Terrence Leas is new BBCC president

MOSES LAKE - Terrence Leas will be the next president of Big Bend Community College, pending acceptance of a contract.

The college trustees voted unanimously to offer a contract to Leas at a special meeting Monday. Currently Leas is the president of Riverland Community College, with three campuses in southern Minnesota.

Leas will replace Bill Bonaudi, who announced his retirement in February after 17 years as president.

Leas said he's "very flattered, very honored, very excited" at the selection. Leas was one of three candidates to visit the campus, and he said he was very impressed with what he saw.

His first job, he said, is to get to know the college and community. "I want to visit and I want to listen," he said. He wants to talk with college staff and students, as well as residents in the communities served by the college. "I want to learn from them how they perceive the college, the work it does and how to make it even stronger."

Working at a smaller-town college was an attractive prospect, Leas said. It's easier to learn more about the communities served and to get to know people, both at the college and in town, he said.

Big Bend Community College has a comprehensive program that includes liberal arts classes, professional and technical training programs, and continuing adult education classes like GED and English as a second language. Leas said that approach to education also makes Big Bend attractive.

Leas has been president at Riverland Community College since 2003. Previously he was dean of students, dean for institutional effectiveness, dean of basic skills and campus dean at Yakima Valley Community College.

Leas was one of three finalists for the position. The others were Anne Temte, president of Northland Community and Technical College in Minnesota, and Denise Yochum, president of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom.