Edmonds Community College has hired Dr. Tonya Drake as the Vice President for College Relations and Advancement.

Drake has been serving as the Interim VP for College Relations and Advancement since August 2014. Prior to that role, she served as the special assistant to the President for Equity and Inclusion.

“I am excited to continue to help student success at Edmonds CC,” Drake said. “I have a strong commitment to learning and student success guided by deep convictions rooted in equity and inclusion and the belief that higher learning transforms lives.”

Drake oversees communications and public information, planning, assessment and research, strategic enrollment management, grants development, and the Edmonds CC Foundation.

“I feel that Tonya will continue to provide strong leadership in creating a broader presence for Edmonds CC in our six-city district and expand our integration of College Relations and Advancement programs throughout the entire campus,” said Edmonds CC President Jean Hernandez.

Drake has more than 20 years of experience as a higher education leader. She is a first-generation college student and identifies as First Nations. She holds a Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University. She also obtained a Master’s of Education from ASU, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington, and an Associate of Arts from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash.

Her experience includes working for the University of Washington in a federal TRIO program; ASU in scholar recruitment; GateWay Community College in a federal TRIO program; Arizona Board of Regents in state higher education policy; Maricopa Community Colleges in student affairs administration; and Shoreline Community College as the chief student affairs officer.