SEATTLE — Washington STEM recently tapped Lynne K. Varner to be its new CEO, according to a release from the organization.

Varner served in leadership roles at Washington State University for the last nine years, according to the release, most recently as an associate vice chancellor on the Everett campus. Before that, Varnrer was an award-winning journalist at the Seattle Times, where she was nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, the release said.

Washington STEM, a statewide education nonprofit dedicated to improving science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education for underserved communities, leverages STEM for social change, removing barriers to credential attainment, and creating pathways to long-term economic security for historically excluded students, according to the release.

“With decades of experience working on education issues and policy, Lynne is an accomplished leader with a life-long commitment to broadening access to education. She also has the deep respect of community leaders and policymakers across Washington state. I am excited that she will bring all of this to bear in her role as CEO," Mary Snapp, Washington STEM board chair, wrote in the release.