Highline College Trustee Dan Altmayer has been elected to the board of directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).

A resident of Federal Way, he has served on Highline’s board of trustees since October 2008.

Altmayer, who spent 25 years in the U.S. Army, plans to highlight the special needs of veteran students during his three-year term.

“Veterans bring unique backgrounds and experiences that are woven into the fabric of our campuses,” he said.

He noted that he is honored by his election to the 26-member board, since it is a vote of his peers. The board election was held Oct. 26 during the 49th annual ACCT Leadership Congress in New York.

ACCT is a nonprofit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees of community, technical and junior colleges.

“I look forward to serving and advancing the community and technical college mission, not only at Highline College but across America,” he said.

As a Highline trustee, Altmayer has been active in statewide leadership, including as president of the Washington State Association of College Trustees (ACT). He also served a three-year term as Washington State Coordinator for ACCT.

In 2017, Altmayer received the 2017 Trustee Leadership Award from ACCT, an annual award recognizing exceptional contributions and service among trustees at more than 1,100 two-year post-secondary institutions.

“Community colleges are more important than ever to ensuring that every person who seeks higher education will be able to access and complete college,” said ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown. “The ACCT Board of Directors is charged with great responsibility. Dan’s track record of proven leadership will be a valuable contribution to the vital work we have ahead of us.”

After retiring from the military, Altmayer joined Edward Jones Investments in 1992 as a financial advisor. In addition to volunteer work on the Highline board, he contributes time to other South King County organizations, including the Highline College Foundation. In November, he will join Mayor Jim Ferrell’s Veterans’ Advisory Committee for the City of Federal Way.

Highline’s five-member board is composed of community members from the college’s service area of South King County. Members are appointed by Washington’s governor and serve up to two terms.