Laura Saunders

The Bellevue College Board of Trustees has appointed Laura Saunders, a former BC administrator, to serve as interim president.

She replaces Bellevue College President Jean Floten who recently announced that she is taking a position as chancellor of WGU-Washington.

Saunders will serve until a new college president is in place. The BC Board of Trustees has begun the process of hiring a firm to lead the nationwide search for a new president.

“She is known to Bellevue College’s faculty, administration and to some extent the students,” said Vijay Vashee, chair of the Bellevue College Board of Trustees. “Her extensive background with the Washington Community and Technical College system will provide strong leadership and continuity for the college as we conduct our search for the permanent president. She will provide a smooth transition to the new administration.”

Saunders was vice president of administrative services at Bellevue College from 2005 until her retirement in 2008. Prior to that she served in a similar capacity for 15 years at Highline Community College, was director of planning and capital budget at the University of Washington, and was on staff at The Pennsylvania State University and the University of California. She received her Ph.D. in education from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975, holds a master’s in economics from the University of Chicago and received her undergraduate degree from Reed College.