Whitworth’s Sinéad Voorhees Recognized for Empowering Students and Building Community Through Business Education
The YWCA recognizes its nominees as having uplifted and inspired others in a powerful way through their work. There are 63 nominees this year.
Voorhees came to Whitworth in 2012. Under her leadership, Graduate Studies in Business has added two new master’s degrees and seen the Master’s in Business Administration program double in size.
Voorhees was promoted to assistant dean in 2021, making her the first dedicated dean of graduate business studies at Whitworth. That same year, she co-founded and launched the Whitworth Institute of Leadership.
“We are thrilled to see Sinéad nominated for the YWCA Women of Achievement Award,” says Tim Wilkinson, dean of the School of Business. “She has an unshakable belief in the power of education to change lives and works tirelessly to show our students that they matter, not just in the classroom, but in the world. Her innovative leadership and her deep commitment to community make her exactly the kind of person who lifts our entire school, and society, forward. We are proud to stand beside her in this well-deserved recognition.”
Voorhees is consistently recognized in the Spokane community for her dedication and drive. In 2014, she was recognized by Bozzi Media in Spokane/Coeur d’Alene magazine as one of the Inland Northwest's Top 20 Under 40 rising professionals. In 2019, she was featured on the cover of the same magazine as one of the top 20 women in business leadership. Also in 2019, she was recognized as a Spokane Journal of Business Rising Star, an honor given annually to 10 deserving professionals under 40 in the Inland Northwest.
The 2026 YWCA Women of Achievement nominees embody the mission of YWCA Spokane by giving generously of themselves to make Spokane a better place for all to live. Congratulations to all the nominees. The finalists will be announced in January.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu
