Cornish Recognizes Carver Gayton, PhD with 2007 Honorary Degree
Carver Gayton, PhD will receive an Honorary Degree from Cornish College of the Arts, to be presented at the Cornish Commencement Ceremony on May 15, 2007. "I have long admired the wonderful contributions Cornish has made to the arts community of the Seattle area", Gayton writes. "My father, son and cousin were direct beneficiaries of Cornish programs and I'm deeply honored to have been selected as the recipient of this year's Honorary Degree." In addition to receiving this recognition, Dr. Gayton will also address the Class of 2007 as the commencement speaker.
Dr. Gayton is the Executive Director of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle. He is also a workforce development/education consultant and teaches at the Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington. Dr. Gayton's career has involved him in various roles within the university, government and private sectors. He served as Commissioner of the Washington State Employment Security Department from 1997 to 2001. Previously he was Corporate Director of College & University Relations for the Boeing Company. Prior to coming to Boeing, he was an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Florida State University in Tallahassee, and an Instructor in Political Science as well as Director of Affirmative Action and Staff Training at the University of Washington. He was also a Teacher of History and English at his alma mater, Garfield High School in Seattle.
Over the years Dr. Gayton has served on a wide variety of national, state and local boards, including the University of Washington Alumni Association where he served as president; the National Advisory Panel, National Center for Postsecondary Governance and Finance; Seattle Municipal League; Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges; Pacific Science Center; KCTS-Channel 9 Board of Trustees; Board Chairman of Pioneer Human Services; Seattle School Board; Chairman, Independent Colleges of Washington Board of Trustees; and Chairman, The National Center for Occupational Research and Development Board of Directors. He has been a keynote speaker at national, state, regional and local conferences regarding educational reform issues. He has been a featured speaker in Amsterdam, Turkey, Canada, Jamaica and Bermuda on topics related to global education issues.
Dr. Gayton is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including membership with the University of Washington Oval Club Upperclassmen's Scholastic and Activities Honorary; Who's Who Among Black Americans; Who's Who in American Education; University of Washington Husky Legend; University of Washington Athletic Department Husky Hall of Fame; University of Washington Football Legend; University of Washington Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award; Fredrick Douglass Distinguished Scholars Honor Society, and Blacks in Government Outstanding Citizen Award. In 1993, the National Association of Partnerships in Education honored him as the recipient of the McKee Award, that organization's highest recognition. All of Dr. Gayton's degrees are from the University of Washington: Ph.D. Political Science; Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in History. Carver Gayton was born and raised in Seattle and is married with four children.
