At its public meeting on Thursday, January 15, the Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to terminate for convenience the employment contract of SVC President Dr. Christopher Villa, effective immediately.
The Board is committed to acting decisively and thoughtfully to ensure continuity of leadership and stability for the college. The search for an interim president will begin immediately. In the meantime, the Board will soon designate a lead administrator to ensure ongoing operations and support for the college community.
Looking ahead, the Board is also committed to conducting a national search for the next president of SVC. This search will be carried out in alignment with the college’s guiding principles of respect, integrity, open and honest communication, collaboration, and compassion. Members of the college community and the broader communities SVC serves will be invited to provide input as part of this process. While presidential searches typically take six to nine months, the Board has not discussed specific details or timelines and does not expect to do so until an interim president is in place.
The Board extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Villa for his service to SVC and for his leadership during his tenure. We thank him for his dedication to the institution and the students, faculty, staff, and communities it serves, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.
The Board will provide timely updates as these processes move forward. Most importantly, we remain firmly committed to ensuring that the college’s focus stays where it belongs — on student success and on Skagit Valley College’s continued mission to serve the educational needs of our local communities.
Media Contact Info
Marisa Pierce, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
360.416.7957
marisa.pierce@skagit.edu