BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Western Washington University is keeping its top executive at the helm for two more years.

The school’s Board of Trustees approved a two-year contract extension for President Sabah Randhawa at its meeting last Friday, Oct. 17.

Randhawa’s contract now runs through July 31, 2028.

Board Chair Faith Pettis noted one change to the contract: the Board is encouraging Randhawa to take up to 30 days of “professional assignment leave” each year.

“We know it will be hard for Sabah to agree to take that, but we would encourage him definitely to take that time to visit, to rest and refresh and also add to his knowledge and ability to help the university,” Pettis said.

Randhawa became Western’s 14th president when he took over for Bruce Shepard in 2016.

My Bellingham Now previously reported on his new Strategic Enrollment Growth Initiative that seeks to boost next fall’s incoming class in the face of a $23 million budget deficit.