Dean Yamamoto, BS ’87, JD ’90

Chair, ALUMNI BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Honolulu, HI
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Dean Yamamoto, BS ’87, JD ’90, is the managing member of Yamamoto Hetherington, a law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii, which he founded in 2001. He focuses his practice on project development, project finance and utilities law, with a particular emphasis on representing companies engaged in the development, financing, and operation of utility scale energy infrastructure projects, as well as commercial real estate projects.

Yamamoto’s clients include many of the top energy companies in the United States, large institutional landowners, institutional lenders and investors, and project sponsors. His experience extends to all elements of development and finance. He is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, and Lambda Alpha International. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since 2016 and is recognized in the areas of administrative/regulatory law, energy law, energy/regulatory law, and real estate law.

Yamamoto is the chair of WashU’s Alumni Board of Governors and also chairs the Eliot Society Committee for Hawaii, a role he has served in since 2006. In addition, he currently serves on the National Council of Student Affairs and is the former co-chair of the Hawaii Regional Cabinet. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from WashU’s McKelvey School of Engineering in 1987, and graduated from the School of Law in 1990.

He and his wife, Jodi, are the parents of three children: Sean, Scott, and Spencer. Scott graduated from WashU with his bachelor’s degree from McKelvey School of Engineering in December 2024, and is continuing his studies towards a master’s degree at WashU. Dean and Jodi’s youngest son, Spencer, will be joining WashU in the fall as a member of the class of 2029.

Valerie Davisson, MA ’89

Immediate past chair, ALUMNI BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Palm Beach Gardens, Fl
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Valerie L. Davisson, MA ’89, currently works as an operating advisor to Orangewood Partners, where she provides consulting services in the area of human resources management. Throughout her career, Davisson has provided strategic management of human capital to several major corporations, including At Home, a leading retailer of home decor; Yum! Brands, Inc., which has over 50,000 restaurants in more than 150 countries and territories primarily operating the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell; and Brinker International, which operates or franchises more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories under the names Chili’s® Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

A career highlight for Davisson was watching At Home go public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016. Under her leadership, the company was designated a 2017 Great Place to Work and grew to more than 200 stores in 40 states.

Davisson received her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and earned her Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Washington University’s University College, now known as the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS), while working full-time. She is a proud supporter of CAPS through her role on the school’s advisory board and is actively engaged in other philanthropic work, including serving on the board of Elizabeth Toon Charities. In addition, Davisson is an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management and the International Women’s Forum, dedicated to the empowerment of diverse female leaders.

Reginald Binford, BSBA ’03, BS ’03

Vice Chair, Alumni Board of Governors
New Canaan, CT
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Reginald Binford Jr., BSBA ’03, BS ’03, is the founder and managing partner at Proviso Capital and previously held investment banking and financial positions at Wombat Capital, Accordion Partners, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Prior to pursuing a career in investment banking, Binford worked as a consultant at Accenture. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he concentrated in finance, accounting, and strategic management. He completed his undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a BSBA in finance.

Binford has served in volunteer leadership roles at WashU through his reunion committee, the Black Alumni Council, and the New York Regional Cabinet. He currently serves as co-chair of the New York chapter of the WashU Black Alumni Council.

Jayne Douglas, BS ’80

Vice Chair, ALUMNI BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Meredith, NH
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Jayne Douglas, BS ’80, is founder of Cardinal Coaching and Consulting, specializing in executive coaching, strategic planning, and medical monitoring in the health and non-profit industries. Prior, she earned her master’s degree in management and then spent 22 years at Pfizer in drug and device development, most recently as vice president, clinical development. She regularly contributed to the McKelvey School of Engineering through past involvement with the Women & Engineering Mentor Program and as a panelist for a Spring Summit — the premier annual Women & Engineering event. She has supported scholarships through the engineering, medical and CAPS schools and most recently has been involved with the Alumni and Parent Admission Program (APAP). Douglas has a strong legacy family, which includes an additional four Washington University alumni — a son, undergrad (’22), a son and daughter, WashU Medicine (’23 and ’20, respectively) and a husband, University College (’20). Douglas volunteers with numerous nonprofits and enjoys painting, hiking, walking, reading, and aqua aerobics in her free time.

Erin Harkless Moore, BSBA ’05

VICE CHAIR, ALUMNI BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Washington, D.C.
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Erin Harkless Moore, BSBA ’05, leads the fund and direct investment program for Pivotal Ventures, an organization created by Melinda French Gates to advance social progress in the United States. With nearly two decades of investment experience, building and managing customized portfolios for endowed institutions and family offices, Moore is responsible for identifying, investing, and overseeing a diverse portfolio of investments that drive breakthrough innovations and advance women’s power and influence. Harkless Moore graduated from WashU in 2005 with a degree in finance, international business, and English from Olin Business School. She has volunteered in numerous capacities for WashU, including serving as Reunion Class Gift co-chair and as a member of the Olin Alumni Board. Harkless Moore and her husband have two children and live on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. When not chasing after her kids, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, spending time with friends, travel, reading, and fiction writing.

Andrew Sternad, AB ’09

VICE CHAIR, ALUMNI BOARD OF GOVERNORS
New orleans, la
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Andy Sternad, AB ’09, is principal of Waggonner & Ball, an architecture, infrastructure, and landscape design studio within Moffatt & Nichol, the nation’s leading coastal engineer. He builds collaborative, cross-disciplinary design teams to help clients adapt to climate change, from sea level rise to urban heat, at scales from buildings to regional watersheds. He graduated from WashU with an undergraduate degree in architecture, where he was awarded the Widmann Prize and Schmerling Scholarship, and earned his Master of Architecture from Yale. Outside of work, he enjoys being on the water, ceramics, and swing dancing.