YAKIMA, Wash. – Yakima Valley College has announced Dr. Teresa Rich as its 17th president, marking a significant milestone for the institution. Rich has been with YVC for over 20 years and has served as the interim president since August 2024.
Rich expressed her commitment to maintaining a student-centric campus. She emphasized the importance of community engagement and the college’s focus on student success. Under her leadership as interim president, YVC saw its highest enrollment since 2019.
Rich described the day she officially became president as “probably the most exciting day I’ve ever had in my life.”
Reflecting on her long career in higher education, Rich highlighted the transformative power of education.
“Education changes people’s lives. It changes their economic accessibility. It just helps them to grow in whatever they want to do. And so without education, it’s really hard to be successful in the world we live in today,” she said.
During her tenure as interim president, the college retained federal grant money for its TRIO Upward Bound program, which supports low-income high school students in achieving their college dreams. Rich emphasized the importance of these funds, stating, “It’s really imperative that we continue to get those federal funds because that supports our students… We’re working hard to make sure once they’re here we retain them and they can continue to their end goal.”
Rich is currently working on two partnerships. One with Pacific Northwest University aims to ease the path for students pursuing healthcare professions. The other is the Seamless Transfer Project with Yakima School District and Central Washington University, designed to provide high school students with integrated pathways to higher education. Rich stressed the significance of community partnerships.
“This college is built on our community. It’s all the partnerships that we’re reengaging with in our community that are going to make sure we’re successful into the future,” she said. “How we engage with our students, how we treat our students, how we support our students to success. It shows.”
Rich plans to continue building towards the future, focusing on both campus and community relationships. The school remains intentionally focused on its students, ensuring their success is a top priority.
Yakima Valley College and its community can look forward to continued growth and success under Rich’s leadership.
