W. Ron Allen
The 2009 Charles E. Odegaard Award Recipient W. Ron Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Office Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
The Odegaard Award was established in April of 1973 to honor a member of our community whose leadership sustains President Odegaard’s distinguished work (1958-1973) on behalf of diversity at the University of Washington and the citizens of this state. It is the only University and community selected award and is regarded as the highest achievement in diversity at the University. As the 2009 recipient, W. Ron Allen joins an outstanding list of civic leaders including former Seattle Mayor Norman Rice, State Representative Phyllis Gutierrez-Kenny, King County Executive Ron Sims, Costco Wholesale Chairman Jeff Brotman and a host of civil rights activists.
W. Ron Allen has served for over 30 years as a Tribal Chairman and Chief Executive Director for the Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe. His work in the fields of tribal sovereignty, treaty rights and government relations empower the goals of the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D) and the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Dedicating himself to the advancement of political, cultural and economic interests of indigenous peoples, Chairman Allen has provided an excellent model of leadership for all culturally diverse communities. For over 20 years, he has served on the Executive Board of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) including serving as President for 4 years. NCAI is based in Washington, DC and is the preeminent national native inter-tribal organization defending tribal and indigenous rights.
As an alumnus of the University of Washington, Chairman Allen has worked diligently to foster relationships between the university and our Northwest region’s tribes. Through an effort that has spanned several years, he provided leadership in early meetings between President McCormick and the tribal nations and continues to work with President Emmert’s administration to further enhance tribal relations for the betterment of the entire University of Washington Community. Also an active member of the Tribal Leadership Summit Host Committee, Chairman Allen actively assists with these government-to-government meetings focused on creating beneficial and substantive partnerships between the regions tribes and the University of Washington.
His leadership can also be seen through the various diversity-related projects he is involved in, including his roles as a Co-Chair of the House of Knowledge Planning and Advisory Committee. Chairman Allen has been a steadfast advocate of this project, actively engaging government officials, private supporters and fellow tribal leaders to build the facility that will help others achieve their educational goals at the University of Washington. The House of Knowledge will function as a symbol of recognition for our region’s first people and as a portal for university and tribal collaboration. Once only a dream, the House of Knowledge is on its way to becoming a reality.