Rachel Solemsaas, vice president-administrative services at Bellevue College, has been named a “Woman of Power In Education” by the Women of Color Empowered organization and the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation.
She and 12 other honorees will be recognized at a public luncheon Sept. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at China Harbor Restaurant (2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle.)
Solemsaas is a veteran of 22 years’ experience in public sector administration. She joined the Bellevue College senior staff in January 2009, arriving from Edmonds Community College where she served for four years as vice president of finance and operations.
Solemsaas earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor of science degree in accounting from De La Salle University in the Philippines.
She is studying currently toward a doctoral degree in community college leadership at Washington State University, with a research focus on eradicating poverty through education, specifically among foster youth.
Women of Color Empowered is a local non-profit organization whose mission is “to showcase the achievements of women who are an inspiration, women who have broken through the glass ceilings, and who are doing great work bettering their communities.”
Tickets for the Women of Power in Education luncheon can be purchased online through brownpapertickets.com. For additional information, email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.
