News
December 22, 2005
Contact: Suzy Ames, Director of Communications, SBCTC, 360-704-4310
Community and technical college board announces new executive director
OLYMPIA – Charlie Earl, president of Everett Community College, has been named the executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, effective February 1, 2006.
“The State Board is excited to announce the hiring of Charlie Earl,” said Board Chair Jim Garrison. “In the years ahead, our citizens will need even more access to high quality, low cost education and we believe Charlie has the depth of knowledge, management and public policy skills needed to make our strong system even stronger.”
According to Garrison, clear priorities have been set for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges for the short-term and long-term. The executive director, State Board staff and the colleges will quickly engage with the Governor and Legislature to work toward the goal of securing adequate funding that supports faculty and staff, expands access and keeps quality education affordable for students. The board is looking to clarify the ways two-year colleges bolster the state’s economy, and develop strategic programs and policies that further that effort. In addition, the executive director will continue working closely with businesses, K-12, universities, the governor and legislators to improve higher education in Washington.
“Given his background, Charlie Earl is the right person to help the State Board further clarify and advance the strategic direction for the community and technical college system,” Chair Garrison said. “As the process evolved, the State Board recognized the importance of hiring someone with in-depth knowledge of the system who could keep us moving forward.”
Earl has led Everett Community College since 1998. Prior to that, he served as deputy King County executive under Gary Locke, general manager of Snohomish County PUD and chief administrative officer of Thurston County.
As president of the college, Earl held several leadership positions amongst the two-year college presidents across the state, culminating as chair of the presidents this year. In 2003, this organization presented Earl with the outstanding service award.
“I am looking forward to continuing the State Board’s positive work and raising the public’s awareness of the benefits of community and technical colleges to students and the workforce,” Earl said. “The colleges are outstanding.”
Earl holds a master’s degree in political science from Washington State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Washington. He also attended the State and Local Government Leadership Program at Harvard.
The current executive director, Earl Hale, has led the agency for 19 years. He announced his retirement in May, which prompted the State Board to conduct a nationwide search for the new executive director. Hale will officially retire at the end of January.
The two-year colleges serve more than 500,000 students each year, preparing them with workforce skills, transfer preparation and literacy education. Community and technical colleges are a start for more than 40 percent of graduates of four-year institutions. Almost half of the colleges’ students enroll for workforce training.
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