Tacoma Community College President to retire at year-end

Dr. Pamela Transue, president of Tacoma Community College, has announced to the Board of Trustees her plans to retire on December 31, 2014.  Dr. Transue started at TCC in July of 1997 and has served as TCC’s president and CEO for the past 17 years.

Since Dr. Transue began her presidency in 1997, Tacoma Community College has won local regard and national recognition. Increasingly, TCC is a college of first choice for Tacoma-area residents.

Focused on student success, Dr. Transue guided Tacoma Community College toward an evidence-based approach to student learning and assessment. Results include improved completion rates and instructional innovation. Tacoma Community College is an Achieving the Dream Leader College, and its “Declared and Prepared” advising structure has become a model for colleges nationwide.

"Under Pamela's leadership, TCC transformed into a nationally recognized community college,” said Chad Wright, chair of the Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees.

“This was made possible because of her exceptional vision and her capability to work well with the trustees, faculty and staff through good times and some of the most difficult times in the history of the community college system. Her imprint will forever be a part of this college. I wish her all the best in her retirement."

Dr. Transue directed the single largest physical transformation in the history of TCC. Construction of quality, modern buildings and sustainable landscape has been a major focus of her capital vision. TCC has received local and national accolades, awards and recognition for LEED Silver and Gold building designations, recycling and waste reduction, solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling and green parking lots.

Dr. Transue has served as chair of the board of the American Association of Community Colleges, secretary of the board of the American Council on Education, president of COMBASE, a national organization devoted to community-based learning, and president of the Washington Association of Community and Technical College Presidents.

Throughout her career at TCC, Dr. Transue has taken an active role as a leader in the Tacoma community. She has served on a number of boards including Tacoma Goodwill Industries, Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Pierce County, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, the Pierce County Regence/Blue Shield Advisory Board, and Rotary 8.

Professionally, Dr. Transue has received multiple awards including the 2010 CEO of the Year Award for the Pacific Region from the National Association of Community College Trustees and the 2010 CEO of the Year Award from the State of Washington Trustees Association.

Dr. Transue attended the University of Washington, earning her bachelor’s degree, and Ohio State University, where she completed her master’s and Ph.D. She also attended the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard.

Dr. Transue is the author of two books and numerous articles. She has been a frequent presenter at national and statewide conferences as well as local business groups and events. Before coming to TCC, she served as Executive Dean at Portland Community College and as Special Assistant to the President at the University of Washington.

The presidential search will begin immediately under the direction of the TCC Board of Trustees.