Jack Faris

Jack H. Faris, Ph.D in 1999 was Director of Community Strategies for the Gates Foundation.

"Jack Faris coordinates communications and helps guide the strategic direction for the Foundation. With a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago, Faris has more than 23 years of experience in communications and community relations. Among his community activities, his role as immediate past president of the Seattle Public Library Foundation stands out. Professionally, Faris most recently acted as executive vice president and general manager at Cole & Weber where he provided strategic direction to clients such as Boeing and Safeco, while sharing management responsibilities with the president. Faris serves on the boards of the Alliance for Education, Urban Enterprise Center, the Seattle Center Foundation and others."

"Jack Faris has been president of the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA) since February of 2005.

"Dr. Faris earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He was an associate professor with tenure at Towson University in Maryland until returning to Seattle in 1985 to join the advertising agency Cole & Weber in 1985. He was team leader for the Boeing advertising account for 12 years and was executive vice president and general manager of the agency. In 1999 he became director of community strategies for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and participated in the launch of the foundation's global health initiatives. In 2000 Dr. Faris was appointed vice president for University Relations at the University of Washington, a position he held until January of this year. In February, he was named president of WBBA.

"Dr. Faris also serves on the executive committees of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance for Education, and the Seattle Public Library Foundation. He is board chair of the Urban Enterprise Center, a member of the steering committee for the Initiative for Global Development and serves on the board of United Way of King County and IslandWood."


 * Advisory Board, Talaris Research Institute
 * Director, Global Partnerships