Bellingham Technical College’s Board of Trustees announced that Kimberly Perry will be college’s next president.

Perry has more than 17 years of experience in higher education administration. She will take over on July 20, replacing Patricia McKeown, who announced last December that she would retire at the end of June 2015.

McKeown has worked at the college for 30 years and served as president since December 2010.

Perry has served as president of Butte-Glenn Community College, sine July 2011. Before that, she was vice president of academic affairs at Los Angeles City College.

Prior to that, Perry had several administrative positions at Reedley College in Reedley, California, including vice president of instruction.

Perry began her career as a high school agriculture and natural resources instructor in Fremont, California.

“I am extremely honored to have been selected to lead Bellingham Technical College,” Perry said in a press release from the college. “I believe that two-year colleges play a vital role in today’s society.”