House Plans: Seattle Community College

Seattle Community College

Dr. Jill Wakefield is a visionary leader who is recognized for the depth of her experience in community college education, innovative solutions and developing strategic partnerships. She became Chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges in January 2009, after serving five years as president at South Seattle Community College, where she directed the development of leading-edge programs and an architecturally vibrant campus.

During her tenure at South, the college was approved by Washington state to offer an applied bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. The campus also developed a University Center, launched the Northwest Wine Academy, and established the Georgetown Campus, which houses the new Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center and training programs to support jobs in the growing green economy and sustainable construction techniques.

As Chancellor, she has championed the district’s second applied bachelor’s degree, in behavioral sciences at Seattle Central Community College; a district-wide initiative promoting green and sustainable curriculum and programs; and numerous grants and initiatives supporting student success and retention. She also created a new leadership team, hiring new college presidents to replace interim and retiring presidents at the district’s three colleges.

Prior to her service as a college president, Wakefield held a variety of positions during a 30-year career at South, gaining extensive knowledge of community college administration, the region, and the state’s higher education system.

Wakefield is a community college graduate who earned her associate’s degree from Centralia College, bachelor’s degree in education from Central Washington University, master’s degree in public administration/public policy from the University of Washington, and doctorate in educational leadership from Seattle University.

She has taught as a part-time faculty member at Washington State University, Seattle University and Centralia College and serves as a Regional Accreditor for the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities. Her research, presentations and publications have been focused on business and college partnerships that lead to more effective training and fund development.

Regionally, Wakefield serves on the boards of Workforce Development Council, enterpriseSeattle, Pioneer Human Services, Council for Adult & Experiential Learning (CAEL), and Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI). She is a member of Seattle Rotary, Education Results Project Sponsors Group, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Steering Committee, and Seattle City Council Families & Education Levy Planning Committee. Her service in higher education includes membership on the boards of Seattle University, League for Innovation in the Community College, National Council for Resource Development, and Council for the Advancement of Secondary Education; and she is a member of the National Council on Black American Affairs.

She has been honored as a Woman of Influence by the Puget Sound Business Journal and Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. She was selected for the Institute for Executive Management at Harvard University and the Executive Leadership Institute sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College. Centralia College named Wakefield its 2007 Alumna of the Year.