Dear Highline College Community,

I am writing to share that I have recently been appointed Acting President of Highline College by the Board of Trustees through 2025. I am deeply honored by this appointment and hold the responsibility with great respect. During this period of transition, I will also continue to serve as Vice President of Student Services. I want to outline my priorities as I support the college in this dual role.

As Acting President, my focus will include:

• Launching the search for the next Vice President of Academic Affairs.
• Identifying strong candidates to fill the current vacancy on the Board of Trustees.
• Engaging regularly with the Executive Cabinet to address key opportunities, challenges, and emerging needs across the college and community.
• Representing Highline at Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC) meetings and casting the college’s vote where appropriate.
• Carrying out the full responsibilities of the presidency as directed by the Board of Trustees.

In my continued role as Vice President of Student Services, my priorities remain:

• Improving the financial aid experience for students by strengthening communication, increasing transparency, and ensuring students receive timely, clear, and coordinated support at every step of the process. This includes simplifying messaging, reducing barriers to completing applications, improving follow-up and case management, and helping students better understand their options—whether FAFSA, WASFA, scholarships, or emergency funding.
• Co-sponsoring the Financial Aid Advisory Council with Dr. Ezeonu and Dra. Jimenez. The council will meet for the first time on November 24 (2:00–3:30 p.m.) and will help us clarify the full financial aid process and reinforce understanding of how Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) shapes student eligibility and next steps.
• Establishing a clear and consistent policy for reviewing foreign high school diploma transcripts so students receive fair, timely evaluations that support their enrollment and aid eligibility.
• Continuing to support Guided Pathways by strengthening student onboarding, progress monitoring, and program completion efforts. Working closely with instructional and student services partners to align support, reduce friction points, and ensure students move through their educational pathways with clarity and confidence.
• Supporting key enrollment-driving programs, including Running Start, WES, and ISP, as they work toward meeting quarterly and annual FTE goals. These programs play a critical role in advancing access for diverse student populations and in sustaining the college’s overall fiscal health.

How to Reach Me
As I serve in both roles, I want to ensure that your questions, concerns, and ideas reach the right place quickly. To help with this, please use the following points of contact:

• Student Services-related inquiries: Please contact my Executive Assistant, Juli Hammond, at jhammond@highline.edu.
• Acting President-related inquiries: Please email president@highlinecollege.edu. I will follow up accordingly.

I am grateful for the commitment, care, and collaboration that define our community. I look forward to continuing our work together and advancing the success of every student we serve.

With appreciation,

Jamilyn Penn
Acting President & Vice President of Student Services
Highline College