Gary Oertli was elected to SOUND’s Board of Directors in May 2022, following a trailblazing career of more than 45 years in higher education, where he served at the highest levels. His experience includes 12 years at the Seattle Colleges — as President of South Seattle College, Interim President of Seattle Central College, Interim Vice President of Instruction at South Seattle, and Interim Dean for Business, Information Technology, and Creative Arts at Seattle Central College. Oertli also served as President and CEO of Shoreline Community College for five years. He was honored as President Emeritus at both South Seattle College and Shoreline Community College upon his retirement.
During his tenure at South Seattle College, Oertli served concurrently as President of the State Community College President’s Group, representing 34 colleges. The group promoted collaboration between the community college system and four-year institutions, increasing legislative support for the state’s higher education system.
In recent years, Oertli worked with the University of Washington, the State Board for Community Colleges, and the Community College Engagement Initiative to create programs that promoted smoother transitions for students moving from the state system to the University of Washington.
Oertli has also served as President of the University of Washington Alumni Association and as President of the University of Washington Husky Band Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Washington, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business. He also completed the Executive Management Certificate Program at the Foster School of Business and was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters by Schiller International University. In 2020, Oertli received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Washington.
