News Release for Immediate Release
BREMERTON, Wash. – The Olympic College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Chantae Recasner has formally accepted the Board’s offer to serve as the 16th President of Olympic College, following a vote to extend the offer on March 17, 2026. Dr. Recasner is expected to begin her role on May 18, 2026.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Recasner has accepted the offer to be President of Olympic College, Board of Trustees Chair Harriette Bryant said. “Her expertise and experience leading Seattle Central College will be invaluable in her new role.”
Dr. Recasner brings more than 20 years of higher education experience and leadership, including roles as Tenured Faculty, Dean of Instruction, and Vice President of Instruction. She has served K-12 and higher education in various roles with a commitment to growing stronger, more equitable communities. In 2024, she was appointed interim president of Seattle Central College by the Seattle Colleges District Chancellor and Board of Trustees, a role she continues to serve in today.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education from the University of Cincinnati (2009), a Master of Business in Operational Excellence from Ohio State University (2017), and two Master of Arts degrees from Ohio State University (2003) in Teaching & Learning and African and African American Studies. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Loyola University New Orleans in 2001.
Dr. Recasner’s appointment as President represents a historic milestone, as she becomes the third woman and the first African American to lead Olympic College.
Prior to Dr. Recasner’s selection, Joan Hanten has been serving as interim president since June 2025, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience at OC. She will remain in the interim role during the transition.
More information about the presidential search process is available on the Olympic College Presidential Search webpage.
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