Dr. Diana VanDerPloeg has been named to serve as the interim president of Olympic College beginning Sept. 10. VanDerPloeg was most recently president of Spokane Falls Community College.

Prior to accepting the position at Spokane Falls, she worked as a partner and owner of the Gerico Group, an educational and business consulting firm in Colorado. She also served as the president of Gateway Community Technical College in Connecticut from 1996 to 1998.

VanDerPloeg began her educational career as an adjunct instructor at Aims Community College in Colorado. She rose through the ranks to serve as a department chair, dean, associate vice president for academic affairs and associate vice president of the school.

Naomi Pursel, Chair of the Board at OC, said the decision to hire VanDerPloeg was based on her experiences as a sitting president at Spokane Falls and Gateway. “While her term at Olympic College will be limited to the 2001-2002 academic year, the Board. is confident that Dr. VanDerPloeg will work cooperatively with everyone on campus to maintain the momentum developed over the last few years under the leadership of retiring President Karl Jonietz.”

Jonietz last day was Aug. 28.

VanDerPloeg earned her doctorate in Community College Administration from Colorado State University in 1992. Her master’s degree in Education and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology are both from the University of Northern Colorado.