*All faculty who spoke to the Thunderword for this article agreed to share their perspectives anonymously.

In a mirror of our current political climate, there has been a divide amongst faculty on Highline’s campus. At the end of January, Highline’s President Dr. John Mosby suddenly terminated the long-standing Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), Dr. Emily Lardner. To this day, there is still speculation surrounding the why. 

At the Winter Quarter Faculty Meeting, on Feb. 12, the topic of Dr. Lardner’s termination was brought up. Dr. Mosby said, “A number of factors went into that decision… and that’s all I can say, because only two people were there: Dr. Lardner and myself.” Many faculty members weren’t happy with that answer, and the silence from administration has only fueled the rumors concerning Dr. Lardner’s termination.

After a second attempt reaching out for an interview, Dr. Mosby declined and stated, “I have a policy not to comment on personnel matters.”

Dr. Lardner agreed to an interview with the Thunderword, confirming “no reasons were given” for her termination. 

“On Monday morning, January 27… I walked over to B[uilding] 12 for a scheduled meeting with Dr. Mosby. This was my first meeting with him since he’d been back. I was looking forward to sharing highlights from the deans’ meeting,” said Lardner.

“The meeting with Dr. Mosby only lasted around 10 minutes. After an initial exchange of greetings, Dr. Mosby flat out told me I could either resign immediately or he would put me on notice and terminate my employment in 30 days…I asked if he was open to discussing a third option. He said no. That was the end of the meeting. By noon the next day, my email had been turned off.” 

“I was completely shocked. I’m still trying to figure out what led to the decision to fire me,” said Lardner.

That meeting took place earlier in the day. Without answers, Dr. Lardner continued her duties throughout the afternoon. 

“I walked out of that meeting in total shock. I came back to my office. I made a note in my journal. I shared the news with a couple of my close colleagues who were in the building. Then, I joined the Tenure Review Committee (TRC) for the rest of the afternoon.”

Discussing the official reason she was given for her termination, Lardner said, “The letter I received from Dr. Mosby on January 30, 2025 stated that ‘the College is terminating your employment for convenience.’ No reasons were given.” 

“As you probably know, the college has been working through some challenging times in the recent past. Enrollment declined for five years in a row, which meant revenue declined. The leadership team was charged with turning things around, including making budget cuts two years ago. At the same time, as we have been emerging from the pandemic, it was clear that the college had to provide better support to students and to faculty,” Lardner continued. 

“We made some big changes in Academic Affairs in response to these strategic priorities. Managing change is hard. I expected I would be able to see these changes through with the help of all the great colleagues in my division. I never expected to lose my job particularly during these challenging times.”

Dr. Lardner served as acting co-president alongside Dr. Jamilyn Penn last year while Dr. Mosby was on medical leave. “It was an honor to serve as co-acting president with Dr. Penn while Dr. Mosby was on medical leave,” Lardner said. “Everyone on the executive team stepped in to keep good work moving forward. At the same time, I have to say I’ve never worked harder in my life. It was a lot of responsibility.”

Dr. Lardner was never given the opportunity to share her efforts from the past year. 

“I’m still grappling with this whole process. Dr. Mosby’s decision hit me hard. I felt like I was letting the team down by suddenly leaving in the middle of such important work. So there was and still is a sense of loss, anger, and despair. A combination of feelings that are hard to put into words.”

About the email her husband sent out following her termination, Dr. Lardner said, “My spouse wrote his statement as an academic, an immigrant, and an educator of color. He strongly believes that performance should be judged on its own merits and not by race, country of origin, or ethnicity.  He is free to share his opinion of the situation but frankly, at this moment, that’s all I feel comfortable saying.”

Dr. Lardner reflected on her accomplishments while with Highline, including improvements to advising efficiency, increased support services, and better external relationships “including a new partnership that provides employer-supported educational opportunities for people working in the homeless/housing sector.” 

She said, “So many good things happened or are in the process of coming about as the result of hard work, creativity, dedication, collaboration, and commitment to improvement from so many faculty, staff, and administrators in Academic Affairs with support from others outside our division.” 

Dr. Lardner expressed her gratitude towards her time at Highline. She had the following message for students: 

“Students are the ‘why’ for this college. Expect Highline to give you at least three things: 1. Solid career exploration so you understand options for making a living wage in this region; 2. An efficient (and affordable) plan for taking the courses needed to earn the degree or certificate you’re pursuing; 3. A good grounding in general education so you better understand this moment in history and have the skills to imagine and build a better future.”

She continued, “I hope students will ask Highline leadership to continue to guide efforts to improve post-graduation outcomes for all students. Nothing prohibits colleges from focusing on helping students prepare for and find living wage jobs post-graduation. 

Also, I hope students will advocate to have representation on the Student Evaluation Review Committee. Students know what matters most to them in terms of their experiences in classes. Students should have a say in the questions that are asked at the end of every quarter in class evaluations.”

Speaking to Highline’s administration, staff, and faculty directly, Dr. Lardner said, “I appreciate the opportunity I had to serve at Highline College, working alongside amazing faculty, staff, and administrators. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities to learn so much from so many of you, and wish you all the best as you continue your great work.”

The wake of this decision by Dr. Mosby has left a power vacuum. “People are trying to push through now that [Dr. Lardner] is gone,” an anonymous faculty member described. 

Faculty across campus felt the shockwave of her absence, which then settled into uncertainty, disinformation, and in some cases, relief. Some faculty expressed sorrow surrounding the circumstances while others shared how they felt targeted by Dr. Lardner, and relieved she’s gone.

One faculty member said, “I was sad and shocked to see her go. I felt supported by [Dr. Lardner]; I knew she would have my back…I know a lot of us who felt [supported by Dr. Lardner] who probably will not speak up for fear of being targeted.” They went on to describe the nature of Highline as a “divisive gossip mill.” 

In an anonymous interview, a faculty member shared a list of grievances, printed out emails, and how they had so much fear when interacting with Dr. Lardner. While rumors on what prompted her termination began to spread, a text message reading ‘Ding Dong the Witch is Dead’ started making its rounds. 

“I loved my job as coordinator except for my interactions with her,” they said about taking on leadership roles under Dr. Lardner and subsequently stepping down due to said interactions. 

They described the treatment of Dr. Lardner as akin to ‘torment.’ Union representatives were requested as witnesses during meetings between the two. This faculty member said, “[Dr. Lardner creates] a hostile work environment, [she’s] divisive, disrespectful on an individual basis but also in small meetings and behind people’s backs.” 

In this interview it was speculated why this faculty member felt targeted. “She did not like outspoken people… She didn’t like people who fought for what they believed in… There’s no collaborative effort to find solutions, only punishments.”

Upon Dr. Lardner’s departure, one faculty member said, “Emily being gone opens a lot of doors, a lot of opportunities. I feel more relaxed but I don’t wish ill… I wish she would learn from mistakes and try to treat people with respect rather than think people who speak their mind are out to get her.”

In 2024 investigation reports acquired by the Thunderword, two separate staff members lodged complaints against Dr. Lardner. One accused Dr. Lardner of creating “a hostile work environment through racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.” The other accused her of “racial discrimination, retaliation, dissemination of misinformation, and misuse of authority.” 

In both cases, complainants “expressed dissatisfaction with the initial investigation,” with one stating that it “did not fully evaluate her concerns…[Specifically,] investigators did not interview any people of color, which she felt undermined her claims of racial discrimination.” The other report contained the same complaint, but the complainant believed it “was rushed and incomplete.”

According to one faculty member, there was controversy surrounding her hiring in the first place. Grays Harbor College Board of Trustees meeting from May 19, 2020 stated, “Her behavior toward faculty led to a hostile work environment. Faculty were talked down to, belittled, targeted and persecuted. Her ability to clearly lead us through outcomes assessment and the accreditation process was lacking. She refused to listen to faculty input, recognize our past work in outcomes assessment, or even recognize us as a group of qualified instructors who care deeply about our students.”

Another faculty member said, “it feels like a weight has been lifted, and personally I’m more comfortable walking around campus now.  I’ve heard long time colleagues now speak of possibly staying at the institution when they had plans for early retirement due to the climate she’d been fostering. The return of Dr. Ezeonu as Interim [VPAA] further reinforces this positive change, as her commitment to our campus goals of equity and social justice aligns with the values that I believe are essential for healing and growth.”

As of March 3, a new interim VPAA has taken the reins. Dr. Rolita Flores Ezeonu, previously the Vice President of Instruction at Green River College, will be in the position until December 30. Dr. Ezeonu served as the Dean of Instruction for Transfer and Pre-College Education at Highline College from July 2008 to March 2017 before taking on Interim VPAA for Highline prior to Dr. Lardner from April 2017 to June 2018.

Highline College plans to continue the search for a permanent VPAA, with the goal to have that completed by the end of Dr. Ezeonu’s interim period. 

Dr. Mosby assured that the VPAA hiring committee will consist of “primarily academic affairs with some representatives from other areas of campus.” No further information has been provided. 

Among all faculty members who contributed to this article, the chief concern consistent throughout was the patterned lack of communication from administration. Dr. Mosby has refused every request for a quote or interview, and he has resisted answering questions from his staff on the circumstances surrounding administration changes and policies. 

During these unprecedented times, while the federal government continues to attack colleges across the nation, faculty wish for more transparency from administration not just concerning administration changes, but about what Highline College is doing to protect its students and staff from repeated attacks in and out of the college.