Highline Community College

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY

DATE: May 9, 2008

CONTACT: Lisa Skari, (206) 878-3710, ext. 3705, lskari@highline.edu

Highline Community College Names New President

DES MOINES, Wash. — On Thursday, May 8, 2008, the Highline Community Board of Trustees chose a familiar face to lead Highline Community College; interim president Dr. Jack Bermingham.

Upon the vote of 4-0 by the Board of Trustees to select Bermingham as the next president, the audience offered resounding applause and a standing ovation. The appointment will be effective immediately.

“The Board of Trustees fully supports Dr. Bermingham and we look forward to working together for the betterment of students and Highline Community College,” said Dr. Elizabeth Chen, Trustee and co-chair of the presidential search committee. “The board appreciated the participation by the faculty, staff, students and community, and wants to thank everyone for their input. We read all of it."

Bermingham served as academic vice president at Highline Community College for twelve years before his appointment to his current position as interim president during fall 2006. He is proud of the strong collaborative relationship that he helped foster between the administration and the faculty at Highline since 1994.  

Dr. Ruth Windhover, Highline College Education Association President, was pleased by the Board’s decision. “The appointment of Dr. Jack Bermingham will enable him to continue his exceptional leadership of the college in supporting student achievement, diversity, international education, basic skills attainment, and the economic growth of the region and the state. We look forward to continuing the strong collaborative relationship that he has helped foster between the administration and the faculty.”

In addition to his time at Highline, Bermingham has had a distinguished academic career.  He received his Ph.D. in history from the University of California at Santa Barbara and went on to a faculty appointment at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. He received tenure as a faculty member and later became dean of social sciences at Pacific Lutheran University. 

Bermingham’s passion for promoting access and student achievement brought him to the community college system. His commitment to serve all students effectively has led to national and regional recognition of Highline’s best practices related to diversity, international education, basic skills and the Honors Program.

“On behalf of the Student Body of Highline Community College, I would like to express heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Jack Bermingham on his appointment to the Presidency of this wonderful institution,” stated Steven Simpkins, Highline Community College Student Body President. “Working with him over the past year has been an incredible experience for me personally and I have no doubt that he will lead Highline to an even higher level of excellence and multicultural awareness in the years to come.”

As interim president, Bermingham strengthened collaborations with business, industry, community-based organizations, K-12 and baccalaureate institutions, resulting in successful partnerships and expanded economic development efforts.

"I commend the Board of Trustees on their decision to offer Dr. Jack Bermingham the permanent position of president. Through my work on the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, I've enjoyed a great relationship with the college during his interim presidency. As chair elect for the Chamber, I look forward to deepening the ties with Highline Community College under his leadership," said Dan Altmayer, Financial Advisor for Edward Jones.

With the appointment, Bermingham will now focus on the future of Highline Community College, its students and the South King County community.

“It is an honor and privilege to have been named the permanent president. We do important work at Highline Community College as we prepare students to live in a multicultural society and to work successfully in a competitive global economy. I will continue this work as I serve the college and community,” said Bermingham. “I was overwhelmed by the support I received both on and off campus while interim president, and will strive to meet to the changing needs of our region.”

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 9,500 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, on-line, and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington State, Highline takes a multi-cultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and noted author Ann Rule.

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