CWU Names Joseph Han Vice President of Operations

Central Washington University President James L. Gaudino has named Joseph K. Han Vice President of Operations. Han replaces Gene Shoda, who had been serving as interim Vice President of Operations.

“Dr. Han brings a wealth of experience from his 27 years as a college administrator involved in support services and strategic planning,” Gaudino said. “He has an impressive record as an innovator and we’re pleased to have him join the CWU leadership team.”

Han, who begins his new position on March 16, will be responsible for the Division of Operations, which includes Information Services (and information security), Institutional Effectiveness, Facilities Management, and Police and Parking Services.

“I found CWU appealing because of its status as one of the fastest growing higher education institutions in the west and because of the high quality of its facilities,” Han said. “With more than $130 million in new construction and renovations currently underway, it’s clear that Central is a campus that is moving forward in a positive direction.”

In 2016, Han was awarded the Medal of Excellence by the National Association of Campus Safety Administrators. He has also earned the President’s Award of APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (2015) and his division earned the Cleveland State University President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity (2015-16).

Gaudino noted that Han is uniquely equipped for his new job having not only experience as a university administrator but also having become a commissioned law enforcement officer while working as associate vice president of administration and operations and executive director of public safety at Cleveland State University.

“When Dr. Han was at Cleveland State, he was in charge of the campus police department. He decided to go through the police academy and become a commissioned officer so he could better understand the public safety staff’s needs and responsibilities,” Gaudino said.

Han has an EdD in educational leadership/higher education administration from Idaho State University as well as an MBA and an MA in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific University.

While at Cleveland State, Han served in the university president’s cabinet and was responsible for leading several capital projects, including a $48-million, bond-funded Center for Innovative Health Professional facility, and a $26-million, bond-funded deferred maintenance project.

Additionally, he previously worked as associate vice president of facilities services at Idaho State University and was director of facilities management and services at California State University, Chico.

Media contact: Richard Moreno, director of content development, 509-963-2714, Richard.Moreno@cwu.edu.

—January 31, 2017