The Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees at its Oct. 12 board meeting unanimously selected Dr. Thomas Keegan as the college’s sixth president.

As the result of a national search, Keegan was selected from a pool of forty applicants.

“I am honored to be offered the opportunity to lead the College that set me on my educational and career paths,” Keegan said in a college press release.

“I earned my Associate in Arts degree at Skagit Valley College and returned as a graduate intern while pursuing my master’s degree at Western Washington University. My experiences at Skagit Valley College motivated me to become a community college professional.”

Keegan has been the president of Peninsula College for 10 years.  

“Tom has done wonderful things for Peninsula College and our entire region,” said Julie McCulloch, chairman of the Peninsula College Board of Trustees.

“Thanks to his leadership, Peninsula College is a healthy institution that is well-positioned for a strong future. My colleagues on the Board of Trustees join me in congratulating Tom on this new opportunity, and we are happy he will be able to take his abilities to another community college in our state. The Board is prepared to move forward with the process of filling the position of president of Peninsula College and will soon be determining the next steps.”

Under Keegan’s leadership, Peninsula College was selected by the U.S. Department of Education (one of 20 community colleges in the nation) as an “Innovator in Career Pathways”; was lauded as a model college for its “thoughtful, holistic approach to Native American student success” by The Partnership for Native American College Access and Success; implemented a capital building campaign resulting in more than $120 million in new and remodeled facilities, including the construction of the nation’s first longhouse on a community college campus; and was commended by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities for its exemplary efforts in developing partnerships with regional industries, government agencies, other institutions of higher education and tribal communities.  

In addition, Keegan worked to establish Peninsula College as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.                                                                             

Prior to his work at Peninsula College, Keegan served as the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services at Columbia Basin College and the Vice President for Student Success at South Puget Sound Community College.

Keegan earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington. His Certificate of Integrative Administration also is from the University of Washington.  

He earned a master’s degree in education in adult education/student personnel administration from Western Washington University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Puget Sound.

The start date for the Skagit Valley College presidency is expected to be sometime in early 2012.