President, Lori Barber, College of Eastern Idaho
The College of Eastern Idaho Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Lori Barber as president of CEI, effective August 1, 2024. Dr. Barber has served as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at the College of Eastern Idaho since 2019. Previously, Dr. Barber served as the Dean of General Education at CEI.
Dr. Barber earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University; a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in History and Anthropology from Idaho State University; and a Bachelor of Arts and Letters in History from Idaho State University.
President, Monica Brown, South Seattle College
Dr. Monica Brown, has been named South Seattle College’s next president, effective August 1, 2024.
Dr. Brown brings nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience in the community college environment and eight years at the senior level to her new role at SSC. She has worked at four-year and two-year institutions with diverse student, faculty, and staff populations. Her eclectic background derives from her experiences in academic affairs, continuing education, and student affairs.
Dr. Brown earned a doctorate in higher education administration from Morgan State University, a master of ats in counseling from Trinity College and a bachelor of arts from Georgetown University.
President, William Brownsberger, Saint Martin’s University
Dr. William “Bill” Brownsberger, STD, was selected as the president of Saint Martin’s University. Dr. Brownsberger currently serves as the vice president of academic affairs and workforce solutions at Mountain Empire Community College in Virginia.
Dr. Brownsberger earned his Doctor of Sacred Theology and his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. He earned his Master of Arts in Theology from The Catholic University of America and his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Dallas.
President, Alex Bryan, Walla Walla University
Dr. Alex Bryan was elected to be Walla Walla University’s president on May 6, 2024.
In 2018, Dr. Bryan joined Adventist Health, where he served as senior vice president and chief mission officer, leading strategy and discourse about ethics, alignment to mission, spiritual care, relationship to faith communities, global mission, theological foundations of healthcare, and also overseeing philanthropy and grants initiatives.
Bryan earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and religion from Southern Adventist University, a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University, a Doctor of Ministry degree from George Fox University, and a Master of Science degree in Bioethics from Albany Medical College.
Interim President, Amber Donnelli, Great Basin College
The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Amber Donnelli as interim president of Great Basin College, effective July 1, 2024.
Dr. Donnelli started her higher education journey at Great Basin College, earning her Associate of Science in Nursing. Licensed as a Registered Nurse in Nevada and certified as a Nurse Educator (CNE) by the National League for Nursing, Dr. Donnelli brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her leadership roles.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education from UNLV, a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the same institution.
President-Rector, Jeff Eirvin, Mount Angel Seminary
Fr. Jeff Eirvin has been appointed as President-Rector at Mount Angel Seminary.
Ordained for the Archdiocese of Portland in 2012, Fr. Eirvin has been pastor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Portland since 2022. He was Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese from 2014 to 2022 and an Adjunct Professor at Mount Angel Seminary from 2014 to 2017.
Acting President, William Kibler, College of Southern Nevada
The Nevada System of Higher Education approved the appointment of Dr. William L. Kibler as Acting President of the College of Southern Nevada.
Dr. Kibler brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served in various leadership positions in higher education institutions across the country. His leadership roles have encompassed overseeing diverse divisions, managing significant budgets, and spearheading strategic initiatives to enhance academic quality, student engagement, and institutional effectiveness.
Dr. Kibler holds multiple degrees including a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University.
President, Chad Knudson, Dawson Community College
Mr. Chad Knudson became president of Dawson Community College on April 8, 2024, following over a decade of service as a member and chair of the college’s Board of Trustees.
Mr. Knudson received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Valparaiso University. After a career in the private sector, he was the publisher and general manager for eight Adams Publishing Group newspapers in Eastern Montana, including the Glendive Ranger-Review.
President, Bradley Lane, Seattle Central College
Dr. Bradley Lane has been named the president of Seattle Central College.
Dr. Lane has held a variety of faculty and administrative appointments at the Seattle Colleges, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Vanderbilt University. Most recently, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Santa Monica College in California. At Seattle Central, Dr. Lane previously served as Executive Vice President of Instruction, Finance, and Planning; Vice President of Instruction, Executive Dean for Academic Affairs; and Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, in addition to teaching classes in English, Humanities, and Gender and Women Studies.
Dr. Lane holds a master’s degree in Teaching, Learning, and Diversity from Peabody College at Vanderbilt and a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture and Gender Studies from Indiana University.
President, Jenni Martin, Spokane Community College
Dr. Jenni Martin was selected as the president of Spokane Community College. Dr. Martin has been serving as SCC acting president since May 2023. Before joining Community Colleges of Spokane, Dr. Martin was a physical education faculty member and head coach for women’s soccer at Eastern Washington University.
Dr. Martin completed her Ed.D. at Northeastern University in Higher Education Administration, her Master of Education in Adult Education at Eastern Washington University, and her Bachelor of Arts in History at Gonzaga University. She also took part in the Washington Executive Leadership Academy (WELA).
Interim President, Michael Munson, Salish Kootenai College
The Salish Kootenai College board of directors named Dr. Michael Munson, former Vice President of Academic Affairs, as the current interim president.
Dr. Munson graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master of education in curriculum and instruction, focusing on Indian Education and science. Upon graduating, with her bachelor’s, she served as a middle school teacher for approximately three and a half years. When she graduated with her master’s, Dr. Munson went on to serve communities, schools, teachers, and students throughout Montana in her roles as Indian Education Implementation Specialist and American Indian Student Achievement Specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
President, Gregory Peterson, Salt Lake Community College
Dr. Gregory Peterson was selected as the president of Salt Lake Community College.
Throughout his career, Dr. Peterson has led key efforts in student learning and success impacting over 100,000 students, including developing transfer partnerships and college promise programs at multiple institutions and launching the first community college Artificial Intelligence program in the nation.
Peterson holds a doctorate in educational administration with an emphasis in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin; a master’s degree in postsecondary, adult, and continuing education from Portland State University; and a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University.
President, Craig Smith, Fort Peck Community College
Fort Peck Community College selected Craig Smith as the new president of Fort Peck Community College on May 23, 2024. Smith was most recently the Vice President for Institutional Development & Research at FPCC for the past 14 years.
Smith earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Montana in Missoula in June 1988. He received his Master of Business Administration from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, in May 2005.
President, Rachel Solemsaas, North Seattle College
Dr. Rachel Solemsaas was named president of North Seattle College after serving as interim president beginning in September 2023. Her career spans more than three decades in progressive public service. Dr. Solemsaas’ journey includes 20 years in leadership and administrative roles at community colleges. Before being named interim president for North Seattle College, she served as chancellor of Hawai‘i Community College for seven years. Dr. Solemsaas also served for several years on the NWCCU Board of Commissioners.
Dr. Solemsaas holds a Doctor of Education with an emphasis on community college leadership from Washington State University, a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines.
