Dow Constantine Appointed to UW Board of Regents

CBE alumnus and regional leader brings deep roots in planning, policy, and community impact

Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed Dow Constantine (MUP ’92, JD ’89, BA ’85) to the University of Washington Board of Regents, reaffirming the University’s tradition of leadership that bridges scholarship, public service, and community impact.

A lifelong Seattleite and proud Husky, Constantine brings decades of experience in regional governance, sustainable development, and civic innovation. For the College of Built Environments (CBE), his appointment represents both a point of pride and a powerful connection between academic insight and public leadership.

A Husky Through and Through

Constantine’s UW journey began as an undergraduate studying political science and continued through law and urban planning, earning three degrees that reflect his lifelong interest in how systems, laws, and design intersect to shape communities.

“The College of Built Environments taught me to think about how people and places interact, how infrastructure, design, and policy come together to form the foundation of community life,” Constantine said. “Those lessons have guided me throughout my career in public service. I learned to see every decision not just as a policy question, but as part of the built environment that defines our region’s future.”

His parents met as UW students, and his grandfather and great-uncle played Husky football. Even his early community work was rooted in campus life, DJing at the UW radio station (then KCMU, now KEXP), where he met his wife, Shirley.

Shaping a More Connected and Sustainable Region

Constantine served four terms as King County Executive (2009–2025), overseeing one of the nation’s largest county governments and a $17 billion budget. Under his leadership, the county made historic investments in housing, transit, and environmental restoration, including the Clean Water Healthy Habitat initiative, which restored salmon runs and improved Puget Sound water quality, and the Health Through Housing program, which converted hotels into permanent housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness.

In April 2025, Constantine became Chief Executive Officer of Sound Transit, where he now leads the largest light-rail expansion project in the country. His vision emphasizes climate-conscious infrastructure and equitable access to opportunity, values that mirror CBE’s teaching and research in sustainable urbanism and inclusive design.

“Dow’s leadership demonstrates how the principles we teach, such as equity, systems thinking, and sustainability, can be applied at scale to transform lives,” said Ken Yocom, John and Rosalind Jacobi Family Endowed Dean of the College of Built Environments. “His work in public service has consistently bridged the gap between vision and implementation, between policy and people.”

Constantine has also been a strong supporter of historic preservation, cultural investment, and environmental stewardship, advocating for the preservation of Pike Place Market and supporting creative placemaking initiatives through 4Culture, King County’s cultural funding agency.

“Planning is about people,” Constantine said. “It is about designing systems that work for everyone, from how we move through our cities to how we protect our shared resources. That is the through-line from my time at CBE to my work today.”

Dean Yocom emphasized that Constantine’s background embodies the College’s mission in action.

“Dow’s appointment reminds our students and faculty that the work we do does not stay within the walls of Gould Hall. It shapes policy, infrastructure, and opportunity across our region,” Yocom said. “We are proud that one of our own will now help guide the University’s future at the highest level.”