Six outstanding members of Clark College’s faculty have been recognized for their contributions to the college with a 2020 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Award.

These 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. Traditionally, they are announced during Commencement; because this year’s ceremony was online and abbreviated due to the COVID-19 outbreak, they were announced at a later date.

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:

• Dr. Don Appert
• Adam Coleman
• Molly Lampros
• Ken Luchini
• Thomas Stevenson
• Lauren Zavrel

Dr. Don Appert, professor of music

Dr. Don Appert just celebrated his 30th anniversary of teaching music at Clark College. The director of the Clark College Orchestra and head of the Music Department, Appert has earned many awards over his career, including the prestigious American Prize, the ASCAP Plus, and the Clark County Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award.

“He doesn’t just ‘talk the talk,’” wrote one student in nominating Appert. “He truly embodies everything he teaches his students, from being punctual for class to practicing his instrument every day. He puts his students before himself and goes out of his way to create the best learning experience. He expects a lot from his students, but expects even more from himself.”

Appert earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, specializing in trombone, from the New England Conservatory. He earned his doctorate in orchestral conducting from the University of Kansas. In addition to his 30 years at Clark College, he has teaching experience at Centre College in Kentucky and at Hampton University in Virginia. As a member of ASCAP, most of Dr. Appert’s compositions have been performed throughout the world. He has appeared as a guest conductor in Japan, Australia, Central America, and throughout Europe. In the United States, he has appeared as a guest conductor of the Vancouver (Washington) Symphony, the University of Texas – Arlington Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Central Arkansas Symphony.

Adam Coleman, professor of computer technology 

Adam Coleman’s connection to Clark College goes back to his own student years, when he earned his associate degree with a double major in Data Networking and Computer Networking from the college. He then went on to get his bachelor’s degree in Computer Technology at Eastern Washington University. He worked at SEH-America before returning to Clark College to teach, and in 2014 was named a tenured member of the college’s computer technology faculty.

Coleman has been active in serving on college committees and creating partnerships with local organizations geared toward helping people build careers. He was central in developing and implementing new courses designed to help students earn their Microsoft Technology Associate certification. An avid bike rider, Coleman represented the college in the American Diabetes Association’s annual Tour de Cure for years.

“Professor Coleman has been there for me since the beginning of my degree,” wrote one student in nominating Coleman. “He has always been attentive. He will sit down with me and work through questions or concerns. He pushes on. He keeps going no matter what.”

Molly Lampros, professor of communication studies 

Molly Lampros joined Clark College’s communication studies faculty in 2010, and over the past decade she has taught classes including Introduction to Mass Media, Interpersonal Communications, and Small Group Communications. She has also given her energy and expertise to enrich the college beyond her classes, serving as a Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisor, giving presentations to colleagues on how to support students in the classroom, serving on scholarship and awards committees, and serving as a faculty mentor for student interns. Additionally, she has worked to create an Open Educational Resource for her classes—essentially, a free textbook that reduces expenses for her students. She is also certified in eLearning and Quality Matters.

“She’s fun, upbeat and always brings such a positive energy into class,” wrote one student in a nomination for Lampros. “She knows how to engage a class and make people want to participate, and she makes everyone feel included and heard. She makes you excited to come to class.”

Lampros earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and psychology and her Master of Science degree in communication studies and conflict resolution from Portland State University. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in English language education from Pacific University. In addition to her decade of teaching at Clark College, she has teaching experience at Portland State University and the Oregon Institute of Technology. She also gets to put her communications expertise to work in a practical environment as co-owner of the Helvetia Tavern in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Ken Luchini, professor of mechatronics

Kenneth Luchini earned his associate degree in industrial electronics from Diablo Valley College in California. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial electronics and computer technology from California State University Chico, and completed Master Studies in instructional processes in vocational education at the University of California Berkeley Extension. His work experience includes more than two decades as an electrical engineer, as well as 10 years as an electronics technician and eight years as a full-time college vocational education instructor in electronics and industrial automation.

Luchini earned tenure at Clark College in 2016. At the college, he serves as the faculty advisor for the MechaNerds, a student club devoted to mechatronics. He was also co-principal investigator for the Clark College Rural Access Mechatronics Program (RAMP), a program that developed “hybrid” (combination online and face-to-face) curriculum to serve rural portions of the college’s service district through a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program.

“The amount of one-on-one time he provides is amazing,” wrote a student. “While he is inexhaustible in the classroom, that is not where his day ends. He’s always available after hours for discussion/clarification, and prides himself on getting you the right (or best!) answer.”

Thomas Stevenson, professor of communication studies

Thomas Stevenson has taught in the Communication Studies department of Clark College since 2010, teaching classes that include Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication, and Public Speaking. Before he began teaching, he had a long career as a newspaper reporter and editor.

A graduate of Portland State University, Stevenson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development (with additional focus on Communication Studies) and a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies (with additional focus on Conflict Resolution), both with honors. In addition to his decade at Clark, he has teaching experience at Portland State University, Portland Community College, and Chemeketa Community College.

“I became a much better communicator after I attended both Interpersonal Communication and Small Group Communication classes from Tom,” wrote one student in nomination Stevenson. “His enthusiasm and compassion have a huge impact on students. I am grateful for the conflict-resolving skills I’ve gained to deal when I work in a group and use these skills in my family. Using perception-checking has helped me understand how to solve misunderstandings and conflicts.”

Lauren Zavrel, professor of adult basic education at Larch Corrections Center

While academia is full of highly specialized fields, Lauren Zavrel has built a career path that might be considered unusual even by the standards of higher education: For the past decade, she has taught in correctional facilities. She has served on the faculty of Clark College’s Adult Basic Education program at Larch Corrections Center since 2016, earning praise from her students for her inclusive, supportive teaching style.

“Ms. Z treats us as students first, not inmates,” wrote one student in their nomination. “She works with you on an individual level. She has a lot of respect for cultural differences and is aware of how cultural differences might play out in the classroom. She is accepting of all backgrounds. She actively recruits and hires Teacher Assistants from different backgrounds so that her students see themselves reflected in teacher’s assistants.”

Zavrel first discovered a love of teaching as a motorcycle safety instructor and began her academic teaching career in English as a Second Language. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Romance languages and her Graduate Certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon and her Master of Education degree in adult and higher education from Oregon State University. In addition to her time at Clark, she has teaching experience with Lane Community College, Lane County Adult Corrections, Clackamas Community College, Clackamas County Jail, the American Red Cross, and Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program. At Larch, Zavrel helped develop the first-ever tutoring program in a correctional facility to be certified by the College Reading and Learning Association. She also saw a record number of inmates earn their GEDs in the 2019-2020 academic year.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) is reaching out to programs and departments at Clark College to offer equity development support and training every Wednesday, calling the program “Work-It Wednesday.” It’s open to all college employees, departments and groups that want help with ongoing equity work. The program is designed to be flexible to help employees infuse equity principles into a program, project, initiative, or effort at any stage in the process.  

To better understand the program, we asked early adopters at Clark on their experience with Work-It Wednesday. 

At the Library: Connor Cantrell, Interim Resource Sharing Supervisor 

Clark College: Can you provide information on the program, project, initiative, or effort that needed ODEI’s guidance/input? 

Connor: We met with ODEI multiple times during Summer and Fall 2019 to organize social equity training for our department in the library. All four of the FTEs in our department (Connor Cantrell, Amanda Brown, Tasha Robertson, and Connie Anderson) in the planning and the entire department (including FTEs, 1050s, and student employees) have participated in the training program. It consists of weekly reading and reflection activities and occasional presentations. 

Clark College: What was the process? How did it impact your project? What did you learn? 

Connor: We originally had planned on a one-time presentation, but quickly realized the program needed to be integrated more closely into our department’s operations. By our second meeting, we had drafted an outline of a presentation designed to set up a weekly reading and reflection activity. Rosalba [Pitkin] attended our October 2019 presentation and provided feedback that informed our future training. Since then, we have met with ODEI several times as we encountered roadblocks. We always left with an equitable solution. As a result, we were empowered to implement a program that fits our department’s needs and connects to the college’s equity initiatives. 

Clark College:  Did your time with ODEI staff impact your outlook or decision-making for future work? 

Connor: Our WiW sessions equipped us with the tools to begin making changes in our workplace. Although we are classified staff, we realized we essentially would be “teaching” our department coworkers and student employees we supervise about equitable practices. We did not feel qualified to take on this teaching role. However, ODEI taught us how to prepare our department for these sometimes-difficult conversations by creating shared norms and how to incorporate active learning principles with our student employees by creating feedback channels during our activities. We have utilized the strategies ODEI gave us to help us engage coworkers in conversations about equitable practices. 

Clark College: Would you like to add anything else about Work-It Wednesday? 

Connor: We are grateful to ODEI for all their assistance and guidance. Everyone in our department (and many other employees and library patrons) have benefited directly from ODEI’s guidance. Since we started discussing this project in August 2019, both the college and the library have experienced significant and often stressful changes. Leading our discussions and decision-making processes with racial equity has provided clarity and has minimized harm as we navigate these changes and everyday systemic barriers. Additionally, we feel that explicitly affirming our commitment to racial equity and to serving systemically non-dominant folks significantly has  improved our workplace, and especially for our student employees. 

At Child and Family Studies: Michele Volk, Director

Clark College: Can you provide info on the program, project, initiative, or effort that needed ODEI’s guidance/input? 

Michele: We are revising our department’s communication and conflict resolution policy and process  for our staff and family handbooks at Child and Family Studies, for accreditation and practical application. Of course, we encourage direct, open and respectful communication. However, like all departments, we often work with people who have many perspectives, a range of experiences, different views and even conflicts. It is important to have a model that encourages a safe space where all voices are heard, valued and respected during a potentially emotional situation. 

We started asking for interest and input within our department. Using that input, I reviewed mission and values, researching about conflict resolution and social justice, and began developing our model. Our goal is a conflict resolution modeled that honors all parties and has the potential to repair relationships. I hoped that working with WiW would reduce communication barriers, examine whose voices are heard, and to consider other views and lived experiences. We realized the value in having another lens examine our language. Words matter. 

Clark College: What was the process? How did it impact your project? What did you learn? 

Michele: ODEI staff are excellent at helping you tease out your goals, the intent, how the policy, procedure or process may be perceived, to consider how it impacts others and possible ways to make it equitable and accessible for all employees. The team asked insightful, reflective questions that spurred us to think more deeply, both individually and collectively. It made me look for systemic barriers within this model and process. And also, to reflect on other policies to consider revisiting, and to seek input from stakeholders. To have three to four people, very knowledgeable, with rich collective experience helped me slow down and work toward a meaningful and equitable policy and process. I look forward to our department’s next step in Fall: rolling out our new communication and conflict resolution policy that supports the values of being in relationship in the early care education setting. 

Clark College: Did your time with ODEI staff impact your outlook or decision-making for future work? 

Michele: Yes. WiW and the BUILD program have helped me to reflect and to consider how and when my own bias and systemic roots might come into play. This intentional planning helped me put aside the sense of urgency and to focus on being intentional and to consider many more layers than I would have previously. After meeting with ODEI, I also found myself examining language with more curiosity and intent. Going forward, I will use Clark’s equitable decision-making tool as a routine part of my work and decision making at CFS. 

Clark College: Anything else you’d like to add about Work-It Wednesday? 

Michele: ODEI is a place of learning. They meet you where you are with warmth and genuine care for our work  and our impact on students and employees. WiW is a comfortable place to dig into uncomfortable conversations—and to grow our skills and knowledge as staff, instructors, and leaders. Many thanks to Alyssa, Rosalba, D, Melissa, and Rashida for bringing this vital program to campus! 

Clark College is responsible to identify and dismantle systemic racist systems and build equity into everything we do. 

Message from Clark College Board of Trustees:

In recent weeks, a long overdue awakening and acknowledgement has taken place across the country. We have witnessed the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others who have lost their lives to racism. The cumulative trauma of these and hundreds of years of overt and systemic racism weighs heavily on communities of color and hold us all back as a society.

As the board of Trustees:

• We are in solidarity with the College in standing with those who stand up against hate, state violence, and racial inequities; and we affirm our commitment to social justice and equity.
• We acknowledge the disproportionate impact of this trauma on our faculty, staff, and students of color. We hear you; you matter and you belong here.
• We hear the voices of Clark’s students when they say “Let our Voices Be Heard”, when they declare “Racism is Alive”; and we share in their hopefulness for the future. We hear you; you matter and you belong here.
• We recognize that words can initiate change but action is what secures change. With that recognition we acknowledge our unique governance, policy, and fiduciary role and commit to listening, identifying and dismantling racist systems and policies, and ensuring that the Policies and Procedures of the Board of Trustees are consistently performed with an equity lens.

In solidarity, Clark College Board of Trustees 

Approved and Adopted June 10, 2020

Clark 24/7 has been reaching out to members of the college community to learn how they’re coping with, and adapting to, life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we share an interview conducted by Dean of Student Affairs Cath Busha and Counseling and Health Center Professor Dr. Bevyn Rowland with Busha’s 7-year-old son, Oliver. Busha and Rowland are both still working remotely from home, while Oliver is now completing second grade online.

“We appreciated this chance to talk with him about these issues as a check-in,” Busha said. Their conversation reflects many of the emotions and logistics being experienced by members of the Clark College family–not just staff and faculty, but also the 25 percent of Clark students who have dependent children.

Busha & Rowland: Why have we been working from home and why have you been learning from home? 

Oliver: Because of the COVID-19 going on. If we went to work and school, we could get sick and get other people sick, especially older people. and they could die.  
 
B&R: How do you feel about COVID-19? 
O: I feel ‘hassed’–like happy and sad together. I’m happy because I get to have more time with my parents, and I’m sad because I don’t get time with my friends. I only get time with my friends on Google Hangouts.  
 
B&R: How has it been to be home with us? 
O: Great! Because I get more time with my parents, which is great because my parents are some of the best parents you could ask for, and I get to watch Star Wars movies.  
 
B&R: What are some things you’ve done since we’ve all been working and learning from home together? 
O: I’ve put on magic shows, I created an alarm system with a safe that I’ve turned into a time capsule and buried; I will open it in one month. I also camped on the trampoline and read Mr. Wolf’s Class and New Kid. I’ve made apple hand pies, caramel corn, and soft pretzels. Also, some nights at 8 p.m. we howl to show support for first responders. 
 
B&R: What are some frustrating things about being home? 
O: That I don’t get to see my friends. I also miss Pizza Day at school. Seesaw [an online learning tool used by elementary schools] can be hard. My teacher posts a bunch of things. I finish one, and then I have like six more to do. It can be tiring. 
 
B&R: What advice do you have for other kids who are at home? 
O: Stay home, stay safe, have fun. 
 
B&R: What advice do you have for parents? 
O: Stay home, stay safe, and spend as much time with your kids as you can. 

Clark College announced that it would continue offering most
of its classes only in online formats through the 2020 summer and fall terms.

“This was not an easy decision,” wrote Interim President
Sandra Fowler-Hill in an email to students on April 24. “We all want to be
optimistic that we will be able to return to classes face-to-face. But we have
listened closely to the CDC and Public Health’s caution that our ‘new normal’
will depend on what the virus does. There may be recurrent restrictions on
large gatherings by the Governor. We are a large institution with thousands of
students and more than 1,000 employees. We must consider our whole community’s
health and safety first and foremost.”

Fowler-Hill added that it was important to make the decision
in a timely fashion, so that students could have time to prepare for the
prospect of two more terms of remote learning, and faculty could have
sufficient time to thoughtfully adapt their courses for distance teaching.

The college has also moved its registration dates for summer
and fall terms in order to give faculty, staff, and students the time they need
to adjust their plans.

The college is working with state authorities to get guidance
on options that would allow some classes to run in-person labs during summer
and fall terms, using appropriate social distancing techniques.

The college is also waiting for additional guidance from the
state and from public health authorities before announcing any plans to shift from
fully remote operations to partially remote.

Fowler-Hill communicated the college’s decision to employees
in an email update. “I know this is
hard news to absorb,” she wrote. “We miss our campus. We miss our students. We
miss interacting face-to-face with each other. By making this decision
now, we will have ample time to improve our processes to best
support our students so they can learn online,
remotely, successfully, and safely.”  

Eight outstanding educators are the newest members of the tenured faculty at Clark College. Rhea Becke (career and academic preparation), Chris Boucher (diesel technology), Amy Laurel Bratton (communication studies), Alison R. Dolder (professional baking and pastry arts), Becky Engel (American Sign Language), R. Earl Frederick Jr. (cuisine), Aaron Guerra (cuisine), and Dr. Nick Macias (computer science and engineering) were all granted tenure during the Clark College Board of Trustees meeting on March 11. They will be honored at a college reception in fall 2020. 

Tenure is awarded by the college’s Board of Trustees based on professional excellence and outstanding abilities in their disciplines. The granting of tenure is based on the recommendations of tenure review committees to the vice president of instruction, which are then forwarded to the president, who presents a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Recommendations are based on self-evaluations, tenure review committee evaluations, student evaluations, supervisory evaluations, and peer evaluations. The final decision to award or withhold tenure rests with the Board of Trustees. 

About the faculty members 

Rhea Becke, Career and Academic Preparation 

Rhea Becke holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Marquette University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from University of Alaska Southeast. Before entering the teaching profession, she worked at the Juneau Alliance for Mental Health. She has experience teaching in public schools in both Alaska and Oregon, teaching English in Japan, teaching chemistry at Clark College, and teaching pre-college courses at both Mt. Hood Community College and Clark College. 

Becke joined the faculty of Clark College in 2012. She currently serves as lead instructor for her department’s Math Applications course, a member of the Transitional Studies Standards Committee, and the Transitional Studies’ liaison to the Mathematics Department. Additionally, she is part of the first cohort of the college’s BUILD program, a yearlong employee development program providing intensive training in power, privilege, and inequity. 

Rhea Becke described her teaching philosophy in the following terms: “My classroom is a learning community where students come as they are to actively engage with math in contextualized situations in order to become critical thinkers and problem solvers.” 

Chris Boucher, Diesel Technology 

Chris Boucher earned his associate degree in diesel technology from Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Washington. He also studied criminal justice at Santa Rosa College in Santa Rosa, California. He has industry-specific work experience at Peterson Caterpillar, Cummins Northwest, Pacific Detroit Diesel, Cummins Intermountain, and Smith Detroit Diesel.  

“My teaching philosophy is fairly straightforward, in that I believe we learn by doing,” said Boucher. “Putting our hands on a task forces our mind to focus on the task at hand. As a teacher you must also demonstrate credibility to the student, which will reinforce their confidence in your qualifications. If the student doubts your experience, it will reduce your effectiveness.” 

Amy Laurel Bratton, Communication Studies 

Amy Laurel Bratton graduated summa cum laude from the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. She earned her master’s degree in communication from Portland State University. Her teaching experience includes Portland State University, Portland Community College, and Clark College, as well as being a certified yoga instructor who trains other yoga instructors in public speaking and communication skills. 

Bratton joined Clark College in 2005 as an adjunct and began a full-time position in 2011. She served as facilitator of the college’s Service and Leadership in the Community (SLIC) Club and is currently active in assessment work at the departmental and program level. She regularly engages in professional development opportunities at the college, especially on the topics of eLearning education and power, privilege, and inequity. 

“My teaching philosophy highlights the play between theory and practice,” Bratton said. “I encourage students to discover new communication concepts and to see how these concepts apply to their daily lives. As an educator, I am continually inspired by the opportunity to empower community college students with their own communication skills.” 

Alison R. Dolder, Professional Baking and Pastry Arts 

Alison R. Dolder is an alumna of Clark College, where she earned her associate degree in baking management. She has a long professional career in the baking industry, including positions at multiple bakeries in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well as the award-winning Pearl Bakery in Portland, Oregon.  

Since joining the faculty at Clark College, Dolder has become active in the local community, participating on the Fort Vancouver High School Advisory Committee and teaching cooking and baking skills at the Boys and Girls Club of Vancouver. In 2015, she was received the college’s prestigious Exceptional Faculty Award. 

Dolder says she strives to “engage, encourage, and support” her students: “I try to get the students excited about what they are learning and encourage them to dig right in and get their hands wet. I observe their learning styles and tailor my instruction to suit each students’ style.” 

Becky Engel, American Sign Language 

Becky Engel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Oregon State University and a Master of Education degree in Deaf education from Western Oregon University. Prior to joining Clark College as an ASL instructor, she taught at the Washington School for the Deaf. 

Since coming to Clark College, Engel has served as the advisor to the ASL/Signing Penguins student club, ASL Advisory Committee for Southwest Washington high schools, a judge for the Washington School for the Deaf’s Flying Hands ASL Literature Competition, the Emergency Building Coordinator Committee, and the Social Equity Task Force. Additionally, she participated in the creation of the college’s 2015-2020 Social Equity Plan and is a member of the first cohort of the college’s BUILD program, a yearlong employee development program providing intensive training in power, privilege, and inequity. In 2017, she received the college’s prestigious Exceptional Faculty Award. 

“Due to my background in Deaf Education, I’m fortunate to have experience working with students from a wide background,” said Engel. “As a result, I adapt my teaching style to fit students’ needs. I am always willing to stop, circle back, and try a different teaching approach, knowing the other students would most likely benefit as well.” 

R. Earl Frederick Jr., Cuisine Management 

R. Earl Frederick Jr. earned his Associate in Applied Science degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, his Associate in Applied Science degree in baking and pastry arts from the Oregon Culinary Institute, and his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Warner Pacific College in Oregon. A Certified Executive Chef through the American Culinary Federation, he has held chef positions in the culinary services of Walt Disney World, Club Med, Job Corps, Nike, and Intel.  

Since coming to Clark College, Frederick has helped launch the college’s Cuisine Management program and provided input on the design of its new McClaskey Culinary Institute. He serves as the program’s ServSafe Certified Instructor and Registered Proctor, ensuring students meet the rigorous requirements of this national food-safety program. 

“I lead by example and lecture from facts,” Frederick said. “I tell my students that you’ll receive exactly what you put into the class. My motto: Don’t talk about it, be about it!” 

Aaron Guerra, Cuisine Management 

Aaron Guerra has decades of experience as an executive chef, instructor, and education and restaurant consultant. After graduating from the Western Culinary Institute with an associate degree in culinary arts, he worked as an executive chef at Portland’s Harvest Grill and The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve in Vancouver, Washington. He was nominated for the American Culinary Federation’s “Chef of the Year” in 2007, 2011, and 2014, and was named ACF Pro Chef Oregon’s Chef of the Year in 2014. His teaching experience includes Le Cordon Bleu/Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon; Northwest Culinary Institute in Vancouver, Washington; and Clark College.  

At Clark, Guerra helped launch the college’s Cuisine Management program and provided input on the design of its new McClaskey Culinary Institute. He serves as department chair and is active in his community, founding a nonprofit called the Culinary Champions for Charity that raises money for local organizations. He also participates in a national group of leaders in higher education called the Deans and Directors Retreat. 

“My teaching philosophy and approach is simple,” said Guerra. “I am a conduit of my experience, skills and knowledge from 30 years of being a chef to my students, fellow instructors and campus. My job is to help prepare the next generation of cooks and chefs and to help make myself, my coworkers and those I interact with on campus better with every opportunity.” 

Dr. Nick Macias, Computer Science & Engineering 

Dr. Nick Macias earned both a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in computer science from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; a master’s degree in mathematics from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; and a doctorate degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic University. Along with his industry-specific work experience in both the private sector and as a civil
servant, he has teaching experience at Duke, George Washington, Virginia Tech, Northwest Academy, Portland State University, Washington State University, and Clark College. 

Dr. Macias joined Clark College in 2011. Within his department, he is actively involved in Guided Pathways, course assessment, community outreach, and student advising. He serves as faculty advisor for the Computer Science and Engineering Club; outside of Clark College, he volunteers with the Regional Arts and Culture Council. In 2017, he earned Clark College’s prestigious Exceptional Faculty Award. 

“I believe learning happens through the search for answers, so I teach by raising questions in the material, in the subject, in ourselves,” said Dr. Macias. “I encourage students to make and embrace mistakes, as these raise the exact questions best suited to one’s own learning.” 

This Week: Coronavirus Concerns

As a college, we are closely monitoring the outbreak of a respiratory disease known as COVID-19. We are in ongoing contact with Clark County Public Health. We will work with them to determine risk and exposure. We will act with abundant caution.

Our Number One priority is to safeguard the health of our students, staff, and faculty. We also want to do everything we can to help our students successfully complete their winter term studies.

Facilities Services staff are using COVID-19 sanitation guidelines from the CDC for routine cleaning, including common touch surfaces. Please understand that increased cleaning in high-use locations will result in service reductions or suspensions in low-traffic locations, such as private offices.

Our departments are building their operational plans should there be a temporary disruption to classes or college operations. We are taking into consideration all possible scenarios. That makes it hard for me to generalize our operational plan to you today because it’s dependent on so many variables. I want to thank the work of the Incident Response Team, which is meeting daily. We post updates to www.clark.edu under “Important Updates.”

As a reminder, we all have a role to play:

1. Know our facts. The CDC government website is a reputable resource. 
2. Wash our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
3. Avoid touching our faces with unwashed hands.
4. Don’t share food and drinks.
5. Clean and disinfect shared surfaces and objects that are touched frequently.
6. If possible, avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
7. We should stay home when we are sick. Stay home, rest, and stay hydrated.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. I will update over the weekend if conditions change.

Budget process

Thank you to all who have attended the budget forums this past week as coordinated by the Budget Committee.

I want to thank the Budget Committee—which includes faculty, staff, and students—for their work on this. To do their work, they need your help. They are asking you to submit ideas you have to help Clark College close a projected $5.4 million gap in the 2020-2021 budget. All budget proposals must be submitted via an online form by March 11.

The committee again acknowledges that this is a tight timeline, but hopes you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your thoughts on the important budget decisions that need to be made. We appreciate the many proposals (more than 200 to date) that have already been submitted. 

We’ve also heard that faculty and staff would like a place to share ideas for generating revenue. Feel free to use the existing online budget proposal form and simply note that you are submitting a recommendation to increase revenue and not a recommendation to cut the budget.

The committee has developed budget priorities to be used in reviewing the recommendations it receives. It is posted on ClarkNet under “Budget Process (2020-2021)”. If you need an alternate format or an accessible version of the Budget Priorities document, please contact Bob Williamson at bwilliamson@clark.edu or at 360-992-2123.

Who is your representative on the Budget Committee? Here is the linkto the budget committee members with their contact information. When you see them, please thank them for their work.

The committee will be submitting a prioritized list of budget proposals to Executive Cabinet on March 20.

Clark College Climate Improvement Task Force

I’m pleased to share updates from the Climate Improvement Task Force. In their first three meetings, they’ve had wide-ranging conversations about our college community and their approach to this work. The task force is committed to a grassroots approach to guide their recommendations in addressing themes identified in the Fall 2019 Climate Survey. They will invite conversation and solicit your feedback throughout the process. 

To date, they have:

1. established group norms and agreements 
2. determined how they will work together as a task force, with constituencies, and with the college as a whole 
3. dedicated themselves to modeling shared governance and open communication as a task force 
4. committed themselves to using feedback from our climate survey and other avenues to guide their recommendations 

Here are the Members of Climate Improvement Taskforce:

• Justin Allen
• Traneesa Frazier
• Shanda Haluapo
• Heather Leasure 
• Dalila Paredes
• Jenny Shadley
• David Sims
• Arwen Spicer
• Erin Staples
• Sarah Thorsen
• Robert Weston
• Rashida Willard
• Bryton Williams
• Melissa Williams
• Feddie Young

We understand there is no simple fix to our college environment and that a task force cannot resolve all the challenges that employees face. However, I am grateful to the members of the task force who are rolling up their sleeves in this effort toward systemic change for a healthier and more inclusive college culture. I fully support their process and their work.

Accessibility

I encourage all of us to check out Accessibility Made Easy, a Canvas resource to support staff in creating accessible content.  

The content is easy to follow, providing steps and resources for creating accessible documents. The topics cover tools commonly used at Clark College: Microsoft Outlook 2016, Microsoft Word 2016, Microsoft PPT 2016, and Adobe Acrobat DC for PDFs. This content was put together by Instructional Accessibility Specialist Tre Sandlin and Director of Disability Support Services Megan Jasurda. Thank you, Tre and Megan!

Upcoming ODEI Trainings

On a related note, I wanted to pass along to you the upcoming opportunity for Disability Justice 101 training.This course qualifies for both B.U.I.L.D. and PPI credit.

During this training, participants learn about the intricacies of the disability community, including affirming and non-affirming language, types of disabilities and learn about neurodiversity. Participants will also learn what these concepts mean and how to put the tools into practice in the Clark College community. This course will take place on March 18 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in GHL 213. Sign up here.

Preventing violence and harassment

Clark College received a three-year grant from the Office of Violence Against Women to reduce and prevent sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking. One of the main goals of the grant was to embed training, information and supports into our existing structures. I’m pleased to report that since July 2018, more than 3,000 Clark students have received Bystander Intervention and Consent training in their College 101 classes. Kudos to Cath Busha, who helped write the grant; Tavish Bell, who served as the first project coordinator; Flyn Alexander, who is overseeing the grant until it ends this October; Heather Adams, who worked with Tavish to develop the training curriculum; and Kristin Sherwood, who included this important information in her College 101 curriculum. To learn more about resources available to help students and employees report and recover from sexual misconduct, visit www.clark.edu/cc/survivors.

Congratulations, Susan!

Please congratulate Susan Maxwell. Thankfully she’s not leaving Clark College but she is taking on new responsibilities with SBCTC to help our fellow colleges implement ctcLink. Starting March 16, she will become an SBCTC employee. She’ll maintain her office here four days a week and will spend 20 percent of her time working on ctcLink for Clark College.

Thank you, Susan, for your work and your leadership at Clark. You’ll be a great asset in helping other community colleges make the leap.

Congratulations, Andy!

Great news from our student led Indy Newspaper. Former Indy photo editor Andy Bao, who’s now at UCLA, just won Student Photographer of the Year from the National Press Photographers Association. Also, the Indy won third place out of 9 for best community-college newspaper at the Associated Collegiate Press’s mid-winter conference in San Francisco on Feb. 29. Kudos!

Upcoming events

I am looking forward to some fun upcoming events next week at Clark College – here are a few reminders:

• Treble Ensemble Concert is Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. The location is 401 E 33rd Street at the Vancouver First United Methodist Church. Free admission for everyone.
• The Winter Choral Concert is Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. The location is 401 E 33rd Street at the Vancouver First United Methodist Church. Free admission for everyone.
• Clark College Automotive Open House is Wednesday, March 18 at 6:00 p.m. The location is the Auto Shop in AA1 on the main campus. This is open to students, their families, and anyone interested in our Dealer Ready Automotive Technology programs. Our partnerships with dealerships include Toyota, Honda, Dick Hannah, and Audi.

I am also looking forward to attending the Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Dr. Chris Hill’s visit with the Guided Pathways Team, a lecture at the Port of Vancouver on Doing Business with the World, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance Springfest at Pearson Field Education Center, and the Vancouver School District Foundation Luncheon with the Clark Foundation staff.

Great things continue to happen every day here at Penguin Nation as we wrap up Winter Quarter. As I was waiting in the Decker Theatre Lobby last night for the doors to open for the musical Bare I overheard a community member say, “This theatre adds so much to the culture of our city. Thanks for being here.”

Thank you for all you do to make Clark College a great place to work and to learn.

This week

This past week I enjoyed
celebrating with our community 30 years of research and community collaboration
at WSUV. And, the Business and Health Sciences Unit invited me for some
Q&A. Thanks to the BHS faculty and staff for sharing your thoughts and
concerns with me. I especially enjoyed hearing about learning in action in a
Professional Selling Class. A student developed a sales pitch as his final
project to propose to another student in the class. And, she said, “Yes!”
Thanks James Ron Powers, Adjunct Professor, for sharing the adorable pictures.

At the L.E.A.D. meeting on Friday
we got a sneak preview of what will be presented at the upcoming budget forums.
VP Bob Williamson and Director of Business Services, Sabra Sand, did an
outstanding job of describing a very complex topic in an open and transparent
way.

Budget

The Budget Committee is
finalizing instructions for the college to assist in the development of the
2020-21 budget. This process will allow all members of the college community to
contribute proposals.  Input is vital as the college anticipates a $5.4
million shortfall in the 2020-21 budget, which will result in an approximate 8%
cut.

It is important for all of us to
see the projections, the numbers and have a chance to ask questions as we move
forward through this process. The budget committee will be loading budget
documents onto our intranet for your ongoing review. It’s at https://clarknet.clark.edu/governance/budget.

Three budget forums will be held:

• February
  27, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., PUB 258
• February
  28, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m., PUB 258
• March
  3, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., FHL 126

I want to thank the budget
committee, which includes faculty, classified, staff, and students. I want to
encourage all of us to participate in this process. The committee will develop
a list of ideas on how we can close the gap. They will prioritize and submit to
the Executive Cabinet. The EC will give weight to the recommendations in making
budget decisions and reporting back to the committee. This is difficult work
and it is important we do it with respectful communication, discourse and
transparency.

Legislative Update

The 2020 legislative session
passed its halfway mark Tuesday as fiscal committees reached their deadline for
passing bills out of committee. The House and Senate used the remainder of the
week for floor action debating and voting bills ahead of the Feb. 19 floor
cutoff date. The Senate confirmed several community college trustees this week
including Reekah Strong.

A bill to fix the funding
structure behind the Workforce Education Investment Act is headed for the
Governor’s desk. Once he signs, it will put into place a funding structure
supporting the 2019 act, which includes the Washington College Grant and Guided
Pathways.

President Search

The Board of Trustees has narrowed
the field of presidential candidates to two: Dr Karin Edwards and Dr. Sara
Thompson Tweedy. Their bios cans be reviewed on the Clark College Presidential Search Page.

The Board has identified a few
key follow up questions for the two finalists. They have asked them to provide
additional information that will be used to help make a final decision expected
next Friday, February 21^st.

The College began this work a year ago and I want to thank each
of you who have contributed along our collective journey. Engagement has been
key to a transparent, equitable and inclusive process and we are grateful for
everyone who has played a part in preparing for this important moment in Clark
College history.  

Sad news at Concordia University

As many of you already know,
Concordia University Portland announced this week that they will be closing at
the end of this spring term.

This heartbreaking news has
brought up questions. One set of questions is around what we are doing for
Concordia students. Earlier this week, I reached out to Concordia’s president to
offer any assistance we can provide in supporting their students. Student
Affairs is planning on attending a transfer fair at Concordia next week. And
I’ve asked HR to reach out to their HR department to connect with employees who
may be eligible to fill open positions here.

The other set of questions
revolve around whether what happened at Concordia could happen at Clark. It’s
important to understand that we are two very different institutions: Concordia
is a private university with a large online graduate-degree program, while
Clark is a public community college. Accreditors were concerned enough about
Concordia’s finances to require additional monitoring; Clark just received a
very complimentary financial audit with no findings. This informative article in
Inside Higher Ed explains in greater depth how Concordia’s troubles developed.

Nevertheless, this news has impact
on our community. Some Clark students were planning on transferring there; some
Clark employees are midway through graduate programs at Concordia, or have
children who are attending there, or are alumni themselves; and many of us know
people working at the university. I want to extend my sympathy to everyone
affected.

Kudos to Team

Thank you Cath Busha, Dean of Student Engagement, who has agreed
to serve as Interim Title IX Coordinator pending hiring of the Director of
Compliance position. Genevieve Howard, Associate Vice President of
Instruction, and Mike See, Director of Safety and Security, will serve as
Deputy Title IX Coordinators. I appreciate all the ways our staff pitch in
during times of challenge.

Clark survey of students on food and housing insecurity

This week, The Hope
Center for College, Community, and Justice released its #RealCollege
2020 National Report.  330,000 students at more than 400 colleges and
universities were surveyed about food and housing insecurity.

Here is the data specific to Clark College:

• 36% of respondents experienced food insecurity in the prior 30 days
• 46% of respondents experienced housing insecurity in the previous year
• 17% of respondents experienced homelessness in the previous year
• 55% of students at Clark College experienced at least one of these forms of basic needs insecurity in the past year
• 28% of food-insecure students utilize SNAP benefits
• 11% of homeless students utilize housing benefits

Invitations to complete the questionnaire were sent by email to
approximately 7,600 students from Clark College and 1,156 students
participated. Thus, the estimated response rate is 15.2%.  To read the
full report for Clark College:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5bed243399f122edd399e7728/files/7a9598e1-ba5f-4be3-a523-69f5e8ad1074/RC2019_InstRpt_ClarkCollege.01.pdf

It affirms the importance of our wrap-around services for students to help them stay on the path, acknowledging the barriers that they face in their pursuit of a certificate or degree.

Faculty
Honors

The Faculty Excellence Award
Committee encourages all of us to nominate an outstanding instructor,
librarian, counselor, or department head for the Exceptional Faculty Award.

This award is professional
recognition of the highest order, as it spotlights the instructor’s teaching
excellence and positive impact for all to see. Faculty members can nominate
their peers as well.

For more information and to
nominate your favorite instructor or an outstanding peer, please go to http://www.clark.edu/cc/efa.  The
deadline for making your submission is March 13, 2020.

Next week

I hope you all
enjoy the three-day holiday weekend. I will be attending the Association of
College Trustees (ACT) new trustees orientation and legislative advocacy
conference with our trustees.

Next week the
college is hosting the inaugural NW
Regional Equity in Higher Education Conference organized by our amazing DEI team (Rashida Willard, Dee Harris,
Alyssa Voyles, Melissa Williams and Rosalba Pitkin.) Speakers from, Washington
(including Clark College), Oregon and Idaho are presenting on Creating
Inclusive Systems Beyond Diversity: Equity in Practice.

We are also
hosting the Columbia River Economic Development Council Education Committee at
CTC. I am looking forward to presenting an overview of our programs and
Francois Wevers, Director of Economic Partnerships and Customized Learning,
will be providing a tour of the CTC Building. And, I am honored to serve on a
panel of regional community colleges at the Greater Portland Inc. Economic
Summit to share the great work we are doing.

Great things
continue to happen every day here at Penguin Nation. Thanks to our wonderful
Grounds Crew (and some sunshine) the crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and
the campus looks beautiful!

Thank you for
all you do to make Clark College a great place to work and to learn.

This week

Kudos to the Facilities Services
staff and Safety and Security officers at Columbia Tech Center for responding
so quickly to the water damage due to flooding from a broken water pipe over
the weekend. We recovered quickly thanks to the Facilities team and the Office
of Instruction’s Joanne Savage, who figured out room moves for the remainder of
the week and made the changes in 25Live. The restoration phase will be
rebuilding the damaged systems and bringing the building back to completed
form. This might take a month or two, depending on class schedules,
contractor/staff availability, and the extent of the repairs needed after the
recovery phase. Thanks to all for the quick response in getting classes back up
and running.

I enjoyed a delicious,
four-course Mardi Gras lunch in the McClaskey Culinary Institute this past week
and also stopped in to see beautiful Japanese calligraphy created by students.
As an ex officio member of the Foundation Board, I shared an update on the
progress of the 10 board priorities for this year. At the Board of Trustees
work session, it was inspiring to listen to the 11 tenure-track candidates
share their passion for teaching. Kudos to the Tenure Office and all of the
support Danielle Plesser and Quincy Berkompas have provided to the candidates
and the tenure committees to make this a well-organized and supportive process.

At the Board of Trustees meeting
we heard heartfelt student testimonials on the impact that the college
navigators and the MESA program have had on students’ lives. In describing his
experience at Clark College, student Jovan Merceron shared, “I feel like a
person, and the faculty always care. Clark is a place where you can become
somebody and become the best version of yourself.”

It was my honor to welcome the
statewide Council for Unions and Student Programs to Clark College for their
Winter Quarter meeting, which was hosted by Sarah Gruhler, Director of Student
Life. It was made even more special to reconnect with a former student life
director I had previously worked with at Everett Community College. I also
enjoyed celebrating birthdays and getting to know some of our amazing faculty
and staff.

Budget

In my earlier budget message sent today I let the college know
the Budget Committee has recommended going with a conservative option in
projecting 2020-21 enrollment. This option anticipates fewer state-support,
Running Start, and International students than we built into the current year’s
budget.

Given our recent enrollment history, I accepted the committee’s
recommendation to plan very conservatively for next year’s budget. But the net
result of serving fewer students, coupled with increases in must-fund items
such as wages and benefits increases for all faculty and staff, leaves us with
a $5.4 million deficit to close in 2020-21.

To put this deficit in perspective, last year’s 5% budget cut
saved $3 million. To close next year’s projected shortfall we will have to find
cuts of 7 to 8%. 

We are faced with a significant budget challenge, and solving it
will require everyone’s participation. The Budget Committee will soon be
announcing the process for engaging the entire college community in developing
next year’s budget. In the meantime, please feel free to share your thoughts
with your Budget Committee representatives. A current committee roster is
attached to the earlier budget message.

President Search

Thank you everyone who took time to provide feedback on the
finalists for the position of Clark College President. All feedback provided
online is confidential and anonymous. The Board of Trustees extends their
appreciation to you for the thought and time you have put into helping them
select the next leader of the college. You can remind yourself of the three
candidates by going to the Presidential
Search Finalists web page.

The Board of Trustees is on schedule to make a hiring decision
as early as Friday, February 14. The decision would be made during the open
session of the Board of Trustees meeting. We’ll be quick to update you by email
and with news alerts as soon as we hear the news. All three of our candidates
are excited at the prospect of leading Clark College and working with all of
you.

New MESA Director

Please join me in welcoming Dalila Paredes to her new role at
Clark College as MESA Program Director! Dalila highlighted two of her students
and presented at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting. It is so encouraging to
hear from students who are thriving at Clark College.

Margaret Tolmacheva is studying to be a mechanical engineer, and
she’s currently President of the NERD Girls Club. Derek Ferguson is studying to
be a nurse practitioner. They both say MESA’s tutoring, textbook supports, and
personalized attention are all important resources helping them succeed. Dalila
has taught college STEM classes for a decade. She previously opened a STEM
tutoring center at Amarillo College in Texas.

The Clark College MESA program currently has 95 students enrolled
who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.
It provides added supports for low-income students of color who are
underrepresented in STEM-related careers. The current group of students has an
average 3.08 GPA and a 79% retention rate. Dalila says she hopes to create more
internship opportunities for MESA students. If you have ideas or want more
information, she can be reached at dparedes@clark.edu.

Clark/Vigor agreement signed

This is exciting!  Clark
College has signed an MOU with Vigor for what will be a very positive
partnership benefiting our students. I mentioned this a few weeks ago. Vigor has
a new $1 billion contract to build next-generation landing craft for the U.S.
military and needs skilled welders.

Caleb White and his team are
creating curriculum that will ensure students have the skills that Vigor needs.
Vigor will offer interviews to our students that will potentially lead to
employment opportunities. In addition, Vigor will send their current employees
to Clark for training. This is exactly the kind of partnership we want for our
students and our employers.

So many people to thank, let’s
start with Caleb White, Welding Department Head and his team of expert welding
faculty. Also Vice President of Instruction Sachi Horback and Interim Dean of
WPTE Armetta Burney for making this a high priority and negotiating the newly
signed MOU. This is a big win for our students, our college and our employers.
Congratulations to our Welding Program and Office of Instruction!

Faculty Kudos

Congratulations to Bruce Elgort, Computer Technology Instructor.
He has been recognized by IBM as an IBM 2020 Champion. The international
program recognizes innovative thought leaders in the technical community. It
provides training opportunities to its recognized champions. 1,400 individuals
were nominated from 44 countries. IBM announced its 600 champions this week.
Bruce is one of approximately 250 recipients from the United States. Bruce is a
great example of an innovator bringing the very latest in a rapidly changing
world to our students.

Clark College Grants

Clark College has been awarded more than $2 million in grants
this past year. I want to thank everyone, especially Julie Robertson, Director
of Planning & Grant Development, who have obtained these additional
resources that benefit our students in direct and meaningful ways. Over the
next several weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the grants and how they’re
being used.

On the foundation side, Clark College’s Veterans Resource Center
was recently named the recipient of a $245,700 grant thanks to the Cowlitz
Indian Tribe. This is a tremendous investment in our veterans and we are
grateful for the support.

On the college side, you may remember the Career Connects grants
awarded in September. This comes from a dedicated fund identified in the
Governor’s budget; one-time money to help bolster and expand college programs
in high-demand industry.  Clark College received $1.3 million earmarked
for the Mechatronics program. It provides capital equipment funding and
instruction funding to support more FTE’s.

SBCTC provided Clark with $100,000 for Guided Pathways –
specifically for the student emergency assistance grant.

I like to highlight these grants because it requires substantial
work to apply for, and then manage, the grant. These are valuable additional
resources to the college that help us fund high-demand services and programs.

Alpha Sigma Phi Honors       

The Alpha Sigma Phi Chapter at Clark College has been recognized
nationally as a 2020 REACH Chapter. REACH stands for Recognizing Excellence
in Acceptance and Completion with Honors. PTK members will receive special
graduation stoles to wear in honor of their achievement. Clark College is
grateful for their many contributions to our community.

Honoring our students

Because we place so much emphasis
on supporting, our students I wanted help spread the word.

Each year, the ASCC Officers host
the OSWALD Awards (Outstanding Students With Academic
Leadership and Development skills) to recognize Clark College
students for their outstanding achievements. You can submit the names of
current students you would like to be recognized at the 2020 OSWALD Awards.
Award categories and submission forms can be found by visiting the OSWALD
website. The deadline is Friday, March 20.

Next week

I am looking forward to attending the women’s and men’s
basketball games this weekend and honoring former athletes and teams who are
being inducted at the ninth annual Clark College Athletics Hall of Fame. Next
week I’m hosting the Clark Equity Advisory Committee, an event I look forward
to each month. This group of dedicated community leaders have provided great
insight and feedback on improving college culture for systemically non-dominant
students.

I also look forward to attended WSUV’s 30-year celebration of
research and community partnerships and representing Clark College on the WSUV
Advisory Council. And finally, as we all excitedly anticipate the announcement
of the next president, I have convened an onboarding committee to support their
success.

Great things continue to happen every day here at Clark College.
Thank you for all you do.

This week

I kicked off this week
with welcoming our new employees to the Penguin Nation at their orientation
session. Thank you to Vanessa Neal for organizing this engaging event, and to
each of the program presenters as well. I appreciated hearing from classified
staff at the WPEA Membership meeting as they shared concerns about college
climate with me. I joined the foundation for a “Conversation” with community
leaders hosted by Patrick Ginn, CEO of the Ginn Group, at his office. It was an
informative evening of making connections with Clark College and updating the
group on some of the exciting things happening here, including the new applied
baccalaureate programs. Thanks to Nursing faculty member Nick Luisi for sharing
his inspiring keynote presentation at the Office of Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion and Multicultural Peer Mentors’ Winter 2020 Queer Student Luncheon. I
also stopped in at the Transfer Fair in the Student Center and delighted to see
so many of our students exploring what’s next for them on their path to
success.

Presidential finalist feedback is due Feb. 4

If you haven’t already, remember to submit your feedback online for our three finalist presidential candidates. Employees can do so online from the ClarkNet home page (login required). All feedback must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4. All feedback will be anonymous and confidential.

BASHS recognition

The Washington State Department of Health recently issued a report titled “Evaluating the Need for Creation of a Bachelor’s Level Behavioral Health Credential.” Clark College’s own Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services degree program was singled out as an example of the kind of degree path that combines training in both addiction and mental health to create behavioral health care professionals that meet new guidelines set out by the Affordable Care Act. Kudos to Dr. Marcia Roi and the rest of the team behind our BASHS program for being forward-thinking about how best to prepare students for the future of health care careers.

Advising takes their show on the road

You may have seen staff from Advising Services around campus recently talking with students as part of a new “Pop-Up Advising” initiative. They are reaching out to students to promote the importance of making connections with academic advisors early. This is a great example of putting Guided Pathways goals into action by making this key service more accessible to students who might not come into their offices. Academic Advisors will be visiting CTC and CCW this term as well. If you have an area of the college you think would benefit from a Pop-Up Advising session, contact advising@clark.edu.

Go Penguins!

Congratulations to our women’s basketball team, who beat Portland Community College 71-43 on Wednesday. Find out about scores and upcoming games at www.clarkpenguins.com.

Gaydena Thompson

Finally, I want to take a moment to recognize the passing of an important figure in Clark College’s history. Gaydena Thompson, who taught physical education at Clark College for more than three decades and served as our Athletic Director for five years, died on December 31 at the age of 84. Gaydena was a truly remarkable person: Not only was she Clark Collge’s first female athletic director, but she was the first female athletic director at any Washington State community or technical college. Our Thompson Fitness Center is named after her. A celebration of Gaydena’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on February 1 in Gaiser Student Center. Those who wish to do so can donate to Clark College Foundation in Gaydena’s name by visiting www.clarkcollegefoundation.org/campaign/give, selecting “Other” in the drop down menu and specifying the “Gaydena Thompson Fund.”

Next Week

I am looking forward to enjoying a Mardi Gras-inspired menu in
the MCI Student Restaurant next week. I’ll be sharing an update on the college
at the Foundation Board meeting, attending the Columbia River Economic
Development Annual Investor Event, meeting the first- and second-year tenure
probationers at the Board of Trustees Work Session, hosting birthdays with the president,
and attending the STEM Seminar Series on February 7 (“Worthwhile Challenges of
Fieldwork in Congo Basin” by Clark College anthropology faculty member Jay
Fancher). And I’ll be ending the week by celebrating our new inductees into the
Clark
College Athletic Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees include:
1968 Men’s Golf Team; 1995 Men’s Basketball Team; Dan Johnson, Men’s Basketball
1966-68; Michele (Westmorland) Brown, Women’s Softball 2012; and Marc
Hadenfeld, Men’s Track & Field 1969-70.

Great things continue to happen every day here at Clark College. Thank you for all you do.