Area Report for Board of Trustees

Happy Spring Quarter!  The beginning of a new term brings renewed energy and optimism to our campus community. I am delighted to share that our enrollment remains stable, a testament to the steadfast commitment of our students and the dedicated efforts of our faculty and staff.

As we look ahead, preparations are well underway for Commencement, which will be held on June 18, 2026, at the ShoWare Center. This significant occasion marks an important milestone in the lives of our graduates, and we eagerly anticipate celebrating their achievements, resilience, and hard work.

In addition to these developments, it is my pleasure to welcome our newest Trustee, Lorraine Chacere, to the Board. We are excited to have her join us and are confident that her expertise and perspective will be invaluable to the college. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Trustee Chacere as she begins her service with us.

Thank you all for your continued support and unwavering dedication to our mission. Together, we will continue to advance the success of our students and the vitality of our college community.

Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

• Attended Highline College’s Respiratory Care Program Class of 2026 Pinning Ceremony. 
• Welcomed twenty-three international students to Highline at the International Student Program (ISP) Spring Orientation session
• Met with Dr. Tanya Powers, Dr. Rolita Ezeonu, and staff from the Puget Sound Education Service District (PSESD) to discuss a grant opportunity, referred to as ElevatED, in partnership with PSESD and the Ballmer Group. Funds from the grant will support working paraeducators of color in the Puget Sound region who want to earn a BA and Teacher Certification AND connecting with districts/Teacher Academies to create pathways to continue to fill para positions.

Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued, visible relationship with communities we serve

• Convened with members of the Highline College Foundation Board (HCFB), where I provided a brief report on campus-related activities, including of the Governor’s appointment of new Trustee Lorraine Chachere. 
• Joined Josh Gerstman and Shakira Erickson in a meeting with Shayna Daitch, staff member for Senator Patty Murray. 
• Attended Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC) leadership two-day monthly meeting. Primary focus of this meeting was a deep debrief about the recent short legislative session, which profoundly impacted the Community and Technical College (CTC) system—Reduction of funding for Running Start, end of funding for Centers of Excellence, for example.
• Joined the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Allocation Projection Walkthrough and Q&A for WACTC leaders, which was presented by Stephanie Winner, Operating Budget Director at the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC). Dr. Pham was also in attendance at this meeting. 
• Joined the New Door to Opportunity: Workforce Pell Information Session hosted by SBCTC. Washington State is preparing to launch Workforce Pell, a new federal expansion of Pell Grants that will allow eligible students to use financial aid for high-quality, short-term workforce training programs. Dr. Penn joined leaders from the Governor’s Office and a Cross-Agency Steering Committee to learn what Workforce Pell is, how Washington is approaching this opportunity, and what this means for employers, colleges, training providers, and students.

Report submitted by Interim President, Dr. Jamilyn Penn