‘Life’s work’ coming to an end for college leader

‘Life’s work’ coming to an end for college leader

Studnt graduation rates doubled at Pierce College during Michelle Johnson’s time there as chancellor.

Before her time as president, Johnson spent 15 years as a faculty member and six years as president of the Fort Steilacoom campus.
Johnson, a graduate of Tacoma’s Lincoln High School, said Pierce College “is an amazing place. It has been an honor to be part of the college, to work with a dedicated team of faculty, staff, and administrators, to serve our students, our community, and the larger community and technical college system.”
Highlights of Johnson’s tenure as a Pierce leader include the doubling of student graduation rates and expansion of state-of-the-art facilities on the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses.
“We owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her vision, her leadership and mentorship,” said Brett Willis, chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees. “We will miss her, but her legacy of excellence will live on.”
Pierce College plans to hire the next chancellor in January 2023 after a nationwide search.