Highline College picked Covington resident, Josh Gerstman, as its new vice president.
According to a media release from Highline, Gerstman will oversee the college’s Institutional Advancement division.
The release stated this division handles the college’s marketing, communications, alumni relations, outreach and grant procurement efforts. Along with this, Gerstman will be in charge of the Highline College Foundation.
Gerstman previously spent 19 years at Green River College heading the Green River College Foundation, the release added.
“I led a team to build relationships in the community, raise funds for scholarships and financial interventions that help remove financial barriers students face as trying to complete their education, and oversee our process for awarding funds to help students,” Gerstman said in an email. “In 19 years I performed other functions but that is the primary focus of our work.”
After his successes at Green River, Gerstman said it was time for a change.
“(At) Green River College we tripled our scholarship program, introduced several new resources such as the VET Fund and Gator Pledge, I reached a place to see what is next in my career path,” he said.
According to Gerstman, he decided to move on to Highline because Green River and Highline have similar values and said they are both committed to educating the colleges’ diverse communities. He said it felt like a natural next step in his career.
“Josh is a talented individual. He is deeply passionate about student success, equity and the power of higher education,” said Dr. John Mosby, president of Highline College, in the release. “I believe that we found the perfect next vice president to lead Institutional Advancement.”
Gerstman said he is most excited about a “deeply committed and accomplished team to build on the work of our predecessors to provide our community access to higher education.”
He did admit that he is a little bit nervous to start this new position, though. He said he is most nervous about changing his work environment after so many years at the same job.
He said he is also a bit nervous about taking on more responsibilities as well, but he said students keep him motivated.
“I have seen first hand how hard students are working,” Gerstman said. “And in many cases the challenging life circumstance they are working through to complete their education and find meaningful careers. What we do helps them get that closer to achieving their goals and it helps calm the nerves and focus on our work.”
Gerstman’s first day of his new job at Highline will begin Oct. 16 of this year, he said.
“I am very honored, humbled, and excited to be picked. At the same time I have so much respect and admiration for the staff and faculty at Green River College that I will miss working with them and on one for the most beautiful campuses in our system,” Gerstman said. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I have had at Green River College and encourage people of all ages to come visit their local college to learn about opportunities to learn and advance in their education and careers.”
