Aleksandr Anisimov

Congratulations to Aleksandr Anisimov, recipient of the 2017 Spring Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Anisimov is an eLearning Systems Specialist for the eLearning department and is described as someone who is “admired, respected, and appreciated by his peers and those he works with.”

Other comments about Anisimov include:

Anisimov is described as being someone who displays and exemplary work performance and “demonstrates what any institution of higher learning should represent: professionalism, academic excellence, and commitment to education.” One individual commented, “Alex is dedicated, resilient, creative, patient and kind. I know if I have an issue, Alex will solve the problem and explain what he’s done to improve the system. He is so very humble, never demanding, yet firm in his convictions.”

Anisimov has much enthusiasm for what he does and goes out of his way to assist faculty and students alike. One person commented, “Numerous times per quarter, I have seen Alex run out of the office and over to the TechHub in the library to help a student with a particularly difficult laptop, tablet or phone issue. He wants to personally see the problem, gather the facts and propose a solution. Often the student is under deadline pressure and Alex is outstanding at bringing a calming presence and logic to the situation. He will also reach out and call students who have requested phone assistance with Canvas issues they are having.”

Anisimov is responsible for providing support for a variety of services and systems to a very diverse group (students, faculty, and staff). One nominator wrote, “Operating complex enterprise scale technology systems requires dedicated individual initiative delivered in a team environment. For example, when rolling out the new Canvas User Interface, Alex applied extra individual effort to maintain user confidence and support, while at the same time moved forward with the team to successfully achieve the implementation we had to complete.”

Described as someone who delivers a “high level of service,” Anisimov’s nominators say that he is “a highly valued member of the eLearning department and CLASS unit. He has a genuine enthusiasm for helping faculty and students. I often receive compliments from faculty and staff about the consistently high level of service that they receive from Alex. Courteous, polite, thorough, effective–are all terms that I have heard frequently.”

Members of Anisimov’s team said, “As a co-worker, as a person, Alex is so worthy of this award!”

Congratulations, as well, to other nominees for the 2017 Spring Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award:

Kay Martinez is at Custodian 1 for the Custodial Services department. Kay is described as someone who is a hard worker and follows through on her assignments. One nominator said, “Almost every Monday and Wednesday when I arrive at the STEM building at 6:30 a.m., I see Kay Martinez hard at work. She is wiping down table tops and tidying classrooms or using her backpack vacuum cleaner on the ‘miles’ of carpet in the building.” Though working hard, she is described as always taking time to be welcoming towards faculty, staff, and students. One nominator said, “I look forward to saying, “Hello,” and exchanging a few words with her in the morning … Kay’s excellent work ethic and affability have come up in conversations I have had with other STEM faculty and staff.” Other comments about Martinez include:

• “She is always willing to help. If she sees something needs doing, she just does it with a very positive attitude.”
• “Kay is thorough, conscientious and a pleasure to be around.”
• “You can just tell she is a very dedicated worker and she is very much appreciated.”
•  “She and her staff have been amazing in keeping our areas clean, our classrooms clean, our boards cleaned, etc.  It is wonderful.”
• “She is very focused on doing her work right the first time and completing each task with expediency.  In all my encounters with Kay she has always showed a smile and a work ethic…”

Reesa McAllister is a Secretary Senior for the Computer Technology (CTEC) Division and is described as someone who has an “exemplary” work performance. McAllister brings a “balance to our chaotic and hectic high-tech CTEC division,” wrote one nominator. “She provides faculty with the peace of mind and assurance that whatever support our students or departments need will get done in a timely, efficient, and thorough process.” A faculty member from McAllister’s division recently shared that “Reesa should be noted for her flexibility … She continues to expand her knowledge of our department and is an excellent resource for inquiring students and the public at large.” McAllister is someone who is confident and well organized, providing “excellent support for her division.” When challenges arise, McAllister not only provides support for her division, but will also offer support to other units. For instance, “Reesa has reached beyond her division by helping with activities necessary for the Culinary Arts remodel project (packing boxes and cleaning offices).” Overall, McAllister “demonstrates a cooperative spirit and does her part to make Clark College a positive environment for faculty, staff, students and all constituent groups.”

Other comments about McAllister include:

• “I appreciate her graceful diligence, her proactive approach, clear communication and delightful demeanor. Her positive attitude and warm/personal presence diffuses our stress.”
• “Reesa keeps us moving forward, keeps us honest, and keeps us super-organized and informed!”
• “Reesa demonstrates a cooperative spirit and does her part to make Clark College a positive environment for faculty, staff, students and all constituent groups.”

Amy Tam works as a Program Specialist 2 for Enrollment Services. Tam is described as an “exceptional employee” who “always has a welcoming smile and a positive attitude.” Working in the Welcome Center, Tam’s work “touches both new and continuing students, as well as coworkers across multiple departments. Each person she encounters feels special and receives the highest excellence in service.” Serving as an inspiration for her coworkers to “go above and beyond,” Tam’s commitment is described as “admirable.”

Tam oversees the Student Ambassador Program, a leadership opportunity for students who are dedicated to serving Clark College. In this role, Tam is committed to not only supervising Student Ambassadors, but also assisting them in overcoming obstacles they may encounter while trying to finish their degree program. A nominator said, “A student was feeling defeated and needed someone to help them find perspective. Amy was that person, she listened and encouraged the student.”

Another nominator said, “Amy is the employee and steward of higher education that the Clark College community deserves. She whole-heartedly devotes her time and energy as an advocate and mentor to both student and college staff.”

Other comments about Tam include:

• “Amy is a people person who see the strengths in others, looks for opportunities to involve them, then allows them to lead.”
• “I have appreciated her professionalism and consistent commitment towards student success for some of our most vulnerable populations.”
• “Amy’s dedication to helping others succeed is [a] great gift to Clark College and our community.”
• “I have worked with Amy Tam since 2010 in some capacity and have never worked with a more consistently positive, upbeat, competent and helpful colleague!”
• Tam is overall described as someone who is “always doing what is best for the students and her co-workers. I could not ask for a better colleague than her.”

Tia Schmidt is an Administrative Assistant 3 in the Nursing Department and is described as someone who “consistently demonstrates excellence in her work.” Schmidt has “excellent attention to detail” and uses her experience in project management to assist in complex projects. A nominator said this about Schmidt: “During our implementation of new software for tracking student clinical requirements, Tia pitched in and helped team members with various aspects of onboarding students. This was a large-scale project, and Tia recognized that extra help was needed in order to make the project successful. Tia made phone calls to students and met with individual students to help them access the system when needed.”

Schmidt is described as a leader who takes initiative and as someone who is creative, helpful, and respectful. Schmidt’s nominator said, “Tia considers the team and department in everything that she does. She is inclusive and collaborative in her work, and takes actions based on the best interests of the department, unit and college. Tia is respectful of others and is sensitive to their needs. She goes out of her way to make sure people feel noticed and recognized for their efforts.”

Other comments about Schmidt include:

• “Tia takes a creative approach and finds ways to make our projects fun. She has a knack for identifying opportunities to enhance teamwork and build positive relationships.”
• “She is highly organized and solves problems with a systems focus.”
• “She has helped our department build positive relationships with community partners through work on the WSUV/Clark College Preceptor Event, Hilma Speights Foundation events, and others.”

Clark College has recently welcomed several exceptional educational professionals to its leadership team.

New hires and appointments include Dr. Loretta Capehart as Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Judith Hernandez Chapar as the Director of the Teaching & Learning Center; Brenda Walstead as Dean of Business and Health Sciences; and Jim Wilkins-Luton as Dean of Transitional Studies, English, Communications and Humanities (BEECH).

Dr. Loretta Capeheart

Dr. Capeheart has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Texas, an M.A. in Sociology from Texas State University, and a Ph.D. in Sociology for Texas Woman’s University. She has previous work experience as a faculty member at the University of Idaho and at Northeastern Illinois University, among other institutions. Most recently, she was at the Portland Police Bureau, where she served as an analyst and as Acting Equity and Diversity Manager. Dr. Capeheart has written about and taught extensively on the subjects of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. She is the author of a book called Social Justice: Theories, Issues and Movements.

Clark College President Bob Knight stated: “This position is important to our Strategic Plan and social equity work. As I read the feedback from across the college, it was clear that Dr. Capeheart has the necessary skills and experience to continue the good work that has been started on the college’s Social Equity Plan and lead us forward.”

Dr. Judith Hernández Chapar

Dr. Hernández Chapar earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education from Oregon State University with a focus on Community College Leadership. She also holds degrees in Social Work, Psychology, and Women’s Studies. She is currently working on a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at San Diego State University, where she is researching the student engagement patterns of underserved community college students with faculty, as well as community college pathways for underrepresented students in STEM.

Dr. Hernández Chapar is familiar with the Washington state community and technical college system, having worked at both South Puget Sound Community College and at Lower Columbia College. Her work experience includes leading, designing, delivering, and assessing First Year Experience and TRiO programs and curriculum to promote student experiences focused on retention, persistence, and degree completion.

Jim Wilkins-Luton

Jim Wilkins-Luton holds a Master of Arts degree in Literature and Composition from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in British and American Literature from Whitworth University. He taught English and lived in Japan for eight years prior to settling in Clark County. Wilkins-Luton has worked for Clark College since 2000, beginning as an adjunct faculty member and earning tenure in 2006.

During his time at Clark, Wilkins-Luton has taught English as a Second Language, pre-college English, and college-level composition and literature classes. He earned Clark’s prestigious Exceptional Faculty Awardfor the 2013-2014 academic year; one student who nominated him for the award wrote, “[He] makes all students completely comfortable in the classroom.” Wilkins-Luton has been the interim Dean of BEECH since 2015.

Dr. Brenda Walstead

Dr. Brenda Walstead has worked for Clark College for 21 years, starting as an adjunct instructor in Dental Hygiene. But her history at Clark goes beyond that: She earned he associate degree from Clark before going on to earn a B.S. from Concordia University, an M.S. at Portland State University, and an Ed.D. from Walden University.

During her tenure at Clark, Dr. Walstead has served as the Director of the Dental Hygiene program and led the creation of Clark’s two bachelor’s degree programs. She served as an Outcomes Assessment Liaison and on numerous collegewide committees. Most recently, she served as Interim Dean of the Business and Health Sciences, and was named to the non-interim position after a nationwide search. Feedback from the college during that hiring process consistently noted her ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and administration as well as her knowledge of the Business and Health Science Unit.

The Clark College Wellness Team includes, left to right, Steve DaMassa; Vanessa Neal; Guisela Eberle; Tahnya Huneidi; Veronica Brock;
Darci Feider. Not pictured: Rebecca Benson and Julie Taylor.

Join your Clark College Wellness Team in celebrating SmartHealth Week, an annual celebration of health and wellness, June 5-11.

We will be waiting for you near the Chime Tower and will start walking promptly at the times listed below. Remember, you can join us on the college’s Penguin Pathway at any point during a walk (search for the blue shirts). Invite a fellow Penguin to walk with you!

As supplies last, there will be SmartHealth giveaways for those who join us.

Scroll down for next week’s activity schedule and remember, your wellness matters!

New to SmartHealth? See what it is about by watching the SmartHealth How-To video.

Walk Schedule

Note: All walks start at the Chime Tower.

Monday, June 5

• 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
• 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday, June 6

• 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, June 7

• 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, June 8

• 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
• 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Friday, June 9

• 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

David Sims

Congratulations to David Sims, recipient of the 2017 Winter Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award.

Sims is an Information Tech Specialist 4 for the IT Service Center and has 35 years with Clark College. He is described as someone who goes “far beyond the call of duty, giving our customers one on one personal attention when they have high severity issues with technology.”

Sims is described as being someone who embraces goals and assists in transitions to improve ITS and the larger college community. His nominator wrote, “David in the past year has stepped up as the technical lead of the service center group, taking on vastly different responsibilities than he has had over the past 35 years and he has absolutely flourished and become a vital leader of the group. His performance and dedication to the college is absolutely the foundation of his worth ethic; he is deeply rooted in making sure the campus faculty and staff have the tools they need to support our students.”

Being “extremely skilled in process and procedure,” Sims is able to provide solutions be the “rock” of his team, especially over the past year. Sims takes on the tough tasks and creatively produces unique solutions to challenges. For instance, “the service center was tasked with bringing in over 200 mobile devices for Windpws 10 upgrades, and David took this task and planned it out, created documentation, and ran scenarios before we went live. He came up with unique ways to make the Win 10 transition for our mobile laptop customers as easy and with the least impact as possible. David also trained all of the other technicians. This made our piece of the Windows 10 upgrade go extremely smooth, and his work ethic to get over 200 devices migrated to Win 10 was nothing short of amazing.”

Congratulations as well to this winter quarter’s other nominees:

Lorraine Browne Leedy is the Faculty Development Program Specialist at the Teaching and Learning Center. In her role, Leedy organizes many training opportunities for the faculty and staff. She is described as someone who is “very efficient in executing her responsibilities” and is “an excellent customer-service ambassador who is willing to listen to someone in need and help.” She is respectful to the faculty, staff and anyone who needs her services. Leedy’s nominator describes her as a good communicator, someone who pays close attention to detail, a leader, respectful and someone who maintains a pleasing personality.

Reesa McAllister is a Secretary Senior for the Computer Technology (CTEC) Division and is described as someone who has an “exemplary” work performance. McAllister is “precise, thorough and efficient in her work” and will not only learn new skills, but goes “above and beyond by teaching her colleagues” in these areas as well. McAllister’s nominator states, “Faculty count on her and she goes out of her way to assist everyone coming into the unit office, calling on the phone, or emailing with questions and concerns. If Reesa does not know how to answer a question, she seeks out that answer. She does not stop there, however! She then shares that information with others’ in the unit who will benefit from having that information as well.” McAllister is someone who is honest, organized, and “should be noted for her flexibility and willingness to contribute to the transition with a secretary retiring and being replaced in the past couple of quarters.” She is “confident to take on tasks and responsibilities,” provides “excellent support,” and “engages throughout the campus and across units for the betterment of her division, unit and the college.”

Kate Poffenroth works as a Program Coordinator for Disability Support Services (DSS). Poffenroth’s nominator describes her as “an excellent, long-term employee who stands out in terms of her superb reliability and efficiency.” Poffenroth is said to be someone who is “extraordinary in terms of her ability to multi-task” and “arrives at the office with energy, enthusiasm, and a great sense of humor that she shares with every person that she sees that day.” Poffenroth often tracks “hundreds of details that require high-level processing” and understands the importance of being accurate in her reporting. DSS is in the process of implementing a new software and “Kate … has been a quick, sharp learner, as she easily adopts new software processes and encourages others to make necessary changes.” Poffenroth’s nominator overall describes her as someone who is grounded in student-entered principles, concise, encourages others, and “builds collegial cohesion and teamwork.”

Tia Schmidt is an Administrative Assistant in the Nursing Department and “has been providing excellent service for many years” and “is the glue that keeps the nursing program going.” Schmidt is described as “smart and efficient” and “demonstrates her commitment to the college and to students by attending every pinning ceremony to cheer the student’s success and to support the staff who present.” Schmidt is quick to offer “assistance, suggestions, ideas, and empathy, all of which serve to facilitate problem resolution and encourage collaboration. She is respectful and models professional behavior and demeanor.” Through challenges, Schmidt approaches her work with a “realistic, yet optimistic viewpoint” and “is a believer in pro-action versus reaction.” Schmidt assists her group and helps them “deal with many new changes in both ACEN criteria and state regulations.” In assisting, “Tia created resource notebooks for each of us so we would have these references at our fingertips as we moved forward with the adjustment process.” Each day Schmidt “arrives at work she is cheerful, positive and ready to ‘tackle’ whatever task or responsibility we will face throughout the day.” Nominators said, “I see her as very positive about the college and committed to doing all she can to be part of its successful future” and that “her work demonstrates the highest quality both in terms of quality, but also integrity. Tia is an excellent communicator both verbally and in writing. She coordinates several monthly team meetings, stays accurate and timely with minutes and remains calm when meetings become stressful or chaotic.  She consistently exhibits calmness and respect for fellow workers and students.”

Congratulations to Carmen Roman, recipient of the 2016 Fall Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

Carmen Roman

Roman is a Program Specialist 2 for the Advising Services department. She is someone who is described by her nominators as “giving a consistent high-level of service to the students, the public, the community and to co-workers.”

Nominators had the following to say about Roman:

“Carmen’s unique ability to adjust to all modes and levels of communication is unmatched … It is quite common for students from all walks of life and experiences to applaud this extra attention Carmen gives them during advising sessions. A recent example was relayed from the BMED department on how a student who met with Carmen spoke highly of her to the BMED department head and said that if it wasn’t for the encouragement she received from Carmen, she may have given up on her aspirations to work in the medical field.”

“Carmen is a consummate professional who combines her advising expertise with genuine care and concern for the best interests of students and of the college. She works actively and diligently to learn about and to provide information about all corners of the campus (important dates, instructional departments, program requirements, pre-reqs, assessment, financial aid, etc., etc.). She exemplifies the team approach that is necessary for effective delivery of student services. Knowing that students often “don’t know what they don’t know,” Carmen seeks to provide the most relevant pieces of information with the understanding that students’ needs change and evolve as they progress through their programs of study. She is outstanding at giving the right service, in the right manner, at the right time – all with seemingly limitless patience and kindness.”

Congratulations as well to this quarter’s other nominees:

Lorraine Browne Leedy is the Faculty Development Program Specialist at the Teaching and Learning Center. Many in the college community are aware of Lorraine’s “high-quality work” and she “seems to always be able to lend a hand when called upon–she consistently finds time to help her coworkers.” Browne Leedy displays creativity and superior communication skills that are invaluable when planning and delivering many professional development activities each year. Her ability to plan, organize and manage events is why she is considered a key member of any new training initiative. Browne Leedy is described as a “valued college employee, excellent team member, subject matter expert, superior communicator, and terrific example of a high-performing employee.”

Kay Martinez works as a Custodian in the Custodial Services Department. Nominators describe Martinez as someone who works hard and always maintains a positive attitude. Though Martinez works tremendously hard to keep the STEM building looking its best, she always takes a moment to be courteous and to greet faculty, staff and students. Many view her as someone who is excellent at her job, has a strong work ethic, and will go out of her way to assist others. In fact, “Kay’s excellent work ethic and affability” come up in conversations with STEM faculty and staff. A nominator stated that Kay’s “dedication to Clark College should serve as a model for others.”

Hanna Maxwell is a Student Recruitment Specialist for the Enrollment Services Department and is described as an “essential” on the team. Maxwell is seen as someone who provides the best in customer service to students, parents, college partners, and community members while keeping a smile and positive attitude. A nominator stated, “no matter what the issue, she brings a determination to answer questions and find solutions in an accessible way.” Another wrote that she “brings a supreme level of care to her presentation and style. She has explained to hundreds, if not thousands, of students over her six months at Clark the benefits of a college education, and has helped many take the first step to changing their lives.”

Hannah Erickson is a Communications Specialist in the Communications and Marketing Department, but many know her as “the voice of Clark.” Being a steward of the voice requires masterful storytelling, openness, honesty, a caring nature, and the ability to be real and informative–all of which a nominator says Erickson represents. Erickson’s role can be challenging at times, but she always goes above and beyond and brings a “high level of integrity and dedication to her work.” One of her colleagues describes her as the “go-to for all things problem-solving. She is my sounding board from interpersonal work relationships, to navigating a project, to just finding the right word to make an email sound the way I want. She takes my ideas and makes them real with her great writing. I am happy to have her as my collaborator on all the things I do here at Clark.”

Tia Schmidt is an Administrative Assistant in the Nursing Department and sees things from an optimistic viewpoint. Her nominators describe her as “professional, respectful, thoughtful, mindful, and intentional in the way she approaches her job and her coworkers.” Unfailingly polite is how many view Schmidt’s interactions with faculty, staff and students, and she always seems to keep her eye on “the big picture.” A nominator wrote, “I have called on Tia repeatedly for assistance with a wide variety of needs/problems/challenges, and each time she has come through with information, guidance, resources, clarification, and direct help. She doesn’t complain or ask for any special acknowledgement–she just does her job to the best of her ability every day.”

Mitch Sott works in WPTE as a Maintenance Mechanic and is described as “indispensable” to the department–someone who “goes above and beyond the call of duty” to accomplish tasks. Students know Sott and the question isn’t, “What has Mitch fixed for us?” but rather, “What hasn’t he fixed for us?” Sott is described as positive role model, friendly, and a valuable asset to Clark College.  Nominators said his incredible work ethic is something for them to aspire to. “When we need something done, Mitch spends the time discussing it with us so that he knows exactly what we want and is able to accommodate our needs.”

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Haley Tucker

Thirty-Eighty Penguins got up and moving during the month of October for the second Walktober Challenge against the WSU Vancouver Cougars and the Lower Columbia College Red Devils. Collectively, Clark logged in 12,412,963 steps — earning second place in the college challenge. Way to go, Penguins!

The top three participants at Clark were:

• 1st Place: Haley Tucker 1,019,955 steps
• 2nd Place: Garrett Hoyt 953,790 steps
• 3rd Place: Travis Kibota 673,157 steps

Article and photos submitted by Vanessa Neal.

Clark College has recently welcomed three outstanding professionals to its leadership. Read more about

• Kelly Woodward, Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance
• Selena Castro, Dean of Student Enrollment and Completion
• Cathy Busha, Dean of Student Engagement

Kelly Woodward

Kelly Woodward

Kelly Woodward joined Clark as Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance November 3.

“As a major employer in this region with more than 1,000 employees, we are pleased to have a professional with such depth and breadth of experience to serve in this important role on our administrative team,” said Clark College Robert K. Knight.

Woodward earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of South Carolina and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University Law School. She comes to Clark College after serving as Assistant Attorney General with the Labor and Personnel Division of the Washington Attorney General’s Office. She served in the AAG’s office for nearly three years, during which time she provided legal advice and representation to numerous state agency Human Resources Directors on complex labor and personnel matters, including Washington Parks, Washington Lottery, Department of Corrections, Department of Commerce, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and a number of community colleges, including Clark.

Prior to working at the Attorney General’s Office, Woodward worked in higher education administration for more than 15 years, both wit hin Washington State and in South Carolina. Her previous work experience includes continuing education program development, implementation, and marketing at a private university; serving as a Public Information Director for a large community college in South Carolina; and credit and non-credit program development, implementation and marketing for Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash. Woodward previously served as the first campus director of Olympic College Poulsbo, where she worked successfully with partners in instruction, student services, administrative services, and the college foundation to increase enrollments, build community engagement, and generate funds for the college. Her most recent role at Olympic College was as Director of Compliance, where she developed and instituted a comprehensive compliance program for the college.

Woodward has extensive experience in community activities, including serving as a board member for Leadership Kitsap, a community leadership program. She has served as a council member for the Kitsap County Human Rights Council, as a founding member of the North Kitsap Diversity Awareness Group, as a member of the Olympic College Tribal Relations Task Force, and the Olympic College Diversity Advisory Committee.

Woodward and her family live in Camas, Wash.

Dr. Selena Castro

Dr. Selena Castro

Dr. Selena Castro joined Clark as Dean of Student Enrollment on September 12. She brings a strong background in student affairs and a clear dedication to developing strong relationships, working collaboratively, and building services that support student success.

Dr. Castro has served as an administrator in Student Affairs and Academic Affairs both at California State University, Fresno and at Washington State University. She most recently served as Director of the University Advising Center and New Student Orientation. Prior to her tenure at CSU, Dr. Castro was the Director of Student Success and Transition Programs at WSU Pullman. She brings a wealth of experiences to her role at Clark that are aligned with the college’s work around guided pathways, enrollment, and student success initiatives.

Cathy Busha

Cathy Busha

Cathy Busha joined Clark as Dean of Student Engagement on November 28. She brings a strong background in working with students and a clear dedication to developing collegial relationships and developing services that support student success.

Busha (pronounced “boo-SHAY” — “kind of rhyming with ‘hooray!'” she advises) has served as an administrator in Student Affairs and as a faculty member at both Lewis & Clark College and Chemeketa Community College. She most recently served as Associate Dean of Students for Student Engagement at Lewis & Clark. Prior to her tenure there, she served as a full-time faculty in the Human Services program and part-time as the Diversity and Equity Coordinator at Chemeketa. Cathy brings a wealth of experiences to her role at Clark that are aligned with our student success and engagement initiatives.

In her role as Dean of Student Engagement, Cathy provides administrative oversight to Career Services, Counseling and Health Services, Disability Support Services, Student Conduct, Student Life, Student Success Programs, and the Veterans Resource Center.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

President Knight congratulates Linda Healy, left, and Vanessa Meyer on receiving the 2016 Exceptional Classified Staff Award.

Opening Day on Sept. 12 marked several celebrations of employee contributions to the college. Employees were recognized for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service to the college. Four employees–Facilities Services Maintenance Mechanic Michael Conder, ITS Specialist David Sims, Business Professor Patti Serrano, and eLearning ITS Specialist Scott Coffie–earned recognition for 35 years of service to the college.

Additionally, the recipients of the annual Exceptional Faculty Awards and quarterly Classified Staff Excellence Awards were recognized. The faculty awards are announced at Commencement and the quarterly Classified staff awards are announced each quarter. Additionally, two Classified Excellence Award recipients were announced to be recipients of the annual Exceptional Classified Staff Awards: Linda Healy and Vanessa Meyer.

Six Clark College employees received Presidential Coins during Opening Day. Introduced in 2007 by President Bob Knight, the coin is given to faculty and staff members who provide exemplary service to Clark students, the college and the community. The honorees are decided by the president and are kept secret until the names are announced–generally on Opening Day in the fall or during the annual State of the College address. The newest coin recipients are:

Prof. Adnan Hamideh at Opening Day.

Adnan Hamideh

Originally joining Clark College in 2001 as a temporary business instructor, Dr. Hamideh received tenure in 2005 and now serves as the division chair of the Business Department. He holds a Doctorate of Education from Portland State University. President Knight called Dr. Hamideh a “tireless proponent” of the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management degree that Clark will begin offering this academic year. In addition, Dr. Hamideh has led the development of the Business Core classes that help students prepare for business majors.

Rebecca Kleiva receives a Presidential Coin.

Rebecca Kleiva

After graduating from Clark College in 2010, Kleiva was hired as a program coordinator in Eligibility Programs (now Workforce Education). She was promoted to her current position of program specialist in 2011. In this position, she has managed the Worker Retraining Financial Aid program, which helps support students as they transition into new career paths, and developed partnerships and strategies that have helped the program exceed its target enrollment every year.

“She has consistently performed her job duties with the highest degree of integrity and professionalism,” said President Knight. “She is an innovative thinker who continues to evaluate how she can improve processes and procedures to better serve her students. … Her knowledge and eagerness to learn things that are outside of her normal job responsibilities help to ensure that the customer service that she provides to the public, community partners, co-workers and students is exemplary.”

Felisciana Peralta receives a Presidential Coin.

Felisciana Peralta

Felisciana “Felis” Peralta joined Clark College in 2008 as a Multicultural Retention Manager and was recently promoted to Director of the Office of Diversity and Equity.

“In her eight years at the college, she has been a strong advocate and partner on issues related to diversity and social justice, helping to create and support a supportive learning environment for our students,” said President Knight. “She is a champion of equity and inclusion and has played a vital role in the development of the college’s Diversity Plan, Social Equity Plan, and Diversity Center.”

Peralta sits on the Cultural Pluralism Committee, Academic Early Warning Committee, and the Incident Response Team at Clark. On the state level, she has been a leader of the Multicultural Student Services Directors’ Council and its annual Students of Color Conference. In June, she received the 2016 Val Joshua Award, recognizing her leadership in working towards eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.

Brenda Shular receives a Presidential Coin.

Brenda Shular

Brenda Shular graduated from Clark College in 1996 and was hired the following year as a purchasing assistant. She currently serves as a procurement and supply specialist in the college’s Office of Purchasing and Central Services.

“She is a rock-solid employee who manages an enormous amount of orders in Purchasing in a timely way and with great customer service,” said President Knight. “She’s played a key role in getting the STEM Building orders processed in time to ensure furniture and equipment is ready for the building’s opening.”

Mike Silva receives a Presidential Coin.

Mike Silva

Mike Silva graduated from Clark College in 2001 and was hired as a computer maintenance technician later that same year. He was promoted to an Information Technology Systems Specialist in 2002 and now serves as the supervisor of the Multimedia Department.

Last year, Silva led a collegewide effort to redesign the college’s standard classroom technology configuration. Working with faculty and staff, he developed a new design that not only provides additional teaching tools for faculty, but saves nearly $10,000 per classroom in equipment costs. He has also been part of the effort to make the college’s new STEM Building ready for students and faculty.

“Over the past 14 years, he has been in a variety of technical roles providing outstanding customer service and a calm, reassuring voice able to solve the thorniest technical problems,” President Knight said. “As the labs supervisor, he hired and mentored hundreds of student workers, preparing many for jobs and life after their graduation from Clark College. In mentoring these students, he clearly demonstrates that we all have a role to play in student success. … He is an outstanding supervisor, technician, and friend to many on campus.”

Prof. Caleb White receives a Presidential Coin.

Caleb White

Caleb White joined Clark College as a tenure-track welding instructor in 2013 and received tenure in 2016. He holds an associate degree in automotive and diesel technology from Universal Technical Institute and previously worked at Christensen Yachts, where he helped build some of the biggest luxury yachts in the world.

“He has not been at the college for a long time, but he has already made an impact,” said President Knight.

White has worked to redesign the welding curriculum to include more hands-on learning that can be translated directly into the workplace. Each quarter, his students use their skills to create a project. Projects have included aluminum stools for students to use in the welding lab, a large pressure vessel that can be used on job sites, and an aluminum fishing boat that was a star attraction of the college’s display at the 2016 Clark County Fair.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Joanne Emel

Congratulations to Joanne Emel, recipient of the 2016 Summer Quarter Classified Staff Excellence Award!

First hired at Clark in 1997, Emel is the Program Specialist 2 for the Office of Instruction (OOI). She is known for her positive demeanor and her outstanding knowledge of Clark. In addition to her regular duties, Emel is an active member of the Emergency Response and Safety Team as well as part of the team preparing the college for the ctcLink transition. In addition, she recently assisted with the R25 conversion to 25Live.

Some of the following comments submitted on Emel’s behalf by her colleagues reflect her positive spirit and team mentality:

“Joanne takes a moment to greet each and every person who comes through the door, helping to ensure that the OOI is a welcoming space for the entire Clark community.”

“New staff members are enormously grateful for the way in which Joanne is always ready and able to assist when something is unknown or unfamiliar—she has been a huge help in the transition to Clark for new department members. We know we are able to approach her with questions, no matter how seemingly trivial, and she is consistently able to help even if the question falls outside of her work.”

“[She] is a cheerleader for Clark: She has encouraged new staff members to get involved with campus activities and is always able to provide positive anecdotes about the College.”

“Joanne’s long commitment to Clark, stellar work ethic and excellent level of service are inspiring to her colleagues, and this award is an ideal opportunity for these strengths to be recognized.”

The 2016 Exceptional Faculty Award recipients are, left to right, Joseph Cavalli, Dr. Kathleen Chatfield, Heather McAfee, and Doug Mrazek.

During the 2016 Commencement ceremony, President Robert K. Knight announced the names of the recipients of the 2016 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Awards. The awards are presented annually to full-time and part-time faculty members. Nominations can be submitted by Clark College students, faculty, classified employees, administrators, alumni, Board members, and Foundation directors.

The awards are made possible through an endowed trust fund established by the Washington State Legislature and the Clark College Exceptional Faculty Endowment Fund, which was established in 1993. That fund provides recognition of exemplary work performance, positive impact on students, professional commitment, and other contributions to the college.

This year’s Exceptional Faculty members are:

• Joseph Cavalli, instructor of history
• Dr. Kathleen Chatfield, instructor of business technology
• Heather McAfee, professor of geography
• Doug Mrazek, professor of French

Joe Cavalli, History

Joseph Cavalli has taught history at schools in Croatia, Italy, and Bahrain. He began teaching at Clark shortly after returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2006. For the past five years, he has also served as the director of Clark’s award-winning Model United Nations program. He also teaches history through Clark College’s non-credit Mature Learning program and at Mt. Hood Community College.

Cavalli says he sees history more as a context for understanding the world than as a rote memorization of names and dates. “It’s not about me giving students information,” he says. “What I want to impart is the love of learning and the need to be curious.”

Students appreciate Cavalli’s efforts to make history relevant to their current lives. “I had no interest in history whatsoever until I took his class,” wrote one student. “After my first class with him, I was enthralled. Now, history is my favorite subject and my current major.”

Dr. Kathleen Chatfield, Business Technology and Management

Over the course of her 21 years at Clark, Dr. Kathleen Chatfield has taught a variety of courses, including keyboarding, microcomputer applications, Microsoft Excel, e-commerce, and project management. In truth, however, her influence goes far beyond those subjects. In fact, she has been a part of every online class offered at Clark College through her work as the senior instructional designer for the college’s eLearning Department, where she helps Clark faculty learn how to develop online classes.

“It is a daunting task to guide so many full-time and part-time instructors through all the different learning systems, while also helping them to maintain their unique styles and philosophies of teaching,” wrote one nominator. “Yet Dr. Chatfield manages to accomplish this task.”

Dr. Chatfield continues to teach classes to students as well, saying that this experience helps her better understand the needs and challenges of faculty. This adds up to more than a full-time workload, but Dr. Chatfield says, “I’m doing what I love. I’ve never woken up in the morning and said, ‘Oh no, I have to go to work.’”

Heather McAfee, Geography

Heather McAfee first became interested in geography while working for the U.S. Department of Defense, doing cultural analysis of Iraq that included mapping the civilian population there. “I love geography because it is the most interdisciplinary subject you can study,” she says. “It touches everything, even health—we have medical geography. Recently in my classes, we’ve looked at and mapped the spread of the Zika virus.”

McAfee serves as chair of the Geography Department at Clark; she also serves on the college’s AA Transfer Committee, the Library of the Future Taskforce, and the Learning Communities Taskforce. Additionally, McAfee has worked to create connections between Clark and community organizations, including the Water Resources Education Center and the Vanport Mosaic.

“She made her classroom a comfortable area where every person’s opinion and outlook was highly valued,” wrote one student. “Her teachings went much deeper than the textbook material. She wanted us to dig deep and relate every lesson to our personal lives and experiences, and it taught all of us so much about the world around us.”

Doug Mrazek, French

When Doug Mrazek was job-hunting after receiving his master’s degree in French from the University of Illinois in 1978, one of his professors told him that the Pacific Northwest was so beautiful that if he took a job there, “you’ll never want to leave.”

Those words turned out to be prophetic; Mrazek has devoted 38 years to teaching French at Clark. He has taught generations of Clark students how to conjugate être, led dozens of them on trips through France and Quebec, and helped the French Club put on countless events as its academic advisor.

Small surprise, then, that Mrazek received more than 30 nominations for this award this year. “I’m in amazement,” he says. “It’s a tremendous sense of closure. After a career of 40 years, it’s a nice way to move on.”

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley