December 12, 2016
UW welcomes Joe Dacca as new state relations director
The University of Washington announced staffing changes in the Office of State Relations on Monday, naming Joe Dacca director of state relations.
Dacca succeeds Bernard Dean, who joined the UW on Sept. 1 after serving as deputy chief clerk for almost nine years at the Washington House of Representatives. Dean was recently offered and accepted the position of chief clerk of the state House of Representatives and will be leaving the UW effective Dec. 31. Dacca’s appointment begins Jan. 4.
“While I am sorry to see Bernard leave the University after just a brief period of time, the job of chief clerk is both a prestigious and critical position in the state Capitol and he felt that he could not turn this opportunity down,” said Randy Hodgins, the UW’s vice president for external affairs. “Joe brings an impressive set of credentials and experience, and we are excited for him to join the UW and represent the university in Olympia.”
Dacca currently serves as district director for U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, and has served in various positions in Kilmer’s federal office since January 2013, and before that worked for U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks from 2008 until the end of 2012. Dacca worked in then-state Sen. Kilmer’s office in Olympia in 2007 and 2008. Dacca holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the UW.
