Kevin Brockbank chosen as president of Spokane Community College
Kevin Brockbank, the acting president of Spokane Community College, has been selected to lead the college permanently following a nationwide search.
Brockbank joined SCC as vice provost for strategic partnerships in 2015 and took over as acting president after Ryan Carstens resigned in July. Carstens now leads a university campus in New Mexico.
Brockbank beat two other finalists for the permanent job. They were Barbara Hanson, a former CEO and chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College, and Greg Mosier, executive vice president of academic affairs at Rochester Community Technical College in Minnesota.
“During the past 10 months, Dr. Brockbank has demonstrated strong and collaborative leadership throughout the college,” Christine Johnson, chancellor of the Community Colleges of Spokane, said in a news release Wednesday. “I know he will work with the faculty and staff to ensure SCC continues to provide outstanding educational opportunities that are responsive to the regional economy and prepare students for bright futures for the next education level and employment.”
Before moving to Spokane, Brockbank was a dean at Salt Lake Community College in Utah and held leadership roles at Missoula College and Helena College. Both schools are part of the University of Montana, where Brockbank earned his doctorate in educational leadership.
“I am honored to be a part of the SCC team and part of an institution that is so impactful to the people and economy of this region,” Brockbank said in the news release. “My vision is that SCC be recognized as the best comprehensive community college in the state.”
SCC’s sister school, Spokane Falls Community College, also is searching for a new president. Janet Gullickson resigned last summer to lead a school in Virginia.
Darren Pitcher served as SFCC’s acting president for about eight months before resigning in February amid allegations of sexual harassment. Provost Nancy Fair-Szofran is the new acting president. She also leads the committee in charge of screening candidates for the permanent job.
Hanson, who was in the running to lead SCC, also is a finalist for the SFCC job. The other SFCC finalist is Darrell Cain, vice chancellor for student success at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana.
A college spokeswoman said the next SFCC president likely will be selected within a couple of weeks.