Executive Cabinet
Dr. John R. Mosby
President
Dr. John R. Mosby became Highline’s seventh president in July 2018. He is the chief executive, administrative, and education officer of the community and derives authority from, and is responsible to the Highline College Board of Trustees. The president’s primary responsibility is to provide a vision for the college and continuous leadership and direction for the planning and operation of all aspects of the college’s programs and services in conformity with board policies, rules and regulations, and state law. The five-member board of trustees provides a strategic perspective and definitive leadership in collaboration with the president in operating the college. Dr. Mosby has more than 23 years of higher education experience, having served as vice president for Student Services at Mission College and dean at Skyline College, both located in California. His work experience includes that of adjunct faculty, teaching undergraduate-, graduate- and doctoral-level courses at community colleges and four-year institutions with research interests rooted in the belief of servant leadership, social justice and equity. Dr. Mosby holds a doctorate in leadership/higher education administration from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in educational and counseling psychology from the University of the Pacific and a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Mary’s College.
Danielle K. Slota
Executive Director, Office of the President
Secretary to the Board of Trustees | Title IX Coordinator | Public Records Officer
As Executive Director, Danielle K. Slota supports the President by coordinating strategic initiatives, managing executive communications, and serving as a key liaison across campus. With a collaborative leadership style, Danielle plays a central role in aligning operations and advancing institutional priorities at the college.
In addition to overseeing communications from the Office of the President, Danielle serves as delegated Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Title IX Coordinator, and Public Records Officer—roles that reflect a strong commitment to governance, equity, and transparency.
Danielle K. Slota holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Central Washington University and is currently pursuing a Master of Legal Studies at Drexel University, with a double concentration in Higher Education Compliance and Human Resources Compliance. Danielle began her career in higher education with the University of Washington in 2011, joining Highline College in 2018.
Dr. Jamilyn Penn
Vice President, Student Services
Dr. Jamilyn Penn is Vice President for Student Services at Highline College and a dedicated champion for student success. She brings broad leadership experience within Washington’s community and technical college system, having served as dean at both Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Clover Park Technical College and later as statewide director of transfer education for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Earlier in her career, she was a program supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, overseeing budgeting and compliance for 295 school districts. Dr. Penn began her professional journey as a special education teacher in Texas and later became a tenured English faculty member in Washington’s community college system. She holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Northeastern University, a master’s in English from Radford University, and a bachelor’s in English and Paralegal Studies from James Madison University. She is a 2023 Thomas Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership fellow and a 2024 Aspen Rising Presidents fellow—both nationally respected programs that prepare leaders for executive service in higher education.
Joshua Gerstman
Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Josh Gerstman works with the Institutional Advancement team to build valuable relationships and establish a meaningful presence within Highline College’s communities, resulting in support for the college and our students. Josh also serves as the Executive Director of the Highline College Foundation, working with an outstanding board of directors and staff to drive support for student scholarships, emergency support and strategic projects to enhance the college. Josh has more than 26 years’ experience working in Washington’s community and technical college system and has been at Highline since Fall, 2018. Josh is active in the community, including serving on the board of Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, Jobs for South Sound, Soundside Alliance. Josh has been a Kent Rotarian for more than 25 years and a volunteer dog handler with King County Search Dogs/King County Search and Rescue since the late 90s.
Dra. Maribel Torres Jiménez
Vice President, Equity, Diversity and Transformation
Dr. Maribel Jiménez (she/her) is the inaugural Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Transformation at Highline College. She is a first-generation college student that continues to learn to navigate higher education at multiple levels with ancestral knowledge, guidance, and mentoring from the great leaders and pioneers that served before her. Dr. Jiménez has been an educator for over 18 years. She combines nine years of K-12 experience, serving as a teacher and school counselor, and working in higher education. Previously, Dr. Jimenez served as the Dean of Academic Transfer Pathways and Partnerships at Highline College. Her scope of experience includes tenured faculty counselor and Title V grant director at Yakima Valley College. Dr. Jimenez holds a Master of Social Work from Eastern Washington University and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University.
Melanie Lawson
Vice President, Human Resources
Melanie Lawson is an accomplished human resources executive with over 20 years of progressive leadership and consultant experience across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. As Vice President of Human Resources, Melanie leads with a strategic vision centered on equity, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement. She is passionate about building inclusive workplaces where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered to thrive.
Melanie holds degrees in Human Resources and Business Administration, which have served as a strong foundation for her comprehensive approach to workforce planning, talent development, change management, and policy innovation. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives that have transformed organizational culture, strengthened leadership pipelines, and aligned people strategies with institutional goals.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, Melanie fosters cross-departmental partnerships and champions data-informed decision-making to enhance HR operations and drive meaningful change. She is also deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, embedding these principles into every facet of HR strategy and practice.
With a deep understanding of the evolving workforce landscape, Melanie continues to be a trusted advisor and thought partner to executive leadership, guiding organizations
Dr. Michael Pham
Vice President, Administrative Services
Michael Pham joined Highline College in 2015 and oversees the Administrative Services division. Previously, he spent over 24 years working for Seattle Central College and Seattle College District in various leadership positions including executive director of financial services and vice president of administrative services. Michael holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Washington Tacoma and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration.
Dr. Rolita Flores Ezeonu
Interim Vice President, Academic Affairs
Dr. Rolita Flores Ezeonu is the Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and has served and led in South King County for over 25 years. From July 2018 to February 2025, she served as Vice President of Instruction at Green River College, where she provided executive leadership in faculty recruitment, development, retention, and evaluation. She oversaw curriculum and instruction while advancing anti-racist practices both in and outside the classroom. Dr. Ezeonu also strengthened instructional leadership and forged partnerships with institutions, public agencies, and community organizations. Equity and social justice are at the center of her work. Prior to her role at Green River College, she was Interim Vice President of Instruction at Highline College from April 2017 – June 2018 and Dean of Instruction for Transfer and Pre-College Education from July 2008 – March 2017. She also taught as a tenured faculty member and adjunct faculty member in Communication Studies at Highline. Dr. Ezeonu holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus on higher education from Seattle University, as well as a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Washington State University.
Tim Wrye
Chief Information Officer
Tim Wrye leads the Information Technology Services (ITS) division at Highline College, where he serves as Chief Information Officer (CIO). A long-standing member of the Highline community, Tim played a key role in advancing academic technology before establishing the ITS division and stepping into his current leadership role.
Beyond campus, Tim is actively involved in statewide IT governance. He has served as chair of both the Information Technology Commission (ITC) and the ctcLink Project Steering Committee. He currently chairs the DataLink Steering Committee and represents the ITC on the WACTC Equity Committee.
Tim holds a Master of Education in Educational Communications and Technology from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University. While he never taught in a classroom, his passion for music endures—he remains active in the Tacoma choral community, performing with the Symphony Tacoma Voices and serving on the Board of the Tacoma Youth Chorus.