College Leadership

Dr. Jack Kahn joined Shoreline Community College on July 1, 2022.

With over 25 years of experience in higher education, including more than a decade in leadership roles, Dr. Kahn often shares his career goal of “bringing diverse people together to create systems that are integrated with the broader community to serve students, particularly with a lens toward equity.”

Before arriving at Shoreline Community College, Dr. Kahn’s most recent leadership roles were at Palomar College in San Marcos, California. Here he served as an interim superintendent president, the assistant superintendent/vice president for instruction and the dean of the division of social and behavioral sciences. Prior to his work in academic leadership, Dr. Kahn was an active faculty member and published researcher and author of works addressing issues of psychological testing, masculinity, and social justice.

The first person in his family to pursue a four-year college degree, Dr. Kahn earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in philosophy from Arizona State University. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in marriage and family counseling from San José State University before attending the State University of New York at Buffalo to earn a doctorate in counseling psychology.

In his spare time, Dr. Kahn enjoys seeing live music and theater, traveling, exploring new neighborhoods, trying new restaurants, hiking, reading, gardening, cooking, and spending time with his wife Jackie, two dogs, and cat.

Dr. Ryan Aiello serves Shoreline Community College as the Vice President of Student Services since June 2024. Dr. Aiello has served in higher education for twenty-five years within Student Affairs at six distinctly different types of institutions, most recently at Gateway Community College within the Maricopa Community College District as the Dean of Student Engagement & Retention, but also some seasons, Portland Community College, Pacific University, Eastern Washington University, and Washington State University. 

 Dr. Aiello was born in Los Alamitos, California (Orange County), thus a Southern California transplant to the beautiful Pacific Northwest finishing high school in Vancouver, Washington. Ryan is a first-generation low-income college student earning an undergraduate degree at Washington State University (Pullman) in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. He did his Master's graduate work in Counseling Psychology and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Education & Leadership (Ph.D.) at Pacific University with an emphasis around the experience faculty and staff of color encounter within recruitment, retention, and campus climate, specifically at community colleges in the Pacific Northwest. 

 When Ryan is not doing something with his work in education, his reality swims around time with his wife, his four boys, and four dogs. They tend to be supporting or maximizing time with their boys with whatever is going on in their lives, spending time exploring the beautiful landscapes in the areas they live, discovering a new favorite beer or coffee brew, hitting the nearest metro sporting or concert event, or Ryan is in the studio or on stage with his band ILL LUCID ONSET. 

Cat Chiappa is an accomplished professional with a rich background in the arts and education, and a passion for creative storytelling. 

Originally from the East Coast, Cat brings experience in both formal and informal educational settings. Prior to earning a Master of Arts in teaching at George Washington University, she began her career in enrollment management. She later served as adjunct faculty working with new students at the University of Maryland University College. From there, she spent over a decade at the Monterey Bay Aquarium developing a wide range of programming to educate the public about the ocean and communicate consistent conservation messaging. Her work there as Manager of Public Programs helped drive attendance and engagement. 

Relocating to the Seattle area in 2019, Cat founded Cat Chiappa Creative, where she collaborated with esteemed clients such as the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Children’s Museum, Launch Learning, and Aligned Yoga. Her unique approach intertwines stunning visuals and compelling narratives in lifestyle and documentary photography, filmmaking, and brand strategy, helping organizations and individuals unearth and share their untold stories. She is excited to “share those skills here at Shoreline, working with faculty, staff, and students to share the rich diversity of stories Shoreline has to offer.” 

Outside of work, Chiappa enjoys adventure days with her family, traveling to far-off places, singing and performing onstage, crafting and creating art, voraciously reading a wide range of books and taking pictures. She currently lives in Shoreline with her husband, two young kids, and a rambunctious dog. 

Wendy Coates is a highly skilled and devoted nonprofit executive with a proven history of cultivating philanthropic and community support for nonprofit organizations. With a deep commitment to her community, Wendy has served on multiple nonprofit boards and was an appointed council person on the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights. Dedicated to the transformative power of philanthropy, Wendy believes that every individual who cares has the power to change the world for the better. 

Taking on her role at Shoreline in the Summer of 2023, Wendy is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the SCC mission dedicated to equity and student success. Before coming to Shoreline, Wendy worked in healthcare philanthropy where she was instrumental in planning, funding, and launching programs that enhanced quality of life at the end of life. Under Wendy’s leadership, the organizations she led saw unprecedented growth in giving and donor retention, improved engagement and satisfaction of board members, and the creation and implementation of fiscal policies and procedures that ensured integrity and transparency. 

Originally from Massachusetts, Wendy attended Boston University, where she met her husband Stephen, and holds an MA in English from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She recently achieved her PADI SCUBA certification and dreams of swimming with a whale shark someday 

Dr. Ann Garnsey-Harter leads institutional planning and effectiveness efforts and serves as Accreditation Liaison Officer with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).  She provides strategic leadership for institutional research, institutional assessment, grants, and the integrated data management system (PeopleSoft); she serves as the ctcLink/PeopleSoft project manager.  

She has been a higher education administrator for 25 years. Her professional experience is grounded in her experience teaching college English part-time and her passion for students: “I came to administrative work as a faculty member; my commitment to students and their learning fuels all of my work.” 

She holds a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in English from Washington State University.  

Personally, she loves the outdoors and can be found hiking, backpacking, camping, and kayaking with her husband, two boys, and dog.

Joe Mazur III serves Shoreline Community College as the Vice President of Business and Administrative Services since September 2023. He has over 25 years of higher education experience, and before joining Shoreline, served more than ten years as the Chief Business Officer at two Florida College System institutions.   

Joe earned an Associate of Arts degree from Palm Beach State College, two bachelor's degrees in accounting and finance from Florida State University, and a master’s degree in computer information systems from Florida Gulf Coast University.  He holds an active Certified Public Accountant license in Florida and is a graduate of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers' (SACUBO) College Business Management Institute. He has volunteered with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and serves as the Vice Chair of the WACTC Business Affairs Commission's Operating Budget Committee.  

During his free time, he enjoys fishing, hiking, and traveling with his family.

Brian Crisanto Ramos joined the Shoreline community in July 2024 as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, and brings over a decade of experience within the Washington State Community College system. Brian is passionate about creating equitable and inclusive environments for all students, faculty, and staff. As a proud alumnus of the local community college system, he understands firsthand the transformative power of education and is committed to fostering meaningful change at Shoreline. 

Brian holds an associate’s degree in political science from Edmonds College, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Seattle University, and a master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington. His professional journey began at Everett Community College, where he worked in Financial Aid and Workforce Funding before transitioning to the role of Associate Director of Retention. During his time at Everett, Brian collaborated with Tribal Nations and campus partners to establish huyadadaličəɬ (“The Place of Our Way”), a dedicated space supporting Indigenous students and promoting Native student retention. 

Most recently, Brian served in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. There, he led efforts to redesign institutional systems through an equity lens, developed opportunities for campus-wide learning, and provided guidance on co-creating equitable practices. His work has consistently emphasized relationship building, particularly with Tribal Nations, ensuring that Land Acknowledgements are paired with accountability and action. 

As the son of Salvadoran refugees and a proud member of the Pipil, Lenca, and Mayan Nations of Manawara (present-day El Salvador and Costa Rica), Brian draws strength from his resilient communities. Outside of work, he recharges by playing board games, Magic: The Gathering, and exploring new places with his service dog and best friend, Appa. 

Samira Pardanani is the Associate Vice President of International Education and Global Engagement, charged with providing leadership to programs integral to the student experience at the College.

In her previous role as Executive Director of Shoreline’s dynamic International Education department, she led a high-functioning and innovative team whose work placed the College among the country’s top 20 community colleges hosting international students. The College has been featured in multiple national publications for best practices in enrollment management, student services, and campus internationalization. As a leader in the field, Samira has served as a frequent presenter and as an advocate for community colleges. 

Samira is excited to dive into the work of serving all Shoreline students, working with campus stakeholders to pursue opportunities to enhance the student experience, with a special focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and reducing opportunity gaps. She is skilled at identifying individual strengths of staff and facilitating increased ownership and engagement in their work.

Samira holds master’s degrees in German and TESOL, and has been educated in India, Germany, Austria, and the U.S. She speaks multiple languages and wholeheartedly embraces the value that diverse life experiences bring to the table. She spends her free time with her family and friends, enjoying good food and laughter, and also loves to dabble in different hobbies.

Dr. Pangyen (Ben) Weng joined Shoreline Community College as Vice President for Instruction on July 1, 2024, bringing 20 years of experience in higher education. 

Before joining Shoreline, Ben served as the STEM Dean at Minneapolis College, where he launched innovative initiatives like the Minneapolis Math and Science Pathways and Open-Access IT Degrees. These efforts increased enrollment, narrowed achievement gaps, and generated greater student interest in STEM. Previously, he spent 14 years as a mathematics professor at various universities, including Metropolitan State University, where he chaired the mathematics department and helped establish Minnesota’s universal 2+2 math transfer agreements between public universities and community colleges. 

Ben holds a doctoral degree in mathematics from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from National Taiwan University. While his academic focus lies in theoretical mathematics, including real analysis and differential equations, he is passionate about sharing the joy of math with others. In 2022, he authored Math Excursions for Liberal Arts, a textbook designed for non-STEM students. 

Originally from Taiwan, Ben came to the U.S. over 25 years ago to pursue advanced studies. In his free time, he enjoys cooking Taiwanese beef noodles, playing his 1993 Yamaha silver flute, hiking with his wife and three children, and exploring the PNW trails on his bike and rollerblades.  

Veronica Zura has served the College in the Office of Human Resources since August 2004 with direct experience in each of the individual positions staffed in HR. Ms. Zura holds a Bachelors’ degree in Psychology from Western Washington University, with a minor in Internet Resource & Creation. Ms. Zura obtained her Professional in Human Resources certification in February 2011, the ATIXA Title IX Level 1 Certification in June of 2016, and the OSU Search Advocate certification in November 2018.

Ms. Zura provides executive leadership to campus in the areas of employee relations, compensation, benefits, recruitment/selection, and collective bargaining/labor relations. During her free time, Ms. Zura enjoys movies, puzzling, and cribbage.