Voters in Ada and Canyon counties elected Mike Peña and David Bishop to College of Western Idaho (CWI) Board of Trustees on Nov. 3. Peña will represent Zone 2, and Bishop will continue to represent Zone 4 for a full four-year term. Both candidates ran unopposed.
At the Thursday, Nov. 12, Board meeting, Peña was sworn in as the Zone 2 trustee, and Bishop was recognized for his election to continue serving Zone 4.
Peña previously served as president of the CWI Foundation Board. In that role, he advocated for students and worked with donors and community partners who support the College.
"Mike knows our mission, our people, and what our community expects of us," said CWI President Gordon Jones. "He has been a tireless champion for our students, and I look forward to working with him in this new role."
Bishop has represented Zone 4 since his appointment to the Board in August 2025. As a trustee, he has focused on expanding access to education, supporting student success and serving the community.
"David has served with thoughtfulness and a steady focus on what matters most," Jones said. "His election gives the Board continuity at an important time for CWI, and I am grateful he will keep serving."
Following the Nov. 12 meeting, CWI honored outgoing Trustee Molly Lenty for eight years of service on the Board. Lenty served two terms as chair and most recently served as secretary and treasurer. She will continue to support the College as a member of the CWI Foundation Board.
Lenty served during a period of growth for CWI, with enrollment up 17% since 2022. During her tenure, she helped guide the selection of CWI’s mascot and championed major campus projects, including the Nampa Campus Norco Health and Science Building (NCHS), Nampa Campus Simplot Agriculture Building (NAGB), and Nampa Campus CapEd Student Success Center (NCSC).
"When I joined this Board in 2021, Molly was our Chair, and she set the tone for how we work together: prepared, respectful, and always focused on students," said Board Chair Jim Reames. "So much of the progress you see across our campuses today carries her fingerprints.”
CWI's Board of Trustees consists of five volunteer members elected at large from Ada and Canyon counties to staggered four-year terms.
