We are thrilled to welcome two outstanding professionals to our Political Science administrative team. Together, their combined expertise in institutional operations and community-focused solutions will greatly benefit our department. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome!
Administrator Ed Connery
Ed has been at UW since 2011 with experience in educational and operational aspects of academic programs. Most recently, Ed has been the Administrator in the Department of Dance managing payroll & HR, budgets, facilities, and general department operations. Before that, he spent almost a decade in various academic/student services roles in engineering and interdisciplinary sciences. Ed completed his master's degree at the University of Wisconsin and bachelor's at UC Berkeley (including a Political Science major!). Outside of UW, Ed enjoys the local trails, black coffee, funny podcasts, and good conversation. He can also be found teaching the occasional yoga class and is always interested in a new recipe recommendation. Ed lives in Issaquah with his architect wife, soccer-player son, and their rescue dog.
Office Coordinator Natalie Lanza
Natalie joined the University of Washington's Department of Political Science bringing with her a passion for public service and community engagement. After graduating from Central Washington University, she dedicated three years to nonprofit work where she developed a deep understanding of diverse communities while supporting individuals through addiction recovery and homelessness services. Natalie's experience spans both direct client care and organizational operations, including donor relations, social media management, and program documentation. Her compassionate, solutions-driven approach perfectly complements the mission of our Political Science community. Outside of work, Natalie embraces Seattle life through culinary exploration, walks around Green Lake, pottery-making in her home studio, and ongoing volunteer commitments. We are confident her unique combination of humanitarian values and operational skills will make valuable contributions to our department.