SEATTLE – Washington Federal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WFSL) today announced the appointment of Liane Pelletier to its board of directors.  Pelletier most recently served eight years as CEO, President and Chairman of Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK), a telecommunications firm headquartered in Anchorage from which she retired in April 2011.   Prior professional experience includes 17 years with Sprint Corporation where her last position was Chief Strategy Officer. She earned a BA in Economics from Wellesley College, and an MS in Management from the Sloan School at M.I.T. Pelletier currently serves on the board of directors of Icicle Seafoods, Inc. and as a Trustee at the Nature Conservancy.