ABOUT MICHAEL KERN

Principal, Michael Kern Consulting, LLC

From 2010-21, Michael was Director of the William D. Ruckelshaus Center at Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Washington (UW). Under his leadership, the Center tripled its budget, endowment, and core faculty/staff. It successfully conducted many important collaborative policy projects that proved the value of an independent convener at the state’s flagship universities, helping create lasting, consensus solutions.

​

“(Michael’s) work with the Ruckelshaus Center has made a durable and inspired contribution to our universities, our communities, and our great state of Washington.” –- Presidents Ana Mari Cauce (UW) and Kirk Schulz (WSU)
 

"Thank you ... for your expertise and commitment to effective collaborations!” –- John Turack, Penn State University

Prior to leading the Ruckelshaus Center, Michael was a Senior Associate at Triangle Associates Inc., providing facilitation, mediation, strategic planning, project management, and other services. He has also provided these services at nonprofit and academic institutions for the North Cascades Initiative, Hatchery Reform Project, Hanford Openness Workshops, Tribal Risk Roundtable, and other projects.

​

Michael is a Distinguished Practitioner at the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance; Adjunct Associate Professor at WSU Extension; Adjunct Professor at Seattle University's Institute of Public Service Master of Public Administration Program; Director of Special Projects at UW’s Center for Urban Waters/Puget Sound Institute; was Visiting Faculty at the University of Wyoming's Ruckelshaus Institute in 2018-19; and served as a Fulbright Specialist in Israel in 2022, in the area of Peace & Conflict Studies.