Dr. Paul Killpatrick brings both experience and a well-developed vision for building onto Seattle Central's position as a vibrant, multicultural urban campus. His experience includes two years as president at Lake Tahoe Community College in California and six years as president of Great Basin Community College in Nevada.
At Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore., he served two years as the vice president of Instructional Support and Community Development, and four years as vice president of Instruction. Earlier, he served as dean for Professional and Career Education, and dean for Instructional Support and Special Populations at Yakima Valley Community College in Yakima, Wash., and he also held administrative and faculty positions at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore.
In his leadership positions, he has focused on establishing an institutional culture that supports economic development while also being responsive to the numerous constituencies within the college. He implemented an Honors Program, developed cross-disciplinary courses, expanded distance education and initiated a student-centered class schedule. Dr. Killpatrick has served on numerous community and higher education boards and committees. As chair of the Elko County Economic Development Authority, he helped secure funds from the state legislature to establish the Northeastern Nevada Regional Railport. He also served on the Tahoe Basin Prosperity Plan Steering Committee and the Hispanic-American and Native-American Advisory Boards at Great Basin College.
Dr. Killpatrick holds a doctorate degree in postsecondary education from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in counseling from Western Oregon State University in Monmouth, Ore., and a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Oregon State University.
Mr. Mitsui served as vice president of Student Services at South Seattle Community College since 2006, where he directed successful initiatives to increase student progress and retention. He led a team that secured a $2.4 million Department of Education grant and designation for the college as one of a select group of Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions across the country. He was formerly assistant dean for Student Services at Green River Community College. Earlier, he was at North Seattle Community College as director for Student Success and Retention Services, director of Athletics, and as manager of the Wellness Center. His career also includes experience as a tenured instructor in health and fitness technology at Renton Technical College.
Mr. Mitsui has a bachelor’s from Western Washington University, a master’s from the University of Washington (UW) in education leadership and policy studies, and is currently a doctoral candidate at the UW in that field.
Gary Oertli brings a wealth of community college leadership experience and enthusiasm to South Seattle Community College. His experience includes five years at the Seattle Community Colleges – most recently as interim president at Seattle Central Community College and before that at South Seattle Community College. He also served as interim vice president for Instruction at South and interim dean for Business, Information Technology and Creative Arts at Seattle Central.
Mr. Oertli was president and CEO of Shoreline Community College for five years and was honored as president emeritus when he retired. Prior to that, he spent 20 years at Edmonds Community College as part-time instructor, tenured faculty member, associate dean and dean, executive vice president for Instruction and Student Services, and as interim president.
A West Seattle native, Mr. Oertli is a graduate of Chief Sealth High School in the Seattle Public Schools system. He earned his bachelor's degree and master’s of education in business from the University of Washington, where he later served as Alumni Association president. He also completed the Executive Management Program in the UW Graduate School of Business Administration.
