Clark College celebrated Juneteenth on June 6 by gathering during lunchtime for soul food, experiencing a poetry reading by Sylvia Welch, and celebrating community. The event was organized and sponsored by the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI) and culinary programs. Clark College will participate in the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 15 at Esther Short Park and all are encouraged to come out to honor Juneteenth and celebrate our shared journey towards freedom and equality.

ODEI intentionally scheduled this event early in June to ensure it doesn’t conflict with other community celebrations, demonstrating our utmost respect for all commemorations happening around us.

Soulful flavors: Chef Earl Frederick and his team of students and instructors prepared a delectable feast of soul food, provided at no charge to our students, faculty, staff, and community partners. People headed to the line in Culinary to be served, and then made their way to the Gaiser Student Center for the main event.

What is Juneteenth?

From its Galveston, Texas origin, Juneteenth is a federal and a state holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. Celebrations take place across the U.S. and beyond with focus on community and family gatherings, reflection, cuisine, and continued solidarity toward social justice.

Juneteenth (“June” plus “nineteenth”) is a federal holiday observed each year on June 19. Juneteenth was first celebrated in Texas, where on June 19, 1865, after the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the earlier Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. President Joe Biden signed the legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021, making it the 11th official federal holiday. Since 2022, Juneteenth also has been recognized as a state holiday.

Reading from Poet Sylvia Welch

Local poet Sylvia Welch read selected poems from her book, “This, That, and the Other: As I Age into Understanding,” which was published in 2023. The poems included in this collection are diverse in style and nature, evoking decidedly different emotions taking us through different pathways and doors from different times in our lives, moving us along in our thinking and becoming.

Vanessa Neal added, “We were excited that Sylvia Welch provided an inspiring poetry reading. Through her powerful voice, Sylvia connected us all to the depths of her work and how her experiences connect to Juneteenth and its relevance today.”

Welch began writing poetry at the age of 73 and published her first book at 75 and is working on her next poetry book. Sylvia grew up in the 50s, during a time of obvious racial inequities and attended college in the middle 60s when racial, social, and political injustices were prevalent, and the times were only slightly better for most African Americans.

Welch said those times produced lessons and experiences that have led to emotions, feelings, and actions that have helped her age into understanding. Her hope is to continue to do so because she has learned that understanding, like the light of day and darkness, doesn’t come all at once.

About Poet Sylvia Welch

Sylvia Welch lives in Woodland, Washington and is a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, great-grandmother, a world traveler, adventurer, a fabric artist, and last but hardly least, an author and poet.

She retired after working for 35 years as an education administrator at Warner Pacific University, Portland Community College, and in Germany for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Welch earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio University in interpersonal and organizational communications and her master’s degree from Portland State University in communications with an emphasis on intercultural communications.

Chef Earl’s Juneteenth Menu

Delicious soul food was prepared by Chef Earl Frederick, Culinary Arts Professor in the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute at Clark College, and cuisine staff and students. The meal was offered free of charge to all diners and included:

• Marinated Pork
• Grilled Coho Salmon
• Grilled Chicken Thighs
• Shrimp Gumbo with Rice
• Braised Greens
• Southern-Style Cornbread
• Sweet Tea
• Sorrel Punch
• Mini Velvet Cupcakes

Chef Earl on Barbecue

Cuisine instructor Earl Frederick said, “Barbecue is recognized as a Black contribution to American culture. It was slaves who passed through the Caribbean, cooking animals over pits on sticks. This style of cooking called barbacoa translates now into what we know as Southern barbecue. They also picked up seeds from hot peppers in the Caribbean, which became an important flavoring for the pork in the South.”

Frederick said his maternal grandmother, a sharecropper from North Carolina, told him stories about the significance of barbecue.

“My grandmother told me that barbecue is something that Blacks and whites in the South share. When tobacco was harvested in the fall, it was all-hands-on-deck with Blacks and whites working together doing the harvest.”

Workers hung tobacco leaves in tobacco barns that have slats to let air through. To prevent spoilage, this work had to happen quickly, so a big oak fire was built to cure, dry, and smoke the tobacco. Throughout the night, workers stoked the fire, which accumulated hot coals.

Frederick explained, “The tradition developed to roast a pig using those hot coals. People dug a hole in the ground, put hot coals in the bottom of the pit, put a grate over the coals, and put a butchered pig on the grate to slowly cook the pig. Everybody—black and white—ate the pig together. Something that didn’t happen any other time.”

Learn more about Juneteenth

We encourage folx to research how to get involved with organizations and community events to celebrate Juneteenth and get involved in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism. To learn more, read the “The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth” online article. For any questions or further information, feel free to reach out to diversity@clark.edu.

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

More than 600 people attended the fifth annual Northwest Regional Equity Conference (NWREC) from February 21-23. Clark College’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion partnered with Southwest Washington Equity Coalition and their Advancing Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion learning series to produce the event. The entire conference was offered via online modality.

It is gratifying to experience the growth and continued impact of the Northwest Regional Equity Conference. The first conference in 2020 had 250 participants. This year, our fifth year, we had more than 600 participants! We hosted 36 workshops and provided nine students with scholarships to attend the conference, thanks to donors.

Our intentional partnership with the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition (SWEC) allowed us to expand attendance and deepen our collective approach around diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism work. I am proud of the NWREC planning team and the many people who made the conference happen. A heartfelt thank you!

2024 NWREC quick statistics:

• Participants: More than 600
• Workshops offered: 36
• Student scholarships provided: 9

Conference keynotes represented intersectional identities and covered topics including LGBTQIA+, immigrant experiences, and Black liberation with a common thread of what it looks like to build towards the future we want while staying grounded in hope.

Workshops covered topics including academic instruction, student and employee support, equitable policy development and decision-making, community care, strategies for disrupting harm, cultural competence, identities and intersectionality, and professional development.

Conference highlights included:

• Keynote Dante King revealed the totality of how White supremacy and Anti-Blackness are codified into the American legal system, institutions, and everyday life.
• Kendra Duncan, Clark College’s BAS-Teacher Education Chair and tenure-track faculty member discussed diversifying the educator workforce in Clark County, the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BASTE) program, and Clark’s partnership with Vancouver public schools’ para-educator pathway.
• Clark College’s D. Harris presented a workshop on the impact of representation of Black people in popular media.
• Clark College English faculty Chris Smith and Cydney Topping presented the ways language/accent bias and discrimination persist in and outside the classroom.
• Clark student Tammy Pham presented a workshop Neurodiversity and You: Why Brain Differences are not Deficits.
• Another workshop focused on applying a racial equity framework to the auditing of campus policies and procedures.

Colleges that presented workshops include:

• Clark College
• Bellevue College
• Columbia Basin College
• North Seattle College
• Portland Community College
• Renton Technical College
• San Jose State University
• Shoreline Community College
• South Puget Sound Community College
• University of Washington Bothell
• Washington State University Vancouver
• Western Oregon University

Workshop presenters represented a host of nonprofits and agencies, including:

• American Civil Liberties Union Washington (ACLU)
• Clark County Community Services
• Equity Consortium
• Puget Sound Sage
• Southwest Washington Equity Coalition
• Vancouver Public Schools
• Washington Coalition for Police Accountability
• Washington State Department of Health
• Washington State LGBTQ Commission
• YWCA Clark County

Thanks to these conference sponsors:

• Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health
• HAPO Community Credit Union
• Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
• Clark College
• CareOregon
• Inatai Foundation

Refer to the complete conference agenda: Agenda (clark.edu)

Learn more: NW Regional Equity Conference (clark.edu)

Congratulations to Bryton Williams, recipient of the 2019 Fall Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award! 

An Administrative Assistant 3 for Business & Health Sciences, Williams is said to be someone who greets every situation with a smile and a positive attitude and who has made many contributions to the college’s CCW location.  

True to their name, Williams says that they were born to “brighten” everyone’s day, joking, “If my mom wanted me to be negative, she would have named me Darken.” Nominators say that, puns aside, Williams’ consistent positivity and continued relationship-building is appreciated by all at CCW, including the WSUV employees there.  

Williams assists staff and faculty with submitting and using Penguin Packs from the Bookstore and helps them to stay under the yearly printing budget. They are consistently going above and beyond for all residents in the building they help manage, responding promptly to requests and providing status updates. They consistently offer suggestions that benefit not only Clark College but WSU as well. 

Bryton is managing several equity-minded projects centered on CCW and has engaged in self-education, as well as participated in several events with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Recently, Bryton recently developed a new system for booking time in CCW’s new lactation room, which has allowed lactating mothers to remain focused on their studies. Bryton has also made it a point to make sure the CCW space is as welcoming as Clark’s main campus is to systemically non-dominant students. 

Others had this to say about Bryton: 

• “Bryton regularly engages in discussion and clarification around collaborative projects. Bryton is amazingly thorough, allowing others to be more focused and productive in their areas.” 
• “Bryton participates regularly in college activities and events. Most recently, Bryton was regularly reminding and encouraging everyone to participate in the Walktober Challenge. Bryton even spurred on a friendly competition between CCW and the WSU Facilities personnel. These sorts of bonds go a long way when we need to collaborate with our WSU partners.”  
• A new employee wrote, “Bryton brought me a stuffed penguin for my office, stating, ‘No Clark office is complete without a penguin, welcome to the team.’” 
• They are “generous beyond measure.” 
• “Bryton regularly is the first to offer assistance to students, staff, and faculty, regardless of the fact that the duties are not required of them.” 
• “Bryton’s commitment to collaboration and a positive college environment was evident in one of my first interactions with them. Bryton went out of their way to make three different kinds of muffins (this included vegan and gluten-free options, this illustrates the sheer thoughtfulness of Bryton in making sure everyone was included) which they brought in to share with the staff and faculty of all the programs at CCW, the students, our iTech partners, and the WSU Facilities personnel. While this already seems thoughtful, let me clarify that these muffins were not purchased, they were handmade with care and with a mindset that included every individual they come into contact during the day (this included people who they don’t come into contact with as well). Not only did Bryton make these extremely thoughtful snacks but they also hauled them on a one-hour public-transit ride to CCW. If that isn’t an example of caring above and beyond, then I don’t know what is.” 
• “Bryton is amazingly thorough, allowing others to be more focused and productive in their areas.” 

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the 2019 Fall Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award: 

Brenda Shular, Procurement & Supply Spec 2, Purchasing & Central Services 

Brenda is described as someone who is a helpful resource in the Purchasing and Central Services area. A nominator wrote, “Brenda has provided me with direct training and she helped me feel like I had someone to reach out to when I needed an answer. She always maintains a positive presence, is professional, and solution-oriented. I’m sure Brenda has been integral to our switch to the new ctcLink system, taking on an inordinate amount of work. When there are issues or questions, Brenda makes herself available to investigate and explain. Brenda has answered countless questions on the spot over the phone.”  

Other comments about Brenda: 

• “[Our department] requires a lot of supplies, and a fair amount of equipment. No matter how many requisitions we send over, I have faith that Brenda will get them turned into orders.”  

Everett Yu, Equipment Technician 3 for Grounds 

Everett Yu is someone who demonstrates exemplary work performance on a daily basis. Overall, Everett is responsible for maintaining all the vehicles and riding equipment at Facilities Services used by custodial, maintenance, and grounds. He is consistently working to keep vehicles and equipment (some built the 1980s and 1990s) operating at a high level. For instance, Yu just finished installing a hydraulic lift kit into the back of the F-250 (manufacture year 1995) so that staff can dump debris with the flip of a switch and get right back to work. Yu recently utilized scrap metal to custom-build a new trailer for transporting small grounds equipment. 

A nominator wrote, “When something breaks down, we don’t panic, because we know Everett will be able to troubleshoot the problem and successfully complete the repair in a timely manner.” 

Other comments about Everett: 

• “Everett has completed many special project work orders. If a co-worker encounters a complicated problem Everett will likely have a solution and be willing to help complete the job.” 
• “Security and Events rely on Everett to maintain their vehicles regularly.” 
• “Completing the majority of work orders on time and staying under budget is a special achievement.”Page Break 

Group Nomination for Brandon Johnson, It Support Technician 2 for Information Technology Services; John Condit, Media Technician Lead for Event Services;  Mike Silva, IT Support Technician 2, Information Technology Services; Richard (Rick) Bartz, IT Support Technician 2 for Information Technology Services 

The following is the nominator’s comments about this team: 

“A recent recruitment was unusual in nature due to unforeseen circumstances. At a moment’s notice we found out that we needed media assistance for a couple f upcoming campus events. Normally, we try to be considerate and notify the media team when we need their assistance at least 48 hours prior to the event. This certain situation was less than 24 hours. I thought for sure the media team was going to tell me, ‘No way, not with that short of notice.’ 
 
“Mike Silva was contacted and was so kind and provided exceptional service in some many ways. He reassured me that the request was not impossible and that he was certain they could assist. After my repeated thank you’s and apologies, he spoke with his staff and quickly called me back and said, Okay, everything is lined up and it’s a go!’ The media team had quickly organized all that was needed of them and organized coverage for said activities. 
 
“Rick Bartz assisted in setting up one room for Skype and then quickly ran to set up the next room for the next activity, and so on until all activities were completed. 
 
“Brandon Johnson and John Condit provided back of the scene assistance to make our request successful. 

“The media team from the very beginning gave exceptional customer service! From reassuring that the request wasn’t that big of deal. Mike repeatedly stated that it was ‘no problem’ when I thanked him for his last-minute help. 
 
“Rick was sure to get each activity started via Skype and then he was on to the next location–not skipping a beat. 
 
“This isn’t the first time that this group has been phenomenal and extremely helpful! The customer service provided was appreciated by so many: HR, the hiring department, and the candidate. 
 
“Because of the customer service that the media team provided, the candidate experience was amazing and the candidate expressed his appreciation for all involved. This is what we want here at Clark. I can’t thank this team enough. Without them, this wouldn’t have happened. 

“Hands down the media team took the initiative to assist us with our request. Without their assistance, the Skype activities wouldn’t have happened, as it took multiple arrangements to make it successful. The team was helpful, super-efficient, accommodating, and so cooperative in completing the request. This was going on while the college was bearing down to the final days of ctcLink preparation… 
 
“Working with coworkers who provide exceptional customer service, positive demeanor, and have the ‘no worries’ attitude not only provides myself an example that I can learn from but also makes me proud when interacting with the candidates. When a candidate thanks me for all the organization and assistance and provides so many words of appreciation, I can’t take all the credit–and for that reason I nominate this team for acknowledgement.” 

Margaret (Peg) Estes, Program Specialist 2 for Credential Evaluations 

Peg Estes is described as someone who shows initiative, positive spirit, participation in college activities, and willingness to support not only students, but also the greater college community. She is also known as being highly knowledgeable and accurate in her work evaluating applications for program completion at Clark College. 

This past year has marked a time of significant change for the Credential Evaluations team. In addition to new programs coming on board, a significant amount of workflow changes, changes to the graduation-application database, and the expectations around communication with students, there has also been a significant amount of work to prepare for ctcLink implementation. Estes responded positively and prioritized her work tasks to meet the needs of the department. She is said to have a positive attitude and show adaptability during times of rapid change. This has been a significant undertaking and has required substantial effort to review work tasks and provide regular and consistent feedback.  

Other comments about Peg Estes: 

• “Based on the positive impact that she has had with regard to communicating proactively, it resulted in the Credentials Department adopting and adapting Peg’s communication timeline as the departmental standard. This resulted in the department workflow being more proactive in communicating with students and within a much shorter window of time. Students are also proactively provided evaluation results, and then provided with updates each term, whereas before it was only in the term they planned to complete and subsequent terms afterwards. I appreciate Peg’s willingness to try new things in the name of supporting students to achieve their educational and career goals.”  
• “I have worked in the same office as Peg for about three years now and I am grateful to work with such an outstanding employee. Within the last three years, I have never witnessed such tireless dedication to doing a job and doing it well, such as I have seen with Peg. She has picked up other’s work without question, she has thoroughly examined policy and procedure to ensure best practice for employee and students alike, and she has done it all with a smile on her face. Her commitment and positive attitude throughout endless change and turnover in this department has been a prime example of what an ideal employee looks like. I am honored to work with her and I could not think of a more respected and deserving person to receive such an award. #teampeg”  
• “Prior to going live in the new system, Peg was given the ‘Jill of all Trades’ certificate of appreciation by Susan Maxwell to recognize her for all the hard work that she put into data validation. According to Susan, ‘Peg spent many hours in the lab, was always willing to help other staff who were validating, helped Ryan to understand where to find information in SMS, and was willing to validate data she had never seen before.’” 
• “Peg has been so helpful to our office with all of the training that she has provided not only to new staff, but helping with the training of staff in new business processes in the new People Soft environment. She is always so patient, courteous and helpful even though she is constantly interrupted with questions both from within our department, and while assisting other departments. Peg goes above and beyond to help solve problems no matter how busy she is at that time. She always has such a positive attitude even during these trying times with having to learn a new computer system, learning new business processes and dealing with staffing shortages. Our office wouldn’t be so functional without Peg’s great knowledge of the department and the willingness to help others.” 

Mitch Sott, Engineering Technician 3 for Workforce, Professional & Tech Ed 

Mitch is described as someone who is extremely conscious of the deep level of support the McClaskey Culinary Institute and its programs need. He is constantly proactive in clarifying needs and trouble-shooting issues before they become major issues. Sott applies both knowledge and creativity to fixing and maintaining the facility. One nominator said, “In my opinion, Mitch is not only an asset to this college campus, but a long-standing employee that makes our Prof Tech unit better and he is always willing to help anyway he can. He deserves to be acknowledged for his positive spirit and his service.” 

 Other comments about Mitch Sott: 

• “Mitch is a master fabricator and effortlessly creates solutions that would otherwise take major time and money if we went through equipment companies. A specific example is our steam-jacketed kettles that we make soups, sauces, etc. The factory draining system was ridiculously inefficient and was a potential cause of injury to students and staff. In a couple short hours, he fabricated an insert that completely solved the problem with minimal cost to college both in materials and time.” 
• “Mitch is a joy to work with and we enjoy seeing him in the bakery. He has fixed mixer attachments that were broken accidentally by students, put wheels on racks for easier movement, fabricated many cutters and cake frames, made a specific rack for cooling angel food cakes (which must hang upside-down while cooling), created a wall -ength hanger for the cookie cutters in the bakery, and so much more. Mitch has made our jobs smoother by all the various things he has done and continues to do for us.” 

• “Often Mitch will come to the bakery simply to check on us, say hello, and see if we have anything that needs fixing. He is always happy to help, and I honestly can’t remember a time he has said no. If Mitch does collegewide what he does for us in the baking program, I cannot imagine a better example of cooperative spirit than that of Mitch.”  

• “Mitch recognizes the importance of what we do, and that we couldn’t do it without his help. He always has anything he is fixing for us done and back to us the very next day. Mitch will always walk it back to the bakery when he could easily have us come and get it.” 

• “Mitch was directly responsible in helping solve what could have been a serious issue with our air handlers on the roof of the cuisine kitchen. Without his diligent efforts, potentially very costly issues with the equipment could have occurred, as well as the impact of the air handlers to properly filter internal kiosk and kitchen airflow.” 

• “Even when not called to help on something happening in kitchen, Mitch when available, comes to the kitchen facility and checks on equipment, with the Chefs, or items he has worked on to ensure equipment is running smoothly, that the staff isn’t in need of something, and handles minor tweaks on on-going equipment maintenance. Specifically, our smoker, which is quite old, he has maintained in working order so it is always available for our students and FSO needs.” 

Neil Fykerud, Program Specialist 2 for Transitional Studies Division 

Neil Fykerud is described as a colleague who goes above and beyond to positively impact student learning and who has served both the college and the community for decades. He is praised for his breadth of knowledge, constant professionalism, and ability to turn data into productive information. Co-workers, supervisors, community partners and the WorkFirst/BFET (Basic Food Employment and Training) state board office have appreciated Fykerud’s hard work and consistent accuracy. He is willing to take on demanding projects that others would find overwhelming and completes them in a timely, precise, and proactive way. 

Fykerud has participated on many college committees, including safety committees, the Climate Committee, and hiring committees. He makes sure the college’s community partners are informed about what is happening at Clark College and how it may affect students who are also clients of external organizations. He has made many important connections with agencies such as the Department of Social and Health Services, WorkSource, and Partners in Careers, to name a few.  

Fykerud also knows the importance of making connections within the campus community to ensure Transitional Studies students get the support and valid information they need. He strives to help the students become successful in their school lives, as well as in their family lives and in the community. He readily attends college trainings as well as WorkFirst and BFET trainings and informational sessions.  

Other comments about Neil Fykerud: 

• “He collaborates often with advising staff to provide multiple layers of connection and relationship building necessary for their success. If he is unsure how to help a student with a particular issue or resource, he connects with colleagues who can help and continues to utilize these connections with other students as relevant. His attitude is always positive and one of integrity that is infectious to students and staff.” 
• “Neil always comes to work with a smile and leaves with a smile. His positive attitude is infectious and he never waivers from this positivity, even when the work gets challenging—as it can be with students who have a lot of barriers to success and/or living in crisis. He relays this positivity to students and they leave his office feeling capable and supported.”  
   
• “Neil’s work with our ESL, HS+, CAP, and GED students is always exceptional. He will take time to make sure the student is not only advised on what is expected of them as a Clark College student, but also what is required of them as a student who is receiving support through one of our community partners. He will to go over the information as often as the student requires, find support services to help make sure the student is successful, as well as provide a contact figure that the student can rely on during their college life. He follows up with advisors within the Transitional Studies and WES (Workforce Educational Services) departments to ensure students are engaging with these supports. This is a level of support most college students do not get, but most desperately need. He recognizes that students with the types of barriers we see need a compassionate connection to the college community in order to be successful and he takes explicit and intentional steps in his work to ensure students make these connections.” 

• “In his role as a WorkFirst Program Specialist II and working with our English as a Second Language students who are on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, he was able to find a way to provide them with translated forms that they are required to read and agree to. He has served as a Liaison for the WorkForce Education Office by attending Local Planning Agency meetings as needed. Neil is an amazing representative of any office, unit or committee he is on. He always seeks out the information needed to be present at the meetings he is attending. I honestly believe he is often overlooked for the amazing spokesperson he is, when it comes to making Clark College a better place to work and a true contributor to our community.” 

Thao Schmidt, Human Resource Consultant 2, Human Resources 

Thao Schmidt is described as someone who has won the confidence of her peers and colleagues and the college community in general. She is not only knowledgeable about her area of specialty, but shows deep connection to the work she does every day. 

Thao corresponds with many people on a daily basis and pays careful attention to the details and thoroughness in her work. She is very efficient in executing her responsibilities, including the posting of shared-leave requests, in a timely manner.  

Her nominator said, “Several years ago she took a real interest to help me when I became suddenly ill, and worked with my son to clarify things and take the necessary steps within her purview. I have observed her polite manners and the friendly disposition of treating others too. Moreover, she takes initiatives to inform and remind the college community members about their benefits, deadlines, etc.” 

For the first time, Clark College has won Walktober, a 31-day walking challenge between Clark College, Lower Columbia College, and Washington State University Vancouver.   

Participants used fitness trackers and mobile apps to track steps and entered their daily activity on a Walktober log. The school with the most steps, Clark College, is presented with a trophy (and bragging rights).

The following three
Clark winners will be awarded prizes for taking the most steps:

• 1^st place: Sydney Brahmavar from Environmental Science with 843,756 total logged steps
• 2^nd place: Aaron McPherson from Facilities with 826,264 total logged steps  
• 3^rd place: Travis Kibota from Biology with 720,732 total logged steps

The Departmental Walktober Challenge Winner was Environmental Science, with an average daily total of 27,218 logged steps.

Official Walktober results

• 1^st place: Clark College with an average daily total of 9,694 logged steps (based on 68 participants).
• 2^nd place: Washington State University – Vancouver with an average daily total of 9,399 logged steps (based on 48 participants).
• 3^rd place: Lower Columbia College with an average daily total of 8,391 logged steps(based on 57 participants).

Now What?

• Consider participating in the Free Fall Fitness Fun Run or Walk on Tuesday, November 26 at 1:15 p.m. in front of Cannell Library.
• Keep up with your activity levels by setting Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely (S.M.A.R.T.) goals, scheduling time on your calendar to move, and finding an accountability partner.
• Come to an event. You can find upcoming events by visiting the TLC Event Schedule. Remember, we follow a more holistic model of wellness, so there are various ways to engage throughout the year. Check out the Six Dimensions of Wellness for more information.

Congratulations to Heather Adams, recipient of the 2019 Summer Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Adams is an Administrative Services Manager A for Student Affairs and is described as someone who creates a positive, welcoming atmosphere for students and colleagues to stop by and ask questions, or to wait with before meeting with another Student Affairs staff member. She has strong knowledge of not only the college community, but of the larger Clark County community as well. She readily offers this information to coworkers and students who have questions that reach beyond the Dean of Student Engagement’s office. Adams engages students in a meaningful way even when her interactions with them are brief. She continually provides information to students about how the Dean of Student Engagement, and the Office of Student Affairs, can be of assistance to the student’s individual success.

Below are additional comments about Adams:

• “One of my favorite things is when students take Heather up on her offer to ‘stop by and say hi’ to our office even when they do not have a question or need; it is clear evidence that Heather excels at community-building and cares for Clark.”
• “Heather has provided administrative coordination for my office, as well as for the BITA, Title IX, and Conduct areas. She tracks budgets, makes travel arrangements, facilitates communication via email, phone and in-person with students and community partners, and has coordinated team meetings and special projects on behalf of the Dean.”
• “Heather is continually looking for ways to interact with all levels of the Clark College community. She has become a valuable resource with her creative ideas and solid problem-solving. Heather has taken on the role of co-presenter on various Student Care presentations – specifically within the areas of BITA, Conduct, and Title IX. Heather is regularly scheduled to co-present at the quarterly New Faculty Orientation meetings and other invitations that arise; she is a competent and engaging presenter who can easily take the reins if the other presenter is unavailable.”
• “Heather recently graduated with a master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration. To help Clark College and to utilize her training, she has become an integral member of the Title IX team. Heather serves as investigator for student-related Title IX cases by investigating alleged discrimination and/or harassment. In addition, she interviews complainants, respondents, and material witnesses; and obtains and reviews documents and other relevant materials. This work can be difficult and draining; she handles it professionally and efficiently.”

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the 2019 Summer Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award:

Tavish Bell’s role as a Program Specialist 2 for Student Affairs was primarily to implement and track the programs related to the federal Office on Violence Against Women grant that Clark College received in 2017. (She recently took another position at the college in Workforce Education Services.) Bell has been tirelessly working with federal programmers to bring innovative training, promotion and support programs for prevention of sexual assault to the Clark College campus.

“This work is not easy or comfortable,” wrote one nominator. “Tavish has a grasp on the sensitivity of the work and the support that is needed for the continuation of the grant work here in our community. Tavish is quick to outreach to support services for students in need of that approach, [and] she is willing to connect with other campus departments to provide training and information around sexual assault topics.”

In her short time with Clark, Tavish has integrated the Bystander Intervention program into the Student Leadership Summit; worked with IT and Library to develop three “Defense Against the Dork Arts” workshops to provide tips on cyberstalking/surveillance prevention, digital bystander intervention, and understanding the impact of digital violence on the brain; and led many outreach efforts to students, clubs, Safety and Security, employees, and outside support groups.

Additional comments about Tavish Bell:

• “Tavish goes above and beyond in all aspects of her work. She maintains a presence on campus working with students, departments, and also managing community partners to spread the importance of this work. All of the work Tavish does is directly in place to support our students in prevention and survival of sexual assault, stalking, and dating/domestic violence.”
• “I wish I had this training in high school, the information is so useful and the peer educators showed that there is a way to talk about these things in a way that isn’t uncomfortable.” — a student participant in one of Bell’s workshops
• “After this class I feel like I understand consent much more clearly and also know how to help if I see someone who is uncomfortable/may need help.” – a student participant in one of Bell’s workshops

Layla Otey is a Budget Analyst 4 for Information Technology Services. She is described as someone who always keeps people smiling with her great sense of humor. In addition to spreading joy, Layla has completely revamped the department’s budget tracking and improvement process, using her expertise to help the team understand the budget expenses and better manage the department’s funds. She is creative in identifying numerous opportunities to save resources and has renegotiated contracts with ITS’s major suppliers and develops excellent relationships with key vendors, making connections with sales reps and consultants to ensure that the college is well represented to the outside business community.
Otey also has demonstrated her commitment to customer service as a member of the Tech Fee Committee, constantly advocating for student technology improvements and ensuring that the Tech Fee is spent to maximize the benefit to students. She has reviewed the expenses and the budget thoroughly to ensure that the focus is on student achievement.

Other comments about Otey:

• “In addition to her humor, Layla introduced the ITS Project Management team to the ‘Affirmators’ cards, which encourages each of us to bring our best selves to the job and to constantly ‘use our power for good.’”
• “Whenever I request data, software, or information, Layla always gets back to me promptly and provides me with what I need. Layla is very creative and uses different software tools and methods to get what I and other people are looking for or need help with. With so many requests coming from different directions, she is prompt and professional in all her interactions, going above and beyond to ensure excellent technology service.”
• “One of the best things that Layla has done to demonstrate initiative is to act as a mentor to one of the ASCC Student Government leaders. This relationship has strengthened ties between the department and students and has demonstrated an excellence in collaborative and cooperative work.”
• “Layla has completely revamped the department’s budget tracking and improvement process, using her expertise to help the team understand the budget expenses and better manage the department’s funds.”

Congratulations to Amanda Brown, recipient of the 2019 Spring Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Brown is a Library and Archives Paraprofessional 3 for Cannell Library. During her career at Clark College, she was promoted to a part-time supervisory position and then to her current full-time role. Colleagues say that few people know Clark Libraries operations as well as Brown does. Focused on customer service and students, she is committed to encouraging students whenever possible.

“From hiring to graduation, Amanda is an active participant in our student workers’ success,” wrote a nominator. “She organized our department’s participation in the Winter 2019 student job fair to broaden the applicant pool for the position. She spends weeks collecting nominations for OSWALDs for students because she is committed to encouraging them at every level possible. Amanda also makes sure to promote students to more-advanced jobs when there are openings in our department.”

In addition to being student-focused, Amanda is someone who is seen as a resource in the library. “Many people pass through her office every day to ask her questions, which she patiently and thoughtfully answers,” observed a colleague.

Amanda is also committed to advancing Clark College’s mission and values by serving on various teams and committees such as the User Experience Committee for Clark Libraries, the Clark Art Committee, and the Clark College Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). One person said, “No matter the committee on which she serves, Amanda is quite simply a leader. Our department is lucky to have her, and so is Clark.”

Below are additional comments about Amanda:

• “As an alumna as well as an employee of Clark, Amanda always looks for ways to contribute her time and skills to the community. In addition to her work on the User Experience Committee for Clark Libraries, Amanda also serves on the Clark Art Committee, CERT, and has been working with the administration on a comprehensive Libraries policy review. Her work on CERT especially has made her coworkers feel safer and more prepared to protect ourselves and our patrons in case of an emergency. As an advocate for Clark Libraries in these committees, Amanda makes sure that our department aligns itself with collegewide initiatives.”
• “I also want to highlight how Amanda’s creativity has specifically benefited the library. The Clark Libraries Marketing Committee (on which she served for several quarters) recently designed an extensive set of templates to use for signs that are in line with the Brand Guide. Amanda was one of the lead creators of this project, and we print new signs from her templates almost every week. Additionally, every time I create promotional materials using the templates, I always check in with her because she knows just the expressive pop to make the sign really stand out, such as using the bold rather than standard font.”
• “Amanda actively looks for ways to go above and beyond to serve Clark students. Last week, a student came to the Check Out Desk to check out a course reserve and was clearly upset. Amanda asked them about their day, and they told her that they were checking out the reserve because they had left their backpack on the bus an hour ago. Amanda was able to find the right numbers for them to call and even offered to get in touch with her own contacts at C-TRAN to make sure they were checking in all the right places.”

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the 2019 Spring Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award:

Margaret (Peg) Estes is a Program Specialist 2 in Credential Evaluations. Among her other duties, she does all the diploma printing for Commencement.

Estes is described as someone who is not only good at her job, but is said to go above and beyond every day. One person said, “She not only does her job duties but she takes on new project whenever asked. Peg is amazing about just getting the work done, no excuses. Peg will stay overtime if asked, she has been helping with the build for the new CTC systems. Even when she has a lot on her plate, she still is very helpful with training and positive in giving directions. I really enjoy learning from Peg as a new employee. I think she is an amazing person and I look up to her work ethic!”

Additional comments about Peg:

• “Peg has saved a lot of students from having to take extra classes or having to move their files. She is very in touch with her students and helps them stay on top of graduation requirements. Peg puts the students first even if she has a lot of other projects to work on, she always make sure students question are answered or problem gets taken care of right away.”
• “Peg has great communication skills, she is very interactive with the faculty, staff, students and the public. She has shown me what a positive, hard-working employee looks like and she definitely goes above expectations on all her work.”

Darci Feider is a Program Coordinator for Student Life. She is described as someone who consistently goes above and beyond and is said to be a great team player. One person even said, “Darci is the best team player that I have ever had the joy of working with.”

Feider regularly manages the entire Student Life office on her own during the coffee rush, helps students fill out purchasing paperwork, and even sometimes puts together entire one-time funding request packets together on the student’s behalf when they are unable to do so on their own. Taking a student-centered approach, she is always helping with events, representing Student Life, and is said to be the “backbone” of any successful event that is sponsored by Student Life. It is said that “students (and the Student Leaders) always feel comfortable coming to Darci with questions because she never wavers with her helpful and cheerful nature.”

Additional Comments about Darci:

• “Recently, Darci has taken on the project of planning a new floorplan for Student Life that is more inviting for students, because some students think the front desk and double doors are intimidating. This was a huge undertaking and she wasn’t asked to take it on, but it looks like, thanks to her, we are working on getting a quote to see how much a remodel might cost. Since this is a huge obstacle for Student Life, this project is a game-changer for the office.”
• “If ASCC or APB is shorthanded and she can catch a break from her 1000 other responsibilities, she will be there to lend a hand, especially with preparation and set-up which is the backbone of any successful event. Darci makes every student in the office, in clubs, or visiting Student Life feel welcome, respected, and valued.”
• “Her door is always open so students involved in clubs and programs always have access to her wealth of knowledge. She always helps students navigate through the treacherous sea that is purchasing, travel, and one-time funding request paperwork.”

Karina Gress is an Instruction and Classroom Support Tech 2 for Chemistry who colleagues say is a key contributor to the success of the Chemistry department. One person said, “She strives to ensure that students have the materials they need, that faculty are happy with the set-up, and that errors are corrected quickly.”

Gress’ work has a positive impact not just on her direct department, but on STEM as a whole. A nominator wrote that she “was a key contributor to the design and planning of the STEM Building. Karina learned how to read blue prints and schematic diagrams, and spent hours poring over them, ensuring that our labs and prep spaces had adequate power, storage, and experimentation space. She worked with movers and Facilities to coordinate moving equipment, chemicals, and materials while classes were in session during the summer 2016 term, to ensure that everything was ready for a busy Fall term in the new building.” One person said, “Karina has been an important liaison between the chemistry department and Facilities Services, ensuring that our students are experimenting in a safe and supportive environment.”

Additional comments about Karina:

• “Karina has stepped up again in the spring term, as the other lab technician has left Clark College for other opportunities. Although this time, she was able to transition into the additional workload, Karina is still facing similar challenges as before. As she had some warning, Karina has worked diligently to prepare materials for her main job early, to carve out time for the additional workload. This has benefitted many of our students, as they have been able to work on experiments early, allowing the students to manage their time and workload heading towards some large, culminating projects in their science lecture courses.”
• “During the winter 2019 term, Karina’s increased workload came with an additional challenge – the other technician was set to prepare equipment and materials for the Regional Science Olympiad (RSO). Again, with only few weeks to prepare, while performing regular fulltime duties of her own and of the other lab technician, Karina worked with the RSO coordinators and faculty to prepare chemical materials and equipment for this event, which is attended by middle and high school students across southwest Washington. This event is important to attract the next generation of Penguins to STEM at Clark College!”
• Another faculty member writes: “She is quick to respond to faculty needs when equipment fails, is ready to lend a helping hand, and replaces broken equipment and empty stock bottles when we call. She’s like the Batwoman of the chemistry lab – always there to answer the call.”

Jennifer King is a Program Coordinator in Advising Services. Jennifer is praised for her high commitment to the college, exemplary customer service, and great value to Advising Services. Her contributions to the Clark College community include not just her technical ability, but also her customer service skills and her commitment to making Clark a welcoming environment.

One person said, “Recently we have been tasked with getting Insight, a new scheduling tool, up and running for Advising Services to pilot. This has been a daunting task and Jen has been instrumental in moving us to a place where we can be assured of a smooth roll-out. This took many hours of combing through the program, investigating all the options, syncing issues, and more. Jen developed a detailed training guide for advisors and another for support staff, making it easier to acclimate to this new program.”

Additional comments about Jennifer:

• “Jen has been observed showing empathy for a student that was faced with personal difficulties that affected their education. She was caring and empathetic to the need and, as always, went the extra mile to facilitate a solution. This same attention is given to each student that Jen works with.”
• “Jen is not shy to give feedback or ask questions, both in our office or in meetings. She seeks clarity and understanding. The college benefits from her willingness to do so.”
• “Jen’s previous experience working with Running Start students and parents has been a benefit to Advising since the move of that area to our shared offices. She has a vast knowledge and is very helpful to both parents and front staff who have Running Start questions. Support staff are appreciative of her willingness to assist.”

Congratulations to Sara Seyller, recipient of the 2019 Winter Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Sara Seyller is a Program Specialist 2 for the Office of Instruction and is described as a “super hero” by her colleagues. “It’s very easy to underestimate the centrality of the work that Sara undertakes for Clark,” wrote one nominator. “A huge number of college processes pass under her watchful eyes, and without her sharp proficiencies in technical detail, there would be delays and consequences for the College as a whole. She demonstrates a determination and commitment that often sees her take on additional tasks and oversight to ensure that all the many processes she contributes to run smoothly. Sara’s spirit is indomitable: She always brings humor alongside her professional drive to move things forward, create improvements, and work within very rigid systems to ensure the best outcome for Clark. She goes above and beyond, and makes herself a resource for those who are struggling and without assistance from any other corner.” 

Seyller gets praise for her tireless committee work. One person said, “As the Chair of the A.A. Advisory Committee, I find Sara to be invaluable in creating the connections between the various committees. While each one has a different purpose and focus, they are all entangled. Decisions made in one committee can have positive or negative effects in the next committee. With Sara’s institutional knowledge as well as her expertise in the legalities of our degree programs, she significantly contributes to the discussion and decision-making regarding curriculum choices and design.” 

Completing tasks with a smile on her face, Seyller’s positive attitude is said to allow for better partnerships, which positively impacts student learning. She is also described as someone “reliable, responsible, and accurate in her work,” whose quick response time and problem-solving skills are “invaluable.”  

Seyller’s timeliness, her quality of work, her willingness to help faculty and staff are appreciated. Her positive and helpful guidance is said to create “a peaceful, collaborative work environment, which has made the college a more productive environment, a friendlier place, and more responsive to our students.” Her positive attitude, humor and smile are contagious to all who come through the Office of Instruction. 

Below are additional comments about Sara:  

• “Faculty and staff that take part in College Committee work are well aware of the collaboration, support, and great leadership that Sara brings to the college. Without Sara in her current position, we would have a catastrophic mess of information, and our college processes in regard to curriculum, outcomes, assessment, and instructional planning would certainly not be as organized and effective as they are today.” 

• “She is not afraid to speak up or speak out when students or colleagues need advocacy. She values the hard work of others and in turn works hard to make our campus and our community the best that it can possibly be. She serves on councils and committees and is involved in many different campus initiatives that ask her to give freely of herself and of her time; she does so without asking anything in return except that we do our best to help her carry out the work that she has taken on and truly believes in.” 

• “Sara goes well above and beyond her job description in offering training and resources to all members of campus, particularly faculty, so that they can successfully navigate the college’s systems. She spends an incredible amount of time personally responding to emails, phone calls, and scheduled and impromptu office visits with people who need help and have questions. She never turns people away if they have questions. She does this not only to make sure that people are informed, but also because she has great empathy for the workload and challenges that her coworkers face.” 
   

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the winter 2019 Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award: 

• Shannon Alicea, Program Support Supervisor 2 Disability Support Services
• Lizette Drennan, Program Specialist 2 for the Office of Financial Aid
• Amy Harrington, Human Resource Consult 2 for Human Resources
• Jonni Hattershide, Program Support Supervisor 2 for Production Printing
• Vanessa Meyer, Administrative Assistant 3 for Social Sciences & Fine Arts
• Kate Poffenroth, Program Coordinator for Disability Support Services
• Leslie Richards, Cashier 4 for the Bookstore
• Thao Schmidt, Human Resource Consult 2 for Human Resources
• Joanne Vaughn, Program Specialist 2 for Financial Aid 

Shannon Alicea, Program Support Supervisor 2 Disability Support Services  

Shannon Alicea is described as someone who provides a consistently high level of service to the students, public, the community, and coworkers on a regular basis; demonstrates excellence in all areas of her position; and exudes excellent performance of her duties by going above and beyond. One way Alicea shows exemplary work performance is by collaborating with different departments to ensure all public events have sign language interpreters, whether or not there has been an official request from a Deaf consumer. Alicea also works diligently with faculty to ensure videos and content shown in classes are close-captioned; in doing so, she has become a college resource for accessibility and universal design. In her role, Alicea not only provides accommodations for our Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, she provides an outlet for students to have a place to express their concerns, challenges, and situations with classes, campus life, and personal affairs. She advocates and empowers students to utilize all resources and connects them to departments around the college. Shannon’s work is not only limited to the office of Disability Support Services. She actively contributes to special projects, efficiency measures, and serves in leadership roles for the betterment of the college community. 

Additional comments about Shannon: 

• “Shannon … works closely with students, facility, and interpreters on a daily basis to ensure access and communication in a way that empowers all parties. A vast amount of college community members look to Shannon for her expertise to navigate situations that might otherwise present barriers to communication and access. Shannon demonstrates this with our students by collaborating on solutions and ideas to problems they may face.” 

• “She works with her fellow interpreter colleagues attentively and diligently to provide feedback and support in interpreting and professional situations, and because of this many interpreters strive to work at Clark College.” 

• “Shannon strives to fill all interpreting requests, but there are times when interpreters are not able to take these last-minute assignments; in these instances, Shannon takes it upon herself to rearrange her schedule and fill those assignments to ensure equitable access.”  

Lizette Drennan, Program Specialist 2 for the Office of Financial Aid 

Lizette Drennan is described as “extremely detail-orientated, maintaining excellence in her work consistently, and someone who goes above and beyond while working with students to make sure they are on the right track.” With her constant patience, Drennan takes the time to listen to students so she can do the best to serve them. Within her work, Drennan often provides scholarship presentations to the public and community, and is said to make an impact wherever she goes. She goes to scholarship information conferences so she can learn about recent scholarships and teaches her assistants of new offerings to share with students. She works closely with the Clark College Foundation to better serve the students and her colleagues. One person said, “Her work is inspiring, and she has been a great role model as a co-worker.”  

A leader in the LatinX community, Drennan provides a “one-stop” experience to students, showing them a high level of service. One person said, “Any student that comes into the office, she always treats them with a genuine smile and respect.”  

If Drennan cannot assist someone directly with scholarships, she will find a way to find other alternatives, which means she is also contacting different departments that can support the student’s requests and needs. This requires creativity and efficiency, as every student is different. Once she’s able to understand a student’s situation or story clearly, Drennan is described as someone who does her absolute best to find a solution or suitable route that she knows will benefit the student overall. 

Additional Comments about Lizette:  

• “Students love working with Lizette. They constantly come to her for help with more than just scholarships.”  
• “She is a well-rounded individual who is very humble, respectful, and always optimistic. She communicates strongly with others by being attentive to their tone of voice, body language, and open ears to everyone.” 
• “Lizette is a hard worker who is skilled in her position and performs excellently and independently.” 
• “She shows team cooperation by helping her assistant and student workers with things we need help with.” 
• “She is full of energy and that brings out the positive environment she portrays every day. Lizette. She constantly checks up on current and graduated students and keep them motivated and going.” 

Amy Harrington, Human Resource Consultant 2 for Human Resources 

Amy Harrington is described as someone who demonstrates and consistently provides high level service to the students, the public, the community, and co-workers. Beginning with a front-desk position, she was promoted a few months ago and has been training in her new job as an HR Consultant 2. Although her new position does not require her to assist customers who walk into HR, she is always one of the first to provide help when the front desk is short-staffed.   

Additional comments about Amy Harrington: 

• “Amy has the ability to anticipate the needs of her customers and she is an active listener, knowledgeable of available resources, communicates in a kind and confident manner, and follows up in a timely manner.”
• She is “always willing to help and even if the HR office is busy, Amy always maintains a great level of customer service.”   
• “Amy is dependable and committed to collaborate to achieve our goals. She is an asset for the HR team.”  

Jonni Hattershide, Program Support Supervisor 2 for Production Printing 

Jonni Hattershide is described as someone who exemplifies the same level of dedication day after day. One person said, “She knows what it means to care about her job and care about people.” Hattershide is friendly and knowledgeable and is quick to get a print job delivered in a timely fashion. One person said, “There were times I sent a print job in ‘last minute’ asking if a ‘rush’ could be put on the job, and within a couple of hours my print job was finished. Jonni is a hard worker and she is dedicated to what she does at Clark College.”  

Additional comments about Jonni Hattershide:

• “Jonni has great customer-service skills. She is dedicated to helping employees in an efficient and friendly manner. She goes above and beyond to do her job and she does it well by building and maintaining good relationships with Clark employees.”
• “Jonni has taken on the role of managing the everyday processes of Production Printing. She was involved in the process of moving away from a paper receipt (which required someone to sort and mail out a copy to the departments) to an online copy.”
• “Often, you will see Jonni driving the golf cart around campus as she delivers bundles of completed print jobs (which are nicely wrapped in brown paper to protect them). Whatever task Jonni takes on, she always maintains a positive attitude.”
• When Administrative Services has a potluck, Jonni is always ready and willing to help by making decorations for the tables, printed “ice breaker” games, or pictures to hang on the walls, making the area very festive.

Vanessa Meyer, Administrative Assistant 3 for Social Sciences & Fine Arts 

As the primary support for all of the Social and Behavioral Science Departments as well as the Clark College Honors program, Vanessa Meyer is described as someone who always go above and beyond to service students, faculty and administrators in a collegial fashion. One person said, “A student asked for directions to a classroom and instead of just pointing in a direction, Vanessa walked that student to her destination.” Another wrote, “I have witnessed how she staffs the front the desk in Foster Hall engaging students who arrive in a number of emotional states. I have seen her listen to students before responding; calm an agitated, stressed-out student trying to submit a paper to an instructor he could not find; and promptly fix the copier for a faculty member on his way to giving an exam.” Another person said, “As one of her department and division chairs, I can attest to her important role as the Social Science Administrative Assistant.” 

Meyer is also said to be a reliable source of institutional knowledge and thinks creatively to address the needs of students: “Vanessa is absolutely reliable at serving anyone who asks. She goes beyond crossing all the t’s and dotting all the i’s if asked to assist in any task. There has never been a time that I asked for guidance, assistance, or explanation that Vanessa has let me down. She simply sees the people on the other side of her desk as her colleagues worth her time and respect, or students deserving of her service. This is a rare quality in a person.”  

Additional comments about Vanessa: 

• “Vanessa has been quick to dive into the work and expectations of her new role as an Administrative Assistant 3 (AA3). Vanessa has worked closely with the Bachelors of Applied Science in Human Services (BASHS) Faculty Program Director to build the foundation for this budding program. Before student enrollment began, Vanessa organized a BASHS information session to market the program to students and faculty.” 
• “Vanessa is quick and responsive to the needs of BASHS faculty, students, and the program as a whole. She has worked hard to ensure consistent division, program, and unit-wide operations.” 
• “Vanessa demonstrates her commitment to the college community in a number of ways. She is always looking for ways to do things better and more efficiently. In addition to her regular duties, Vanessa serves on the Safety Committee, where she represents Foster Hall. She volunteered to take on this role when no one else was willing because she recognizes the importance of maintaining a safe campus. Furthermore she regularly volunteers to perform building inspections for the Safety Committee.”  
• “Vanessa knows a lot about this college, and can answer virtually any question from multiple perspectives (besides her long employment here, she was also a student at Clark). I know this is hard to quantify, but I cannot downplay the importance of knowing that someone has your back. Vanessa is simply good for morale, productivity, and instruction and student service. I wish we could clone her.” 

Kate Poffenroth, Program Coordinator for Disability Support Services  

Kate is described as someone who “stands out in terms of her superb reliability and efficiency.” Kate’s devotion to her work allows accommodations to be coordinated in a timely, flawless manner, and her commitment is apparent in the way that she creatively addresses issues. One person said, “I cannot think of a way that a staff member could provide better customer service than Kate does. Each and every day, Kate arrives at the office with energy, enthusiasm, and a great sense of humor that she shares with every person that she sees that day. Our department handles sensitive and difficult issues as students walk into our office for accommodations related to a myriad of disabilities. Kate handles every student situation with tact, professionalism, and sensitivity.”

Another comment shared  is that “Kate is also extraordinary in terms of her ability to multi-task. Within a five-minute span of time, Kate will help a student at the front desk, answer two phone calls, and assist staff in relation to an office matter. Kate is rarely able to complete one task without being interrupted at least several times, and yet she never misses a beat it seems. When Kate is out for lunch or on break, the rest of the office staff covers for her position. It is not uncommon for us all to remark that it easily takes two-plus staff for us to cover the tasks that she singlehandedly addresses every day!” 

Additional comments about Kate: 

• “Kate’s positive and sunny demeanor not only impacts our students, but the department as a whole. Her boisterous laugh is infectious, and Kate always creates a warm environment that builds collegial cohesion and teamwork.” 
• “Kate tracks hundreds of details that require high-level processing. This kind of tracking is only possible by a staff who really takes to heart the saying that the ‘devil is in the details.’ For example, some students connected to our office are eligible for an accommodation of priority registration (PR). In order to properly track the use of this accommodation, Kate must use multiple software interfaces that function independently from one another. Just one overlooked detail can have very significant consequences for a student with this accommodation.” 
• “Kate is concise and user-friendly in how she instructs people. Kate herself has been a quick, sharp learner, as she easily adopts new software processes and encourages others to make necessary changes.” 
• “During weekly staff meetings, Kate is always an active contributor to group discussions on issues which affect student engagement. She repeatedly demonstrates in depth knowledge of the issues impacting delivery of services to students with disabilities. The solutions that she formulates are grounded in principles such as student-centered principles and improving efficiencies.”  
• “The department literally would not run without Kate’s help. She is central to every single function of the department. She works collaboratively and respectfully with each staff in the office, and takes the time to understand the nuances of every staff’s particular work assignments. Kate’s strong work effort is deeply appreciated, and everyone on the team displays a high level of respect for her.”  

Leslie Richards, Cashier 4 for the Bookstore 

Leslie Richards has worked for the Bookstore since September 2008 and is described as someone who excels in interpersonal skills. One person said that Richards “is friendly with everyone she interacts with, from customers to co-workers, and greets each person with a smile.” Richards is said to be a born leader who cares deeply for her team and helps them grow while they work at Clark. She is said to keep her team motivated and excited about their job by playing customer-service Bingo games. It is said that “Leslie is a leader who leads by example, and her team mirrors this quality. She can multi-task like no one else. Just the other day, she was repairing the register, answering a student’s question and assisting a cashier—all while smiling. You never see Leslie not smiling. She is amazing with people.”

Additional comments about Leslie:

• “Her outgoing, positive personality and caring attitude make us love working with her. She builds strong relationships with her team and approaches all customers with a smile and positive attitude. I am thankful that I get to work with this amazing, hardworking team managed by Leslie.”  

• “Leslie has also served on hiring committees since she has so much experience in hiring and training staff. Her knowledge and experience are invaluable.” 

Thao Schmidt, Human Resource Consultant 2 for Human Resources 

Thao Schmidt is described as someone who provides a high level of service to the students, staff and supervisors, the community, and co-workers. Throughout her employment with Clark College, Schmidt has built and continues to build relationships, and she demonstrates excellent customer service in her interactions with students, staff and supervisors. She has taken it upon herself to learn the basic front-desk procedures and is often one of the first ones to offer help and to cover breaks and lunches when the front desk is short-staffed. One person said that Schmidt is “dependable and adapts to challenges while maintaining a positive outlook and great customer service.”

Additional comments about Thao: 

• “In my observation, Thao has an ability to listen to her customers and offer solutions. She is knowledgeable of internal and external resources that can help an employee and communicates in a professional and kind manner.”   
• “Thao is professional and always willing to help.”  

 Joanne Vaughn, Program Specialist 2 for Financial Aid 

Financial aid is not easy to navigate, and one of Joanne Vaughn’s best qualities is her ability to teach others by breaking down complex rules and processes into more simple and easy-to-follow steps. She is described as someone who “understands differences in learning and communication styles and tailors her own training methods to ensure comprehension. By doing so, she not only helps others learn – she helps them build confidence.”  

Vaughn reviews financial aid applications to award funds, helps balance student accounts, and ensures the college is in compliance for the Pell Grant program. This includes verifying the right amount of funding is going to eligible students, submitting weekly reports to the Department of Education to authorize Pell Grant payments, and helping students resolve eligibility issues. Vaughn is a Pell Grant expert who keeps a complex program operating smoothly.  

Vaughn is also said to demonstrate “genuine care and respect for her colleagues and students and is known to always support her teammates through helping with projects and lending a listening ear when someone is having a rough day.” 

Additional comments about Joanne Vaughn: 

• “Joanne’s kindness, patience and expertise makes a difference in even the most difficult situations.”   
• “Although much of her work is technical in nature, Joanne has never lost sight of the impact her work has on students. Joanne has been instrumental in driving changes that have reduced the length of time it takes for students to receive their financial aid awards, and she continues to analyze processes and make recommendations for continuous improvements – all with the student experience at the forefront.”  

Congratulations to Ian Beckett, recipient of the 2018 Fall Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Ian Beckett is the Instruction and Classroom Support Tech 4 for the Art Department and has shown exemplary work performance and outstanding service to the college community for over 17 years. As a highly skilled professional, Ian is responsible for the daily operations of the Clark College ceramics studio, dark room, painting and drawing studios, graphic arts lab, and metal arts studio. Ian has a great breadth of specialized and technical knowledge and is said to effectively navigate the labs and studios to ensure they are always clean and operational for an optimal student learning environment. Ian is said to be someone who “always considers the needs of art students and the art department above all” and is always “polite, professional, and respectful to all everyone that he works with.” In addition, Ian is described as “loyal, hard-working, consistent, of high integrity, and witty.”

These are just some of the comments and highlights that are echoed by many staff, faculty and colleagues:

• “Ian’s efforts and dedication to his job and the school make him more deserving for the Staff Excellence Award than anyone. I have always wanted to show my appreciation for Ian’s work and this is just a humble attempt at that. His spirit of work and exemplary performance makes him a role model for me and, I find it safe to assume, numerous other students. I really hope that Ian Beckett gets the appreciation and recognition he deserves.”
• “Ian goes above and beyond the requirements of his job when helping students.  He is the source for all camera and equipment check-out in the Art Department.  I’ve seen him modify his schedule to accommodate students and give one-on-one tutorials on how to use equipment.”
• “Ian serves the students daily. They clamor around his office door, waiting for him to dispense photography equipment, and I often hear him talking at length to students about their projects. He is so busy that sometimes they have to wander around the building looking for him, as he might be replenishing supplies or checking equipment for the studio classrooms, but he is always accessible, never loses patience with students, and is always welcoming.”
• “I’m overwhelmingly nominating Ian Beckett for the Classified Staff Excellence Award! He has always been a fabulous help on short notice anytime and all the time for all my needs! And helpful in any assistance I may need. Ian really reaches out to all students in all their needs and questions for assistance and guidance. I can go on and on!”
• “When onboarding new hires and volunteers, Ian has a strong focus on preparing them to support the success of the art department and art students. Ian encourages student employees to seek guidance in their work from the art faculty that they are supporting in the art lab and studio spaces to help to maximize the experience of the art students.”
• “I have been a metal shop monitor for the last year and a half. Ian Beckett is the most supportive and caring boss I have ever worked for. He checks in with me every shift to see if I need anything and to just ask how I am doing. I help him with the overwhelming task of cleaning the classrooms at the end of each quarter and he is constantly thanking me for my help. He is the type of boss that employees will go above and beyond to help support him in any way possible. He is completely dedicated to support staff and students while never showing the fatigue he must have from the massive responsibilities he deals with every day. I am so grateful he saw in me the potential to work for him and this department and will always call him a friend.”
• “We are one of the last departments on campus that uses volunteers to assist students and to staff the various labs in the building. Not only does Ian create a master schedule that staffs our labs fully with both employees and volunteers (some seven days a week), but he is always there to help with any questions, conflicts, and concerns whether school related or not. I’ve heard him talk down crying students dealing with failing classes, going through breakups, and any variety of things that happen to students while in college. The bond he builds with his workers is lasting and many see him as a very supportive mentor. There is no way we could staff the building as we need to without the strong relationships that Ian builds with the people in our community.”

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the Fall 2018 Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award:

• Angela Dawson, Secretary Senior
• Denise Deane, Custodial Supervisor (now retired)
• Nichola Farron, Program Specialist II
• Kate Ireland, Administrative Service Manager B
• Kate Poffenroth, Program Coordinator
• Leslie Richards, Cashier Supervisor
• Tiffani Young, Lab Tech 2

Angela Dawson is a Secretary Senior in the Life Sciences Division for Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) department and is described as someone who approaches work with positive attitude and provides is a pillar of support for her department. One nominator said, “During the first few days of each quarter, you can see her standing in the lobby of STEM building to help students find their classroom and answer typical early-quarter student questions.” Not only does she provide top-notch service to students, but also to fellow faculty and staff. Often, Dawson is the point of contact for many questions and concerns had by adjunct faculty teaching in her division. Dawson’s ability to be a team player, problem-solve, and maintain positive working relationships have allowed her to build strong relationships across campus.

Here are comments about Angela Dawson:

• “Angela is an awesome team player and we are so fortunate to have her on our STEM Team. She is always willing to volunteer to help with projects that need to be completed in a timely manner. I have observed her faculty asking her for various information and she responds to them in such a helpful, positive manner. I can’t stress enough what a joy she is to work with and she makes it such a pleasure to come to come to work and know that I can count on her if I need any assistance with whatever may arise.”
• “Angela is the smiling face that everyone sees when they come into the STEM building needing assistance. She makes sure that she answers any questions asked of her thoroughly. If someone needs direction and they are not sure where to go, she will walk them to the indicated area, so they feel comfortable that they are headed in the right direction. She is always excited the first couple of weeks of the quarter because she really enjoys helping the students find their way as they are experiencing possibly coming to Clark for the first time.”
• “Angela Dawson has been the Secretary Senior for Life Science for only two years, however she is a pillar of support for the department. She has quickly and efficiently learned the policies and procedures to navigate the entire college including working with grants, budgets and purchasing. She keeps track of not only the departmental budget, but also the budgets for each individual faculty member, reminding us to use our development funds and ensuring we meet deadlines to do so. Her professional manner makes it clear that she is invested in the success of our department, our students and our faculty. She’s in integral part of the community in the STEM building.”
• “Angela has been working for the Life Sciences Division for a few years now, and from the beginning has made life incredibly easy for students, faculty and other staff. There seems to be nothing she can’t handle, whether it’s helping students find their class, helping with faculty development funds, petty cash, a lost wallet found in the parking lot, a classroom that’s running too warm, needing a bookshelf, or finding information about Clark regulations (all of these have come up just this Fall quarter!). Angela either knows the answer or can find the answer (usually in a few minutes). Moreover, she always has such a positive attitude, and is genuinely happy to help.”

Denise Deane was the Custodial Supervisor for Facilities and as of November 2018, is now retired. Deane is described as someone who provides excellent customer service to people using the college campus for events. Though much of her work is behind the scenes, her passion for our custodial team to perform and provide clean facilities provides daily customer service to the entire campus. She works closely with groups and supports many of the activities on our campus. She encourages teamwork and cooperation for the custodial department.

Other comments about Denise Deane:

• “Denise has been involved in many departmental projects. She recently completed training manuals and worksite books to help the custodial staff in their organization and efficiency.”
• “She will reach out to other departments to help coordinate events, special cleaning, and to ensure that we are providing a good service to the school.”
• “Denise has shown excellence consistently in her duties as the Custodial Supervisor. Recently she has seen a need, leapt into action, and started several projects to help the custodial team. This was all done behind the scenes to help ensure that others have the information that is needed to thrive in doing their work.”
• “She has been carrying an extra-heavy workload, being the only permanent custodial supervisor for the last year. Denise takes great pride in her work and excels in any tasks that are delegated to her. She ensures that events are set up as the groups outline and she will reach out to the events staff if there is something that she needs defined.”

 

Nichola Farron is the Program Specialist II for the Teaching and Learning Center and is said to exemplify the definition of being creative and efficient in accomplishing tasks while providing outstanding support to faculty and staff. Farron currently serves on two committees, Teaching and Learning Days and Focus on Learning, and is often quick to help and support her team and colleagues. She is also someone who brings forward ideas and explores possibilities outside of the typical way of approaching and task or project. Through her work, Farron can see the big picture and is always interested in ways to support the mission and vision of the college and her commitment shows through her involvement in our campus community.

Other comments about Nichola Farron:

• “Nichola provides outstanding support to faculty and staff. Following a recent professional development event, a faculty member approached me to say how much he appreciated Nichola’s support throughout their first quarter. The faculty member commented how quickly Nichola answered his emails, provided referrals, and connected him with other campus resources. Our colleague emphasized that whenever he had a question, he contacted Nichola because he trusted that she would respond with accurate information or would research his request until she had an answer for him. Her prompt response, friendly demeanor, and no non-sense attitude, he states, are the reasons that let him know he had made the right choice to join the Clark College team.”
• “In collegewide committees, colleagues praise Nichola for her insight and collaborative nature; they emphasize her willingness to support the college and its mission.”
• “She is quick to identify gaps in service and create a plan to address said gaps. For example, in preparation for her first Focus on Learning, Nichola asked about what tasks needed to be completed and why. She took the time to learn processes and procedures for the office. Once she understood processes, she recommended a procedure to reduce staff time and resources.”

Kate Ireland is the Administrative Service Manager B for the Social Sciences & Fine Arts (SOFA Unit) and is known for her positive and welcoming attitude. Regardless of what she has on her plate, Ireland is always willing to listen, lend a helping hand, and engage in her own professional development. Ireland is also someone who goes above and beyond for students, staff and faculty and ensures that our students are learning effectively and supported at Clark.

Other comments about Kate Ireland:

• “She is ALWAYS so supportive for students and faculty members and she always tries to find a solution to any tasks that seem impossible to complete.”
• “She responds to all emails so quickly and completes tasks in timely manner. Personally, I could not do a research project at Clark with her support and having someone like Kate whom I trust fully makes our job so much easier. Thanks to her help, I have more time to focus on my own students (instead of working on paper works and communicating with other offices) and do my job effectively.”
• “Kate clearly demonstrated that she has a strong desire to support students at Clark (by attending many workshops to learn about how we can support students) and help staff members effectively (e.g., supporting projects that are not responsible to do so.”

Kate Poffenroth is the Program Coordinator for Disability Support Services (DSS) and her nominator describes her as an “excellent, long-term employee who stands out in terms of her superb reliability and efficiency.” She is also said to be someone who shows a tremendous amount of commitment to creatively addressing issues. Arriving to the office every day with a high level of enthusiasm, energy, and a great sense of humor, Poffenroth creates a “creates a warm environment that builds collegial cohesion and teamwork.”

Other comments about Kate Poffenroth:

• “Kate is always an active contributor to group discussions on issues which affect student engagement. She repeatedly demonstrates in depth knowledge of the issues impacting delivery of services to students with disabilities. The solutions that she formulates are grounded in principles such as student-centered principles and improving efficiencies.”
• “Kate always communicates in a manner that allows the student’s needs to be met, while also keeping in mind the available resources of the college. She neither overpromises nor under delivers when working with students in crisis or distress, which is a critical skill in maintaining the integrity of our dept.”
• “Kate handles every student situation with tact, professionalism, and sensitivity. Even during escalated or tense moments, Kate remains calm and lets students know that their concerns are being heard by a staff who cares for and respects them.”

Leslie Richards is the Cashier Supervisor at the Bookstore and is described as “amazing.” Keeping a calm demeanor as issues arise, she can present a smile even during difficult interactions with customers. Richards is also described as an excellent communicator and cares deeply for her team as she works to accommodate their schedules along with staffing needs at the store. Interacting with the college community daily, Richards is an essential part of the team that keeps the bookstore running and shelves stocked, as well as the ordering and distribution of all the caps and gowns for graduates.

Other comments about Leslie Richards:

• “Leslie Richards has worked for the Bookstore since September 2008. She started her position as a cashier, became our night supervisor and is currently working as our cashier supervisor. Leslie is amazing! She approaches every task with a smile and friendly/positive attitude.”
• “Leslie leads by example. If someone calls in sick, she is out on the front lines. No task is ever too much.”
• “She definitely leads by example with a great, positive attitude and ‘we can do it’ attitude. She never shows stress even though this job can be quite stressful. She always smiles and handles whatever is tossed at her.”

Tiffani Young is a Lab Tech 2 in the Chemistry department and is described as someone who is “organized, thorough, and innovative in how she approaches her duties.” Constantly examining student lab procedures, reorganizing student labs, and establishing a new code of ethic for how labs are prepared for students, Young exemplifies the role of leader among the lab support technicians at the college. Her work both inside and outside of the lab is a testament of how actively she works to foster a climate at the college that models all aspects of its stated mission.

Other comments about Tiffani Young:

• “Tiffani has worked over the years to ask what needs colleagues in Geology or Environmental Science might have that she could support. This has brought many areas together into a shared space, fostering cross-discipline conversations and collaboration. This not only impacts direct instruction, but also community-basedevents like Science Olympiad, which Tiffani works to support as part of her other duties.”
• “Tiffani is always professional, polite, respectful, and inclusive with everyone she encounters. It is clear Tiffani understands that all employees represent Clark College in their capacity at work, and that each of us has a direct impact on students and the climate we work in.”
• “Tiffani’s work area is exceptionally well organized and clean – something Tiffani took on immediately with her position. Her workspace is built around efficiency and safety. Having worked in that area in the past, the change is both dramatic and is a model for the campus.”
• “Her attention to detail and knowledge of chemical handling and packaging gave all labs she prepared a very professional appearance, each optimized around student use. For example, reagents for a lab experiment that once were just set out on a bench are now put together in well labeled kits. This ensures students have the materials they need and allows a greater focus on the procedural work vs. having the right chemicals or equipment. All chemical storage and waste bottles receive fresh labels each term, with the correct information displayed in compliance with state and local regulations. All student areas are well kept, tidied, and cleaned several times during the day.”

 

 

Congratulations to Sherry Smith, recipient of the 2018 Summer Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Sherry Smith is the Administrative Services Manager B for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) department. Smith shows exemplary work performance in many ways and is said to be the “go to” person in STEM for mostly everything. Smith has strong ethics, is extremely well-respected for her diligence and hard work, maintains good working relationships with people around the Clark campus, and often goes above the call of duty. Over the years, Smith has been both a supervisor and a colleague; and those she has worked with have observed her professionalism/integrity. She is resourceful and her high quality work performance at the college is outstanding and is creative with finding ways to solve problems and presents workable solutions for her staff and department. She wants people to be successful and can simplify tasks so that they happen accurately and timely.

These are just some of the comments and highlights that are echoed by many staff, faculty and colleagues:

“She has handled her position with impeccable skill, resourceful determination, and intuitive propriety. In making decisions, she often gets a consensus of perspectives from several individuals, or group discussion participants, who have knowledgeable understanding of the topic at hand. Organization and planning are two subjects she has fine-tooled to achieve her objectives. In her daily operations and conversations, she sets a calm, cool-tone persona, when engaged with concise dialogue for key issues needing acceptable conclusions by all in a timely manner.”

“Sherry exemplifies leadership, initiative, cooperative spirit and positive energy. She is able to share her perspective with others respectfully. She excels in a team environment in ways that make everyone feel respected and heard. She extends an understanding to students with whatever situation or question they may have, and puts them at ease so that progress can happen.”

“Sherry is the pillar that supports the whole STEM Unit. She is always happy to assist students, faculty, and staff. When her staff have questions or concerns, Sherry is quick to respond and offer solutions. When students or faculty are directed to Sherry, they are in good hands and Sherry will do everything in her power to help them.”

“Sherry is a real asset to the college and the unit. She is always positive and a pleasure to work with. Her extensive knowledge of Clark College has been critical to the staff and faculty’s ability to do their jobs.”

“Sherry’s exemplary work ethic is also evident through her continued commitment to supporting students. While fostering a welcoming atmosphere, she shows a genuine interest and ability in helping them with a multitude of issues. As a result, they are compelled to reach out to her. It is not out of the ordinary for Sherry to step out of the office for one purpose then return with an additional one; many times returning with students that needed assistance in tow. It seems that when students cross her path with an issue, she makes the time to ensure their needs are met rather than delegate the task to her staff, even though her schedule is always seemingly very hectic. Sherry understands that students are a very important element of her job, and she really does care about them. She is very aware that they are a critical component to the success of Clark College and the community.”

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the Summer 2018 Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award:

• Heather Adams, Administrative Services Manager A
• Ian Beckett, Instruction and Classroom Support Tech 4
• Chris Chaffin, Interim Program Manager A
• Denise Deane, Custodial Supervisor

Heather Adams is the Administrative Assistant 4 to the Dean of Student Engagement for Student Affairs. In that role, she has provided administrative coordination the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, as well as for the BITA, Title IX and conduct areas. She tracks budgets, makes travel arrangements, facilitates communication via email, phone and in-person with students and community partners, and has coordinated team meetings and special projects on behalf of the Dean. Adams is described as a high-performing, detail-oriented, global-thinking, and emotionally intelligent professional.

Other comments about Heather Adams:

• “Heather creates a positive, welcoming atmosphere for students and colleagues to stop by and ask questions, or to wait to meet with me regarding conduct issues. She has strong knowledge of not only the college community, but the larger Clark County community. She readily offers this information to coworkers and students who have questions that reach beyond the Dean of Student Engagement’s office. Heather engages students in a meaningful way even when her interactions with them, or theirs with our office, is brief. She continually provides information to students about how the Dean of Student Engagement, and Student Affairs, can be of assistance to the student’s individual success. One of my favorite things is when these students take Heather up on her offer to ‘stop by and say hi’ to our office even when they do not have a question or need; it is clear evidence that Heather excels at community-building and cares for Clark.”
• “Heather is continually looking for ways to interact with all levels of the Clark College community. She has become a valuable resource with her creative ideas and solid problem solving. Heather has taken on the role of co-presenter on various Student Care presentations – specifically within the areas of BITA, Conduct, and Title IX. Heather is regularly scheduled to co-present at the quarterly New Faculty Orientation meetings and other invitations that arise; she is a competent and engaging presenter who can easily take the reins if the other presenter is unavailable.”
• “Heather serves as investigator for student related Title IX cases by investigating alleged discrimination and/or harassment. In addition, she interviews complainants, respondents, and material witnesses; and obtains and review documents and other relevant materials from complainant and/or respondent. This work can be difficult and draining; she handles it professionally and efficiently.”

Ian Beckett is an Instruction and Classroom Support Tech 4 for the Art department and has provided outstanding service to the college community for over 17 years. Ian is described as a highly skilled professional, knowledgeable, polite, and respectful to all everyone that he works with who provides unparalleled customer service to the Clark College art community.

Other comments about Ian Beckett:

• “He has always been a fabulous help on short notice anytime and all the time for all my needs! Ian really reaches out to all students in all their needs and questions for assistance and guidance.”
• “Not only does Ian create a master schedule that staffs our labs fully with both employees and volunteers, but he is always there to help with any questions, conflicts, and concerns—whether school-related or not. I’ve heard him talk down crying students dealing with failing classes, going through breakups, and any variety of things that happen to students while in college. The bond he builds with his workers is lasting and many see him as a very supportive mentor. There is no way we could staff the building as we need to without the strong relationships that Ian builds with the people in our community.”
• “Ian is loyal, hard-working, consistent, of high integrity, and witty! We are so lucky to have him on our team.”
• “Ian is also innovative in resolving issues. An example is a need that came up in the ceramics lab. He worked with my theatre shop crew to design and build tables and shelving to resolve the issue in a cost effective way. I also view Ian as a resource for anything that might come up in the building that needs attention. He’s my ‘go-to’ guy.”
• “[As a photography student] my first interaction with Ian was when I wanted to borrow a camera from Clark and emailed Ian for that. I was amazed by how willing he was to reply to my questions and help me through the process. Also after handing me the camera he said: ‘Now you go and make some art!’ I don’t think any other staff member motivates a student as much as he did on the very first meeting.”

Chris Chaffin is the Interim Program Manager A for Tutoring Services and is described as someone who shows passion and excellence in everything he does. He is highly active in many aspects of college life, dedicated to social equity on this campus, and an advocate for all employees and students who seek his council. He always makes time to make everyone feel heard and valued. Communication, both written and verbal, are perhaps Chris’ greatest talent and is thoughtful and articulate in his interactions. Chris is (perhaps unknown to himself) a self-appointed ambassador of the campus community. He makes a point to meet everyone, file away names and important facts, and maintain positive relations amongst the faculty, staff, students, and public. He is always positive and welcoming to those entering tutoring spaces and regularly cannot trek from one space on campus to another without multiple interruptions from others seeking his council or simply wishing to touch base.

Other comments about Chris Chaffin:

• “Chris has a strong work ethic. He is very organized and likes things to be done correctly, the first time. He is not shy about asking questions for clarification or to provoke thought. One of his greatest skills is the ability to critically think and challenge others to do so as well. I have observed him doing this in a variety of settings, with students, faculty and staff. He serves on various committees and initiatives here at Clark. He is committed to a wide range of social justice issues and acts in a manner that so many find approachable and supportive. He believes in equity for all while at the same time insisting on personal responsibility and accountability. He is the very first one to lend a helping hand, only after the individual has given it an honest effort to begin with.”
• “I am very active in asking questions and sharing ideas/suggestions/concerns. Chris has always been gracious, accepting, and liberally gives me his attention and consideration. I feel safe and confident reaching out to him about anything on my mind.”
• “Chris takes the time to talk with others on campus, gets to know them, finds out what they contribute to the campus community and leaves with better information to refer other students/employees to them or to a particular department.”
• “Chris always makes sure employees are up-to-date on changes, and is always asking for feedback on how we feel, and if there is anything he needs to work on. He is constantly checking up on his employees and gives us confidence. Chris is always caring and understanding towards all of his co-workers and employees.”

Denise Deane is the Custodial Supervisor in Facilities-Custodial and is described as someone who provides excellent customer service to people using the college campus for events. Though much of her work is behind the scenes, her passion for our custodial team to perform and provide clean facilities provides daily customer service to the entire campus. She works closely with groups and supports many of the activities on our campus. She encourages teamwork and cooperation for the custodial department.

Other comments about Denise Dean:

• “Denise has been involved in many departmental projects. She recently completed training manuals and worksite books to help the custodial staff in their organization and efficiency.”
• “She will reach out to other departments to help coordinate events, special cleaning, and to ensure that we are providing a good service to the school.”
• “Denise has shown excellence consistently in her duties as the Custodial Lead Person. Recently she has seen a need, leapt into action, and started several projects to help the custodial team. This was all done behind the scenes to help ensure that others have the information that is needed to thrive in doing their work.”
• “Last winter, when the campus was hit with graffiti, Denise was here on a weekend in the cold rain helping make sure the campus was cleaned up and ready and looking good for Monday morning.”
• “She has been carrying an extra-heavy workload, being the only permanent custodial supervisor for the last year. Denise takes great pride in her work and excels in any task that are delegated to her. She ensures that events are set up as the groups outline and she will reach out to the events staff if there is something that she needs defined.”

 

Congratulations to Eben Ayers, recipient of the 2018 Winter Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Eben Ayers is a Campus Security Officer for Security and Safety and is described as someone who “consistently demonstrates a high level of professionalism and compassion for his fellow human beings” and “frequently looks for opportunities to help someone “have a better day.”’

Ayers began his career at Clark College more than 15 years ago as an intern from the Clark County Skills Center (now Cascadia Technical Academy). While he has pursued other opportunities over the intervening years, he has spent many years working for Clark Security and Safety, first as a Parking Enforcement Officer and now as a Security Officer. In that role, Ayers serves as a member of the college’s Title IX team. He also has taken the lead on coordinating with leadership within the STEM Building to develop and communicate security protocols and operating hours of the computer labs that are housed within the newest building on campus. Additionally, he serves as advisor for the Clark College Realm Runners Club.

One example of how Ayers applies compassion and professionalism to his daily duties took place last summer, when he helped the owner of a home across the street from the main campus that had caught on fire. Ayers escorted the homeowner to a nearby room where she and her dogs would be safe, then made sure that she had no immediate medical needs and helped her reach out to friends and family.

Another example can be seen in an article published in the Independent (and later republished in the Columbian) last October entitled “Clark after dark: a night with campus security,” in which a reporter followed Ayers on his rounds and documented his compassion toward some transient visitors to the campus. One nominator noted, “Eben does not seek the spotlight and was reluctant to give the interview, but he felt that helping a student reporter and representing the security department, and ultimately the college, was a higher priority than his personal comfort.”

Below are more comments from nominators about Ayers:

• “Eben is a very reliable, personable and friendly person. When Eben works security for any major events on campus, I find him to be steadfast and committed; always willing to go above and beyond to help with no questions asked. Clark is lucky to have Eben on the Security team!”
• “One of the most distinctive qualities about Mr. Ayers is that while he is very professional at his work, he also connects with people in a compassionate way. He works fervently in order to save the people dignity at the same time that he applies policies that need to be applied.”
• “I have known Eben for over 15 years. All of those years have been in association with Clark. Eben first started with our department as an intern through a program he was attending at the Clark County Skills Center. This was in conjunction with his high school course work. Eben has pursued different opportunities over the years, but has always returned to Clark Security. After his time as an intern, he returned as a Parking Enforcement Officer where his attention to detail, willingness to help others, and excellent work ethic, were put on full display. He easily became someone the department could count on.”
• “When I first started at Clark College, Eben was an invaluable source of information on both practices in the department, as well as policies and procedures for the College community as a whole. Eben was able to help me answer difficult questions I had about my position and suggest innovative and creative solutions to some of those problems. In particular, his thoughts and insights on crafting a database to track authorized access for students and staff helped me greatly.”
• “Eben … is quick to follow up with open reports and always conscientious of the multiple departments that may be involved in cases. Eben approaches his work with a calm and clear vision for the potential outcome of a situation. He is thoughtful in his approach and thinks of the student/campus above all. Eben personifies what it means to be a Clark Penguin. He puts customer service at the forefront with the entire campus community including visitors. Eben has a calm sense about him and with that skill, he is able to deescalate situations that have the potential to go awry. In Eben’s role as a security officer and club advisor, he is a great listener, communicator, and role model. As a member of the Title IX team, Eben is thoughtful in his approach to investigations and working with students and staff that may be involved in the situations he is working with.”

Congratulations, as well, to all nominees for the Winter 2018 Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award:

Heather Adams is the Administrative Assistant 4 to the Dean of Student Engagement for Student Affairs, a role that provides administrative coordination for not just the dean, but also for the teams handling Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment, Title IX, and conduct areas. Having recently earned her master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration, Ayers has become an integral member of the Title IX team, investigating alleged discrimination and/or harassment. “This work can be difficult and draining,” wrote her nominator. “She handles it professionally and efficiently.”

Other comments about Ayers include:

• “She has strong knowledge of not only the college community, but the larger Clark County community. She readily offers this information to coworkers and students who have questions that reach beyond the Dean of Student Engagement’s office. Heather engages students in a meaningful way even when her interactions with them, or theirs with our office, is brief. … One of my favorite things is when these students take Heather up on her offer to “stop by and say hi” to our office even when they do not have a question or need; it is clear evidence that Heather excels at community building and cares for Clark.”
• “Heather is continually looking for ways to interact with all levels of the Clark College community. She has become a valuable resource with her creative ideas and solid problem solving. Heather has taken on the role of co-presenter on various Student Care presentations – specifically within the areas of BITA, Conduct, and Title IX. Heather is regularly scheduled to co-present at the quarterly New Faculty Orientation meetings and other invitations that arise; she is a competent and engaging presenter who can easily take the reins if the other presenter is unavailable.”

Allison (Allie) Fjeldheim is a Warehouse Operator 2 in Purchasing and Central Services. Her nominator praised Fjeldheim for her attention to detail and commitment to customer service. As an example, they recounted an experience of trying to track down a tool that had not arrived as ordered. “Allie was on the spot, knew exactly what order I was speaking of, and was able to provide specifics on the order,” the nominator wrote. “Allie had already contacted the vendor and tracked the tool for us.”

Other comments about Fjeldheim include:

“Recently, I ordered some student supplies. I received the package, but was short some of the items. In following up with Allie, I was informed that not only had she noted the discrepancy, but had already contacted the vendor and the shorted items were being shipped.”

“It is really great to know that we’ve got Allie on our side when it comes to orders and tracking.”

Jennifer Lea is an Administrative Assistant 3 in the Business Division, where, a nominator writes, she “manages an enormous amount of information with accuracy, efficiency, and ease.”

“Responding to all requests on time and within the budget, she assists in planning faculty schedules; responds to catalogue requests; provides us with classrooms; oversees requests for book orders, supplies, travel, and equipment, along with any other number of office and managerial responsibilities,” the nominator added. “In addition, she supports the Director of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management (BASAM) program, by sending out timely correspondence to students in two cohorts, making sure each term that their classes are accurately represented in the schedule, providing students with appropriate class registration codes, and tracking the students within the program, as they might move from the two-year schedule to the three-year schedule. Orientation letters and materials prove to be accurate, and promotional/informational letters are always completed with expertise and professionalism. Jennifer provides logical and helpful advice in the completion of many of these tasks.”

Other comments about Lea include:

• “Jennifer is a central part of the business department. She daily guides us and responds to our needs. Her interactions with the students are always positive.”
• “Jennifer is patient and is always pleasant to everyone. When students go to her with questions, she either has the answer or finds the answer to their questions. This is also true of faculty. When we need accomplish something and we don’t know to do so, she figures it out or already knows.”
• “Jennifer arranges for BASAM orientations beyond normal work hours. She has everything well organized to include every detail; i.e. name tags, ordering all the food, has the room organized stays into the evening through the event and then cleans up. The first BASAM orientation there was a lot of food left over so she took it to a homeless shelter. In my mind, that is going beyond expectations.”

David (Dave) Mott is a Custodian 2 in Custodial Services. He was nominated by members of a department that he helps to maintain. They noted his “positive attitude, great customer service, friendliness, and willingness to help. “Even though we only see Dave a couple of days a week for a short time, he always asks if we need anything else, offers help and always displays a positive attitude,” said one nominator. “He takes the time to get to know you while getting his job done.”

Other comments from the team include:

• “On days when he has to vacuum and noise may be disruptive to the office, he is considerate and starts on the areas that are less disruptive to our team. He also asks if there are other areas that need vacuuming that may not be part of his regular duties. “
• “Dave does a wonderful job of working quickly and efficiently, while still taking time to get to know his colleagues and build relationships with them. … I always looked forward to having Dave come through the office in the mornings and having a quick chat with him.”
• “Dave always goes above and beyond to provide great customer service. For example, we put in a work order for tables to be delivered on a Friday for a going away party. Dave saw the work order and offered to take care of it sooner because he would already be in our building and had the right stuff to complete the order while he was also coming through to do his normal work. He always goes the extra step to make sure people are taken care of and get the things they need.”

Sherry Smith is an Administrative Services Manager B in the Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Division. She was instrumental in overseeing the move of the STEM Division into its new location at the STEM Building, which opened in 2016.

Comments about Smith include:

• “Sherry is the ‘go-to’ person in STEM for everything. Most importantly, when we were preparing to move into the STEM Building, Sherry took the lead. Sherry was the liaison for faculty and staff, making sure we had what we needed to make the processes as smooth as possible. This was an immense relief to faculty, as we knew with Sherry in charge nothing would get overlooked.”
• “If I have what seems to me to be a complex issue or question and pose it to Sherry, she graciously says she’ll look into it and get back to me. I am always surprised by a prompt and thorough response where she gets an answer and further helps me out by filling out necessary paperwork if needed. Usually all I have to do is sign something and what seemed like a daunting problem to me is solved.”
• “In the years I have worked with Sherry, both when she was my supervisor, and also as a colleague, I’ve observed her professionalism and integrity to be accurate, resourceful and consistent in her work performance at the college. She is creative with finding ways to solve problems and presents workable solutions for her staff and department. She wants people to be successful and can simplify tasks so that they happen accurately and timely.”
• “Sherry is a real asset to the college and the unit. Her willingness to solve problems and her extensive knowledge of Clark College has been critical to our ability to do our jobs. She is always positive and a pleasure to work with.”

Mitchell (Mitch) Sott is an Engineering Technician 3 in Workforce, Professional and Technical Education. He was commended by a nominator for his work in setting up the new McClaskey Culinary Institute kitchens, noting that often he had to design and fabricate elements like shelving, splash guards, and stands himself.

“He has been a key player in creating a safer work environment,” they wrote. “Mitch checks on his work, making sure items are functioning safely and properly.”

Other comments about Sott include:

• “Mitch is a valuable member of the WPTE team – interacting positively with faculty, students and staff in the kitchens.”
• “He communicates clearly with faculty and staff in the problem solving and design stages of custom fabricated solutions.”

Victoria Walters (Ong) is a Program Coordinator in Advising. Comments about her include:

• “Victoria is always asking questions, and listens to student with an open mind. She is excellent at prodding our students for additional information to ensure she is using a holistic mindset to help our students navigate college life. She tries to connect with other staff outside her department in an effort to avoid pinging students. She consistently provides outstanding service and always has the student’s best interest in mind. She has contacted me on multiple occasions to confirm what the student needs in regards to appealing or requesting reinstatement. She has also provided students with my contact information directly in order to help the student navigate the complexities of financial aid.”
• “I feel Victoria is consistent in providing excellent service to our students and goes above and beyond expectations by not pinging students and taking that extra time to evaluate the needs of our students and guide them in the right direction.”

Shelly Williams is a Program Coordinator for the Music department. Her duties are wide-ranging, from ordering sheet music to handling much of the organization of the college’s annual jazz festival, and from supporting faculty to promoting concerts. Outgoing band director Rich Inouye said, “Shelly is one of the most generous and uplifting people I have had the pleasure to work with, but she is also a true professional in her ability to take care of business. After running the jazz festival for a couple of years by myself, bringing Shelly on board as the coordinator was a blessing and her contributions have been integral to the festival’s success.”

Other comments about Williams include:

• “Her dedication to the department and college is an invaluable and immeasurable resource to Clark and the greater Vancouver community. The reputation of the Clark Music Department and Clark College Jazz Festival holds throughout the nation clearly demonstrates the excellence Shelly demonstrates in her execution of her duties.”
• From a student: “In all my four years at Clark College, Shelly is the most kindhearted and joyful staff member I have ever met. Her attentive spirit keeps music students (and faculty) organized and she develops a healthy and professional relationship with each student. With no favorites and a heart for music, she always finds a way to brighten up the music department and give weary music majors the tools to succeed.”
• “She is the most positive and upbeat person I’ve ever met! … She genuinely cares for students and puts their needs first. With her, they can share their fears, needs, stories, jokes—the list goes on!”