Highline’s newest trustee says he is committed to both education and the community. 

Governor Jay Inslee appointed Travis Exstrom to the Highline College Board of Trustees last month. The board is the governing body of the college, with responsibility for naming a president when necessary and overseeing college policy. 

Exstrom, a Microsoft attorney and Burien resident since 2008, has a strong connection to the community.  He was previously the president of the Highline Premier Football Club and has volunteered with the Housing Justice Project and the King County Neighborhood Legal Clinic in Kent.  His two daughters attend local schools, with one in Highline Public Schools.

He said his commitment specifically to education in the area directly led to his desire to serve on Highline’s board.  

“My family is highly committed to the community, especially its education system,” Exstrom said.  “Prior to joining the college board, I served for eight years as a trustee for the Highline Schools Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Highline Public Schools, and remain involved in the Foundation as an emeritus trustee.”

“During my time as a trustee with the foundation, I worked to build relationships with the college and saw the opportunity it has to be a center of excellence for the community in its educational programs, international engagement, and commitment to adversity and inclusion,” he said.

He said his role as a trustee has multiple responsibilities.

“Trustees serve as an essential link to, and govern on behalf of, the community they serve,” he said.  “As a board, it is critical that our advocacy and advisory support reflect the needs of that community and I look forward to deepening my engagement with the broader Highline region.

“Trustees also need to focus on policy issues, supporting the college in setting a vision for its future, and setting goals for how the college can achieve that vision,” Exstrom said.

He said he is confident that the board, the faculty and staff at Highline can achieve their goals.

“I have great confidence in my fellow trustees, Dr. Mosby, and the college’s staff to execute on those responsibilities and the opportunities they present,” he said.

Exstrom said he brings various qualities to the board.

“I believe I bring a strong connection and commitment to the community, a history of service, a professional background in advisory support and advocacy, and a growth mindset rooted in a desire to learn,” he said. 

He said he knows that Covid-19 has brought challenges to the college.

“Undoubtedly, the ongoing pandemic will continue to present unique challenges and exacerbate many existing concerns, including access to broadband internet,” Exstrom said.

He said he looks forward to learning of the additional challenges the college faces.

“Having just recently joined the board, I look forward to hearing from the president, his leadership team, and the broader community of staff and students on the issues they are facing,” he said.

Exstrom replaces Fred Mendoza, who retired after 10 years a trustee in November. 

Exstrom said he is quite familiar with Highline.

“Highline, the first community college established in King County in 1961, is the most diverse educational institution in Washington and offers a wide range of academic transfer, professional-technical education, basic skills, and applied bachelor’s degree programs,” he said.

“And, I’m revealing a personal rooting interest here, the men’s and women’s soccer programs recently completed incredibly successful seasons, with the men taking home the championship in a 4-3 match against Whatcom,” Exstrom said.