UW-Bothell has new leader

BOTHELL – A California man has been selected as the next chancellor of the University of Washington’s Bothell campus.

Kenyon Chan, 58, joins Bothell from Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he was interim president for the 2005-06 academic year. He is currently on sabbatical.

Chan’s annual salary will be $205,700.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to lead a very new and innovative university,” he said. “Bothell is still in its very youthful stage and it’s a great place to be. It’s a very creative and exciting university to be a part of.”

The UW-Bothell has 1,700 students, including the equivalent of 1,300 full-time students. The school opened in 1990 and welcomed its first freshman class in 2006. It shares a campus with Cascadia Community College.

Chan is scheduled to begin work on July 1, subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents. He is replacing Steven Olswang, who is stepping down after two years as interim chancellor.

Prior to serving as interim president at Occidental College, he was dean, vice president for academic affairs and a professor of psychology at the college. He has also served as dean of the Bellarmine College at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Chan said he has been following news about the efforts to build a UW campus in Snohomish County but hasn’t yet formed an opinion on the issue.

UW-Bothell is keeping a close eye on Olympia, where lawmakers are searching for ways to increase access to university degrees for residents from Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties.

The debate – whether to add a University of Washington branch campus in Everett or build a four-year independent university – could have an impact on enrollment trends at the UW-Bothell.

“I am looking forward to working with the people of Everett in defining higher education in the area and to serve the people of Washington at the University of Washington-Bothell,” Chan said.

Herald writer Eric Stevick contributed to this story.