College of Western Idaho Board Names Smith as New Trustee

Published: July 26, 2023

College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to announce Gary Smith as the new trustee for Zone 4. The Board of Trustees selected Smith by unanimous decision during their monthly meeting on Thursday, July 13.

After thoroughly evaluating applicants, the Board selected Smith based on his experience and dedication to community service. Smith was officially sworn in as a new board member on Tuesday, July 25.

Most recently, Smith held the position of board chair at both the United Way of Treasure Valley and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ada County, which gave him valuable insights into the vital importance of traditional, vocational, and technical education, especially for non-traditional and first-generation students.

Additionally, Smith has a strong record of serving our community in various capacities, including as an elected member of the Boise City Council, Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, Chief of Staff to Boise Mayor Dirk Kempthorne, and Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Kempthorne.

“We look forward to welcoming Gary onto CWI's Board,” says Board Chair, Molly Lenty. “His commitment to serving and assisting his community is truly commendable, he brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and experience, and I am thrilled to have him join in supporting the College.”

CWI plays an important role in the community by providing affordable, high-quality educational opportunities to more than 30,000 students served at the College, and Smith shared his enthusiasm for joining the Board.

"These are exciting times for CWI with the recent announcement of the significant expansion of their physical footprint, and I am honored to continue my long history of community service as part of the leadership team of College of Western Idaho,” Smith said.

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