Dr. Chantae Recasner is currently serving as the interim president at Seattle Central College and was interviewed on March 18, 2025.
Q: What made you choose this position?
A: In all situations we have a choice. I started my career here at Central as the Vice President of Instruction and that was a permanent assignment, not an interim one.
Recasner was appointed interim President of Seattle Central in the latter half of last year after serving as the second-in-command in Central’s hierarchy. When asked why she accepted the role, she responded, “I believed in the mission of the college.”
Q: How long have you been working in education?
A: I have been in education for about 23 years now. My actual first teaching job was at 16 years old.
She was working for a program called New Orleans Summer Bridge—where she fell in love with teaching—even though it wasn’t originally part of her career plan. Recasner began her career as a high school teacher before becoming an English faculty member in Ohio, where she taught for 13 years.
Q: What was your previous work before the interim president?
A: I forayed into administration. First, I became a director of a center for teaching and learning, then a dean at Austin Community College.
Eventually, she was approached at Central for the position of Vice President of Instruction.
Q: What work did you do with Dr. Bradley Lane?
A: As Vice President of Instruction, I was a part of the president’s executive leadership team. The executive leadership team includes Vice President of Instruction, Vice President of Student Services, and the Vice President of Administrative Services.
She explained that this team serves as the core administrative advisors to the president, offering guidance on institutional decisions.
Q: What are your plans to make students and faculty more comfortable at the college?
A: I think what has been really important for me stepping into this role, was that there was a lot of opportunities available to have greater conversations where I listened more to the voices of the constituents in the college council.
Recasner highlighted the meaningful discussions that have taken place since the beginning of her tenure as president and expressed pride in how the Seattle Central community has come together after facing challenges. The interview provided valuable insight into the diverse educational backgrounds of faculty members, as well as the expectations associated with their current professional roles.
Author
As Rhiannon had done journalism in the past for her high school. She hopes to continue that path through the Collegian.
Be First to Comment