Presidential Search

Skagit Valley College Presidential Search

 
At Skagit Valley College, our work is grounded in respect, integrity, open and honest communication, collaboration, and compassion. These guiding principles shape how we serve our students, support one another, and partner with our communities. As we begin the search for our next president, we do so with a shared commitment to these values and a vision for the future of our college. This is an important moment — an opportunity to build on a century of impact and help shape the next chapter of student success across Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties.
 

Skagit Valley College announces Dr. Thomas A. Broxson as new president

The Skagit Valley College (SVC) Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Thomas A. Broxson as the college's next president following an extensive nationwide search. The appointment was announced during a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Nov. 3. 

Following a comprehensive selection process, the board voted unanimously to appoint Broxson, who will assume the presidency on Jan. 1. His contract extends through June 30, 2030, with an annual salary of $295,000. 

The presidential search was conducted with the assistance of RH Perry, a national executive search firm specializing in higher education leadership. 

The search process included opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members to participate in forums, provide feedback, and share their perspectives on the college's future leadership. SVC extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed their time and thoughtful input throughout the process. 

Read more in the news release.

Update on Nov. 3, 2026

Dear College Community,

We are excited to welcome Dr. Thomas Broxson as the next President of Skagit Valley College. His extensive experience in Washington's community and technical college system, collaborative leadership approach, and commitment to student success make him an outstanding choice to lead SVC into its next chapter. We are confident his leadership will build on the college's strengths, support our students and employees, and advance our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education to the communities we serve.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, as well as our faculty and staff, for their time, dedication, and thoughtful contributions throughout this search process. Your hard work and commitment have been instrumental in helping us select our new president. Thank you for your continued dedication to Skagit Valley College and its future.

Sincerely,
Flora Perez-Lucatero
Board Chair

Update on Oct. 20, 2026
Dear College Community,
 
On behalf of the Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that three finalists have been selected in our search for the College's next president. We are excited to introduce these finalists to our College community as we enter the final phase of this important process.
 
Our three presidential finalists are:
  • Dr. Thomas Broxson
  • Dr. Monique Guillory
  • Dr. Christine Moxam
Biographies and photographs of each finalist are attached to this email and will also be available on the College's Presidential Search webpage. 
 
Next week, we look forward to welcoming each finalist to Skagit Valley College for a series of meetings and forums with students, faculty, staff, and community members. All forums will be offered at Mount Vernon and Whidbey Island Campuses, in person and remotely to encourage broad participation. For those unable to attend, the forums will be recorded and made available for viewing on the Presidential Search webpage. 
 
I encourage you to attend the forums, ask questions, and share your feedback through the online survey. Your input is valuable to the Board as we make this important decision. The online survey will open the morning of each finalist's visit and remain available until noon the following day. 
 
Each finalist will also participate in campus tours and meet with a variety of constituent groups. A detailed schedule is attached.  These conversations will provide opportunities for the finalists to learn more about Skagit Valley College and for our community to get to know each finalist.
 
I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Search Advisory Committee for their time, dedication, and thoughtful work throughout this process.
 
Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to Skagit Valley College. We look forward to welcoming our finalists and hearing your perspectives!
 
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Pam Davis, Presidential Search Coordinator.
 
Sincerely,
Flora Perez-Lucatero
Chair, Board of Trustees
Skagit Valley College
 
Update on Sept. 24, 2026
Campus Community,
 
I wanted to share an important update regarding the Presidential Search process. The timeline for the finalist campus visits has been changed.  The finalist campus visits, originally scheduled for the week of October 19, have been moved to the week of October 26.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mariko Doerner, Trustee
Search Advisory Committee, Chair
 
Update on Sept. 23, 2026
Campus Community,
 
Below is an update on the Presidential Search process. 
 
We will provide additional information once the finalists have been identified, including forum schedules and opportunities to provide feedback through surveys.
 
Thank you for your continued engagement in this important process. Communication and updates regarding the Presidential Search process are available here.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mariko Doerner, Trustee
Search Advisory Committee, Chair
 
Update on July 30, 2026
Dear Campus Community,
 
As part of our commitment to keeping the campus community informed throughout the presidential search, we will provide regular updates on the progress of the search process. While the search advisory committee is required to maintain strict confidentiality regarding candidates, we are happy to share information about the process itself.
 
Recruitment Efforts
The search for Skagit Valley College's next president is well underway, and the position has been widely promoted through a comprehensive national recruitment effort. To date:
  • The position has been posted on both the Skagit Valley College website and the RH Perry & Associates website.
  • Advertisements have been placed in numerous higher education publications and job boards where prospective candidates are likely to be searching.
  • More than 8,000 emails have been sent to leaders in higher education, along with more than 600 messages to higher education councils and associations, with a particular focus on the community college sector.
  • RH Perry consultants have also conducted extensive personal outreach by email and phone to individuals in their proprietary database, encouraging qualified leaders, including those who may not currently be seeking a new position, to consider applying.
Current Search Activity
RH Perry continues to actively recruit and evaluate potential candidates by:
  • Responding to inquiries about the position.
  • Conducting preliminary interviews with prospective candidates.
  • Personally contacting individuals who would be strong candidates and encouraging them to apply.
  • Reviewing the credentials of the 31 early applicants and following up with additional questions as needed.
What's Next
The Search Advisory Committee will officially begin its work on August 12, when members meet for an orientation with RH Perry consultants Sue DeWine, Senior Consultant, and Paul Doeg, President of RH Perry & Associates.
 
During this meeting, the consultants will review the search process in detail, discuss the progress made to date, and outline the committee's role in the upcoming phases of the search.
 
Committee members will also be reminded of their obligation to maintain the strict confidentiality of all candidate information. We respectfully ask that you do not request information from committee members regarding applicants or the candidate pool.
 
While candidate information will remain confidential, committee members are welcome to discuss the search process itself, which is why we will continue providing these campus updates.
 
No information will be released about applicants or semifinalists. The names of finalists will be announced at the appropriate time, and the campus community will have ample opportunity to participate by attending public forums and providing feedback.
 
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the search process, please send them to Pam Davis, who will forward them to the Chair of the Search Advisory Committee.
 
Finally, we encourage you to share the presidential position profile with individuals who may be interested in the opportunity. You are also welcome to nominate qualified candidates by emailing SVCPresident@rhperry.com. Every nomination will be contacted by RH Perry and encouraged to apply.
 
Thank you for your continued interest and support as we work together to identify Skagit Valley College's next President!
 
Sincerely,
 
Mariko Doerner, Trustee
Search Advisory Committee, Chair

April 14-21, 2026 
Online survey is distributed to solicit feedback for the draft Presidential Profile. 

April 14-16, 2026 
A series of forums will be held to gather input from students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members to inform the development of the Presidential Profile. As one of the first and most important steps in the search process, the profile will identify the opportunities and challenges facing Skagit Valley College and outline the qualifications, experience, and leadership qualities sought in the next president.

May 2026

  • The Presidential Search Advisory Committee reviews and refines the Presidential Profile draft. 
  • Board of Trustees approves the final Presidential Profile and announces the selected search consultant. 
  • The position is opened and advertised. The Presidential Profile is posted on skagit.edu, and targeted local, statewide, and national recruitment begins, along with national advertising. 

August 2026
Application submission period closes. 

September 2026 
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee conducts candidate interviews and recommends finalists to the Board of Trustees. 

October 2026

  • Finalists participate in campus visits, public forums, and meetings with key stakeholders.
  • The next president of Skagit Valley College is announced. 

Jan. 1, 2027 
The new president begins.

Skagit Valley College invites applications and nominations for the position of president. 

As the college celebrates its centennial year, the Board of Trustees seeks an exceptional, student-centered leader to guide Skagit Valley College into its next century of service, innovation, and community impact. Nestled in the heart of Northwest Washington, SVC serves thousands of students across two campuses and multiple educational centers, offering transformative opportunities through academic transfer, workforce education, adult basic education, bachelor's degrees, and community partnerships.

The next president will build upon the college's strong foundation while advancing student success, strengthening partnerships, supporting employees, and responding to the evolving needs of the communities SVC serves.

The Presidential Profile provides detailed information about Skagit Valley College, the position, desired qualifications, and the opportunities and challenges that will help shape the college's future.

Download the Presidential Profile to learn more about this exciting leadership opportunity and application process. Completed applications are due by August 28, 2026.


PRESIDENTIAL PROFILE

The presidential search advisory committee is composed of SVC employees and students along with representatives from the community. Selecting committee members is a thoughtful, deliberative process, and includes representatives from all aspects of the SVC community – colleagues who bring a variety of relevant professional, cultural, and personal experiences to the table.

Board of Trustees Mariko Doerner (Co-Chair)
Vhari Rust-Clark (Co-Chair)
Faculty Claudia Avendaño-Ibarra, Human Services Instructor
Kip Zwolenski, Early Childhood Education and Education Instructor and SVCFT President
Classified Staff Kim Mitchell, Library Paraprofessional
Hannah Escobar, International Program Coordinator
Administrative/Exempt Staff Sabrina Houck, Director of Business Operations and Services
Jareth Rodriguez, TRiO Director
Students Aleeyuh Henderson, Whidbey Island campus
Ashley Zamora, Mount Vernon campus
At-Large College Representatives Brian Manning, Math and Physics Instructor
Brittany Knutson, Communication Studies Instructor
SVC Foundation John Sternlicht, EDASC CEO
Community Representatives

Margaret Rojas, Former Trustee; Assistant Director (retired), North Sound Behavioral Health
David Ryberg, Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor (retired), Carter Ryberg Group, Baird's Private Wealth Management

 

Skagit Valley College is a comprehensive community college serving Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties in northwest Washington state. Nestled within a diverse and vibrant region of agricultural lands, forests, and coastal shorelines, SVC serves approximately 8,000 students each quarter across its two campuses and three centers: the Mount Vernon campus, the Whidbey Island campus in Oak Harbor, the Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, the San Juan Center in Friday Harbor, and the Cardinal Craft Brewing Academy in Burlington.

SVC is committed to meeting students where they are and fostering a learning environment grounded in opportunity, access, achievement, and community. Through flexible learning options and comprehensive student support services, the college works to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed.

SVC offers a wide range of educational opportunities, including basic education for adults, community and continuing education, academic transfer pathways, and career and technical programs. The college offers six bachelor’s degrees, 15 associate transfer degrees, 19 associate in applied science degrees, and more than 50 certificates and micro-credentials. Its highest-enrolled programs include the Associate of Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA), Nursing, Pre-Nursing, and Associate in Science DTA, and Associate in Business DTA. SVC is also nationally recognized for its innovative learning communities and strong commitment to student success.