The following written updates have been shared with the BC community.
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 9:21 PM
Dear BC Community,
We are pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees selected Dr. David May as the next president of Bellevue College. Dr. May’s first day as president will be July 1, 2023.
Throughout his career, Dr. May has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, equity, and inclusion in the state of Washington. Holding a doctorate in political science from Washington State University, May is an expert in the area of Supreme Court politics who centers equity and incorporates critical race theory in his curriculum. He is passionate about the role of higher education in producing responsible and engaged citizens and as an engine of social mobility. Recognizing the critical role of public higher education as a point of access, opportunity, and excellence, Dr. May is focused on expanding educational opportunities for the entire range of diverse students in our state.
As the next president of Bellevue College, Dr. May will bring a fresh perspective, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for excellence. Dr. May will lead innovative visioning and planning for the college, foster an inclusive campus culture rooted in trust and transparency, and strengthen partnerships with local businesses and community organizations. He will work closely with students, staff, and faculty to create a welcoming environment that builds community and maximizes opportunities for student learning, engagement, and success.
A more comprehensive introduction of Dr. May to the BC community is planned for the summer. In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Dr. May to the Bellevue College community. We are confident that his leadership will advance our mission of providing high-quality education, promoting student success, and fostering innovation and excellence.
Thank you to the BC Community for your engagement and input throughout the search process, which began back in Fall 2021 with the launch of the BC Priorities Project. To make this difficult decision, the Board carefully considered each candidate’s qualifications, experience, and alignment with the BC Priorities, along with extensive feedback from the campus community. The feedback we received was critical in ensuring we identified a highly qualified and capable leader to guide our college forward.
Sincerely,
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 3:47 PM
Dear BC Community,
Next week, we expect the Board of Trustees will select the next president of Bellevue College.
We want to begin by thanking every person in the Bellevue College community who participated in the presidential search and provided feedback on the candidates. We were pleased by the hundreds of people who participated at various points during each candidate’s 10+ hours of interviews. Your involvement and perspective are critical to the Board in our evaluation of the candidates and we sincerely appreciate the time and energy you committed to engage in the search. The Board will read every comment submitted and seek to identify consistent feedback tied to the themes from the BC Priorities Report, which will inform the Board’s discussion on the candidates.
What is clear to us so far in reviewing the comments submitted, is that we have a very competitive candidate pool, and that our candidates bring varied backgrounds and areas of strength. While it will be impossible to select a candidate who is every person’s top choice, we feel confident that we have a tremendous group of well-qualified finalists to select from who will boldly lead Bellevue College into the future.
The Board will meet in two Special Meetings in the next week. The first meeting is scheduled this coming Friday, March 24 at 2 PM when the Board will meet in executive session (which is closed to the public) to discuss the qualifications of the applicants. No final action will be taken during this Special Meeting. The second Special Meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, March 28 at 5 PM. At this time, we expect to vote on the selection of the next president during this meeting.
Once again, we want to reiterate our thanks to the broad BC community for your participation in the candidate interviews over the last 2 weeks. This is a very exciting time for the college and we are optimistic about our future.
Sincerely,
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 9:47 AM
Dear BC Community,
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce four finalists for the President position at Bellevue College: Dr. Darrell Cain (he/him), Dr. Cory Clasemann (he/him), Dr. Tonya Drake (she/her), and Dr. David May (he/him). Students, faculty, and staff at Bellevue College can learn more about each of these candidates at the Bellevue College President Finalist SharePoint site (BC log-in required.)
During the weeks of March 6 and 13, finalists for the Bellevue College president position will visit campus. Each candidate will participate in a Presidential Candidate Open Forum, which will be open to all members of the BC community. This session will be hybrid, so available both in-person and remotely; however, we encourage those who are able, to attend in-person to provide a warm BC welcome to candidates. The sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend. Recordings will be available on the Bellevue College President Finalist SharePoint site approximately 3 hours after each forum.
If you would like to submit a question for consideration in the Open Forum, please submit a question through this online form by noon on Friday, March 3. Questions for the forum will be prepared in advance and remain consistent for each candidate.
There will be opportunities to provide feedback on each candidate via anonymous surveys. The survey links will be available next week on the Bellevue College President Finalist SharePoint site. Please participate as your response will be a valued component of the Board’s hiring decision.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
Candidates are listed in the order of their interviews.
Dr. Darrell L. Cain is an educator who utilizes education as an opportunity conduit for social change. He grew up in the city of Gary, IN, and is a first-generation college student. Presently, he serves as the Interim President of Everett Community College. Dr. Cain has held several leadership positions in higher education, including becoming the first African American President of Pierce College, Puyallup. Dr. Cain holds a firm conviction for teaching and learning and has held several teaching positions and currently teaches in the graduate school at the University of Maryland Global College. He has over 15 years of teaching and research experience and has presented and authored numerous articles. His research interest centers on the Pedagogical Implications of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Student Retention and Success, and Learning Outcomes Assessment. See full candidate biography.
Dr. Cory Clasemann has over 23 years of higher education experience, leading initiatives at both 2-year and 4-year institutions to increase retention, completion, and student success overall. Currently working as a consultant with educational institutions and non-profit organizations, he is also the former Vice President for Student Success at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, where he oversaw innovative retention initiatives, academic advising, student life, and holistic wraparound supports for the 19-campus statewide college. During this time, Dr. Clasemann worked with faculty and staff to implement and scale evidenced-based approaches to increase success and completion for all students, including the implementation of transformative initiatives such as 8-week courses, Guided Pathways, and required advising. Prior to joining Ivy Tech in 2012 as the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research, he served as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness at the University of Indianapolis, and prior to that worked at Creighton University. He has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Creighton University, master’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University. See full candidate biography.
Dr. Tonya Drake has dedicated her career to expanding access to high-quality, career-focused education and has a strong commitment to education and student success. She currently serves as Chancellor and Regional Vice President for Western Governors University overseeing the strategic direction for nine states: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. She has extensive experience in leadership positions and more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including: Chancellor and Regional Vice President, Western Governors University; Vice President for College Relations and Advancement at Edmonds College; Chief Diversity Officer at Edmonds College; Vice President and Dean of Student Success at Shoreline Community College; and administrative positions at Maricopa Community College District, Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona State University, and the University of Washington. Dr. Drake holds a Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy Studies and Master of Education from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Business from University of Washington, and an Associate degree from Lower Columbia College. See full candidate biography.
Dr. David May is in his third decade as an educator and leader in higher education in the state of Washington. A Pacific Northwest native, he has focused his career on student success and regional partnerships. Holding a doctorate in political science from Washington State University, Dr. May is an expert in the area of Supreme Court politics. He is passionate about the role of higher education in producing responsible and engaged citizens and as an engine of social mobility. Recognizing the critical role of public higher education as a point of access, opportunity, and excellence, Dr. May continues to focus on expanding educational opportunities for the entire range of diverse students that make up our region and our state. As the Interim President of Eastern Washington University, Dr. May was committed to ensuring student success and safety as we lived through and emerged from the pandemic and preparing the institution and our students to be leaders in the social, economic, and political recovery of our communities. See full candidate biography.
These finalists were selected after a national search that brought well-qualified applications from across the country. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we’d like to thank the members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee who dedicated significant time and energy reviewing applications and interviewing semi-finalists.
The following individuals served as members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee:
- Rich Fukutaki, Trustee & Search Advisory Committee Chair
- Dr. Consuelo Grier, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Search Advisory Committee DEI Advocate
- Frances Dujon Reynolds, Vice President of Human Resources
- Jennie Mayer, Chemistry Faculty and Achieving the Dream (ATD) Co-Lead
- Sara Sanders Gardner, Director of the Neurodiversity Navigators Program
- Dr. Alicia Keating Polson, Executive Director of the President’s Office
- Richard Leigh, Trustee
We encourage everyone on campus to get involved in this stage of the president search by attending the open forums and submitting candidate survey forms. We value the input of the BC community in our hiring decision of Bellevue College’s next president.
Sincerely,
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 2:38 PM
Dear BC Community,
We are pleased to share an update on the search process for the next president of Bellevue College.
As you may recall, the search for the president position went live in early December with the posting of the presidential profile. This profile describes the roles and responsibilities and desired qualifications and qualities of the next president and was guided by the work of the BC Priorities Report. Since the position posted, our executive search firm, EQU Advisors, has been hard at work generating a robust and diverse candidate pool for Bellevue College. Our search consultants received many nominations for potential president candidates from our BC community, as well as beyond, which kept them busy over the last two months reaching out to prospective candidates.
Candidates were encouraged to submit application materials by February 3 for full consideration, which means the Presidential Search Advisory Committee is currently in the process of reviewing these applicant materials and interviewing candidates using the desired qualities and qualifications identified in the presidential profile and the BC Priorities Report as their criteria. The Presidential Screening Advisory Committee will soon provide a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of 3-4 finalists who should be considered for invitations to interview on campus.
The Board will then meet in a Special Meeting to discuss the qualifications of the presidential candidates, including the 3-4 finalists recommended by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. The Board will make a decision on the 3-4 finalists at that Special Meeting and will then move quickly to confirm the specific dates of the finalist interviews, which are scheduled to occur the weeks of March 6 and March 13. Once the schedules are confirmed, the names of the presidential finalists will be shared with the campus.
During their interview days, each candidate will participate in a Presidential Candidate Open Forum, which will be open to all members of the BC community. This session will be hybrid, so available both in-person and remotely. The sessions will also be recorded for those unable to attend.
The tentative Presidential Candidate Open Forum dates are as follows:
- Wednesday, March 8, 11:15am – 12:15 pm
- Thursday, March 9, 11:15am – 12:15 pm
- Tuesday, March 14, 11:15am – 12:15 pm
- Wednesday, March 15, 11:15am – 12:15 pm
- Thursday, March 16, 11:15am – 12:15 pm
More specific details will be shared with the campus by March 1.
This is going to be an exciting upcoming month in regard to the presidential search. We anticipate staying on schedule with the timeline the Board announced in November, which likely will result in the selection of Bellevue College’s next president by the end of March 2023.
Sincerely,
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2023 10:48 AM
In December, we shared that the search for the next president of Bellevue College is live and we have begun actively recruiting and accepting applications. You can review the presidential search profile along with other relevant information on the BC Presidential Search website. This recruitment phase will continue throughout the month of January.
Candidates are encouraged to submit application materials by February 3, 2023. Our executive search firm, EQU Advisors, is encouraged by the robust conversations they are having with well-qualified candidates. Potential candidates have also expressed excitement about the opportunities identified in the presidential profile and the BC Priorities Report. If you have a recommendation on a potential presidential candidate, please by submit a nomination at the EQU Advisors website.
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee will review applications and interview semi-finalists in February and we anticipate interviews with finalist candidates will happen during the first 2 weeks in March. We expect the successful candidate to be announced by the Board of Trustees in late March and begin in the position on or by July 1, 2023.
Sincerely,
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 3:52 PM
Dear BC Community,
We are pleased to announce that the search for the next president of Bellevue College is live and we are now actively recruiting and accepting applications.
You can access the BC Presidential Search website and review the presidential search profile, which describes the roles and responsibilities and desired qualifications and qualities of the next president, as well as the leadership agenda. The search profile was informed by the work of the BC Priorities Report, as well as the recent listening sessions hosted by our executive search firm EQU Advisors. We are grateful for the participation of the campus community in the development of the search profile and believe it will attract strong candidates to the president position.
As we begin the recruitment phase, EQU Advisors is working diligently on generating a robust and diverse candidate pool. Along with posting the position in a diverse range of higher education publications, our consultants Robert Luke and Veena Abraham, J.D. have started their outreach to a broad network of potential candidates and are following up on all nominations that are submitted. We encourage you to recommend potential presidential candidates by submitting a nomination at the EQU Advisors website.
As a look ahead to the timeline, candidates are encouraged to submit application materials by February 3, 2023. The Presidential Search Advisory Committee will review applications and interview semi-finalists in February and we anticipate interviews with finalist candidates will happen in March. We expect the successful candidate to be announced by the Board of Trustees in late March and begin in the position on or by July 1, 2023.
Wishing everyone happy holidays!
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2022 8:56 AM
Dear BC Community,
As Bellevue College embarks on its search for our next president, we are writing to provide you with an update on the next phases of the search process. We are pleased to report that the following individuals have agreed to serve as members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee:
- Rich Fukutaki, Trustee & Search Advisory Committee Chair
- Dr. Consuelo Grier, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Search Advisory Committee DEI Advocate
- Richard Leigh, Trustee
- Frances Dujon Reynolds, Vice President of Human Resources
- Jennie Mayer, Chemistry Faculty and Achieving the Dream (ATD) Co-Lead
- Sara Sanders Gardner, Director of the Neurodiversity Navigators Program
- Dr. Alicia Keating Polson, Executive Director of the President’s Office
We appreciate their service as part of this process. Additionally, we have selected EQU Advisors as the executive search firm to partner with Bellevue College on this search. Our consulting partners are Robert Luke and Veena Abraham, J.D. and as part of their work they will be managing a survey and hosting sessions with our community to receive feedback to learn what makes Bellevue College an exciting opportunity for prospective candidates. Feedback from the BC community will be critical to them as they recruit strong candidates on our behalf.
The survey can be accessed at Bellevue College Presidential Search Survey. Two listening sessions are also available on Zoom for the BC community to provide verbal feedback. The questions discussed in the listening sessions will be identical to those presented in the survey. The information received will be instrumental to informing the recruiting process.
Open Listening Session for All BC
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
1-1:45 pm
Open Listening Session for All BC
Thursday, November 17, 2022
10-10:45 am
We encourage all members of the Bellevue College community to share their perspectives through the written survey or by attending one of the listening sessions as we work to recruit an excellent President. If you have any questions about the listening sessions or surveys, please contact Alicia Keating Polson at alicia.keatingpolson@bellevuecollege.edu.
Sincerely,
Rich Fukutaki, Board Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
From: Office of the Board of Trustees
To: All BC-Official
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2022 1:39 PM
Dear BC Community,
We will soon embark upon a search for the next president of Bellevue College. In our Board meeting yesterday, we shared an update on the status of the upcoming president search, including our timeline which we outline below.
The Board began the presidential search process by studying and discussing the “BC Priorities Report,” which was requested by the Board last year to identify the priorities and values that will guide the College through the next 3-5 years, as well as inform the development of criteria to identify the best presidential candidates to continue moving Bellevue College forward. This report has been incredibly valuable in preparing the presidential profile and we plan to share this report with prospective presidential candidates.
In July 2022, the Board designated two Board members to lead the presidential search process: Trustees Rich Fukutaki and Richard Leigh. Trustees Fukutaki and Leigh have been working closely with Human Resources, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the President’s Office to develop the following presidential search timeline.
- August – November 2022
- Prepare the presidential profile informed by the results of the “BC Priorities Report”
- September – November 2022
- Interview and select an executive search firm to provide expertise on the search process and recruit a large, diverse pool of candidates representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences and varied demographic dimensions
- October – November 2022
- Form advisory screening committee with members mapping to priorities identified in the presidential profile
- November – December 2022
- Launch the presidential search website and begin accepting applications from interested candidates
- January – February 2023
- Screen applicants and identify semi-finalists; next, interview semi-finalists to identify 3-4 finalists
- February – March 2023
- Invite 3-4 finalists for 2-day interviews (in-person) with internal and external stakeholders (hybrid options will be available for BC community members); solicit and collect stakeholder feedback
- March 2023
- Board reviews stakeholder feedback and selects and hires new president
- July 2023
- New president begins
The selection of the next president of Bellevue College is a significant undertaking. We share this timeline with the campus to inform you on what to expect over the coming months on the search. You can expect to receive regular updates from the Board as we reach milestones in the search. The next update will be shared with the campus after we select the executive search firm and finalize the presidential profile, which we expect will happen in November.
There will be ample opportunity to participate in the presidential search process through campus interviews in the new year. We encourage you to participate and provide your honest feedback as that will inform our decision on the selection of the next president.
We look forward to working together as we continue our journey forward.
Rich Fukutaki, Vice Chair and Trustee
Richard Leigh, Trustee
Last Updated April 7, 2023