New national focus for Heritage founder

TOPPENISH, Wash. — Sister Kathleen Ross wanted to reach into a diverse, underserved population 27 years ago when she founded what would eventually become Heritage University.

Since that time she's helped thousands of students become the first in their families to acquire college degrees.

Her outreach efforts not only put the school on the national map, but earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious Harold McGraw Prize in Education.

On Friday, Ross, 67, announced plans to begin stepping down as president of the private school just west of Toppenish. But she's not retiring. Instead, she's planning to take her work to a national level.

Her new office will be housed at Heritage, but she will coordinate with other schools to attract students in underserved areas.

With its high number of immigrants, Native Americans and low-income residents, the Lower Yakima Valley has more than its share of households where college is little more than a dream. Many Heritage graduates are the first in their families to obtain a college degree. But the problems of the Lower Valley are far from unique.

"This is a really big national issue," she said. "How are we going to get first-generation students into college and see that they are going to earn college degrees? I'm very energized about addressing this other problem."

For the time being, she'll remain president and help the school's board of directors find a successor, a process that could take from one to two years.

Board member Rick Pinnell said she'll leave the school in great shape, and couldn't have chosen a better time to move on to new challenges.

Under her watch, what began as a two-year school was transformed into a university offering advanced degrees and recently saw the construction of a $15 million, 3,500-square-foot science lab.

"To be a great leader, you have to have a succession plan, and it's best to have that succession when an organization is at its peak," Pinnell said.

He credits her vision for making the school a national standout in reaching under-served populations.

"And that vision has been met, and Heritage continues to do that," he said.

It's a model that will assist her in making her new, yet unnamed national institution a success, he said.

"With her new institute, colleges will be able to bridge that gap because Heritage, as a model, has proven that it works," he said.

Although Ross will still be on campus, she said she'll miss college presidents from other areas she worked with.

"But I will have other interesting people to work with, and change is a part of reality," she said.

* Phil Ferolito can be reached at 577-7749 or pferolito@yakimaherald.com.