A graduate of State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh, and the holder of a Master’s Degree in history from the University of Idaho, David formerly served as the chief curator of the Washington State Capital Museum. David was also elected three times to the Tumwater, Wash. city council, and was adjunct faculty at The Evergreen State College. He has served as a consulting historian in a number of capacities, including three terms as a speaker in the “Inquiring Mind” program at Humanities Washington.

David is the author of numerous books and articles, including: Olympia’s Forgotten Pioneers: The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (1972); Italians in Washington State: Emigration, 1853 – 1924 (1978); Northwest Chiefs: Gustav Sohon’s Views of the 1855 Stevens Treaty Councils (1986); and a contributing editor of Washington: Images of State’s Heritage (1988), the official centennial illustrated history of Washington; and most recently, River of Promise: Lewis and Clark on the Columbia (2010) published by the Dakota Institute and distributed nationally by Oklahoma University Press. He has published many book reviews including those that can be found in Western Historical Quarterly, Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Overland Journal, and the Oregon Historical Quarterly.

In May 2001, David received an honorary doctorate from Gonzaga University in recognition of his tenure and leadership of the Washington State Historical Society. The University of Puget Sound granted David an honorary doctorate in May 2007, and his alma mater, SUNY Plattsburgh, has named him a distinguished visiting alumnus.

Recently retired as Director of the Washington State Historical Society, David is currently researching Captain James Cook’s 18th century search for Northwest Passage and exploring that quest’s relevance to present-day issues of climate change.

Read David’s Academic Statement.

Miguel Pérez-Gibson

Expiration of term: September 30, 2025

Miguel Pérez-Gibson arrived in Washington State from California when he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. Miguel has had a long and varied career in Washington State Government. Starting as a field forester and ultimately Deputy Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources, and most recently as the Executive Director of Legislative Affairs for Governor Jay Inslee. Miguel spent five years working in Washington's State House of Representatives Democratic Caucus as part of the Speaker of the House Leadership Team. He specialized in Natural Resources, Labor, and Energy policies.

Miguel spent time as an independent lobbyist and advocate for Tribes, Environmental Groups, and Latino Community advocates. He participated in developing landmark State Legislation, including creating Carbon Emission Reduction Goals, Puget Sound Partnership, Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Dream Act.

He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has a private counseling practice in Olympia. As well, Miguel is active as a musician and singer.

He has roots in Evergreen. He graduated in the class of 1989 and was selected by his classmates as the class speaker. He is proud that his youngest daughter is also an Evergreen Graduate.

Miguel's education also includes an Associate of Sciences Degree in Forest Technology from Peninsula College and a Master's in Community and Counseling Psychology from Saint Martin's University.

As well as his counseling and music work, he is the State Forest Policy Advisor for the Washington State Environmental Council. He recently served on the Board of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra and currently sings in the Capital City Chorus.

Among his life's adventures were his stint working for the New Zealand Forestry Department and studying flamenco guitar in Spain.

Ed Zuckerman

Expiration of term: September 30, 2024

Ed Zuckerman moved from the East Coast 1973 to attend Evergreen and has never left. He has made Seattle his home since 1979, working and raising a family there.



Ed has Greener blood in his core. He is a 1977 graduate with a BA degree, his father served on the faculty for 10 years until his untimely passing in 1987, his sister served as an adjunct professor in the 80’s, his ex-wife Mary Bond graduated from Evergreen in 1982, and his son Ira recently graduated with a BS degree in June of 2018.



Professionally, Ed has worked in the environmental advocacy and political space since he graduated from Evergreen and for the past 25 Years, Ed has served as a leader in the Conservation Voter Movement. Since 2007 he has served as a Senior Vice-President at the League of Conservation Voters, and prior to that he was the Executive Director of the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues and Washington Conservation Voters respectively. During his quarter century career with the League, Ed has been instrumental in building the local affiliate network of Conservation Voters throughout the United States which has grown from a handful in 1994 to over 30 today. Ed’s programs have become a national model for building local and state grassroots operations into political powerhouses for environmental and conservation advocacy.



Ed continues to live in Seattle. He is an avid bicyclist, both as a commuter and for recreation, including an extended ride down the West Coast from Canada to Mexico and from the top to bottom of New Zealand. He also volunteers a week each year to coach X-Country skiing in Arctic villages in Alaska.



Ed serves on multiple boards, including NatureBridge – Olympic, a proud partner of Evergreen. Ed has two grown children, Ellie and Ira, who are both living and working in Oregon.