[Spokane, Wash.] With longtime Chancellor Christine Johnson retiring at the end of December, Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) has launched a process to recruit candidates for this key leadership position. At this time, community members are being asked to take part in a short survey to help identify the traits and skills a new chancellor will need to be successful in this role.
The CCS Board of Trustees is charged with directing this recruitment and selection process and with making the final hiring decision.
“We are committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong and diverse pool of candidates from throughout Washington and the nation,” said Board chair Glenn Johnson.
The Board has selected the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to assist CCS by providing support with the development of the Chancellor Profile, recruiting highly competitive candidates, and working extensively with the Board. Jill Wakefield, former longtime chancellor of the three college Seattle Colleges District, is the ACCT search consultant assisting CCS. ACCT has conducted over 750 community college searches and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the process.
Trustees Michael Wilson and Beth Thew will co-chair a diverse CCS committee in evaluating and eventually recommending final candidates to the full Board of Trustees for further consideration and eventual selection. The committee includes faculty, staff, professional exempt and leadership members from the district, two colleges and the CCS Foundation.
In addition to the survey information, there will be two forums for all CCS employees in October where information will be gathered about the qualifications and characteristics that should be defined in the position profile.
The anticipated search timeline is that final candidates will be invited to take part in open forums at CCS in early March. Trustees plan to a final decision in the spring of 2023 and have a newly selected chancellor begin at CCS during the summer. This timeline anticipates an interim chancellor serving from January through June of 2023. This person has not yet been named.
For more information, contact: Carolyn Casey, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer call or text 509-869-8381; email Carolyn.casey@ccs.spokane.edu