Inslee names Ross Hunter to Bellevue College Board of Trustees

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has named Ross Hunter of Medina, to the Board of Trustees of Bellevue College. The six-member board’s duties include setting the college’s strategic direction, establishing policy for the college and approving budgets.

Hunter currently serves as director of the Washington state Department of Early Learning.  He previously represented the 48^th Legislative District for seven terms, serving as the Chair of the House Ways & Means and Appropriations Committees.  Prior to his work in the public sector, Hunter spent 17 years with Microsoft in a wide array of positions, from program manager for Microsoft Access to general manager of the Microsoft Commercial Internet System. 

“Bellevue is fortunate to have such a great supporter of education joining the Bellevue College board,” said Bellevue College President David Rule.  “Ross has always been an advocate for the college, I’m looking forward to his insight and guidance as we move into the future.”

In addition to his work for the Department of Early Learning, Hunter serves on the steering committee for Bellevue Quality Schools and served as a trustee of the Bellevue Schools Foundation from 2001 to 2010 and as a board member of Hopelink, the Eastside’s largest nonprofit human services agency, from 2004 to 2010. 

“Bellevue College is one of the most exciting institutions of higher education in Washington, serving the rapidly growing Eastside community,” said Hunter.  “Bellevue College is critical to our region’s economic growth and to job prospects for thousands of young and not-so-young adults. I’m excited and honored to serve as a member of the board.”

Hunter joins current trustees Steve Miller (chair), Lisa Chin (vice chair), Merisa Heu-Weller, Richard Fukutaki, and student trustee, David Kook.  He is serving a two-year term, running through September 2017.