When David Edwards signed up for an acting class in 2013 at the University of Washington Bothell, he had no idea where it would lead.
For Edwards, who graduated with a degree in Law, Economics & Public Policy in 2015, the class taught by Deborah Hathaway, then a lecturer in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, was a game-changer.
“Public speaking and the ability to communicate have been instrumental to my success,” he said. “I never thought I’d get that skill set from an elective.”
Twelve years later, the two are also still in touch via email and the occasional coffee meetup.
“He is the type of person who just lifts up everyone around him,” said Hathaway, now director of learning and teaching in the Office of Student Academic Success. “He makes people feel incredibly comfortable — so empowered and cared for.”
Edwards was recently chosen for 425 Business magazine’s “40 Under 40: 2024” — a list of “some of the best, brightest and most ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs the Eastside has to offer.”
Developing foundational relationships
Drawn to UW Bothell for its small class sizes, top-notch academics and close-to-home location, the Kirkland native went on to earn a law degree at Seattle University in 2018. “The strong writing skills I gained at UW Bothell helped me get through law school,” he said.
Since then, he has devoted his career to public service. Along with full-time work managing Equal Employment Opportunity investigations for King County Metro, he also serves as a Woodinville City Councilmember.
Edwards is a second-generation Husky and is quick to credit the mentorship, connections and abilities he gained at UW Bothell as the engine of his post-academic success. “Classes taught me a lot of great educational skills,” he said, “but it was really the relationships I built that provided me with the skill sets I used later in my career.”
He still marvels at the willingness of UW Bothell professors — calling out Hathaway and professor emeritus Alan T. Wood specifically — to extend themselves to their students. “I would go to them for advice and feedback,” he said. “They helped me gain the ability to network and build strong working relationships … and that can be applied to any career path.”
Hathaway recalled an uncommon level of maturity in the young Edwards. Even though he had no intention of pursuing acting as a career, she recalls that he took her acting class seriously, realizing the power of harnessing his voice to connect with others.
Building connections through service
The student community was another source of inspiration and connection for Edwards. Excited about the great people he was meeting on campus, he decided to get more involved. With no prior experience in student government, he ran for a seat on the Associated Students of the University of Washington Bothell as a sophomore and was elected to the Senate.
After his first year of service, there was no looking back for Edwards. He went on to become ASUWB vice president as a junior and served as its director of business operations as a senior.
A highlight of his time in student government was his participation on one of the University chancellor’s advisory groups, where he served alongside leaders from across the campus. “I was the student in the room, voicing opinions and concerns,” said Edwards.
He also joined in early planning for the Activities & Recreation Center and was part of the hiring committee that help select Bjong Wolf Yeigh, UW Bothell’s chancellor from 2013 to 2021.
Along the way, Edwards said, he forged bonds with staff members who became important mentors. Andrea Ramirez was the director of Student Engagement & Activities at the time, and Kelly Snyder headed Government & Community Relations. “I worked with them for three years,” Edwards recalled. “They really helped shape my path in public service later on and gave me a road map on how to proceed.”
To this day, Edwards maintains contact with his mentors.
Coming full circle after graduation
It was an ASUWB adviser who first suggested Edwards consider public service as a future path. That conversation came full circle in 2019, when Edwards became the youngest-ever person to be elected a hospital commissioner for EvergreenHealth.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit soon after, he and his colleagues faced a steep learning curve. On the front lines of the pandemic, Evergreen treated the first two COVID-19 patients in the U.S. “When COVID-19 was first identified in the United States,” Edwards said, “there was little guidance nationally on how to effectively handle a pandemic of that magnitude.
“It really showed me how effective leadership in times of crisis can help an organization survive when there are no best practices in place to follow.”
Armed with new skills and an ever-wider network, Edwards threw his hat into the ring for a seat on the Woodinville City Council in 2023 — and won it. At 32, he is the council’s youngest serving member. He chairs the city’s engagement subcommittee, encouraging greater citizen involvement in decision-making, and has worked on rental protections for tenants. Edwards also represents Woodinville regionally as a member of the Sound Cities Association’s public issues committee.
Like many Puget Sound cities, Woodinville is facing considerable growth, he noted. To help the city navigate change, Edwards leans into his ability to collaborate with fellow councilmembers. It’s a skill that took root in his undergraduate days: “At UW Bothell, I learned that effective collaboration is needed in order to get the best positive outcome when advocating for communities you serve.”
Paying it forward
Edwards is eager to see others follow in his footsteps as active members of the community.
“Younger generations are not typically at the decision-making table,” he said. “I strongly encourage them to get involved in politics to ensure that the decisions being made reflect their interests.”
A decade later, the call to public service that was founded on the connections he made at UW Bothell is still strong.
“My experience at UW Bothell built a passion to serve the community,” he said. “I’m always looking to see where I can have the biggest impact.”
