TACOMA, Wash. – From immigrant to college president, Dr. Lin Zhou will sign her two-year employment contract as president of Bates Technical College at the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, April 30, 3 p.m. at South Campus.
Zhou and her husband Jason emigrated from Beijing, China in 1999, both only speaking English they learned in school. She enrolled in English as a Second Language at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and quickly excelled. She earned her associate degree in computer science and network technology, and later worked at LWIT as a technical aid.
“I am proud to say that a technical college is where my American Dream journey started,” said Zhou. From there, she earned her master’s degree in business administration from City University, and a doctorate in education from Oregon State University. In 2017, she attended Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management program.
Having worked in several management-level positions at both LWIT and Bates, including associate dean of extended learning, director of a branch campus, dean of instruction and executive dean, Zhou most recently served as Bates’ vice president for institutional effectiveness and student success.
“It’s amazing how education can change a person’s life,” said Zhou. “I never imagined that one day I would work in higher education. I am here today because education really works. Washington state community and technical colleges lead students to greater opportunities. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve and lead Bates, and to provide our community with high quality education.”
In a historic first, Zhou is the first female to lead the college, and the first female Chinese immigrant in Washington state to serve as president of a public two-year college. For more information, go to www.bates.ctc.edu/BatesPresident, or call 253.680.7100.
About Bates Technical College
Founded in 1940, Bates Technical College offers certificate and degree opportunities in nearly 50 career education programs, and serves approximately 3,000 career training students and 10,000 more community members annually in extended learning, distance learning, high school, and other programs. For more information, go to www.bates.ctc.edu, or call 253.680.7000.