The Board of Trustees of the Seattle Community Colleges last week named Dr. Jill Wakefield the next chancellor of the multi-campus district.

Wakefield, currently president of South Seattle Community College, will assume responsibilities on January 1, 2009 upon the retirement of the current chancellor, Charles H. Mitchell. She will be the 17th chancellor and the first woman chancellor in the history of the District.

The chancellor is responsible for overall operations of the state's largest two-year college district, educating more than 50,000 students at Seattle Central, North Seattle and South Seattle Community Colleges; the Seattle Vocational Institute; and five specialized training centers located across the city.

In making their announcement, the Board noted Wakefield's depth of experience in Seattle and her vision for the future of the colleges and higher education in this region. "The Seattle Community Colleges are committed to developing and retaining talented leaders," said Board of Trustees Chair Tom Malone. "Dr. Wakefield understands our unique challenges and can build on our successes."

Wakefield has served as president at South since January 2003. Under her leadership South has developed several new programs and an architecturally vibrant campus.

The college was among the first two-year colleges in the state to be approved for an applied bachelor's degree with a BAS degree in Hospitality Management, which began enrolling students last fall. The college also offers four-year degrees on campus through partnerships with City University, Eastern Washington University, and Heritage University. The new Northwest Wine Academy has doubled in enrollment over the last year, and its student-produced wines have continued to win awards in industry competitions. The college piloted a successful and innovative healthcare training program that combines English language skills with technical training.

Earlier this year the college inaugurated its Georgetown Campus, the former "Duwamish Branch" with three new buildings and appointment of leadership for the Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center. The Georgetown Campus is becoming widely recognized for developing training to support the growing "green economy" and sustainable construction techniques through its apprenticeship programs.

Before becoming president the chancellor-elect served as college vice president for instruction and in a variety of positions during a 30-year career at South, gaining extensive knowledge of community college administration, the region, and the state's higher education system.

Wakefield is a community college graduate who earned her associate's degree from Centralia College, bachelor's degree in education from Central Washington University, master's degree in public administration/public policy from the University of Washington and doctorate in educational leadership from Seattle University.

She has taught as a part-time faculty member at Washington State University, Seattle University and Centralia College. Her research, presentations and publications have been focused on business and college partnerships that lead to more effective training and fund development.

Wakefield will take over from current Chancellor Charles Mitchell, who is stepping aside to take over leadership of the district-wide Power and Promise fund-raising campaign.

"Jill Wakefield will make an outstanding chancellor," Mitchell said. "Throughout her presidency at South, she has demonstrated innovative leadership that has transformed South into one of the premier colleges in our state system."