Former Seattle Colleges chancellor Dr. Jill Wakefield has been named interim president at Bellevue College.

Wakefield was the longest-serving chancellor in the history of the Seattle Colleges when she retired in June. She will act as interim president beginning next month, following the resignation of Dr. David Rule earlier this month.

“I’m honored to have been chosen as interim president at Bellevue College, a visionary institution that truly cares about student success,” Wakefield said in a statement. “I look forward to working with its outstanding faculty and staff to serve students, business, and the community.”

Following Rule’s resignation, the college appointed Dr. Gita Bangera, interim vice president of instruction and Aaron Hilliard, vice president of Human Resources, as acting co-presidents. The board of trustees did not want the college to go a day without leadership, but did not want to overburden Bangera and Hilliard, board president Lisa Chin told the Reporter.

Wakefield served the district for 40 years, starting out as a program assistant in the veterans office at South Seattle Community College, before moving on to serve as a public information officer, director of development, vice president for institutional advancement, and vice president for instruction, as well as president from 2003 to 2008.

During her tenure as interim president, it is possible that Wakefield will participate in ongoing talks concerning the Bellevue College and Washington State University partnership. Chin stated that the board hopes she will play a role in ongoing talks.

The Bellevue College Board of Trustees has also moved to begin the process of soliciting proposals from firms to lead the nationwide search for a new president. They are looking to have the role filled as soon as possible, likely within the next academic year.

Chin said that it was “doubtful” that Wakefield would choose to stay on at Bellevue College as president, having already had a long career.