Lyle Quasim is leaving Bates Technical College after nearly two years at the top.
Quasim, a veteran public agency administrator, told the Bates board of trustees this week he intends to retire Jan. 1 unless the board asks him to stay longer to allow it more time to hire a successor.
The Tacoma college appointed Quasim its interim president in January 2010; the board named him the school’s permanent president last October at a salary of $140,000.
Quasim said Thursday he’s stepping down now because he feels he’s resolved most of the issues he was hired to tackle.
He helped the college absorb a 17 percent reduction in state support while building a reserve equal to 10 percent of its operating budget – a hedge against additional budget cuts expected in the wake of dire state revenue forecasts.
“I wouldn’t have come out of retirement to cut ribbons and kiss babies,” Quasim said. “It’s great to have an opportunity to meet a challenge. I am most proud that we have met the challenge collectively, with students and staff pulling together.”
Board of Trustees Chairman Mike Grunwald issued a statement concerning Quasim’s pending retirement.
“Lyle has been a steady leader who has guided the college through difficult circumstances,” Grunwald said. “He leaves the college in a stronger position, and we are grateful to him for his leadership over the past two years.”
Quasim’s short tenure was not without controversy. Under his leadership, the college eliminated several long-running programs and laid off faculty.
In April 2010, the faculty union passed a vote of no-confidence in him and the Bates board after administrators took the unusual step of declaring a financial emergency and issuing 40 pink slips.
The Puyallup resident has worked in local and state government for 45 years.
Before joining Bates, Quasim was the chief of staff for former Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. He also was the secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services under Govs. Mike Lowry and Gary Locke.
Quasim, an Air Force veteran, has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Puget Sound and a master’s degree in sociology from Pacific Lutheran University.
Is this his final retirement? Quasim, 68, will say only that he doesn’t have a job waiting for him.
“If my wife reads this, the answer is yes. If my wife doesn’t read this, the answer is I don’t know,” Quasim said. “It’s a definite maybe.”
Kim Bradford: 253-597-8631 kim.bradford@thenewstribune.com
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