Yolanda Cieters

Yolanda is a graduate of the "Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)" (Brussels, Belgium) with a Masters in Contemporary History, specializing in Immigration studies, and a Masters in International Humanitarian Aid from the "Université Catholique de Louvain" (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium). She also holds a post-masters degree in Teaching. She is the author of "Chileans in Exile: Their Immigration, Reception and Integration" (2004), published by the "Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)" Press, and worked for the Regional Integration Center of Brussels, providing social orientation programs to newcomers. After relocating to Seattle, she worked at the World Affairs Council and Pacific Village Institute promoting international exchange for professionals and developing cross-cultural and global issues curriculum for high school students and educators. Yolanda also worked several years in documentary production. She assisted in the production of feature-length documentaries on topics such as Fair Trade, Motherhood, and The Ecological Footprint; and edited over forty short films for Longhouse Media, a non-profit organization seeking to catalyze Indigenous people and communities to use media as a tool for self-expression, cultural preservation, and social change.

Yolanda joined Seattle University in 2015 where she manages the institution’s sustainability initiatives. In this role, she collaborates with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders to plan, assess, and improve SU’s climate action and sustainability performance. She is the recipient of the 2018 Seattle University Lee Thurber Outstanding Staff Award. Since 2022, Yolanda serves as co-chair of Seattle University's Laudato Si Action Platform (LSAP). Outside SU, Yolanda teaches at the “Oranjeschool,” supporting elementary school students in maintaining and nurturing their Dutch heritage language.