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Staff

Grace Yoo - Director

Grace Yoo was appointed Executive Director of the Washington State Women's Commission in May 2023. Before joining the Women's Commission, Grace worked for Starbucks, where she led the company's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its retail stores. Her team was recognized by President Biden's administration as part of the Federal Buy Clean initiative.

Prior to joining Starbucks, Yoo served as a diplomat with the U.S. Foreign Service, where she covered topics such as human rights and labor issues at American embassies in China, Korea and Germany. In her overseas consular assignments, she advocated for the rights of Americans incarcerated in foreign countries and assisted victims of assault returning home to the United States. Yoo also served in several roles at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., including as an advisor to the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

Yoo received a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies from UCLA and a master's degree in international and intercultural communications from American University. She grew up in Edmonds, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Leah White - Staff
Leah White

Leah White joined the Washington State Women’s Commission in April of 2022.

Before moving to Washington State, Leah was a Legislative Policy advocate and then State Affairs Intern with the Alzheimer's Association - Tennessee Chapter. Her time was spend advocating for Alzheimer's-centered policies and educating Legislators and the public on how the disease as well as caregiving responsibilities disproportionately impact women, especially women of color.

Since completing her degree, she served as the Legislative Policy Fellow for the Women’s Commission where she worked to inform the legislature on domestic violence protection orders by compiling the voices and stories of women, domestic violence survivors, advocates, and legal aid attorneys. She left the Commission briefly to work for the Washington State Senate as a Committee Assistant for the Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs committee during the 2022 Legislative Session.

She is thrilled to be back at the Women’s Commission where she can pursue her passion for addressing the challenges facing women and girls, working to ensure an equitable future for all. She holds a B.S. in Political Science with a focus in Legal Studies from Southern New Hampshire University.

Erin Beck - Staff

Erin Beck joined the Washington State Women’s Commission in September 2023.

 

She has spent much of her life committed to education, whether it be teaching high school math, coaching youth sports, substitute teaching, or being a stay-at-home mother to her three children.  She has been a devoted volunteer to fundraise and support her family’s school and local lacrosse team.  She brings to the Commission her passion for lifting up women and families in her neighborhood, community, and state.

 

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University Wisconsin where she graduated summa cum laude and double majored in secondary education and mathematics.  When she is not volunteering or facilitating projects for the Women’s Commission, you can find Erin cheering her kids on during their many activities, hiking with her family and dogs in Washington’s beautiful surroundings, or grabbing coffee with friends in Olympia’s lively downtown.