Three finalists for Whatcom Community College’s president position will introduce themselves to the community in January in public forums.
The college’s Board of Trustees announced the three finalists for the positions as Pakou Yang, the provost at Century College in Minnesota; Mark Curtis-Chavez, the provost of College of DuPage in Illinois; and Justin Guillory, the former president of Northwest Indian College on the Lummi Reservation.
The forums, which will take place on Jan. 13, 14 and 16, will allow the candidates to share their vision for Whatcom’s future, as well as discuss current issues and challenges at the college.
The three higher ed professionals are aiming to take the place of Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, who headed up the college for 18 years. Hiyane-Brown is retiring on March 2, 2025.
Yang, who boasts two decades of higher education experience and 17 years at a community college, will speak at a forum at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13. She previously served as the system director of P-20 and college readiness at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Curtis-Chavez will speak to the community at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Curtis-Chavez describes himself as a “living testimony to the democratizing power that higher education can provide,” as the son of a Mexican immigrant and a first-generation college student. He has 20 years of experience in higher education.
A familiar face to those in Whatcom County, Guillory will speak to the community at a forum at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16. Guillory departed from Northwest Indian College in October after 18 years at the college, and 12 as president. The college’s Board of Trustees decided to not renew his contract, and he was replaced by former acting director of the Lummi Nation Educational System Lexie Tom.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
