Candice Merrill named WWU director of operations on the peninsulas

Candice Merrill has been hired as Western Washington University’s director of operations on the peninsulas.

“I am delighted that Candice is joining the Extended Education team as director of Western on the Peninsulas,” said Earl Gibbons, vice provost of Extended Education at WWU. “She has extensive experience in building partnerships and meeting the educational needs of her community.”

Merrill will manage Western’s operations and programs on the Peninsulas at the Western Washington University Center at Olympic College in Poulsbo, which is a collaboration between Olympic College and WWU. The third partner in the regional alliance is Peninsula College, Port Angeles. The three schools share a vision to serve the community and businesses on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas. Through the partnership, Western offers a variety of degree programs, professional development opportunities, a lecture series, and programs for youth grades K-12.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the partnership in service to the Peninsulas. I am excited to get to know the faculty, staff and students who will define this exciting new venture. I believe we can bring the Western experience to the Peninsulas and serve them well,” Merrill said.

Merrill has 12 years of experience helping campuses adapt to the changing needs of students and assisting distance and adult learners navigate university systems. She has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Montana, and a certificate in Distance Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Merrill said she is committed to delivering credit and non-credit educational opportunities and is grounded in the belief that universities, by working closely with the community in an environment of shared vision, shared leadership and strong partnership, will be able to provide the best education to meet current needs. Her advocacy for and dedication to non-traditional students and their unique issues will be an asset to both the university and the community.

Joining Merrill at the WWU Center at OC in Poulsbo is Kathy Johnson. Johnson will be taking on the position of manager for Western on the Peninsulas, in which she will oversee the administrative and operational functions for WWU programs on the Peninsulas. A former Kitsap resident, Johnson has worked for Western for over 13 years, during which she served as the undergraduate adviser for Huxley College and curriculum, assessment, and records manager for Fairhaven College.