May 19, 2006

Dr. Elizabeth Chen  was named "Trustee of the Year" by Washington's Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges (TACTC).

“She has been a vital community leader and has been instrumental in developing and organizing programs for our city’s very diversified population,” says Mike Park, mayor of Federal Way. “Under her guidance, a very successful Chinese Language School was established through a partnership with Highline Community College. That effort, as well as numerous other community projects, led to her appointment to the college’s board of trustees.” Mayor Park notes that Federal Way, the state’s seventh most populated city, has one of the largest Asian American populations in the Northwest.

Chen takes a genuine interest in all Highline students and has been a fixture at a variety of college events and activities. Through her visible support of students and of the importance of diversity and inclusiveness on campus, she is a role model for students.

Her dedication to students extends to the faculty who serve them. The city of Kent, Washington, and Yangzhou, China, have a Sister City relationship, which is supported by Highline’s faculty exchange program with Yangzhou University. Chen has been instrumental in the success of these relationships.

“During the time of her first appointment, the college had adopted its first strategic plan, which included a significant commitment to creating an environment enhancing global understanding and perspectives. Dr. Chen was very generous with time, expertise and commitment to promoting our interactions with China, Taiwan and other Asian countries,” says Dr. Edward Command, who was Highline’s president during her appointment to the board in 1995. Chen was reappointed in 1999 and 2004. Command retired in 2000.

Chen currently serves as Highline’s board vice chair and served as chair twice (2001–02 and 1997–98). Outside of her duties as a trustee, she is an adviser to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and a board member of the South Puget Sound Chinese Language School.

“While her degrees are in mathematics [M.S. and Ph.D. in statistics, University of Wyoming], she is an expert in Chinese language and culture,” says Command. “She served as my translator and the college’s representative on many occasions here in Washington as well as when we visited China and Taiwan. There were many times that she demonstrated her knowledge of Taiwan and Chinese affairs and her exceptional cultural perspectives.”

Chen consistently supports Highline’s commitment to pursuing strategies that successfully serve its diverse and multifaceted community. She has been directly involved in assessing the college’s progress on serving students of color. She also promotes the increasing of faculty and staff of color, believing that faculty diversity will improve the recruitment and retention of students of color.

Her contributions extend beyond Highline’s campus. She has presented and facilitated sessions at national conferences. She has served as TACTC’s treasurer (2003–05). And, she has held many leadership roles in the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). Currently for ACCT, she is president of the Asian Caucus, chair of the Diversity Committee and a member of the board of directors.

“She has been instrumental in communicating with area and state governmental officials and business leaders for funding needed to work through the economic downturn our nation and state has experienced during the past years,” says Mayor Park.

Her quiet, yet powerful leadership style gives her great credibility with Highline students, faculty, staff, fellow trustees, legislators and community members.

“Our community and state are indeed privileged to have an individual like Elizabeth Chen quietly devote such an admirable effort to community betterment,” says Mayor Park.