BELLINGHAM — The Bellingham Technical College board of directors unanimously selected Port Angeles native Patricia McKeown as the school’s new president.
McKeown had served as the interim president since Sept. 1 and had previously held the position of vice president of instruction at the college since 2002.
A 1969 Port Angeles High School graduate, McKeown holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington and a master’s in curriculum and supervision and bachelor’s in education from Central Washington University.
She started at Bellingham Technical College in 1984.
She was curriculum specialist, Home and Family Life program coordinator and program developer from 1984 to 1988.
She was dean of professional technical education from 1988 to 2002.
In 2008-2009, McKeown served as president of the Instruction Commission for the state’s Community and Technical College Workforce Education Council in 2008-2009.
She has helped the college acquire federal and state grants totaling more than $5 million dollars over the last five years.
The college has about 8,000 students and offers 30 associate degree and 50 certificate programs
She has received numerous higher education awards including the Outstanding Service to Education Award, which she received twice from Bellingham Technical College, and the 2010 YWCA Hall of Fame Award.
For more information, visit www.btc.ctc.edu.
