Hello Shoreline faculty & staff:

We welcome Dr. Lucas Rucks as Shoreline’s next Executive Dean of Business, Communication Studies, and Social Sciences. Lucas brings several higher education experiences to Shoreline Community College, most recently from Grays Harbor College, Central Washington University (CWU), and Bakersfield College.

In his current role as Dean for Workforce Education, he provides leadership for 16 associate degree areas and two applied baccalaureate degree pathways. He also manages Perkins, Worker Retraining, USDA, and DoE grants. He is currently a Peer Reviewer for NWCCU and participates within the SBCTC’s Baccalaureate Leadership Council. He is an active participant as well on the Washington Workforce Education Council where he serves on the WEC Executive Team and chairs the 2020-21 Professional Development Committee — focusing on recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty workforce.

Previously, Lucas was with CWU in a variety of capacities managing their Dual Admission program (transfer pathways for community college graduates) and Running Start & College in the High School office in Ellensburg before promotion to Campus Director at CWU-Des Moines on the Highline College campus. Before 2012, Lucas was with Bakersfield College, a large community college in the central valley of California, where he focused on a variety advising, embedding basic skills curriculum, allied health pathways, and grant-management duties.

Lucas has teaching experiences in K-8 as a guest teacher, has taught continuing education, basic skills (math), and lifetime health courses in the college setting, and continues to teach leadership courses each academic year to maintain connection with students, best practices, and emerging technology in the classroom.

With additional administrative responsibilities in the last 20 years including dual enrollment and K-12 articulation, contract training, community education, transfer agreements between community college and university, and professional development for faculty and staff, he has a huge heart for access and the power of changing lives through education.

Lucas and Jena Rucks have three children and now also share their home with “COVID puppy” Juneau. In their spare time, they continue to enjoy exploring the outdoors of the PNW. Lucas coaches youth sports, teaches Bachelor of Applied Science courses, and serves on several K-12 advisory committees. Lucas completed his doctoral studies in Higher Education Leadership with Azusa Pacific University and his MS in Administration and BA in Liberal Studies (US Govt & American History) with California State University, Bakersfield.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Rucks to Shoreline.

Phillip J. King
Vice President, Student Learning, Equity & Success

Dear Campus Community,

I am reaching out to provide an update regarding the Executive Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ED-DEI) position recruitment.

While the College was in discussion with the three finalists that emerged, unfortunately, all three of them have taken positions outside of Shoreline. Given that we are about to enter a year of transition for the leadership of the College, please know that the College will be re-evaluating how we can better recruit the ED-DEI position to hopefully result in a successful hire when the position is re-opened for application. In the interim, the College will continue to identify and share resources to campus as we continue our campus-wide DEI development.

Questions regarding this update can be directed to Veronica Zura (vzura@shoreline.edu) at any time.

Dear Shoreline faculty & staff:

I am writing to announce temporary changes in the leadership of the Humanities & Transitional Studies division and the Business, Communications, & Social Sciences division.

Nancy Dick, Executive Dean of Humanities & Transitional Studies, is taking leave Monday, May 24 through Tuesday, July 6. During this period, Ann Garnsey-Harter has agreed to fill in as Acting Executive Dean, as well as continue on in her permanent role as Executive Director of Learning Resources and Continuing Education.

The Humanities & Transitional Studies division is in good hands, as Ann has previously served in an acting leadership role for this division. Jonathan Molinaro will support Ann in his current capacity as Associate Dean of Transitional Studies, in addition to executing other functions within the division, as needed. Amy Rovner will provide eLearning support, temporarily as Acting Director of eLearning.

In addition, Acting Executive Dean Tim Wright recently announced his acceptance of a new position as an administrator at Sierra College in California. His last day with Shoreline will be June 4, 2021. Brigid Nulty has agreed to fill in as Acting Executive Dean for BCS beginning June 5, 2021. Brigid will remain in that role until a new Executive Dean for BCS is hired this summer. Brigid’s current role at the College as Acting Associate Dean for BCS will not be filled through this temporary reassignment. We will provide other supports as necessary for Acting Executive Dean Nulty.

I want to send a personal note of appreciation for Tim Wright for all his efforts in his role for Shoreline. Tim led with humor, compassion, and collaboration. We wish him success in his new role.

Sincerely,

Phillip King

Vice President for Student Learning