Welcome Week kicked off on Monday, September 23, the first day of the fall term and the 2024-25 academic year. Parking lots were crowded as thousands of students returned to classrooms and labs across the main campus, at the Clark College building at Washington State University Vancouver, and Clark College Columbia Tech Center.

Warm, dry weather invited students to gather outside to sit on benches and the grass or walk the paths around campus. A brand-new reader board displayed a welcome message in multiple languages. The campus has never looked better after the grounds crew’s power washing, mowing, and trimming work over the summer. Leaves on some deciduous trees are already turning a lovely, burnished color as the Penguin Nation steps into fall term 2024.

As on every first day, students stopped to peruse their phones, campus directory, and maps all over campus, and had questions: Where is this class? Where is this building? Where do I get my free bus pass? Where is the bookstore? Can someone help me?

The strategically located Welcome tables were there to help. Brand-new student ambassadors and student government representatives, together with staff and faculty volunteers, answered students’ questions, helped them find their classes, and distributed maps, snacks, and resource information. The tabling to assist students would not have been possible without the many staff and faculty volunteering their time to help Clark students, thanks to the coordination of Sarah Gruhler and the Student Life team. Students could find resources and campus activities on social media, too, with the new TikTok account posting about important services available across campus.

Other Welcome Week activities included first day of school pictures and the Counseling & Health Center open house. The fall athletics season has already started with volleyball, soccer, and cross country all having events this week.

Around campus, students congregated in their favorite gathering spots to catch up with friends and classmates. Cannell Library was a popular gathering place for students to sit with fellow students and work on their laptops.

Inside Gaiser Hall, students gathered in the food court to meet friends and get nourishment before their next class. Several stood in line at the retail bakery to try two specialty drinks: Japanese iced coffee and saffron latte. Some students bought wraps and salads at the grab-and-go. In the coming weeks, as culinary classes find their groove and move into full-production mode, there will be more food options, when the student restaurant reopens on October 1 and the student kiosk reopens on October 15.

For more information on campus activities, keep an eye on Clark’s events calendar: https://www.clark.edu/about/governance/calendars/events.php or follow us on Clark’s social media channels: https://www.clark.edu/campus-life/social-media.php.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley
View more photos from the first week of classes on our Flickr page: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBK5Nf

Clark College faculty and staff gathered on September 16 to kick off the 2024-2025 academic year during Opening Day festivities at O’Connell Sports Center.

It was a homecoming of sorts. People greeted each other as they lined up at tables laden with gallons of coffee and hundreds of bagels for a breakfast hosted by iQ Credit Union. Staff and faculty gathered in small groups all over the gym to reconnect and catch up on their summer activities. Dozens got a new staff photo taken by Jenny Shadley from Communications and Marketing. During the celebration, several employees were honored with awards. Read more about the employee awards: https://news.clark.edu/2024/09/2024-employee-awards/

Welcome by Dr. Edwards

Dr. Edwards greeted faculty and staff in a message focused on the power of unity, with everyone working together and using the college’s Equity-Centered Strategic Plan as our roadmap. Next, a new Strategic Plan video was screened.

Speaking about unity, Dr. Edwards quoted Thomas Paine, an 18th-century political writer: “It’s not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”

Following the theme of “unity,” Oswald, our beloved Penguin mascot, starred in a video that showed Degrundra “Dee” Harris from ODEI leading him around campus in search of components to build a special Opening Day surprise gift. (View the video: https://youtu.be/Ok2Q0T63LUA) The video concluded with real-life Oswald entering the gym with an ASCC leader and bearing his special gift. With an extra power boost from the clapping and cheering from the audience, Oswald pushed the button and launched a wall of confetti into the audience, who shrieked appreciatively.

Dr. Edwards thanked the Clark College Foundation for their partnership. Each year, the foundation awards $1.3 million in scholarships, special awards, and financial support to hundreds of our students, and contributes an average of $3.5 million annually to the college for programs and capital support.

She said, “This collaboration has been a pivotal component of our success over the last 50 years. Please join me in giving another heartfelt thank you to our partners at the Clark College Foundation.”

Dr. Edwards highlighted a dozen projects and programs including:

• An AI-powered chatbot will be added to our website to enhance user experience.
• Our new Associate of Applied Technology (AAT) degree in Surgical Technology has been approved.
• Our first building at Boschma Farms is nearly completed. General education classes will begin in Spring 2025. Our Advanced Manufacturing program is awaiting NWCUU approval.
• We currently have $13 million in grants and allocations including a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to close opportunity gaps by providing cohort-based support and academic preparation program, faculty mentoring, and scholarships to 48 students pursuing associate degrees in Engineering or Computer Science.
• We have hired Caitlin Malvar as our Basic Needs Navigator, a new role supported by the state to provide a single point of contact for students seeking essential resources.
• We are preparing for accreditation for 2024-2025 under the leadership of Dr. Cecelia Martin.
• And much more!

ASCC President Gurraj Singh Dhami, pictured above, introduced this academic year’s student leaders. Then he spoke about his focus: To “ensure that every student has access to the resources and support they need to succeed. Each of us has unique obstacles, and it’s vital that we create an environment where every student feels supported, whether through financial aid, mental health resources, or extracurricular involvement. We all need that sense of community, and I’m committed to making sure no one feels left behind.”

Board of Trustees Chair Cristhian Canseco Juarez spoke about unity throughout the Clark community: the board of trustees, Dr. Edwards, Clark College Foundation, and faculty and staff across campus. He closed by saying, “Imagine what impact we can make this academic year as we work together in unity on behalf of our students and our college community. I am honored to work with you and to be part of Penguin Nation.”

Dr. Edwards closed Opening Day by saying: “Next week, we will welcome a new cohort of students who have put their trust in Clark College—and all of us collectively—to help them step onto a path toward success in their academic goals, their careers, and in life. I thank each of you for being a part of the Clark team doing this important work on behalf of our students. We have our equity-centered Strategic Plan as our road map in place. We have our team of good people in place. Now it’s time for us to focus on finding ways to work together—in Unity.”

Fall Faculty Focus

Opening Day is part of a multi-day orientation and training for faculty organized by the Clark College Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) to inspire, inform, and engage faculty to build community, learn, and grow in their teaching.

Fall Faculty Focus on September 17 welcomed faculty back for the new academic year. The theme was “Me, Myself, and AI.” The keynote speaker was Wilson Nitunga, pictured above, a professor of Business and Marketing at Portland Community College (PCC) who works with PCC’s Center of Artificial Intelligence and Cultural Computing. He shared his academic journey from refugee to at-risk student to faculty member. Then he shared instructional and relational strategies to develop the best possible support system for students, and innovative ways to use AI for enhanced teaching and learning.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley and Susan Parrish
More photos from Opening Day can be viewed on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBHKt8

Clark College employees gathered on September 16 to kick off the 2024-25 academic year during Opening Day festivities at O’Connell Sports Center. During the event, the following faculty and staff members were recognized. Congratulations to all the recipients! Read more about Opening Day: https://news.clark.edu/2024/09/opening-day-2024/

Exceptional Faculty Awards | Exceptional Classified Staff Awards | Exceptional Administrative-Exempt Award | Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award | Years of Service Awards

Exceptional Faculty Award recipients

Clark College Exceptional Faculty Award is one of the highest honors that the college bestows. While anyone at the college can nominate a faculty member for this award, most nominations come from students to recognize professors who truly made a difference in their lives.  

Halina Brant-Zawadzki, Nursing 

Dr. Halina Brant-Zawadzki (Dr. B-Z) has taught Nursing at Clark College since January 2022. She has more than 18 years of experience in nursing education from various nursing schools in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, including being tenured faculty at the University of Portland’s School of Nursing. She teaches in the classroom, in the acute care setting, and in the simulation lab. 

Dr. Brant-Zawadzki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lewis and Clark College, both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Portland, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from the University of Washington. Her area of scholarship focuses on trauma-responsive education, stress management, and coping strategies in undergraduate nursing students. 

Her student nominator wrote: “Dr. Brant-Zawadzki is the definition of ‘I’m here to help.’ She was attentive to each student and made everyone feel valid, supported, and wanted. She takes every question into careful consideration and tries different approaches for different learning styles. Her lectures and notes had videos, readings, demonstrations, and more to make sure every learner was addressed in their style.” 

Sarah Luther, Mathematics 

Sarah Luther earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from Lewis and Clark College. She earned her Master of Science in Mathematics from Texas A&M University. Luther previously was a middle-school math teacher and a mathematics editor and textbook problem writer. She taught math at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon before she started teaching at Clark College 11 years ago.  

Luther serves on the college’s Sigma Scholarship Committee and a tenure committee. She also is a member of Clark’s Math Activities Committee that organizes events to give students opportunities to interact with math outside the classroom. These include origami events, game nights emphasizing strategy and logic, and an event exploring the Pythagorean Theorem. 

Her student nominator wrote: “Math is not at all my strength and when I first began Math 105, I was absolutely terrified. These feelings quickly vanished when I met with Professor Luther and realized I didn’t have to feel embarrassed to ask for help. She is not only very easy to understand, but also such an empathetic and understanding person who knows exactly how to work with students. It’s clear that she truly cares about the success of her students and I’m so incredibly grateful for her help this quarter.” 

Sarah Blanchette, Human Services 

Sarah Blanchette received an Associate of Arts in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Social Services from College of the Redwoods, a community college in Eureka, California, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at University of California Davis. 

Next Sarah worked in social and human services leadership and administration for 25 years: 13 years at the Department of Social and Health Services and 7 years at Developmental Disabilities Administration. Working with youth, families, aging adults, and individuals with developmental disabilities led her to complete her master’s degree in Social Work at Eastern Washington University, which was co-located at Clark at the time. 

Her master’s studies led Sarah to Clark College in 2019 to teach the next generation of human service workers through the BASHS and ACED programs.  

Sarah said, “Teaching deepened my life. I have been inspired by my students’ resilience and by their passion for making the world a better place.” 

Her student nominator wrote: “Sarah gives me hope for the future of my field. She teaches us alternative ways to view and use old ideas so we can apply conventional practices in a contemporary way that’s more trauma informed, culturally adaptable, and influenced by acknowledgement of the unique strengths and needs of various populations. She’s cultivating the generation of counselors that the world needs, and it’s both inspiring and motivating as an aspiring researcher trying to change the way helpers help for the better.” 

Tanya Diaz-Kozlowski, Women’s Studies  

Dr. Tanya Diaz-Kozlowski (she/her/ella) is a meditator, writer, and teacher who has taught Women’s Studies courses at Clark College since Fall 2020. She centers queer and BIPOC narratives in all courses to explore knowledge, subjectivity, and power with students as co-partners in learning, encouraging students to forge connections rooted in awareness, accountability, and compassion rather than reactivity, stereotypes, and dis/mis information.  

Her contributions at Clark include mentoring queer and BIPOC students, serving on multiple hiring committees, speaking at the Queer Student Luncheon, serving as chair of a tenure committee, serving on the Instructional Planning Committee, and co-creating community and connection gatherings for Clark College faculty and staff. 

Dr. Diaz-Kozlowski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of Wisconsin-Parkside, a Master of Science in Higher Education from Eastern Illinois University, and a doctorate degree in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a focus in social and cultural foundations from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to her tenure at Clark, she has worked at the Uniting Pride Center of Champaign County and has taught at Illinois State University and The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Her student nominator wrote: “Race, gender, and sexuality all intersect with our identities. This is what we were taught in Women’s Studies and how Dr. Diaz-Kozlowski treats us reflects exactly what we learn. They respect pronouns and queer individuals. Also, they advocate for BIPOC and queer authors, which respects students’ identities as they may be relatable to us.” 

Rebecca Engel, American Sign Language 

Rebecca Engel earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Oregon State University and a Master of Education degree in Deaf Education from Western Oregon University. Before coming to Clark College, she taught middle school at Washington School for the Deaf. She has been teaching at Clark since 2006 and was granted tenure in 2020.  

At Clark she teaches all levels of American Sign Language as well as Deaf Culture courses. She serves on Clark’s Curriculum committee, is ASL Club advisor, and actively participates in Teaching and Learning Center communities.  

She also serves on CTE advisory boards for Evergreen and Vancouver school districts. She also serves on the Language Access advisory committee for OSPI. 

Her student nominator wrote: “I am one of many students who have been touched by Becky’s contagious light and electric energy. She has supported me in my two years as an ASL student at Clark College and has always encouraged me to chase my dreams of becoming an ASL interpreter. Her willingness to teach me and her excitement toward my journey is a huge part of the reason why I am here today. She has shared resources with me, given valuable feedback that has grown my ASL skills, and reminded me why my dreams matter.” 

“As a Deaf woman, Becky understands the value of respecting differences and has encouraged others to do so as well. Many times, we have discussed the importance of Deaf Culture as well as taking the time to learn from other people’s experiences. Becky is always willing to help and wants all of her students to feel supported in her classroom. She makes me feel like I am important and so are my opinions.” 

Catherine Johnston, English as a Second Language 

Volunteering with a literacy organization prompted Catherine Johnston to begin a career in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Fifteen minutes into her initial tutoring session with a pre-literate speaker of Arabic, she decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at University of San Francisco. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at DePaul University. 

Since 1997, she has enjoyed teaching children and adults in language schools and universities, training teachers in a training certificate program, and writing and editing educational materials for several publishers. She has worked in educational settings in Hong Kong, Mexico, and various parts of the United States. She began teaching full time at Clark College in 2007. 

Catherine said it is a privilege and a pleasure to have a role in the cultural adjustment process of her immigrant and refugee students, some of whom came here by choice and some of whom came here by circumstance. 

She said, “Whether students are accomplished professionals, new to formal education, or somewhere in between, I appreciate the opportunity to help my ESL learners realize their goals. Serving alongside my Transitional Studies staff and faculty colleagues is a joy.” 

Her student nominator wrote: “In the realm of education, there are teachers who simply impart knowledge, and then there are those rare individuals who leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of their students. Catherine Johnston, without a doubt, falls into the latter category. As an older student representing our diverse class, she is the best teacher I have encountered who helped me to believe in myself and have the courage to start a new life here in the United States, where English is not my first language.” 

Exceptional Classified Staff Awards 

Andra Spencer, Office of Diversity Equity & Inclusion 

Her nominator wrote: “Andra has been a part of ODEI for a little over a year, and the positive impact of her work and dedication were immediately felt. Andra’s passion for equity and education is contagious. She dove into creating a PPI training on recognizing and disrupting antisemitism this summer and introduced many to a body of knowledge previously undiscussed at the college.” 

Teresa Haye, Bachelor of Applied Science Teacher Education (BASTE) 

Her nominator wrote: “Terry has been essential to the success of this program, which grew from 5 students in the first year to 20 students in the second year. Her passion for student success, removing barriers, and prioritizing tasks that allow for those dynamics are all part of her superpowers.” 

Exceptional Administrative-Exempt Award

Monica Knowles, Bookstore 

Her nominator wrote: “They are a productive leader; their work performance is exemplary. This is due partly to the fact that they have created well thought out procedures for the operation of the Bookstore. More importantly, they make sure that team members understand the importance of their roles in the big picture and provide the proper training for team members to perform their roles well. They foster an encouraging environment in which staff members want to collaborate and give their best for the Bookstore.”    

Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award 

Ciera Jones, Athletics 

Lora Whitfield was an Early Childhood Education professor at Clark College who cared deeply about this community. She was committed to the success of her fellow employees and the students she served. As a tenured professor, she promoted equity and inclusion, creating a culture of community for all. 

Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reviews the nominations for this award and makes a recommendation based on a Clark employee’s demonstrated and sustained commitment to advancing equity. The recipient receives $1,000 and a plaque in honor of Lora Whitfield.  

Her student nominator wrote: “Coach Ciera preaches equity and opportunity—and she stands by it. From allowing members onto her team who lack a background in the sport due to systemic failures, to promoting mental health resources and seeking ways to give back to the community, Ciera acts on her beliefs. She continuously goes above and beyond to ensure her team is involved on the field, in the school, and in the world around them. She is a shining example of leadership.” 

“Coach Ciera demonstrates her leadership on the field, and in her office. When you speak with her, you can sense her respect for others. As a Deaf player on her team, I never felt lesser or othered by her. I was given numerous opportunities to grow in the sport, challenge my own obstacles, and better my mind and body. Her leadership instilled confidence in me that I carry to the classroom, and Ciera has reached out to me about partnering with the ASL Club to provide softball camps to the local Deaf community, furthering this inclusion and equity.” 

Years of Service Awards  

Brad Avakian, vice president of Human Resources, presented the years of service awards to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service. Thanks to an anonymous donor through the Foundation, all years of service awards also come with monetary compensation based on the number of years served. 

5 years 

• Human Resources: Alicia Dingivan 
• Instruction: Aaron Ahn, Andrea Belleisl, Sandra Bennett, Opinderjit Bhella, Sarah Blanchette, Chris Cerone, Kristin Christophersen, Joanne Costello, Kymber Croft-Miller, Jennifer Denrow, Cassia Gammill, Hernan Garzon, Katherine Goforth, Jesse Kysar, Nicholas Luisi, Erin Lynch, Olga Lyubar, Kathryn Matsuura, Stacie Murdoch, Kenneth Murr, Valenti Pischanskaya- Cayanan, Brian Shannon, Richa Sharma, Tabitha Stokes, Christopher Thompson, Christina Wallace 
• Operations: Courtney Braddock, Laurie Mitchell, Darcie Daniel 
• Student Affairs: Michael Aguirre, Kelsey Gramm, Amanda Mabrey 
• Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Alyssa Montminy 
• Foundation: Andy Palmquist, Angela Torretta 

10 YEARS 

• Instruction: Christopher Chaffin, Lindsay Christopher, Amy Ellis, Jay Fancher, Caron Ford, Jaron Gardiner, Rebecca Herman, Alec Josephson, Sergey Kachenkov, Darcy Kennedy, Manda Levie, Donald Ludwig, Brian McVay, James Powers, Cathy Reynolds, Jeffrey Snyder, Aubrey Tobias, Kurtis Trimbo, Michelle Vincent, Tiffani Young, Shelly Williams 
• Operations: Meghan Moss, Stacy Watne 
• Student Affairs: Marianne Luther, Patricia Marley, Kandice Ripplinger, Joanne Vaughn 

15 YEARS  

• Instruction: Linda Appert, William Athens, Jack Bohl, Loni Bramson, Amanda Brown, Erin Burrows, Amanda Crochet, Alison Dolder, Wendy Edgar, Nicole Ekle, Rebecca Engel, Heidi Fay, Cynthia Foreman, Michael Guerra, Marilyn Hale, Shanda Haluapo, John Jarvie, James Jensen, Divya Kashyap, Donna Marshall, Angelica Quinn, Julie Saiturn, Stephen Shepherd, Erin Staples 
• Operations: Kay Martinez 
• Student Affairs: Cindy Aplin, Margaret Estes 

20 YEARS  

• Instruction: David Caldwell, Isaac Erskine, Gothard Grey, Izad Khormaee, John Kuhn, Gayle Lee, Kanchan Mathur, Christopher Milner, John Mitchel, April Mixon        

25 YEARS  

• Human Resources: Thao Schmidt 
• Instruction: Mark Bolke, Ray Cooper, Jennifer Dean, Sara Gallow, Kathleen Perillo 
• Operations: Billie Garner, Damon Grady, Monica Knowles, Sabra Sand 
• Foundation: Shirley Schwartz  

30 YEARS 

• Instruction: Kristine Barker, Kayoko Barnhill, Aaron Bingham, Judy Emenegger, Donald Gonser, Travis Kibota, Gail Robinson 
• Student Affairs: Kimberly Bower 
• Foundation: Karen Hagen  

35 YEARS  

• Instruction: Mike Arnold 
• Operations: Lisa Hasart 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley
More photos from Opening Day can be found on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBHKt8

Two preschool girls, pictured above, stood on either side of a blue metal rain wheel and spun the wheel, which created a gentle rattle sound reminiscent of rain. The wheel is one of six pieces of musical playground equipment installed recently in a new sound garden nature space within Clark College’s Child and Family Studies preschool.

Pointing to a whale drum near the back fence, Paul Caggianese, a CFS teacher and program supervisor, explained that the drum had been the only musical equipment since it was installed about two decades ago.

“Adding to the whale drum has always been a dream,” said Caggianese, who stood in the preschool’s backyard watching a group of preschoolers play.

But a lack of funding deterred them.

Michele Volk, director of Child and Family Studies, added, “Every year I meet with the Clark College Foundation to look at our wish list—and they make our wishes and dreams happen.”

Last year, Volk spoke to the foundation about funding for additional outdoor musical equipment, and they worked to make that longtime dream a reality. Now the whale drum is part of a new sound garden, including these additions:

• A blue rain wheel that emits a rattling sound much like rain
• A xylophone with aluminum keys and two mallets so that children can create a variety of notes
• A set of four vibrant chime flowers, each with an attached mallet. Each flower emits four sustained notes to produce enchanting, sustained gong sounds ranging from alto to soprano.

Generous donors

“The sound garden was a project CFS had wanted to develop for years, but lacked the resources to make it happen,” explained Kathy Chennault, Director of Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations at Clark College Foundation. “The foundation’s

connection with the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation provided the impetus to seriously explore this opportunity.”

The Ella Fitzgerald Foundation provided $5,000 in seed money. Donors via the Clark College Foundation provided the required $5,000 match. With two generous gifts, the initiative moved from concept to reality.

“We felt this was an important project to support as music can have such a profound impact on a young child’s life,” said Randal Rosman, Vice President of Programs at the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation. “Music can help children develop physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively as well as with language development. Music is a way to bring people together, share experiences, and learn about diverse cultures. We hope that this sound garden and the associated programming help to create a sense of community with the kids and adults who interact with it.”

Benefits of music education

As Volk and Caggianese watched a group of preschoolers enthusiastically making music with the new equipment, they spoke about the benefits of introducing music in early childhood education, including preschoolers playing in a sound garden.

Caggianese said, “The impacts that music has on your ability to do math, look at language and literacy, just all those influences. And then on top of it, (it’s) another method for children to decompress.”

Volk nodded, “The developmental part of it is a real key to impacting them for lifelong love, joy, and a sense of wonder in music.”

Caggianese added, “Music is a bridge between cultures and languages.”

“Music develops the whole child in ways that people don’t always think about,” Volk said.

All around them, busy preschoolers played in their new sound garden. The team at CFS hopes to add more percussion equipment to the sound garden next.

Erin Jones shared her story, inspiring hundreds of Clark College employees who gathered in Gaiser Student Center for Staff Development Days on August 14.  

Jones, a teacher, speaker, and the author of “Bridge to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing” presented a two-hour Power, Privilege, and Inequity (PPI) address that counted as a college-wide PPI training.

Her engaging presentation was filled with sage insights, including these:

• “What you see is not at all my story. What you see is just a small part of who I am.”
• “My experiences are not better than yours. They’re just different.”
• “All great things start with courage.”
• “This journey of healing as a nation is complicated.”

She asked Clark College staff members to consider these two questions:

1. Why do you do what you do where you do it?
2. What are you doing to fill your cup right now? What are you doing to feed your soul?

Then she introduced three postures that are useful in her own daily interactions with others.

Posture 1: Practicing Gratitude

Erin writes in a gratitude journal daily—even when she has an overflowing schedule. She said it’s a discipline that has made a difference in her life and her attitude.

• “I practice gratitude every single day.”
• “Gratitude changes your brain chemistry. It creates a positive neural network.”
• “Gratitude is an equity practice for me.”
• “In your team meetings, consider starting with a moment of gratitude.”

Posture 2: Creating a Brave Space

She introduced this posture by saying, “The idea of creating a safe space is a fraud. I want to create a place that is safe enough for you to be brave.”

She asked, “What is brave going to look like for us?”

Then she answered her question like this:

• I commit to being vulnerable.
• I commit to no shame, blame, or guilt.
• When you mess up, ‘fess up.
• Be curious. Stay curious.

When she encounters someone who says something that contradicts her own beliefs, she asks herself: “Do I have something to say right now that’s going to make them feel better, or do I want to say something to shame them? Shame shuts us down.”

She led the attentive participants in an arm exercise that can serve as a useful reminder: “Let’s call each other in and up to the best version of ourselves, not down and out to shame.”

Posture 3: Pausing or Breathing Before You Speak

When you find yourself in a challenging space, she suggested that BEFORE you speak or act, it is helpful to pause, take a deep breath, and count backwards from 10 to 1, preferably in a language that is not your native language. That will force you to take your time before you respond.

She reminded people to choose their words carefully: “Your words have the power to build or destroy.”

Learn more about Erin Jones

• Visit Erin’s website: https://www.erinjonesdreams.com/
• View her 2021 TED Talk, “Bridges to Heal US”: https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_jones_bridges_to_heal_us
• Buy her book, “Bridges to Heal US,” for a discounted rate at the Clark College Bookstore.

Hundreds of Clark College staff spent two days learning together during the tenth annual Staff Development Days on August 13 and 14.

The event, chock full of professional development training, allows staff time to connect with other staff on campus, learn valuable skills, and share department information. Six breakout sessions offered three dozen professional development opportunities focused on a variety of topics. This year’s workshops included a supervisor training series, mini-learning sessions, opportunities for department meetings, and time for individuals to complete Higher Ed Works online training.

In her welcome to staff, Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards quoted educator, Rudine Sims Bishop: “Mirrors allow you to see your own experiences, windows to see others,’ and sliding glass doors to enter other worlds.” Dr. Edwards added: “Over the next two days, there may be many mirrors, windows, and doors for you to explore, learn, and grow.”

Keynote Speaker on Building Community

Clark College Foundation CEO Calen Ouellette, pictured above, presented Tuesday’s keynote, “The Community We Build.” Calen focused on three key terms: Engagement, empowerment, and collaboration, and posed a reflective question for each term.

• Engagement: What specific actions can you take to make your colleagues feel more engaged and valued in the workplace?
• Empowerment: How can you empower team members to take the initiative and feel confident in their roles?
• Collaboration: What steps can you take to foster better collaboration and communication within your team and across teams at Clark?

The following day, Erin Jones presented “Building Bridges with Others.” Read more about her presentation: ppi-guest-speaker-at-staff-development-days

Many Departments Participated

Departments presenting sessions included Accounting Services; Career Services; Clark College Foundation; Communications and Marketing (pictured above); Counseling and Health Center; Disability Support Services; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Event Services; Facilities Services; Fine Arts; Human Resources; IT-Network Services; Information Technology Services; Payroll; Planning and Effectiveness; Purchasing; Student Affairs; Teaching & Learning Center; Veterans Center of Excellence; and more.

Sessions addressed burnout prevention, conflict management, time block planning, and unlocking the power of data.

Some sessions focused on how best to assist others in our community.

• Bellamy Holt from Entry Services taught” Etiquette to a T: Treating Trans Folks with Courtesy.” Bellamy provided vocabulary terms for allies and cis individuals to use and gave examples of how to politely ask for someone’s pronouns, and how to avoid misgendering people.
• Tre Sandlin from the Teaching and Learning Center taught “Accessibility: Headings and Alternative Text.” Participants learned how headings enable folks who use assistive technology and how to use them to improve the navigability of their content. Teams of participants viewed images and discussed how to write alt text for different lenses.
• Valentina Pishchanskaya-Cayanan from the Counseling & Health Center presented “Understanding the Ukrainian Student Experience.” She emigrated from Ukraine as a child and still has family in Ukraine. She shared a deeper understanding of the Ukrainian culture, various challenges that new arrivals from Ukraine are experiencing, and how folks can best support our Ukrainian students.

There was time for fun and relaxation, too.

• Courtney Braddock from Accounting Services taught a lively line dance workshop to get staffers’ minds and bodies moving to a variety of music.
• Jenny Shadley from Communications/Marketing led a “Creative Mindfulness” workshop to encourage participants to experiment using creative practices to be more present. After a guided meditation and a creative prompt, participants had an opportunity to take a short walk on campus and either take a photo or write a poem.
• Shelley Williams from the Fine Arts division led two hands-on jigsaw puzzle competitions. While teams worked together to complete a puzzle, Shelly shared about how engaging in hobbies can help employees find a healthy work-life balance. The winning team received Symphony chocolate bars.

Many thanks to the staff who organized Staff Development Days: Andra Spencer, Vanessa Bural, Alyssa Montminy, Carolyn Stark, De’Gundrea Harris, Donna Larson, Haley Tucker, Lindsey Schuhmacher, Maggie Li, Michelle Golder, Sandra Bush, and Wendé Fisher.

Thanks also to instructors, staff, and students from McClaskey Culinary Institute for providing delicious box lunches on both days and to the bookstore for providing free ice cream treats.

“The members of our planning team are so pleased with this year’s Staff Development Days,” said Andra Spencer, who works in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We saw the excitedness of staff members connecting across departments. When we gathered together in Gaiser Student Center, the energy was palpable. What a positive start to our 2024-2025 academic year.” Continue Your Professional Development Journey

For those who want to continue their learning journey, attendees can reflect on their conference experience and share feedback with the Staff Development Days planning team. Here’s how you can stay engaged:

• Review session materials: Access presentation slides and other valuable resources from the conference: Presenter Files
• Share your feedback: Your thoughts are crucial for improving future professional development events. Please fill out our feedback survey: https://bit.ly/SDD-24-feedback

“We hope these resources will help you build on the insights gained and continue your professional journey.” —Staff Development Days planning team

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

The culinary garden at Clark College is seeking volunteers who enjoy gardening and can volunteer even an hour a week.

On a warm July afternoon, James “Sonny” Demartini, a cuisine instructor at Clark College, spread the broad leaves of a kohlrabi plant to examine a purple turnip-looking vegetable growing at ground level to determine when it would be ready to harvest (pictured below). Pointing to yellow marigold flowers planted nearby, he explained that the flower’s strong scent repels flies, aphids, and other insects that eat the plants.

Then he tore the tip of a green leaf from a Florentino cauliflower, popped it into his mouth, chewed, and smiled.

“What flavor! That’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaimed.

Chef Demartini was instrumental in creating the culinary garden just outside the college’s Tod and Maxine McClaskey Institute. Now in its third year, the garden is prolific. During the summer, culinary students harvest herbs, vegetables, and fruit from the garden and use the produce in their cuisine and baking classes to create food for the college community. On this day, students harvested lemon verbena from the garden and added it to the panna cotta dessert served in the student-run restaurant.

In addition to kohlrabi, fennel bulb, Swiss chard, baby carrots, leeks, and a variety of edible flowers are ready to harvest. At this time of year, when the garden is prolific, Chef Demartini says the culinary garden could use more hands to help with weeding and watering.

“We could use more volunteers,” he said. “Even if someone can volunteer for an hour or two a week, that would be helpful.”

Inspired by Ohio garden

In creating Clark’s culinary garden, Chef Demartini was inspired by Chef’s Garden and its Culinary Vegetable Institute, a 300-acre family farm in Huron, Ohio. He first visited the farm 14 years ago when he was a culinary student. He and two recent Clark Cuisine graduates, James and Amanda, had the opportunity to tour the farm June 17-19. They toured enormous greenhouses growing microgreens and experimental herbs, and they enjoyed tasting the farm’s bounty. They also volunteered in the farm’s test kitchen and prepared food for the farm’s workers and for a wedding event.

Chef Demartini experienced a full-circle moment when his mentor and old friend, farmer Lee Jones, came by to say hello, wearing his trademark denim overalls and red bowtie. The Jones family represents four generations on the farm.

“It was a prescient moment for me,” said Chef Demartini. “When I was a culinary student, Farmer Lee impressed upon me the importance of ‘taking care of the soil’ and ‘eating with the season.’ My interactions with Farmer Lee shaped who I am now, as both a chef and a person. Fast forward fourteen years, and Farmer Lee is seeing the seeds that he sowed in me, with the next generation of culinarians under my wing. It was an incredible moment!”

What’s planted in Clark’s garden

Previously, the concrete planters just outside McClaskey Culinary Institute contained low-maintenance shrubs that didn’t flower or provide food for humans or insects. Three years later, this garden has created a welcoming entrance to Gaiser Hall. People stop to admire the garden.

• Now the concrete planters are bursting with vegetables and fragrant herbs, including sage, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary, sorrel, lovage, parsley, and chives. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators flit from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen.
• Edible wildflowers do double duty by attracting pollinators.
• Trellises support grapevines and hops.
• Fruit trees include plum, quince, fig, and five varieties of espalier apple and pear trees.
• A dozen varieties of sunflowers provide edible petals and seeds for recipes.
• Nasturtiums provide edible petals, garnish, and an infusion for oils and vinegars.

The seeds of Clark’s culinary garden

• The culinary space at Clark College was renovated in 2017 with a grant from the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Foundation. Although blueprints included culinary gardens wrapping around three sides of the building, there was no funding for a garden.
• Chef Demartini, a lifelong gardener, and Fay Shorten, a stockroom attendant in the college’s food services department, were determined that a lack of funding would not become a barrier for creating a kitchen garden for their students.
• They spent about $8,000 in grant money. Galvanized stock tanks were repurposed into raised beds. Some plants and seeds were donated, but they purchased others.
• Demartini, Shorten and volunteers cleared unused space outside the building and created gardens including herbs, vegetables, berries, and fruit trees.
• The college’s grounds crew revamped an existing irrigation system.
• Composting organic kitchen scraps: Every day the culinary classes create a mountain of food scraps—from eggshells to carrot tops. Instead of throwing them into the garbage, all organic food scraps are converted into nutrient-rich compost. Demartini converted an industrial woodchipper into a mulcher that chops food waste into rich, organic matter that immediately can be added to the soil.
• Volunteers help amend the soil, plant, weed, water, and harvest—but more volunteers are needed.

Volunteer in the culinary garden

• Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Contact: Chef Sonny Demartini at jdemartini@clark.edu

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Clark College named Dr. William “Terry” Brown, a college administrator from Connecticut to serve as its Vice President of Instruction. Dr. Brown started on July 8, the first day of summer term. 

Dr. Brown is new to the Vancouver area. To transport their enormous Rhodesian Ridgeback dog “Chief,” Dr. Brown and his family drove more than 3,000 miles from Northford, Connecticut during the July heat wave. Despite the long journey and cross-country move, Dr. Brown has jumped feet-first into his role, meeting with leaders across the college, meeting a visiting delegation from Joyo, Japan, and touring the college’s new Boschma Farms facility during his first week on the job.

Learn more about the VPI Role | Professional Experience | Q&A: Fun Facts about Dr. Brown 

The VPI role 

As the senior academic officer of the college, Dr. Brown is responsible for the comprehensive academic landscape for all program development and assessment, in addition to leading a dynamic educational environment and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation for the college. Dr. Brown also will serve on the college’s Executive Cabinet, a leadership team led by the college’s president, Dr. Karin Edwards. 

President Edwards said, “I am excited to welcome Dr. Brown to Clark College. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching and leadership in higher education, in addition to a demonstrated commitment to equitable student success.”  

Dr. Brown will oversee the college’s 650+ faculty members and over 100 academic and workforce programs including five bachelor of applied science degrees. The areas under the guidance of the VPI encompass five academic divisions, non-credit and workforce training, Library Services, eLearning, Faculty development/Teaching and Learning Center, Adult/Basic Education/ESL and Adult Literacy, outcomes assessment, accreditation, Guided Pathways, and academic support services.  

 “I am absolutely thrilled to be at Clark College,” said Dr. Brown. “Education is still the lynchpin for personal growth and economic success for our students and communities, and Clark College is at the forefront of making sure that anyone in our community has the opportunity to transform their lives and fortunes.” He added, “I look forward to joining the faculty, staff, and administrators at Clark in the impactful work we do for our students and communities.” 

Dr. Brown was hired after a nationwide search that included extensive interviews with a hiring committee, college leadership, and an open forum with the college community.  

Professional Experience 

He has invested more than 30 years working in higher education, in both teaching and leading in colleges in Connecticut, Delaware, Tennessee, and now Washington State. 

Previously, Dr. Brown was the Associate Vice President for Strategic Operations and Partnership Development at Connecticut State Community College, New Britain, Connecticut. Before that, he was the Chief Executive Officer for Gateway Community College in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Dr. Brown’s career in higher education also includes administrative positions at Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, Connecticut, at Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Nashville State Community College, Nashville, Tennessee.  

Earlier, Dr. Brown was a full-time faculty member at a community college in Connecticut, and an adjunct faculty member at two colleges in Delaware and another in Connecticut.   

He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida, and a master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Delaware. He finished his professional training at Yale School of Medicine, completing predoctoral fellowships at Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale Psychiatric Institute (now Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital), and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center.  

A recognized higher education leader, Dr. Brown was named to the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut by the Connecticut chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for 2021. He was a member of the Class of 2023-2024 cohort of American Association of State Colleges and Universities Millennium Leadership Initiative.  

Q & A: Fun facts about Dr. Brown 

Q: Tell us about your family. 

A: My wife, Yulonda Brown (née Candelario), is a certified surgical technologist who is excited about all the fishing opportunities in Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. She also is looking forward to an opportunity to visit Alaska. Our son, Zion, is a liberal arts college student with a deep interest in history, aviation, and photography, and he will be starting at Clark in the fall. Our Rhodesian Ridgeback, “Chief” enjoys long hikes, followed by a longer nap. 

Q: We hear you’re an avid cook.  

A: I do love to cook, particularly several regional styles of barbecue. I learn to cook anything I love to eat. I cook southern Soul Food, Southeast Asian, Italian, Creole/Cajun. Lately, I’ve taken to grinding my own meat for burgers and homemade sausages and making sourdough bread and pizza dough from scratch. 

Q: What other hobbies or sports do you enjoy? 

A: Hiking, SCUBA diving and snorkeling, travel. In my younger days, I was a pretty good volleyball player. I could play any position but loved being on backline defense or middle blocker. 

Q: Favorite music/genre?  

A: Soul and R&B from the late-80s and 90s: Boyz II Men, New Edition, Jodeci, and Dru Hill are some of my favorite artists. 

Q: Music/musician on your playlist?  

A: I have a huge celebrity crush on Cardi B. Her attitude and honesty are captivating! 

Q: Favorite book you read recently? 

A: “Martin Luther King, Jr., on Leadership: Inspiration and Wisdom for Challenging Times” by Donald T. Phillips (2000) 

Q: Favorite binge-watching? 

A: Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day every year, I binge-watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies from “Captain America: The First Avenger” to “Avengers: Endgame” (with “Deadpool” thrown in, just for fun!). 

Q: Favorite cities to visit?  

A: I always look forward to a chance to visit Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, Louisianna.  

Q: What is an interesting place you visited?   

A: A trip to the Hawai’i had been a dream of mine since I was a teenager, and we visited Oahu and the Big Island in June of 2021. From visiting Pearl Harbor and hiking Diamond Head, to hunting wild cattle, to seeing sea turtles on black sand beaches and being in the water with manta rays, it was the trip of a lifetime. 

Q: Favorite sports teams?  

A: Florida Gators, Dallas Cowboys (I met Tony Dorsett when I was 6 or 7 years old, and I have been Cowboys fan ever since). 

Q: What are you looking forward to exploring in the area? 

A: All the outdoor activities – hiking and fishing especially—and getting the chance to visit Portland, Seattle, and eventually, Alaska. 

Q: What was a memorable sight during your cross-country drive to start your new position at Clark College? 

A: Driving through the Columbia River Gorge and seeing Mount Hood rising up in the distance was quite a sight.  
(Editor’s note: Mount Hood is the highest point in Oregon at 11,249 feet, almost five times higher than Mount Frissell at 2,380 feet, the highest point in Connecticut.) 

Q: How did your family drive across the country from Northford, Connecticut to Vancouver, Washington during a July heat wave with your enormous Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chief, riding in the backseat?  

A: Slowly, over 11 days, with lots of breaks for walks! We drove an average of four to six hours per day—so not long, grueling hours driving. We stayed in dog-friendly hotels and provided ample opportunities for all of us to stretch our legs. 

Q: What are you enthusiastic about at Clark College? 

A: I am extremely excited about Clark College’s commitment to equity and social justice. Access to education is a civil right, and higher education is still the gateway to opportunity and success for so many members of our community. It is a privilege to be invited to serve here. 

Q: How do you prefer people to connect with you?  

A: I enjoy meeting people face-to-face whenever possible, but just connecting is the important thing.  Anyone is welcome to stop by and say hello, but I need to explore Clark and get to know the campus, so I’m happy to visit you in your space. 

Clark College hosted a delegation of ten visitors from Joyo City, Japan, Vancouver’s sister city, on July 11.

The visitors were welcomed to the college’s International Programs office by Clark President Dr. Karin Edwards, followed by a greeting from Jody Shulnak, associate director of International Programs. Michiyo Okuhara, Clark College Japanese language professor, translated the greetings.

Board of Trustees members Marilee Scarbrough and Suzanne Donaldson introduced themselves to the Japanese delegation. Then came introductions from other college leadership including Sabra Sand, Vice President of Operations; Dr. Michele Cruse, Vice President of Student Affairs; Dr. Brad Avakian, Vice President of Human Resources; Dr. William “Terry” Brown, Vice President of Instruction; and Calen Ouellette, Chief Executive Officer at Clark College Foundation.

Clark College Foundation, Clark College, Vancouver mayor and city councilors, the Vancouver Rotary president, and area business leaders visited Joyo, Japan during the week of March 13, 2023. Calen Ouellette joined Dr. Edwards and other local leaders on the Joyo trip to celebrate the connection between the two regions.

Clark College Foundation CEO Calen Ouellette said, “It was a pleasure to reciprocate the hospitality of our friends from Joyo and to welcome them to our campus.”

After gifts were exchanged and refreshments, two student ambassadors led the group on a brief walking tour of the campus, including.

• Group photo while standing on the steps on the south side of Gaiser Hall
• Hannah Hall 105 to see Michiyo Okuhara’s Japanese classroom
• More than 100 Shirofugen cherry trees in the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden
• The Clark College Bookstore, where delegates did a little shopping
• A Bee Campus tour by Steven Clark, biology professor, in front of the STEM Building

Next, the Joyo visitors hopped on C-Tran’s bus sporting Clark College campus photos. They rode to Ridgefield, where they toured the new Advanced Manufacturing Center at Clark College at Boschma Farms, which is expected to open Fall 2025. This was the largest tour to the center so far.

During the delegation’s visit, they also toured Vancouver City Hall, the Vancouver waterfront, Washington State University Vancouver’s new science building, and attended a Ridgefield Raptors’ baseball game.

Learn more about Clark’s relationship with Joyo, Japan: Each April, Clark College hosts its annual Sakura festival that honors the historic ties of friendship between the sister cities of Vancouver, Washington, and Joyo, Japan. The free community event underneath a canopy of cherry blossoms is presented by Clark College, the city of Vancouver, and Vancouver Rotary. Read the Sakura 2024 story here: https://news.clark.edu/2024/04/sakura-festival-is-april-25/

Sister city relationship between Vancouver, Washington, and Joyo, Japan: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/about-vancouver/sister-city-joyo-japan/

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley
View more photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBzjJw

Recently, Clark College was awarded a $2.2 million Title III Part A Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will provide Clark College with about $450,000 annually for the five years during the grant period through September 30, 2028.

About Clark’s Title III grant

The Title III program helps eligible institutions of higher education to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions

Clark College will use the grant money to increase student completion rates through implementing data-informed, technology-enabled career pathways via three objectives:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services to continuously adapt and improve.
• Implement Penguin Path, an integrated student success model that connects each student with evidence-based practices that address their individualized needs.
• Create flexible learning opportunities through a centralized career hub that integrates career information into course outcomes and increases equitable access to work-based learning opportunities for students.

Meet Clark’s Title III Team

Clark College has hired three project staff to manage the Title III U.S. Department of Education grant. Please welcome Byron Ford, project manager; Stephanie Leeper, career-connected curriculum liaison, and Jon Woofter, technology adoption and integration manager.

Byron Ford, Project Manager 

Byron Ford is responsible for the day-to-day project management to ensure grant-funded projects move forward. He supports the project leads in their work to meet the grant objectives and collaborates with key personnel. His work includes ensuring the college stays within project scope and in compliance with Department of Education grant requirements. 

Ford has worked for 16 years at three community and technical colleges in Washington: Bellingham Technical College, Green River College in Auburn, and Lower Columbia College in Longview, working in both instruction and student affairs. Most recently, at LCC he was integral in redesigning its advising program, overhauling the student onboarding process, establishing a one-stop center for students, and integrating the college’s student success technology.  He holds a Bachelor of Music degree with a Flute Performance concentration and a Master of Education degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, both from Western Washington University.

Contact Byron Ford: Bauer Hall 119, bford@clark.edu or 360-992-2409.

Stephanie Leeper, Career-Connected Curriculum Liaison 

Stephanie Leeper is working with Clark faculty, staff, and local employers and partners to connect students with opportunities to enrich their career readiness through work-based and other career-connected learning opportunities. She is creating a virtual career hub that will connect Clark students with employers for work-based learning opportunities and career exploration. 

Leeper worked for more than seven years at Washington State University Vancouver at Carson College of Business and in student affairs and enrollment. She planned orientations, career fairs, and experiential learning programs and developed business connections and employment engagement. Leeper holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with a concentration in Personnel Psychology and Human Resources from Washington State University Vancouver.

Contact Stephanie Leeper: Gaiser Hall 206H, sleeper@clark.edu or 360-992-2647.

Jon Woofter, Technology Adoption and Integration Manager

Jon Woofter will implement technological solutions to further grant objects, will train Clark employees in those technologies, and work with Clark’s IT department, project leaders, and vendors.                               

Woofter spent 20 years in K-12 public education in Naples, Florida: first in the classroom and then in a series of administrative positions focused on curriculum, instruction, and school improvement. He has directed numerous large-scale technology adoption projects and trainings related to the thoughtful use of technology integration. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from the University of Akron and a Master of Education in Educational Technology from American College of Education.

Contact Jon Woofter: Bauer Hall 117, jwoofter@clark.edu or 360-992-2421.