Finalists named in search for new Everett CC president

Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 21, 2019

EVERETT — Three finalists will visit Everett Community College next month as they vie to become its next president.

A news release Thursday named Warren Brown, Karin Edwards and Daria Willis as the final candidates selected by the college’s Board of Trustees.

Campus interviews and public forums are expected in April, with dates not yet announced. The board voted Tuesday.

Brown is the president of North Seattle College and a Seattle Colleges District vice chancellor. Edwards is president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College. Willis is the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York.

David Beyer, the longest-serving president in Everett Community College’s history, plans to retire at the end of the academic year, which falls in June. His successor will become the college’s 17th president since the college opened in 1941.

Campus officials earlier said they hope to make the hiring decision in April. A national nonprofit was hired to assist with the search.

The college serves about 19,350 students in its credit, non-credit, pre-college and other programs. It is based on Tower Street, next to North Broadway, and works closely with Washington State University Everett, also on North Broadway.

The growth of the community college and of WSU Everett has been cited as factors in the redevelopment of that part of town.

Off Broadway on the other end of downtown, the search continues for another education leader.

The Everett School Board hopes to name a superintendent to replace Gary Cohn, who is retiring at the end of the school year. His replacement is scheduled to begin July 1.