Highline College

Explore Highline College

Connect with Highline College

Toggle Sliding Bar Area

Highline College Logo
Apply Now

Sep. 17, 2026: Institutional Advancement

Home/Area Reports, Division: Institutional Advancement, Meeting 09-17-26/Sep. 17, 2026: Institutional Advancement
2026-09-10T21:29:02+00:00 Print Page

Sep. 17, 2026: Institutional Advancement

Area Report for Board of Trustees

Throughout the summer, IA staff has been active on campus and in the community, both preparing for the upcoming academic year while also working with community partners on everything from community leadership development to showcasing Highline College to high school student participants in Workforce Discovery. The IA team helped raise the visibility of Highline College, including support for coverage of the WISH program which resulted in a Seattle Times front page article, continued advertising on Telemundo during the FIFA World Cup coverage, and setting the wheels in motion for a new series of ads at Kent Des Moines Station and internal ads on the 1-Line.

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

  • IA/PIO provided support for a series of interviews about the WISH Program that led to Seattle Times front page coverage on August 17.
  • The web team just launched the new
  • Communications and Marketing provided support for awareness campaign for Free ORCA Card Pilot program for 2026-2027 and kicked off a Kent-Des Moines Station Advertising Take-over on 9/7 along with 75 in-side the train advertisements on the 1-Line that will run through most of Fall Quarter.
  • 22 students received Summer Emergency Tuition scholarships and 31 students received Emergency Fund awards to cover crucial expenses to stay enrolled through HC Foundation.

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

  • July 10, 2026: Highline hosted the Seattle Southside Leadership Conference for third year in a row. More than 200 community members attended, including Highline Alumni and first time visitors to campus. Shout out to Conference Services, Public Safety and Custodial crew for helping prepare and welcome the community to Highline.
  • July 12, 2026 – IA participated in and provided significant support for second annual Shark in the Park, led by Rus Higley and the MaST team. More than 2400 people attended this community festival to celebrate the waters of Redondo and Des Moines in general as the Sixgill Shark capital of the world. In an amazing coincidence of timing, the 24 hour underwater camera operated by the MaST, a Sixgill Shark was captured on video a few days before the event. King County Parks, thanks to KC Councilmember Pete Von Reichbauer, is providing funding for the 2026 and 2027 events through Get Active/Stay Active.
  • Highline College hosted an aviation themed legislative town hall sponsored by Congressman Adam Smith on Saturday, 7/18 from 1-2 pm in B8; and later on 7/18 Dr. Penn participated in the Waterland Parade in Des Moines.
  • Highline hosted the Highline Forum on 7/22. Shakira Ericksen, Director of Government and Tribal Government Relations coordinated with members of Port of Seattle and Sam Kaplan, Director of the Center for Global Business Education presented on Highline’s Business Development Center.
  • The Center for Global Business Education hosted IUrban Teen’s AI for Good workshop on Saturday, July 25, for 40+ high school students from the metro area, and VP Gerstman delivered a welcome to attendees.
  • IA hosted Success Foundation/Seattle Southside Chamber’s Workforce Discovery Lab on August 10. Special thanks to Che Dawson for doing a presentation on Legal Studies and Sam Kaplan for leading an exercise on global trade and supply chain, using assorted candy as an example for barter and trade. The 60 high school students enjoyed their visit and seeing a different side of Highline College.
  • The Foundation team hosted WAFL, their statewide group of college foundation professionals. 60 individuals representing more than 24 colleges attended the two day meeting on 8/13-8/14.
  • VP Gerstman and Sharon Vail, Director of Philanthropy attended GESA Credit Union Affinity Card Partner’s check presentation at Museum of Flight on 8/20.
  • VP Gerstman and Director Ericksen coordinated and participated in individual meetings with Interim President Dr. Penn with King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain, Des Moines City Council Member Gene Achziger, City of Kent Exec Director of Gov’t Affairs Kyle Moore.
  • IA team attended City of Des Moines Strategic Plan roll-out on August 12; 828 Consulting 828 Celebration on 8/28, Seattle Southside Des Moines and Normandy Park Business Roundtable on 8/27, Rotary Blues and Brews on 8/29, and Soundside Alliance Policy Mtg andSeattle Southside Annual Airport Luncheon on 9/2.

Core Theme 4: CULTURE & CAPACITY: Become an anti-racist college through intentional development of employees, facilities, and systems that support student success and close equity gaps

  • IA Team met twice over the summer to celebrate the 2025-2026 academic year and engage in planning for 2026-2027. We appreciate Dr. Penn joining us for our planning retreat on August 19, 2026.
  • Foundation Board approved an initial $30,000 to establish an emergency fund for staff members to be managed by HR and funds distributed by the Foundation, with a max amount of $500 once per academic year.

Division Honors and Achievements

  • The Center for Global Business Education (Formerly Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain) and the SBDC/StartZone received significant funding from a private foundation to align the three programs under the banner of Highline College Business Development Center. The funding is significant enough to provide sustainable funding for at least 2 years.

Report submitted by Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joshua Gerstman