Tracy S. Andrus, Andrus Center for Public Policy Chairman and fearless leader, passed away on the morning of March 12, 2024. Tracy was the second of three daughters of former Idaho Governor and Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus and Carol M. Andrus.
Tracy Andrus was a committed woman with great enthusiasm for improving the future of Idaho. As a Boise State University alumna, Tracy’s lasting impact is both profound and far-reaching. Tracy’s career endeavors ranged from owning a small business, working as a senior vice-president for Blue Cross, and serving as a business consultant. She led the Andrus Center for Public Policy as president starting in 2014. Her unwavering dedication to the Andrus Center and its work built nationally respected forums for addressing vital public policy issues of our time. Tracy’s life was woven with threads of resilience and commitment, especially to her family. Her journey is marked by inspiring tales of growing up in the Andrus household and accompanying her father to Washington, D.C., during his term as the interior secretary under the Jimmy Carter Administration. She overcame tremendous obstacles, including challenges with her health from an early age.
Tracy’s indomitable spirit, grace, and unwavering dedication to public service expanded the Andrus legacy. Her father was well-known for his love of the outdoors and for preserving the West’s open spaces. Tracy continued this legacy, championing the Andrus Center’s environmental and public lands work. Her passion for equality, particularly in leadership roles, echoed in her advocacy for women throughout her diverse careers to assume their rightful positions in government, businesses, and boardrooms.
A celebration of Tracy’s life will be hosted by the family and the Andrus Center on May 14, 4:00 PM at the Steuckle Sky Center at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. Due to space limitations, we request an RSVP for attendance.
In memory of Tracy, the family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in support of the Andrus Center Stewards of Tomorrow endowment, an effort that Tracy was very passionate about. The Stewards campaign invests in students’ experiences outside the classroom, enhancing academics and broadening the intellectual lives of the next generation of environment and public land stewards.