Tysha Tolefree

Dr. Tysha Tolefree serves as the Vice President for Finance and Operations at South Puget Sound Community College. As an equity-minded leader, she oversees all aspects of finance, facilities, safety and security, and business development specific to student and college program success. Along with the rest of the executive leadership team, she guides the overall strategy and operational planning for the college.

She is an Air Force Veteran with 20+ years of combined higher education experience as an administrator and adjunct faculty member. She thrives within dynamic organizations that are clear about the level of student success that can be achieved when service is at the forefront. As an innovative leader, she is driven by positive energy and a commitment to mission and purpose where integrity is not optional.

Not unlike the students that she serves, she has had a nontraditional academic path. As a life-long learner, whose first-degree completion was an Associates while in the Air Force, she understands what it means to work while going to school. Where there seemed to be few or no options at varying points in her academic career, she was fortunate to have family, leaders, and community members that provided encouragement and support. Given support or the lack thereof may look different for everyone; options are critical and so are the pathways that community colleges provide.

Characterized as a champion of college-wide strategic initiatives, she is committed to decreasing barriers related to academic program completion and increasing opportunities in collaboration with community partners that are essential to improving quality of life beyond graduation.

Dr. Tolefree holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Walden University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Troy State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting from Saint Leo University.