Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access
Minutes
Attendees
Board of Trustees: Vice Chair Swenson, Chair Exstrom, Trustee Bowman
Executive Cabinet: President Mosby, Danielle Slota, Jamilyn Penn, Josh Gerstman, Acting VP Liz Word, Maribel Jimenez, Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye
Assistant Attorney General: Bruce Marvin
Absent: Chair Johnson
Study Session call to order: 9:03 a.m.
Discussion Topics
- 2nd quarter financial report – 20 minutes – Dr. Michael Pham
- Request for future discussion on the mission of the bookstore
- Discussion of Action items – 10 minutes
- Action item a. 2025-26 Student fee schedule
- Action item b. Athletic waiver
- Executive Session to discuss the performance of a public employee called to order at 9:51 a.m. for 20 minutes, extended to 10:30 a.m., executive session adjourned at 11:13 a.m.
- Tenure Recommendations
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access
General Session Minutes
Roll Call
Board of Trustees: Vice Chair Swenson, Chair Exstrom, Trustee Bowman
Executive Cabinet: President Mosby, Danielle Slota, Jamilyn Penn, Josh Gerstman, Acting VP Liz Word, Maribel Jimenez, Melanie Lawson, Michael Pham, Tim Wrye
Assistant Attorney General: Bruce Marvin
Absent: Chair Johnson
General Session called to order: 11:15 a.m.
Approve minutes
Approve minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of January 16, 2025 and the special meeting of January 13, 2025
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Opportunity for public comment
None
Standing reports
Highline College Education Association: Dr. James Peyton
Celebrated the faculty that are being voted on to receive tenure today. Reflected on current faculty activity, acknowledged the hard work of federal and state employees. We are doing good work regardless of what we hear from Washington, DC. HCEA and HCEA met with legislators to educate on the amazing work happening at the college. Discussed the financial needs of the ctc system. Thanked Executive Cabinet on the recent email regarding the Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter that went out on Feb. 14, 2025. Expressed gratitude to Acting Vice President Liz Word.
Washington Public Employees Association: Sarah Delaplaine
Shared updates in regards to WPEA and OFM. Congratulated the newly tenured faculty members. Grateful for recent conversation with Dr. Mosby. Looking forward to continuing to build their relationship with leadership. Bargaining continues with HC. WPEA members continue to become more involved with committee work at the college.
Faculty Senate: Sangeeta Sangha
Senate approved changes to AS criminal justice degree. First ever Senate social community building event.
Associated Students of Highline College: Hussein Al-Badri
ASHC visited Olympia this month advocating for affordable textbooks, housing insecurity, and safety.
Highline College Foundation: Sharon Vail
Donors are reaching out with questions, under VP Gertman’s leadership they forge ahead with the fact that the mission remains the same within current uncertain times.
Action items
Action item a. 2025-26 student fee schedule
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve the Student Fee Schedule for FY2025-26, as presented to the Board of Trustees on February 27, 2025Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Action item b. Athletic waiver
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, As provided by State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) Resolution 24-08-50, following discussion with Executive Cabinet, and following the recommendations of Vice President Pham, Vice President Penn and President Mosby
Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Action item c. Tenure recommendations
Trustee Bowman motioned to approve, Trustee Exstrom seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Probation be continued for the following first-year probationers:
- Katie Baker
- Benjamin Bates
- Natalie Hughs
- Kristen Raine
- Kevin Rainge
- Michelle Weingarden-Bandes
- Jamie Wilson
- Maggie Yeh
Probation be continued for the following second-year probationers:
- Prairie Brown
- Roark Congdon
- Kelly Converse
- Ahmed Fahad
- Skyler Fulton
- Lauren Hatch
- Audra Lord
- Aaron Ottinger
- Galia Sion
- Laura Sposato
- Kara Stuart
Tenure be granted to the following third-year probationers:
- Nikolay Barkov
- Cait Cramer
- Aaron Hayden
- Mary Kajoka
- Ann Korn
- Tylir McKenzie
- Cecilia Xing
Area reports
Administrative Services: VP Dr. Michael Pham
Congratulations to the newly tenured faculty. Written report stands as is.
Academic Affairs: Acting VP Liz Word
A month full of change and transition. Leading the division during change has been as much rewarding as it has been challenging. The division continues to thrive during times of uncertainty. Workforce, outreach, recruitment, and transition are doing great work. Interim Dean Reagan Copeland is overseeing workforce, expressed gratitude. Spoke to work in assessment, ELCAP, Learning & Teaching Center. Last week at the Achieving the Dream Conference accepted recognition for becoming an Achieving the Dream Leader College.
Student Services: VP Jamilyn Penn
Welcome to Partners breakfast hosted this morning which brought together ~ 40 partners form the high schools and local businesses. Excited about the opportunities that will come from this relationship building. Exciting work happening with Tukwila Promise program development.
Institutional Advancement: VP Josh Gerstman
Spoke to recent visit to Olympia alongside members of HCEA, trustees, and Highline staff. Unified voice for higher education. Truly appreciated how authentic our HCEA student representatives were in that space. Our legislators appreciated their voices. Expressed gratitude for ACHIEVE and the voice they are bringing to the Tukwila Promise conversation.
Equity, Diversity and Transformation: VP Dra. Maribel Jimenez
Congratulations to the newly tenured faculty. Written report stands as is.
Discussion
President’s remarks
Introduced Dr. Ezeonu to attendees. Begins her position as Interim Vice President Ezeonu on March 3, 2025.
Dr. Ezeonu expressed excitement to rejoin the community. Shared her intentions to listen and learn guided by love and respect.
Dr. Mosby spoke with HCEA re faculty surveys, met with WPEA for ideas and recommendations on positive change we can make to support our classified community. Expressed gratitude for the increased activity of WPEA members on campus.
Unscheduled business
New business
Adjournment
General Session was adjourned: 11:54 a.m.
Minutes Signed and Approved
The meeting minutes from Feb. 37, 2025, were approved and signed into record by Chair Johnson and President John Mosby on March 26, 2025
Mission Statement: As a South King County college striving for social justice, Highline College partners with global students as they envision, plan and achieve their educational and professional goals.