Chantae Recasner has formally accepted the Olympic College board of trustees’ offer to serve as the college’s 16th president and is expected to begin her role on May 18, the college announced today.
Trustees are thrilled Recasner accepted the offer, board Chair Harriette Bryant said in a news release, adding that Recasner’s expertise and experience leading Seattle Central College will be invaluable in her Olympic College role. The board voted to extend an offer to Recasner on March 17.
Recasner’s appointment as president represents a historic milestone, as she becomes the third woman and the first African American to lead Olympic College, the release said. Olympic has campuses in Bremerton, Poulsbo, and Shelton.
Recasner has more than 20 years of higher-education experience and leadership, including roles as tenured faculty, dean of instruction, and vice president of instruction. She was appointed interim president of Seattle Central College in 2024 and continues in that role. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Business in operational excellence from Ohio State University, and two Master of Arts degrees from Ohio State in teaching and learning, and African and African American studies. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Loyola University New Orleans.
Joan Hanten has been serving as interim president since June 2025, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience to the college. She will remain in the interim role during the transition.