Elizabeth Thomas
As Associate Director for Graduate Education and Associate Professor, Elizabeth teaches courses in the MACS and MAPS programs, advises students, and provides oversight of graduate curriculum, policies, and planning.
Elizabeth joined the UWB faculty in 2002. She earned a BA in Psychology from Georgetown University and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a community psychologist who works with her students and community partners to examine social and cultural contexts for learning, adolescent engagement in community-based settings, and the potential of arts-based and participatory strategies for community research and action. She teachers undergraduate and graduate courses on community and cultural psychology, research methods, psychology and the visual arts, and community-based program evaluation. Contact Elizabeth
Andrew Brusletten
As Program Manager, Andrew manages recruitment and admissions, advises students on course selection and degree completion, monitors student academic progress, and recommends degrees.
Andrew has been involved in education since 1991, when he began teaching English in Geneva, Switzerland. He has also taught and developed language learning curriculum in Japan and the US, most recently at UW Extension. He has been Graduate Program Manager with Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell since 2004. He has a BA in fine arts from Boston University and an MA in teaching from School for International Training. Contact Andrew
Lisa Olason
As External Relations Coordinator, Lisa advises students and recent graduates on professional development and builds campus-community partnerships.
Lisa's career spans more than 15 years in the nonprofit sector, including eight years in the field of international relief and development. She has worked as a project manager, volunteer coordinator, cross-cultural trainer, event planner, fundraiser, and therapist and has served diverse populations, including adolescents, the elderly, persons living with HIV/AIDS, survivors of domestic violence, and orphaned children. Lisa has a BA in Human Services from Western Washington University and an MS in Marriage & Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University. Contact Lisa
Leslie Schiffman
As Program Coordinator , Leslie monitors admissions process, provides general program support to students, faculty and public, and publishes the IAS graduate newsletter.
Leslie began her career at UW Bothell in August of 2003. As Program Coordinator for the IAS Graduate Office, she assists applicants and students with program information. Leslie graduated from UW Bothell in 2007 with a BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, American Studies. She enjoys museum visits, reading, golf, bridge, and fly fishing. Contact Leslie
Joy MacTavish-Unten
As Graduate Staff Assistant, Joy contributes to the successful operation of IAS Graduate Programs through program promotion, student recruitment, and administrative support.
Her educational background includes dual degrees from UW Seattle in Comparative History of Ideas and Women Studies, as well as a minor in Diversity Studies. Joy's past professional experiences include summer camp counselor, barista, homeless shelter supervisor, Students in Service Americorps member, certified birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, teaching assistant and nonprofit board member. Joy feels the common thread in these diverse roles is her passion for working with others to assist them in envisioning and obtaining their own goals.