BMCC board selects new president
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
News release from Blue Mountain Community College:
PENDLETON – The Blue Mountain Community College Board of Education voted this morning (June 23, 2021) to approve the hiring of Mark Browning as the College’s next president. Browning will become BMCC’s 8th president since it was established in 1962.
Browning was selected from a pool of four finalists for the position, including former Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus President Dr. Christopher Villa, Western Nebraska Community College, President Dr. Carmen Simone, and Whatcom Community College (Washington) Vice President for Student Services Dr. Luca Lewis.
“I am so honored and excited for this opportunity,” Browning said. “My wife and I are anxious to jump in and become a part of the Blue Mountain family and the greater eastern Oregon community. BMCC is a wonderful place that has and will change lives for all who come through our doors. I am ready to get to work!”
Browning is currently the Vice President for College Relations at the College of Western Idaho (CWI) in Nampa, Idaho, a position he’s held since September 2016. He has spent the last 14 years in public higher education, the last 10 of which have been with community colleges. This September, he will defend his doctoral dissertation on dual credit and partnerships between community colleges and K12 school districts for a Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership from Idaho State University.
Browning’s leadership roles in Idaho have included government relations advocacy that has led to increased funding for community colleges, as well as developing key messages and campaigns that helped to drive enrollment increases during a time when colleges throughout Idaho and the rest of the country were seeing significant declines.
“Mark’s experience and passion for community colleges and students is very evident and exciting for BMCC,” said Jane Hill, Chair of the BMCC Board of Education. “He has a unique ability to form, cultivate and enhance relationships that will serve the College very well both internally and within our regional communities. The Board looks forward to working with Mark.”
Browning’s start date at BMCC will be determined during contract negotiations but will likely be this fall. Browning fills the position following the departure of Dennis Bailey-Fougnier, who resigned in February after citing health reasons. Dr. Connie Green, a retired Tillamook Bay Community College president, has served as Interim President at BMCC since March.
Browning and his wife, Kym, have three adult sons, three “criminally cute” grandkids and two dogs named Lewis and Clark.
