Ferguson Appoints Jenifer Chao to Lead Asian Affairs Commission
Chao, a longtime public policy leader, will become executive director of Washington's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs on November 1.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed Jenifer Chao as executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, effective November 1, 2026. Nam Nguyen, who has served as interim executive director since 2024, has stepped down from the interim role.
Why it matters
The commission works to improve the lives of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander residents across Washington, and the executive director leads its work alongside a 12-member advisory board appointed by the Governor. The appointment fills a leadership role that had been held on an interim basis.
Chao brings more than 25 years of public policy and leadership experience to a commission overseeing a 12-member advisory board. The source does not detail any budget or staffing figures for the agency under her leadership.
The players
Jenifer Chao
Chao is a public policy and strategic leadership professional with more than 25 years of experience who previously directed the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Washington.
Bob Ferguson
Ferguson is the Governor of Washington, who appoints the commission's executive director and advisory board members.
Nam Nguyen
Nguyen served as interim executive director of the commission beginning in 2024 before stepping down from the role.
The details
Governor Bob Ferguson announced the appointment on Friday, and it takes effect November 1, 2026. Chao most recently worked with the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Advocating Together for Health (APICAT) and previously served as Director of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.
Timeline
1972: Gov. Dan Evans issued an executive order creating the Governor's Asian Advisory Council, the commission's origin.
1974: The Legislature formally created the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.
1995: The commission's name was changed to include Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians.
2024: Nam Nguyen began serving as interim executive director.
November 1, 2026: Jenifer Chao's appointment as executive director takes effect.
Roadmap
The commission traces its origins to Gov. Dan Evans's 1972 executive order creating the Governor's Asian Advisory Council, which the Legislature formalized in 1974. Chao's appointment carries that institution forward as its name and mandate have evolved, including the 1995 expansion to cover Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians.
Washington residents who engage with the commission on issues affecting Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities will have a new executive director beginning November 1. The change marks a leadership transition after an interim period that began in 2024.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at state commissions shape how agencies serve their communities over time. Chao's background in neighborhood and public policy work suggests a focus on community-facing governance as she takes over the commission.
Further reading
For more on state leadership changes, explore People coverage in our business section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lynnwood Times.
