The governance of Community College District No. 21, Whatcom Community College, is vested in a five-person board of trustees. The trustees are appointed by the governor and serve five-year terms and/or until their successors are appointed, and must reside within the College's district boundaries. The Board's duties include setting the College's strategic direction, establishing policy for the College, awarding tenure, approving the operating budget and hiring the College President.

The Whatcom Community College Board of Trustees generally holds its meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m., unless changed by vote of the Board. Meetings are open to the public. At its annual June meeting, the Board elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson from the membership of the Board, and they serve for a term of one year.

 

 

John Pedlow, Chair

Appointed in December 2015; reappointed 2020, Vice Chair 2017-2018 and 2023-24, Chair 2019-2020 and 2024-25  

Career Profile
Retired CEO and board of director of Broadcast Electronics, Inc.; former vice president of Alpha Technologies North American Operations; former founding member of the America’s Cup 95 Organization; former president & CEO of Power West, Inc.; former vice president of Square D Corporation Power Protection System Div.

Education Profile
B.S., Widener University, Chester Pennsylvania
Post-graduate work in Law and Business Administration

Community and Professional Affiliations
Member, Board of Directors, Bellingham Angel Group, Whatcom Community College Foundation, Mount Baker Theatre, The Rotary Club of Bellingham; former board member of The Arc of Whatcom County, WQUB FM (NPR Affiliate of Quincy University; founding member of Bellingham Innovation and BIG Idea Lab (an incubator for local entrepreneurs).

 

Jeff Fairchild, Vice Chair

Appointed in July 2022, Vice-Chair 2024-25

Career Profile
Attorney, Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka, Attorney at Law

Education Profile
J.D. Washington University of Law
B.A. Duke University

Community and Professional Affiliations
Involvement in local organizations has included: Bellingham Sunrise Rotary, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County, Big Brothers -Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club.  

 

Wendy Bohlke

Appointed in November 2017, Vice Chair, 2020-22, Chair, 2022-23

Career Profile
Retired. Former Senior Counsel, Washington State Assistant Attorney General, 1979-2013; counsel to Western Washington University and Bellingham Education Team Leader, 2006-2013, counsel to Skagit Valley College 1983-1995, and Whatcom Community College; Section Chief, Bellingham Regional Office of Attorney General, 1984 – 2006.  Served under Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Rob McKenna, Christine O. Gregoire, Kenneth Eikenberry, and Slade Gordon; former member of the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, 1978-1979.

Education Profile
J.D. Willamette University College of Law, December 1977
B.A, Political Science, University of Washington, 1975

Community and Professional Affiliations
Served as board member for National Association of College and University Attorneys, Whatcom County LAW Advocates, Law Fund of Washington, Mt. Baker Theater, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, Whatcom 4-H Council and Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood. Former member of Washington Women Lawyers, Whatcom Women Lawyers; served on various committees of Washington State Bar Association. Leader of Fairhaven Clovers 4-H Group.  Member of Bellingham Ukulele Group, Bellingham Ukulele Orchestra, and Community Ukulele Players. 

 

Rebecca Johnson

Appointed in November 2017, Reappointed in October 2022; Vice Chair, 2019-2020, Chair, 2020-2022

Career Profile
President, Health Center Solutions, Inc., 2013 – present; Consultant, Community Link Consulting, 2009-2013; Development Director, Interfaith Community Health Center, 2002-2009; HIV Prevention Outreach Coordinator, Whatcom County Health Department, 1995-2002; Outreach Coordinator, Womencare Shelter, 1986-2002.

Education Profile
M.A. Nonprofit Leadership, Seattle University 
Graduate Certificate Public Health, University of Washington
B.A Humanities, Washington State University

Community and Professional Affiliations
Current member of Western Washington University Human Services Advisory Board; current co-president of the League of Women Voters Bellingham/Whatcom County; former board member Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access, Pipeline Safety Trust, Evergreen AIDS Foundation, Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, Northwest Youth Services, and Bellingham/Whatcom Commission against Domestic Violence; former Care Committee Chair and member of Region 3 HIV/AIDS Planning Council; former member of City of Bellingham Fire Medic One Task Force, Whatcom County Housing Advisory Council, North Counties HIV/AIDS Consortium, Whatcom County pandemic Influenza Task Force, and Whatcom Coalition for the Homeless steering and legislative committees; former advisory board member of Whatcom Dispute Resolution Health Choices for Girls and Whatcom Community College Turning Point.

 

Teresa Taylor

Appointed in November 2017, Vice Chair 2022-23, Chair, 2023-24

Career Profile
Economic Development Project Manager and Medical Records Supervisor, Lummi Indian Business Council – present; Member/Owner, Strategic Development NW LLC – present; Member/Owner, Chrysanthemum Partners LLC, 2012-2018; Community Relations/Human Resources, Alcoa Intalco Works, 2012-2013; Member/Owner, Chrysanthemum Group LLC, 2006-2012; Manager, Bargain Betty’s Fireworks, 2004-2009; TERO Liaison for the construction of the Lummi K-12 School, 2003-2004; various positions with Lummi Indian Business Council, 1992-2014.

Education Profile
Associate in Arts and Science, Whatcom Community College 
Certificate in Patient Navigation, Whatcom Community College
Project Management, Business Administration, Accounting, Western Washington University

Community and Professional Affiliations
Current member of the Ferndale City Council; current member and former treasurer of the YWCA Board; former board member of Womencare Shelter Board; former board member and chair of the selection committee for Northwest Women’s Hall of Fame; former board member of the Lummi Law & Justice Commission and the Lummi Constitution Committee.