Rick MacLennan, Olympic College’s vice president of student services, was hired Friday as president of Garrett College, a community college in McHenry, Md.

MacLennan said he has considered finding a job as a college president for the past three years, with the encouragement of Olympic College President David Mitchell, and decided to move on this year.

“I’m very honored that I was chosen for this role,” he said.

MacLennan was selected among 50 candidates for the job in western Maryland and will take the reins in July. He has previous experience in Maryland before coming to Olympic College in 1998. He was associate dean for student life and associate dean for student services during his eight years at Chesapeake College.

MacLennan said he will stay on at Olympic College at least until after the June 13 commencement and his last day will be sometime between then and July 5.

“I’m just very happy for Rick,” Mitchell said. “He’s definitely ready to take on a presidency.”

MacLennan’s wife, Theresa, is the spokeswoman for Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue. Theresa MacLennan will wait to move to Maryland some time after Rick MacLennan’s departure in July.

“It’s going to be a bittersweet thing for us to leave a community we’ve been part of for the past 12 years,” Theresa MacLennan said.

Rick MacLennan said he will miss Olympic College and his home in Silverdale when he leaves.

“There’s some mixed emotions,” he said. “I just think OC is a wonderful place. I’ll miss everyone there.”

Mitchell said he hasn’t yet made a decision on how to fill Rick MacLennan’s vacancy, but the process will be decided in the next couple weeks.