This just in from South Seattle Community College – an interim president has been chosen, now that Dr. Jill Wakefield is running the entire Seattle Community College system (as reported here last September). Gary Oertli (photo left) is a former Shoreline Community College president, and is a West Seattle native, according to the official news release, which you can read in full by clicking ahead:

South Seattle Community College has announced the selection of Gary Oertli as interim president. He fills the position vacated by Dr. Jill Wakefield, who was named chancellor of the Seattle Community College District.

Oertli is a higher education veteran with more than 35 years experience in academic administration and instruction. No stranger to the Seattle Community Colleges, he has served as South’s interim vice president for Instruction and Seattle Central’s interim dean for Business, Information Technology and Creative Arts.

“I am very honored to be at South Seattle Community College,” said Oertli. “It is a very fine college with comprehensive instructional programs and a strong focus on student success. Coming back to the community where I was born and raised is very special.”

As president and CEO of Shoreline Community College from 1995 to 2000, he was known for a demonstrated commitment to diversity and pluralism. He established a college Diversity Council comprised of representatives from all campus constituencies and created a diverse senior-level management team representative of the college. As a leader in economic development, he identified key strategic partnerships that benefited the college through challenge grants, in-kind equipment donations, and increased college foundation revenues. Upon retiring, he was honored as President Emeritus.

Prior to that, he spent 20 years at Edmonds Community College where he held positions including tenured faculty member, dean, executive vice president for Instruction and Student Services, and interim president.

A West Seattle native and graduate of Chief Sealth High School, Oertli earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business education from the University of Washington. He also completed the UW’s Executive Management Program in the Graduate School of Business Administration.

Off-campus, he is active in numerous community organizations, and has served as president of the University of Washington Alumni Association and Husky Marching Band Foundation. He has also been a board member of the Tyee Club, Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, and local chambers of commerce and rotaries.