UNIVERSITY DISTRICT APPOINTS NEW 2026 BOARD MEMBERS

SPOKANE, Wash., January 8, 2026—The University District Development Association (UDDA) is pleased to announce six new board members for 2026. See this link for additional information about the UDDA board, including existing directors and officers. See this link for the press release.

 

Karlee Agee, Bouten Construction

After earning her bachelor’s degree in communications and business from Eastern Washington University, Karlee Agee joined the construction industry, where she found her passion for building communities through relationships, critical thinking, and collaboration. As vice president of operations at Bouten Construction, she leads with a focus on continuous improvement, always finding better ways to deliver value to customers while growing the company’s internal talent. In her role as marketing and communications leader, she’s committed to honoring Bouten’s legacy while positioning it to thrive for generations to come. A 2023 graduate of Whitworth University’s Institute of Leadership, Karlee also serves on the board of trustees of Vanessa Behan.

 

Ryan Arnold, Avista Corporation

Ryan Arnold is the Regional Business Manager for Avista’s Spokane Region, where he drives business growth and strengthens corporate relationships by engaging with the community, overseeing regional priorities, and incorporating local insights into strategic planning. Most recently, Ryan served as VP of Investment and Partnerships at My Green Lab, where he led fundraising, philanthropy, and corporate partnerships to advance the organization’s mission of building a culture of sustainability in science. He also served as Health Sector Lead for the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions Team, supporting the UN’s resilience initiatives for the global healthcare sector. Ryan holds an MBA in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School and has served as an instructor and thought leader on corporate social responsibility, business strategy, and entrepreneurship.

 

Pat Castaneda, Manzanita House

Pat serves as one of Manzanita House’s six founding members and leads with a spirit of service. She has a background in community organizing and immigrant rights advocacy. Pat was born in Venezuela, where she worked with government programs focused on sustainable development. She later moved to England to pursue her MBA and eventually immigrated to the United States in 2001. Before joining Manzanita House, she founded a nonprofit in North Carolina to support Venezuelans seeking to move to the U.S. In 2019, she moved to Spokane and worked alongside newly resettled refugees until joining Manzanita House in 2022. The YMCA announced Pat as one of its 2026 Women of Achievement honorees.

 

Alex Jackson, MultiCare

Alex Jackson joined MultiCare in 2018 and has served in a variety of roles, including leading medical groups and hospitals, and is now focused on community impact and advocacy. With over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience in both Portland and Spokane, he focuses on improving health care for patients, staff, and the community. Jackson has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina.

 

Angela Swenseid, STCU

Angela is the Senior VP of Accounting and Finance for STCU, based in Liberty Lake. STCU is a $6 billion-dollar, member-owned cooperative credit union in the Inland Northwest. Angela leads the accounting, finance, and treasury departments. Angela serves on the Spokane Arts board, which supports arts and culture in the region through grantmaking, programming, advocacy, and professional development. She holds a BS in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance from Eastern Washington University and an MBA from Washington State University.

 

Adam Swinyard, Spokane Public Schools

Dr. Adam Swinyard has served as the SPS superintendent since 2020. Dr. Swinyard previously served as the district’s associate superintendent for teaching and learning and director of secondary schools. In the fall of 2022, Dr. Swinyard was named the Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators. In December of 2022, he was recognized as a 'Superintendent to Watch' by the National School Public Relations Association. Under his leadership, Spokane Public Schools in 2024 was named a "District of Distinction" by the District Administration Leadership Institute for its work in providing access and opportunity to all students. A native of Deer Park, WA, Dr. Swinyard earned his B.A. in secondary education from Northwest University. He earned his M.Ed., Ed.D. in executive leadership, and Washington State Principal and Superintendent credentials from Seattle Pacific University. Before working in district administration, Dr. Swinyard was the principal at Sacajawea Middle School, where he was twice nominated for the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) Washington State Middle School Principal of the Year Award.