After a remarkable tenure of nearly three decades, Linda Kaminski, the president of Yakima Valley College, retired in July. Her legacy of leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to student success will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the institution and the Yakima Valley community.
For 29 years, Kaminski was at the helm of YVC, guiding the college through periods of growth, change and unprecedented challenges. Her leadership, coupled with a deep-rooted passion for education, has transformed the institution into a hub for learning, opportunity and community partnership.
Prior to joining the team in Yakima, Kaminski held positions teaching in Hawaii, Virginia and Nebraska. After earning her master’s degrees in counseling and higher education administration and doctoral degree in higher education administration, she began her higher education career at the College of Saint Mary, in Omaha, Neb.
“I began by working as the assistant to the academic vice president,” said Kaminski. There she helped establish resource centers that supported student success, wrote grants and helped create articulation agreements with the local community college, Metropolitan Community College (MCC) thereby making student transfers more available. Impressed by her drive, MCC, offered her a job serving as assistant to the vice president and supervising four academic deans. She later moved to Pennsylvania and served as a vice president for instruction and student services at Westmoreland County Community College before being hired as YVC president in 1995.
YVC Voice sat down with Kaminski as she reflected on her time at Yakima Valley College and in higher education. Some comments have been edited for length and clarity.
What do you remember about your first year on campus?
I remember landing at the Yakima airport. I was blown away by the beauty of the valley. I could see it from the plane as we were landing. It was Spring, there were lots of crops growing. When I came that first time for my interview, I was really impressed with the people and the students. I loved that the college and community were very diverse.
My first year was getting to know people. I became involved in the community and met with a lot of different organizations to be a good partner and find out what the community wanted from the college. What I found was Yakima Valley College was well loved and well respected and cherished by the community. That was a whole new experience for me. That wasn’t the case in my former institutions. I was just impressed by the amount of respect and positivity between the community and the college. A lot of those people that I met had attended the college, which was a new experience. I found that we had strong advocates for the college, its programs and the [YVC] Foundation. They felt like YVC was their college. And that was amazing for me.
I also identified things that needed to happen. One of the first areas was the college’s technology, which was dismal at the time. I knew that we needed to change and make investments in technology to better serve our students and help grow the institution.
It wasn’t very long after I started that first year, when students from the student club for Native American students, Tiin-MA, asked to meet about removing the college’s athletic logo [at that time, the “Indians”]. I immediately decided we needed to do something. We got through it and changed our athletic logo. Afterward we got calls from all over the country from other high schools, colleges and universities who were engaged in similar conversations and wanted to know how we did it.
ABOVE: Linda Kaminski, center, cuts the ribbon at the dedication ceremony for YVC's
West Campus. At the June 2024 meeting of the YVC Board of Trustees, the board approved
the renaming of multiple facilities at the college’s West Campus in honor of President
Kaminski. Also pictured from left, Interim President Teresa Rich, Board Member Patrick
Baldoz, Jerry Kaminski, Board Members Bertha Ortega and David Morales. TOP: Kaminski
speaks during her retirement celebration in July.
What part of your job as president was the best part?
I think my favorite part over time was doing things that would provide new opportunities for our students and help them succeed. Things that would build bridges between us and the local workforce. A few key examples are when we added baccalaureate programs, when we added our wine program, when we built the Deccio Higher Education Center and when we turned a derelict Safeway into the state-of-the-art Grandview Workforce Education Center.
I loved watching how [Washington State] Senator Alex Deccio worked. He was like a bulldozer and started at top, with the Governor and came down. He was amazing and instrumental in getting YVC funding for the Deccio building. I learned so much that year about how to work with the legislature and get things done. After that I knew exactly what we needed to do and kept doing it. Since 1995, in our college district, with all the renovations and new buildings we acquired over $160 million in capital funds. We’ve pretty much renovated or replaced every building on the Yakima Campus and greatly expanded the Grandview Campus.
When I began my search for a presidency, I wanted to work in a college that needed to get things done and I found that at YVC.
How did this job change you as a person?
It changed my priorities. Becoming a college president meant everything else took second place to what was going on at the college and what the students needed. When you are a president, your priority is the students. Every decision you make requires that you consider how it will affect the students.
Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of during your tenure?
There have been many outstanding achievements over the last three decades. One early achievement was the decision to get better technology and equipment. That was a key change. Another key achievement was when we became an Achieving the Dream college. It helped us focus on the most needed priorities. It also enabled us to gather and focus on student completion data to better inform our decisions and priorities. This designation led to work that helped us become a leader in guided pathways. And, of course, our campuses are beautiful. I can’t even imagine working out of the original buildings. We wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing today without these changes.
If you left a note on your desk for the next president, what would it say?
Stay awhile. Part of the problems I inherited in 1995 was because previously we had a revolving door of presidents, some staying as little as six months or a year. Based on my experience you can’t really accomplish much if you are only going to be there for a short time.
Interim President Teresa Rich hugs Kaminski during her retirement celebration, the
pair of administrators worked together for more than two decades.
Tell us what retirement holds for you.
[My husband and I] will probably travel but right now we need to be available to family. My life has been scripted until now and I’m looking forward to having an open agenda and doing whatever interests me.
Following your retirement, what’s something you’re excited to observe at YVC over the coming years?
I’m hoping the college will continue to grow and change for the better. I’m also hoping that it continues to be fiscally healthy. That’s something I’m very proud of.
What will you miss most about YVC?
The students, employees, and the YVC Board of Trustees. I will also miss my colleagues from the other colleges and as well as people in the community who I would work with on a regular basis.
Presidents have the vision and drive the train, but it’s all the other employees that have to do the work. Everything we’ve accomplished at YVC during the last 29 years isn’t because of me, it’s because of the employees. We’ve been blessed at YVC — we’ve hit the jackpot with amazing people. My wish is that YVC will continue to attract highly skilled employees and those who care about our students and our mission.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your time at the helm of YVC?
I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time as president of YVC.
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Menard and Dustin Wunderlich, director of community relations.