Peninsula College trustees’ choice for president said he is looking forward to leading the community college.
Luke P. Robins, chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College, hadn’t had a lot of time to process the news that he had been chosen Tuesday to take the helm of the school when he spoke later that evening.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Robins said.
“It looks like a good fit.”
Assuming the contract negotiations are successful, Robins is expected to assume leadership of the college in July.
Robins said he didn’t yet know when he would next visit Port Angeles.
The new president will replace Tom Keegan, who left in February to lead Skagit Valley College after 10 years at Peninsula College.
Keegan was earning $204,434 in the 10th year of his tenure and will earn $200,000 at Skagit Valley.
Brinton Sprague, a retired community college leader living in Port Ludlow, has managed the college since Keegan’s departure and will oversee the transition to the new president.
Sprague’s contract spans Feb. 9 through June 30, and he will be paid $59,195, which is based on an annual salary of $150,000 for 261 days, prorated for the 103 days he is expected to serve.
Robins — who said he is in his 50s — visited Port Angeles, Forks and Port Townsend on Feb. 5-6 and took part in several community and college staff and faculty forums.
During his visit, he discussed using an entrepreneurial approach to counteract cuts in funding for higher education.
He was the trustees’ top choice because of his experience in strategic planning at three colleges, as well as in increasing enrollment and new campus construction, and his support for baccalaureate degrees at community colleges heavily influenced the trustees’ decision, said Julie McCulloch, president of the Board of Trustees.
She also praised his teaching experience and his appreciation and respect for diversity.
He has been chancellor of Louisiana Delta, a two-year college with 2,700 enrolled students, since 2006.
During his tenure, the school — which opened its main campus in 2001 — received full initial accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and admitted its first class into its nursing program.
Robins has served as executive vice president and chief academic officer at National Park Community College in Hot Springs, Ark., and dean of instruction at Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
He received his doctorate in educational administration with a specialty in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin; his master’s in English, community college teaching track, from Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.; and his bachelor’s in Christian education from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
