Big Bend Narrows Down to Five Finalists for President Leas Successor

Big Bend Community College has announced the five finalists, Dr. Suzanne Ames, William Belden,Dr. Maria del Rosario “Chio” Flores, Dr. Teresa Rich and Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, for the president position. The candidate selected will serve as the 10th president of the college after current President Terry Leas retires at the end of 2019-2020 academic year.

"On Thursday afternoon, the President's Search Committee submitted five names to the Board of Trustees," said Matthew Killebrew, communications director. The BOT voted unanimously to move forward with the finalists.

Dr. Ames is currently the Vice President of Instruction at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Belden is current the Vice President of Student Affairs at Clark College. Dr. del Rosario Flores serves as Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management at Wenatchee Valley College. Dr. Rich is currently the Vice President of Administrative Services at Yakima Valley College and Dr. Thompson Tweedy is  the Vice President of Student Access, Involvement, and Success at Westchester Community College.

"Those five finalists will now each get an opportunity to come to the Big Bend campus for an interview with our Board of Trustees, they'll also get a tour of Moses Lake, the community itself and the college," said Killebrew. "(They'll) get an opportunity to meet the Big Bend faculty and staff during a meet and greet on campus. Their day will round out with dinner with the Board of Trustee, some members of the Big Bend Community Foundation and some of our Associated Student Body officers, students."

These interviews and campus visits will take place on January 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30.

Leas has been BBCC president since 2012.