***Including an exclusive interview with Dr. Jamilynn Penn.***

Highline College Board of Trustees announced during the Dec. 11 meeting that Dr. John R. Mosby will not be returning as President of Highline College following his departure for a third medical leave in November. Dr. Jamilyn Penn, who was serving as Acting President, was appointed as Interim President until a permanent candidate can be found. 

In their announcement, the Board said, “[We] would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to Dr. Mosby for the work he has done in support of students, faculty, and staff during his tenure with us. The past several years have brought unprecedented challenges. Thank you to Dr. Mosby for everything he did to advocate for our students and employees during that time.” 

Dr. Mosby has been on three medical leaves in the past five years over concerns for his declining health. He’s shared with campus his struggle with kidney disease and various medical issues that kept him from campus. His presence on campus was scarce, and while faculty held no fault towards him for his health, external threats to the college highlight a need for stronger, more consistent leadership. While the community shows appreciation for Dr. Mosby and his time at the helm, a large portion of campus breathed a small sigh of relief at the news. 

Dr. Penn immediately took up the mantle of Interim President following the announcement. In an interview with the ThunderWord, she stated, “I want this community to feel heard and valued. And while Dr. Mosby, during his tenure, did significant work to contribute to the community, holistically, we’re at a point [where] another transition needs to happen. My focus will be on rebuilding trust and fostering a culture of shared governance.”

The Highline College website stated, “She brings broad leadership experience within Washington’s community and technical college system, having served as dean at both Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Clover Park Technical College and later as statewide director of transfer education for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Earlier in her career, she was a program supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, overseeing budgeting and compliance for 295 school districts.”

As Dr. Penn steps into the role, she will no longer be serving dual roles of President and Vice President of Student Services (VPSS). José “Tony” Garcia will temporarily serve as Interim VPSS as well as his current position as Dean of Advising and Enrollment Services. 

Dr. Penn disclosed her admiration for Dr. Mosby, who she has worked with since joining Highline four years ago. She spoke of his strong voice and unique ideas he brought to the table that drew her in following her time on the state board. 

“My approach is rounded in transparency, listening, and collaboration. Those three things are paramount to where Highline college is situated right now,” Dr. Penn said. “I think that we’ve had some disconnections here and there and so it will take all of us to lean into this. That means we’ll need to have open and ongoing lines of communication. I will need to make sure that I am regularly updating and I would expect others are also providing regular updates to me. And then we’ll have a more visible leadership presence across the college community.

“I need to be up and about and talking with students, staff, faculty … and I’m already working with my staff, my assistants to schedule opportunities for me to do just that. … It’s important that I be present, and the rest of Executive Cabinet members as well, are more present. That was one of the things that came up in recent listening sessions.” 

While Dr. Penn’s resume makes her a strong candidate for this position, a portion of faculty question her ability to handle the responsibilities of the office. The Financial Aid department, which is under her purview of VPSS, garnered a lot of criticism last quarter, and Dr. Penn was largely held responsible for the situation. In response to the criticism, Dr. Penn and Financial Aid Director Corinne Soltis shifted internal policies, reallocated service hours, held listening and informational sessions. 

“I’m proud of the progress that we have made together, especially addressing student concerns and improving communication,” said Dr. Penn. “When we work in silos, that’s never a good thing. And I think while we sometimes don’t believe that we’re siloed, we are. So bridging those gaps across the college community has been very significant and necessary.” 

The criticisms of the community as a whole is not singled down to the President’s office, but frustration with Executive Cabinet leadership, as a whole.

Highline College is now in the position with an Interim President, Interim VPSS, Interim VPAA, a vacancy on the Board of Trustees, a temporary Dean of Advising and Enrollment Services, and a wildly unpopular VP of HR that lives on the East Coast, with Highline paying for travel each month. How Dr. Penn handles the challenges set before her as Interim President will be revealed in time.

The campus climate still simmers entering this new era. “The college may be solvent – but its people are underpaid, overworked, and disrespected. Stability on paper does not equate to a healthy campus community,” stated an anonymous faculty collective submitted to the ThunderWord. One of Dr. Mosby’s parting actions in his last year was the near-disastrous negotiations with classified staff, who are 26% behind in pay increases compared to the cost of living. 

Dr. Penn responded, “We are reviewing compensation structures with human resources and with our VP of HR, Melanie Lawson and Vice President Dr. Michael Pham. We’re also looking at workload distribution. There was also a request for professional development. We’re committed to improving communication and recognition of our practices, to ensure that every member of our community feels respected and supported.

“I fully recognize that our people; our staff and our faculty, they’re hurting. That does not sit well with me. And it doesn’t sit well with the rest of the Executive Cabinet members. We’re going to do our best, and it will be a collaborative effort. It will take time.” 

In a campus climate survey conducted by the ThunderWord last quarter, one anonymous response read, “Even though there is a lack of support from leadership, staff remain dedicated to students and consistently provide the best services possible. Their commitment to student success is a strength that should continue and be further supported.”

More information is set to be released early 2026, presumably at the Jan. 22 Board of Trustees meeting.  

**Mavrie has been serving as editor for the ThunderWord since 2024. She is also the founding president of Highline’s Non-fiction Writers Circle.**