Clover Park Technical College President Dr. John Walstrum Announces Retirement

Just got this from Clover Park Technical College:

Clover Park Technical College President Dr. John Walstrum announced his retirement to the college community today effective September 2013.

In an all-college email, Walstrum noted “it was the, “right time for our college, me, and my family.”

Walstrum has served as president at Clover Park Technical College since September 2006. During his tenure, the college achieved national recognition with the MetLife Community College Excellence Award and as an Achieving the Dream institution. The college also received numerous grants from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), including Plus 50, the WalMart Rural Health Initiative, and three Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Act grants. Walstrum also led the College through a transition from a clock-hour to a credit institution.

Committed to the success of the community college system, Walstrum served on numerous state and national committees. He chaired the Educational Services Committee for the Washington Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC), the President’s Aerospace Committee, and the Student Achievement Task Force.  Nationally, Walstrum has served as past president of the National Council for Workforce Education and as a member of the AACC Economic and Workforce Development Committee.

For his commitment to students, Walstrum was awarded the Phi Theta Kappa’s prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.

“The legacy that John Walstrum leaves at Clover Park Technical College will continue to impact the lives of students, faculty, staff, and the community for years to come.  John has done so much to ensure the College’s financial stability and educational excellence, he will be missed,” said Board of Trustees Chair Bruce Lachney.

Dr. Walstrum leaves the College in solid financial and programmatic standing as his steady leadership guided the College through the Great Recession to the economic recovery and financial stability.  The college is embarking on a long-term strategic planning process, completing the construction of its new Health Sciences Facility, preparing to offer an applied baccalaureate degree in manufacturing operations, and completing the fund-raising Campaign for Clover Park Technical College.