PULLMAN, WA — Washington State University has appointed Kerri Davidson as vice president of Institutional Affairs and chief administrative officer (CAO/VP), a senior leadership position within the Office of the President focused on systemwide modernization and operational alignment.
Davidson will serve as a senior advisor and partner to WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell, leading efforts to strengthen collaboration across the university’s campuses, advance enterprise innovation, and optimize administrative operations.
“Kerri brings more than two decades of experience in higher-education leadership, organizational structure, and enterprise development,” Cantwell said. “Her collaborative spirit and analytical foresight will help us translate bold ideas into coordinated action across the WSU system.”
In her role, Davidson will oversee initiatives designed to improve consistency, efficiency, and communication across WSU’s multi-campus system. Her responsibilities include leading systemwide and presidential projects, fostering cross-campus partnerships, and advancing innovation-focused enterprise development.
“I am honored to join Washington State University and to contribute to its proud legacy of excellence, innovation, and service to the state of Washington,” Davidson said. “I look forward to working with President Cantwell, her outstanding leadership team, as well as faculty, staff, students, and the entire Coug community to help advance the university’s land-grant and R1 mission.”
Davidson most recently served as vice president and chief of staff at Utah State University. Prior to that, she spent more than 13 years at Arizona State University, where she collaborated with President Michael Crow and later supported Chris Howard, a two-time university president. Her background includes managing statewide logistics for Arizona’s COVID-19 response through a $100 million partnership between ASU, the state, and Tribal Nations, and helping establish a research excellence center at ASU’s Biodesign Institute under Nobel Laureate Leland Hartwell.
A first-generation college graduate, Davidson holds master’s degrees in healthcare innovation and organizational leadership and is a certified project manager and medical transcriptionist.
“This is a critical addition to our executive team,” Cantwell added. “Kerri’s leadership and expertise will be instrumental as we continue to modernize WSU, strengthen our statewide partnerships, and fulfill our mission as Washington’s land-grant university.”
Davidson began her new role at WSU earlier this month.
