Happy New Year! As we welcome the beginning of 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on our journey together and share my appreciation for each of you.

The past year was challenging and tumultuous in many ways. We experienced significant transitions in leadership at the college, state, and national levels. Change was evident throughout our community, yet we persevered. Despite these challenges, we remained focused and committed to our mission of supporting our beautifully diverse students.

I am truly proud of our community’s resilience and dedication. I hope that you were able to enjoy the winter break – spending quality time with family and close friends, finding moments to rest, reflect on all that you accomplished, and set intentions for the new year.

It is wonderful to see our campus vibrant once again, with students and faculty back in full force. We have started 2026 on a strong note. Enrollment numbers are robust, and it appears that students have transitioned back into classes with limited barriers. This is a testament to the hard work and coordination across our college community. Thank you for your continued dedication and great work.

This week, the Executive Cabinet reconvened with focused attention on preparing a communication strategy as a follow-up to the listening sessions hosted prior to winter break. You can expect to receive further communication from the Executive Cabinet regarding next steps in the coming week.

As a reminder, the following leadership and administrative changes went into effect on January 1, 2026, and were previously shared with campus on December 22; here are the updates:

Beginning January 1, 2026, José “Tony” Garcia, currently the Dean of Advising and Enrollment Services, will serve as Interim Vice President of Student Services. During this time, Tony will continue to oversee his current role as Dean of Advising and Enrollment Services – Student Services, holding both positions concurrently.

Upon her return from maternity leave in March 2026, Karén Calles, currently the Associate Dean of Advising & Running Start, will assume the role of Interim Dean of Advising and Enrollment Services.

There has also been a switch with Executive Assistants. Juli Hammond will serve as the EA for VP Office of the President and VP Human Resources. Jordan Mellott will serve as the EA for VP Student Services.

For scheduling purposes, please note the following:

• To request meetings or appointments with the Interim President, please contact Juli Hammond or Marggiory Davila.
  • To request meetings or appointments with Interim Vice President of Student Services José “Tony” Garcia, please contact Jordan Mellott.

Let us continue to support one another and uphold the values that make Highline College such a special place. Thank you for all that you do.

Warm regards,

Jamilyn Penn, EdD

Interim President