Four Women Selected as Interim Presidents of Two-Year Colleges in the United States

Karissa Marino Morehouse is interim president of Yuba College in Marysville, California. The community college enrolls more than 6,300 students, 60 percent of whom are women.

Morehouse comes to her presidency with more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership. For the past two years, she has served as Yuba College’s vice president for student services. In this role, Morehouse provided strategic guidance to the college’s enrollment, financial aid, TRIO programs, veteran services, and community outreach initiatives.

Morehouse holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human development from California Polytechnic State University and a master’s degree in social science from California State University, Chico.

Elizabeth A. Manuel is interim president of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. The community college enrolls nearly 1,500 students, two-thirds of whom are women.

With more than 25 years of professional experience, Manuel most recently served as a K-12 administrator, overseeing student affairs, operational initiatives, and infrastructure development. Earlier, she held various roles with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.

Manuel earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Lisa Karch is interim president of the North Dakota State College of Science. The two-year institution enrolls nearly 3,400 students. Women represent 47 percent of the college’s student body.

Dr. Karch first joined the North Dakota State College of Science in 2021 as vice president for instruction. Before her current institution, she spent 12 years with Minnesota State University-Moorhead, where she served in various academic and administrative roles such as director of graduate studies and interim dean of graduate and extended learning. She also has experience in K-12 settings as a school counselor and teacher.

Dr. Karch received her bachelor’s degree in secondary health education from Concordia College-Moorhead. She holds a master’s degree in education and school counseling and a Ph.D. in human development and education from North Dakota State University.

Lisa Moon is interim president of Bridgerland Technical College in Logan, Utah. The technical college enrolls about 1,700 students, 45 percent of whom are women.

Before her interim presidential appointment, Moon served as the college’s executive vice president and chief instructional officer. During her 26 years in technical education, she has held a variety of teaching and leadership positions in many areas, including health sciences, instructional programs, student services, accreditation, facilities planning, and development. She has also served as chair of the Utah System of Higher Education Chief Instructional Officers.

Moon earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Utah.

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