Dear Highline College Community,

Happy Friday, everyone. Congratulations on reaching the end of the second week of Fall Quarter!

It has been wonderful to welcome students back to campus and see the energy, engagement, and sense of possibility that they bring. Fall Quarter is well underway, and great work is happening in every corner of our college. Whether you are supporting students directly, teaching, maintaining our facilities, providing services, or advancing important projects behind the scenes, thank you for all that you do. This is one of the most exciting times of the year, and our collective efforts help make Highline College a place where students can thrive.

As we look ahead to next week, I encourage you to join our Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Monday, October 12: https://www.highline.edu/about/newsroom/news/indigenous-peoples-day-2025.html.

If you are unable to attend the Indigenous Peoples Day events, you may also find a wealth of information about Native American/Indigenous People at Highline’s campus library.

Deep gratitude to everyone who has contributed their time, talent, and care to preparing for this important event. Your efforts have provided opportunity for us to come together in community to learn, reflect, and honor the histories, cultures, contributions, and resilience of Indigenous peoples. This work is necessary. It strengthens our understanding of one another, deepens our connection to place, and reflects our commitment to our mission, vision, and values.

As we continue into the quarter, I encourage us to take pride in the impact we make each day. The work of educating, supporting, and empowering students is deeply meaningful, and events such as Indigenous Peoples Day remind us of the importance of learning from one another and honoring the many communities that shape our college. Thank you for helping make Highline a place of belonging, learning, and opportunity.

Kind regards,

Jamilyn Penn

Interim President

Sent to Highline Staff and Faculty