Whitworth Names Senior Avista Executive Jason Thackston as Vice President for Finance & Administration and CFO
Distinguished regional leader with long-standing community presence and strong university ties to oversee finance and administration
Whitworth University is pleased to announce longtime Avista executive and Spokane business leader Jason Thackston ’92 will join the university as vice president for finance & administration and chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Thackston’s 30-year tenure with Avista includes 17 years in executive leadership across finance, operations, strategy and policy. He will retire from Avista at the end of 2026 to begin his new role at Whitworth.
A Whitworth alumnus and current trustee, Thackston is a prominent regional figure whose move from corporate leadership signals a defining moment for the university.
“Jason Thackston embodies the very best of leadership, corporate citizenship and civic contributions,” Whitworth President Scott McQuilkin says. “Through his long and deep association with Whitworth, including as chair of the board of trustees, Jason has proven to be a trusted steward of our mission, guiding the institution with wisdom and foresight. In an ever-evolving higher education landscape, his expertise and acumen, and simply the caliber of his personhood, will contribute greatly to how we provide our students with a transformative Whitworth experience."
Thackston’s affiliation with Whitworth spans more than three decades. He began his professional career in the university’s business office. He joined the Whitworth Board of Trustees in 2011 and has since held several key leadership roles, including board chair (2014-20) and chair of the finance committee.
Thackston has also demonstrated sustained regional leadership through extensive service in nonprofit and civic organizations. He currently serves as immediate past chair of the Association of Washington Business and as chair of the University of Idaho’s Energy Executive Course Advisory Board. His board service includes the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, Spokane County United Way, the Health Sciences & Services Authority, and the Independent Colleges of Washington, reflecting a strong commitment to community well-being and regional collaboration.
“In my time serving alongside Jason, I’ve watched him bring rigorous governance discipline to our most complex financial and strategic challenges while remaining deeply grounded in Whitworth’s mission,” says Julie Levi, J.D., board of trustees chair. “His move into this role reflects his genuine commitment to stewarding our resources in service of that mission. The university gains an executive who understands not just our numbers, but our calling.”
Thackston and his wife, Julie, are both proud alumni of the Class of 1992. In addition, Julie earned her master’s in marriage & family therapy at Whitworth in 2018. Two of their five children, Emma ’20 and Sam ’22, are also alumni. Their son Daniel will attend Whitworth this fall.
“Whitworth has been an important part of my life,” Thackston says. “Both Julie and I appreciated the mind-and-heart education we received, and we have seen the transformative impact on our family. I believe strongly in Whitworth’s mission and am excited to join such a talented community committed to equipping students to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity.”
Thackston holds a master of business administration from Gonzaga University and completed the Advanced Management Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
“At this pivotal moment in the shifting landscape of higher education, I am thrilled to have Jason join the Whitworth community in this new way,” McQuilkin says. “He understands who we are and where we are going. His leadership will be instrumental as we thoughtfully continue to align our resources with our mission and invest in the university’s future.”
Thackston’s appointment will follow Vice President & Chief Operations Officer Ken Brown’s planned retirement at the end of 2026. Brown has served the university for more than 17 years, including as chief information officer before his current post. With strong and steady leadership, Brown has helped guide the university through significant operational, financial and technological developments, positioning Whitworth well for the future.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, 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.
