Valencia promoted to CLS director at Highline College

For the Reporter

Iesha Valencia has been promoted to director of the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) at Highline College.

Valencia had been the assistant director since coming to Highline in January 2013. CLS Director is a new position, a result of growth in Highline’s student club and leadership offerings.

“Iesha has helped CLS grow in numerous ways, giving students more opportunities here at Highline,” said Dr. Jonathan Brown, who is associate dean of CLS. “Under her leadership, the number of student clubs has nearly doubled and participation in annual recruitment and training programs has had notable increases.”

In her new role, Valencia will oversee staff members who coordinate clubs and organizations, direct leadership development activities, and spearhead the recruitment and training of the campus-wide student leadership team.

Highline has 57 official clubs, offering a comfortable atmosphere for students to meet, have fun and gain leadership skills. Clubs form throughout the year as students find common interests and career goals.

Born in Sunnyside and raised in a small town in Northern California, Valencia earned her bachelor’s degree in child development from California State University, Chico, in 2006. While in college, she was involved outside of the classroom in her Latina-based sorority, Lambda Theta Nu, and in the TRiO program, which helps first-generation college students like Valencia succeed in higher education.

Having a passion for working with students who are the first in their family to go to college led her to graduate school. In 2009, she earned her M.Ed. in higher education and student affairs from the University of Vermont. She has worked with college students at the University of Vermont, Seattle University and now Highline.

Valencia lives in Seattle.