 "Photo: The Current")
The Green River Community College (GRCC) Board of Trustees decided Dr. Eileen Ely would replace Rich Rutkowski. According to John Ramsey, director of public information, Rutkowski will still be here to help Ely get situated and comfortable when she starts work on July 1.
Dr Ely said she is very excited about coming to GRCC, "I grew up in the Seattle and Covington area, so I have lots of family that I will enjoy seeing."
Ely graduated from Kent Meridian High School in 1969. Soon after she was married with two kids, and became a stay at home mom, which she says "is the best job in the world." Once her children were old enough she decided to continue her education.
Ely attended ITT Technical Institute in Seattle where she obtained an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting and Computer Science degree. After a short stop at Renton Technical College she transferred to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development; she received her Master of Science degree in Higher Education with a community college focus from Iowa State University, and finally got her Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, participating in the Community College Leadership Program.
Ely then moved to Nebraska where she would take on the role of president for Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC).
With being president comes great responsibility, and nothing was more difficult for her than dealing with WNCC's budget problems.
According to Ely, some of her greatest achievements at WNCC were constructing 140 new resident halls, adding 40,000 square feet to the technology center, and running 80 educational programs. She will miss WNCC because of the "great students, great board members, and a great community," but is looking forward to working for Green River.
"I'm really impressed by what Green River has to offer, like their international student program and technology," said Ely. "I want to come home."
"I have big shoes to fill, but I am excited to be working with the Board and the entire Green River family. I can't wait to get back in the community and get started at Green River," she adds.
The enthusiasm is mutual.
"The Board of Trustees is excited to announce Dr. Ely as the next president of Green River Community College," said Larry Brown, chair of the GRCC Board of Trustees, when he announced the decision on May 24.
"She brings the demonstrated skill set to move our college into the future. With the process completed, now all stakeholders can rally to support the success of our new president."
"Dr. Ely is a great fit for the college," said Linda Sprenger, a member of the presidential search committee, which was in charge of finding the final four candidates. "She will be able to come in and hit the ground running."
Friday, May 28, Dr. Ely signed the three year contract. She will receive a salary of $200,000 a year, $22,067 more than Rutkowski, who earned $178,933 annually.
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