The Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap as interim chancellor. She has been serving as acting chancellor since July 2022 while maintaining her role as president of South Seattle College. She will serve in this role at least through June 2023. With her appointment as interim chancellor, Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap will step down from her role as South Seattle College’s president.
The first classes of what is now the Seattle Colleges were held in the Edison Vocational Technical Institute when Seattle Community College — now Seattle Central College — opened in 1966 as part of the public school system. Now the Seattle Colleges serves Seattle and its surrounding communities at three comprehensive college campuses and five specialty training centers. The system serves about 45,000 students each year.
Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap has been with Seattle Colleges for 22 years. She started as a student success specialist in the TRiO Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound programs. She later served as vice chancellor for equity, diversity, and inclusion for the district. Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap has been president of South Seattle College since 2018.
“The Seattle Colleges are a jewel of this community. It is a privilege to work alongside my dedicated colleagues who are passionate about lifting all in our region and transforming disenfranchisement and exclusion into belonging and agency,” said Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap.
Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap earned a bachelor’s degree in English and ethnic studies and a doctorate in education from Washington State University. She also holds a master of public administration degree from the University of Washington