Submitted by Centralia College
Pretrina Mullins has been appointed to the Centralia College Board of Trustees by Gov. Jay Inslee. Starting October 1, Mullins replaces Stuart Halsan, who served ten years on the board.
Mullins is a Centralia College graduate, who has been a teacher for 27 years, with the last 21 at White Pass High School in Randle.
“I’m very impressed with Pretrina Mullins and I think she’ll be a wonderful addition to the board,” said Halsan. “Having a K-12 educator will add wonderful perspective.”
Mullins is a teacher, academic advisor, and assessment coordinator at White Pass, and has an endorsement in special education. In fact, she taught special education and diversity classes in Centralia College’s bachelor of applied science program in Teacher Education in 2017-19. Before coming to White Pass in 2000, she taught at River Ridge (Lacey) and Bethel (Spanaway) high schools.
She earned her associate degree from CC in 1991 and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education and Social Science from Pacific Lutheran University. She earned a second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Seattle Pacific University in 2007.
She said her experience at Centralia College was especially pivotal in her education and career.
“Thirty years ago, after several unsuccessful attempts to finish my education, I became a student again. I struggled staying focused on my academics through high school and found myself floundering between jobs and two other community colleges before deciding to go back and finish the job,” she said. “With the academic guidance and tutelage I received at our local East Lewis County campus (Centralia College East), I graduated from Centralia College not only with my (Associate in Arts) degree, but I completed my high school diploma.”
As a trustee, she hopes to represent East County residents’ and students’ unique needs, and to help others benefit from education and mentoring as she did.
“I want to not only represent East Lewis County but to contribute to the educational foundations that helped me so many years ago,” she added. “Also, as a trustee, I believe I can provide a positive insight as someone whose experiences closely resemble those students who attend Centralia College now and in the future.”
Mullins’ appointment to the Board of Trustees was formally announced at its meeting on September 9. Her first meeting will be on October 14. In addition to Mullins’ appointment, it was announced that trustee Mark Scheibmeir was approved for a second five-year term on the board. Trustees are appointed by the governor for five-year terms for a maximum of 10 years.
