Grays Harbor College board of trustees selects Dr. Carli Schiffner as next college president

Posted on: Feb, 22, 2023

By a unanimous vote, the Grays Harbor College board of trustees selected Dr. Carli Schiffner to be the next president of Grays Harbor College. The announcement was made by board chair, Dr. Harry Carthum, at the February board meeting.

“I want to express the Board of Trustees’ gratitude to all who were involved in conducting the search. We are grateful for all of the hours of work that the search committee and other participants put into helping us identify the best person to lead Grays Harbor College forward,” said Dr. Carthum.

Dr. Schiffner will be the first woman to lead Grays Harbor College in its 93-year history. She will succeed Dr. Ed Brewster, who will retire after working for GHC from 2004 to 2016 and coming out of retirement to serve as Interim President in 2020.

“We are delighted to have attracted such a qualified leader for this role,” said Dr. Carthum. “Dr. Schiffner’s appointment comes at the end of a nationwide search process that involved the thoughtful input of GHC students, staff, faculty, and community members. We sought a dynamic, innovative leader with a sharp financial acumen, excellent communication skills, and a bold vision for our future. I am proud that we found all of those qualities and more in Dr. Schiffner.”

Dr. Schiffner holds a distinguished record of leadership in the field of higher education. She currently serves as the deputy executive director of education at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), located in Olympia Washington. Prior to her work at the SBCTC, Dr. Schiffner served in progressive leadership positions in Washington State – including Vice President of Instruction at Wenatchee Valley College and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Yakima Valley College – and in New York State as Chief of Staff, Provost, and Interim President at the State University of New York, Canton.

Dr. Schiffner is a fifth generation Washingtonian. She earned a bachelor of arts in history and political science from Gonzaga University, a master of arts in cultural and intellectual history from Drew University, and a Ph.D. in American History from Washington State University. She is active in her community, serving as a trustee for 10 years for Humanities Washington and in leadership roles in the American Association for University Women.

In her free time, Dr. Schiffner enjoys spending time with her family and friends in Westport, attending her children’s sporting events, reading, and searching for the state’s best clam chowder.

A more comprehensive introduction of Dr. Schiffner to the community is planned for the summer. Details will be shared on the college’s website and social media.