Our Staff
Julie Ziegler
Executive Director
Julie joined Humanities Washington as executive director in 2009 after serving multiple terms on its board of trustees. Her previous career was in corporate philanthropy, where she gained skills in program and partnership development, not-for-profit management, and marketing at companies including Safeco Insurance, Bank of America Foundation, and U.S. Bank.
During her tenure at Humanities Washington, Julie’s accomplishments include securing the largest, multi-year grant in the organization’s history to expand programming to areas in need; growing private contributions by over 300% to diversify funding; improving the organization’s efficiency and clarifying its essential programmatic mission; overseeing the launch and development of two new programs, Prime Time Family Reading and Think & Drink, and the formation of the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions; and expanding the reach of programming to reflect the diversity of Washington State.
She is a member of the King County Funders group, the Fales Foundation advisory board, and the steering committee for the Washington Consortium for the Liberal Arts. She was also recently named to the Federation of State Humanities Councils board—the national leadership body that advocates for congressional funding for humanities programming—and serves on the executive committee. Originally from Yakima, Julie remains a steadfast advocate for the humanities, ensuring that Humanities Washington continues to be a statewide leader and active partner for communities across Washington State.
Contact Julie at (206) 682-1770 x110 or by email.
Eric Sanders, CPA
Associate Director
In Eric’s current role as associate director, he oversees internal operations including performance measurement and program evaluations, finances, governmental compliance, HR, IT, and strategic ad-hoc projects. Eric began his career at Ernst & Young after earning an accounting degree from San Diego State University. He served as a financial analyst for a publicly-traded pharmaceutical company in the Bay Area, worked as an auditor with KPMG Berlin and taught business English in Germany before moving to the Pacific Northwest, where he managed the finances and operations of a small Seattle-based company prior to joining Humanities Washington in 2006.
Contact Eric at (206) 682-1770 x106 or by email
Kristin Sullivan
Program Director
As director of the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, Kristin leads a folklife program aimed at studying, surveying, and supporting traditional culture throughout Washington State—including folk and traditional arts, foods, occupational activities, music, and more. Kristin has a PhD in anthropology and Master of Applied Anthropology degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a BA in Religious Studies from North Carolina State University. She moved to Washington from Maryland in 2016; there she was the director of exhibitions and research at an arts and heritage museum, and a partner folklorist for Maryland’s state folklife program. The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions will be a partnership between Humanities Washington and the Washington State Arts Commission/ArtsWA.
Contact Kristin at (206) 682-1770 x107 or by email.
David Haldeman
Communications Director
David is the editor of Humanities Washington’s Spark print magazine and blog, and oversees its social media, website, PR, and general marketing. He came to Humanities Washington after seven years in the nonprofit sector, first as a grantwriter at the Pacific Science Center, then in communications positions at the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Science History Institute in Philadelphia. A graduate of the University of Washington with a BA in journalism, David has written for the Utne Reader, CityArts, Chemistry International, the scientific journal Neurosurgery, and other outlets.
Contact David at (206) 682-1770 x108 or by email.
Anne Morgan
Development Director
As Humanities Washington’s lead fundraiser, Anne gets fired up about connecting people, organizations, and resources to create lasting value in our communities and transform our world for good. Anne earned a BA in philosophy from the College of William & Mary and a Master’s in sustainability leadership in Sweden. She is a novice rock climber, giraffe enthusiast, and vintage cookware collector. Connect with her about opportunities to engage Washingtonians in inspiring conversation and thoughtful inquiry, to chat about your favorite documentary, or to trade tips for growing tomatoes.
Contact Anne at (206) 682-1770 x103 or by email.
George Abeyta
Program Manager
George manages Humanities Washington’s Prime Time Family Reading program. He is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound with a degree in English, and has a certificate in editing from the University of Washington. George came to Humanities Washington after an internship in Village Theatre’s development department.
Contact George at (206) 682-1770 x104 or by email.
Hannah Schwendeman
Program Manager and Communications Coordinator
Hannah manages Humanities Washington’s Speakers Bureau program and also assists with communications. She received her BA in anthropology and law, societies, & justice with honors from the University of Washington. Upon graduating, she was one of six individuals selected to represent the College of Arts & Sciences 2016 class. In her spare time, she volunteers with University Beyond Bars, tutoring currently incarcerated men pursuing higher education.
Contact Hannah at (206) 682-1770 x101 or by email.
Maria Abando
Program and Development Coordinator
Maria assists with Humanities Washington’s development efforts, and as coordinator for the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Washington, and was previously an organizer for The Access for All Proposition 1 campaign with Cultural Access Washington. Maria was raised in Tacoma, and is also an active community volunteer and local artist.
Contact Maria at (206) 682-1770 x109 or by email.
Patti Nelson
IT Business Analyst
Patti oversees all aspects of Humanities Washington’s Salesforce database. Her career in technology spans 30 years, initially working for companies such as Attachmate Corporation and PhyCom Inc., and several years as a self-employed custom database programmer. She is now dedicated to the nonprofit sector after working for Senior Services for two years. In addition to her work at Humanities Washington, Patti offers database support as a volunteer to other local non-profits. She holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science and is a Certified Salesforce Administrator.
Contact Patti at (206) 682-1770 x105 or by email.