BREMERTON – The Olympic College Board of Trustees offered the college presidency to Dr. Marty Cavalluzzi, president of Pierce College Puyallup, on Dec. 4.

Cavalluzzi has accepted the offer pending successful contract negotiations.

“This was a very rigorous process,” Board of Trustees Chairwoman Harriette Bryant said. “Dr. Cavalluzzi embodies all of the qualities and characteristics we had hoped to find in our search. We thank all of the candidates, particularly the six finalists who participated in forums and interviews at our campuses in November.”

Cavalluzzi has served as president of Pierce College Puyallup since 2013. The college serves more than 4,500 students per quarter, in a two-college district, with satellite sites at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The district serves more than 20,000 students per year, of which 3,000 are veterans.

Cavalluzzi served as executive vice president for instruction and chief academic officer at Edmonds Community College from July 2006 through July 2013. His career in higher education spans three decades, beginning in 1986 as a full-time instructor at The Coast Institute, Dana Point, California.

“I am honored to be the next president of Olympic College, which is respected nationally for its phenomenal faculty, staff and programs,” Cavalluzzi said in an announcement of his appointment. “I look forward to working with everyone at the college and in the community to build on the success established under the leadership of Dr. [David] Mitchell.”

Mitchell, the current OC president, retires on Dec. 31. Mitchell has been the college’s president since 2002. He oversaw an era of expansion as OC became one of the first community colleges in the state to offer bachelor’s degrees. During his tenure, the college completed $160 million in capital projects that transformed its campuses in Bremerton, Poulsbo and Shelton. The college also received numerous awards, including being named a top 10 finalist for the Aspen Prize in 2015, the preeminent recognition of community colleges nationally.

Dr. Mitchell retires with 44 years of service in the state community and technical college system, including five as president of South Seattle College before moving over to OC.

“It has been a tremendous honor serving as the president of Olympic College,” Mitchell said in the announcement. “I am pleased that the Board of Trustees has identified Dr. Cavalluzzi, who has a proven track record of excellence within the state system for community and technical colleges. He did an excellent job serving as the president of Pierce College Puyallup the past five years.”

The Olympic College Board of Trustees, which led the hiring process, received more than 100 applications from candidates across the nation. The board narrowed the field to six finalists; each participated in two-day interviews and forums at each campus.

The board is in contract negotiations with Cavalluzzi, who is expected to join OC in early 2018.

— For previous coverage of the OC presidential search, visit goo.gl/mhra6k and goo.gl/kscFDq. For a profile of David Mitchell, visit goo.gl/nL7d8V.