The Pioneer, Vol. 52, Issue 4

Deidre Soileau worked as a
consultant for 15 years. Her
role at Pierce is the only job
she’s had in Washington.
students.
The chancellor is responsible for determining
a job description, and she has the
final say. However, Soileau assured that it
is a very collaborative process.
Debra Gilchrist, the vice president for
Learning and Student Success, said that
students play a part in hiring a new president.
“There will be … open forums that
everyone in the college – students included
– will be invited to,” Gilchrist said.
Anyone can submit comments about
candidates and the screening committee
will consider them before making a final
recommendation.
Candidates will be given a topic to
make a presentation. The day of the interview,
anyone who attends will be able
to ask questions. There will be an email
sent out to the college as an invitation to
the candidates’ presentations.
There are core values that the college
looks for when searching for a new hire,
Deidre said. The values include integrity;
Matt Wuscher/
Courtesy Photo
a commitment to equity and inclusion; a
commitment to student success; and the
ability to collaborate. “(They need to) be
able to function in a way that they’re not
the (only) person who gets to make the
decision and then go do it,” Soileau said.
“All of us is smarter than one of us.”
Commitment to student success is an
important value at Pierce. Gilchrist said,
“If we don’t hear our candidates in their
application materials talk about students,
then this isn’t the place for them. That’s
why we’re here.”
Soileau said that one of their frequently
asked questions is, “How would you see
your role contributing to student success?”
If the candidate answers “in a very
narrow point of view,” then it is likely that
they don’t fit the role.
“Often, the president is the person
who meets with students,” Gilchrist said.
“They meet student leaders. They’re out
on the forefront, so they’re who students
will see. They’re often the face of the
institution.”
Before Yochum left Pierce,
her proudest accomplishment
was Pierce landing on the
Aspen Top 10 list. Gilchrist
said, “ All of the criteria that
we had on that award, every
one of those factors, we worked
really diligently to further. Her (Denise’s)
leadership and moving us on every one
of them (helped).”
Gilchrist and Soileau listed Yochum’s
leadership, advocacy, cheerleading,
creativity and brainstorming as reasons
for the college’s Aspen success. However,
Soileau said, “You’re not going to find
one person who says, ‘I did that.’”
Soileau added, “Denise is highly respected
and much loved. It’s a blow to the
institution to have her retire, but I think
everyone understands.”
“DENISE IS HIGHLY
RESPECTED AND MUCH
LOVED. IT’S A BLOW TO
THE INSTITUTION TO
HAVE HER RETIRE,
— DEIDRE SOILEAU,
INTERIM PRESIDENT
Campus
On Yochum’s personal influence,
Gilchrist said, “She’s been a good role
model for me. I learned how to be a
good vice president through her eyes
and through her actions and the way that
she thought about things. I’ve been very
appreciative of what she’s taught me and
what she’s mentored me through.”
Soileau said what she would like
students to know is where Yochum
began. “Where she came from, where
she started, to then becoming president
of a college, very closely mirrors many
of our students who are first-generation,
who come from rough places, who have
to scrabble together the money to do
anything.”
She said, “It’s not up to me to tell her
story, but I can say that it was not easy.”
Soileau said that Yochum’s story closely
resembles Pierce students’ and that she is
a great example for them.
Febraury 11, 2019 / Vol. 52, Issue 4 piercepioneernews.com / 7