Yakima Valley College (YVC) has named three finalists in its search for a new president following the upcoming retirement of Linda Kaminski in 2024. The candidates are Teresa Rich, currently serving as YVC’s interim president; Bonny Copenhaver, president of New River Community and Technical College in West Virginia; and Kerry Lynn Levett, a former vice president at Cascadia College in Bothell, Washington.
The finalists will visit YVC’s campuses in Yakima and Grandview from December 8-10, 2024, where they will participate in town halls and meet-and-greet events open to YVC employees, students, and community members. The Yakima events are scheduled to take place in the Kaminski Conference Center, while the Grandview events will occur at the Student Activity Center.
Profiles of the Finalists
Teresa Rich has been with Yakima Valley College for over two decades, having succeeded Kaminski as interim president in 2024. She previously served for 18 years as the vice president for administrative services. According to biographical information provided by YVC, “Teresa has led multi-million-dollar capital projects, strengthened institutional infrastructure, and championed accreditation efforts that align with mission and values.”
Rich has demonstrated a commitment to equity and student success while managing budgets through fluctuations in funding. She has also developed partnerships with K-12 institutions, tribal communities, and workforce sectors to promote economic mobility. Active in her community, Rich is a member of the Rotary Club, a board member of Apprisen, and serves as a mentor for emerging educational leaders. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Central Washington University, along with a PhD in education focused on community college leadership from Oregon State University.
Bonny Copenhaver brings over three decades of experience in community colleges and currently serves as the fourth president of New River Community and Technical College. Her tenure has been marked by enrollment stabilization and growth, financial management restoration, and the introduction of new programs. “Dr. Copenhaver is an ardent advocate for community colleges because of their open access mission and their positive impact on their communities,” states YVC’s biographical overview.
Under her leadership, New River has secured more than $14 million in funding from private, local, state, and federal sources. Copenhaver earned three degrees from East Tennessee State University—two in English and educational leadership, and one in policy analysis. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in legal studies with a concentration in human resources and employment law from Texas A&M School of Law.
Kerry Lynn Levett possesses more than 20 years of experience in enhancing student success and driving transformative change in higher education, particularly within community colleges. She founded Ascend Higher Educational Partners, which focuses on empowering higher education leaders and dismantling barriers to achieve equity and transformative outcomes.
Levett has led institutions through strategic planning, accreditation, and enrollment management while previously serving as vice president for student learning and success at Cascadia College. Her initiatives helped reverse a five-year enrollment decline and align academic programs with workforce needs. Levett has also chaired statewide commissions for the Washington State Board for Community and served on the board of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. She holds a doctorate in education from Arizona State University.
As the search for a new president progresses, the engagement of the YVC community through open forums and discussions will be crucial in selecting a leader who can continue to advance the college’s mission and values.
