Clark College President, Dr. Karin Edwards, delivered the annual State of the College address Thursday, January 19, 2023. This annual address is an opportunity for college students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the community and local leaders, to learn about the organization’s ongoing evolution.
This year’s address built upon last year’s theme of becoming, and focused on the change occurring at Clark.
President Edwards shared that last year the college “…embarked on a journey of rethinking and redesigning.” She continued, “Though this process is still evolving, there are some things we are sure of, that equity, excellence, and student success are foundational.”
She went on to share some of the successes the college has experienced during the last 12 months. The college exceeded Full Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment targets for the Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 terms by 159 and 134, respectively. These numbers signal a stabilization in enrollment after several years of decline accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Left to right: Casey Figone, Imani O’Neill, with Clark College Board of Trustee members Paul Speer and Cristhian Canseco Juarez
Attendees to the address also had the opportunity to hear from two student speakers. ASCC President Casey Figone spoke about the endurance of Clark College students. He highlighted the ability of the student body to continue their many paths through a period of much change.
“When you hear the word endurance, I would like to ask you to think of the students at Clark College and their unparalleled drive. But beyond that, I would like you to think of yourselves. Without the amazing faculty and staff at Clark College, there would be no beacon for the students; you are the soul of the beacon that makes Clark College consistent through every obstacle,” shared Figone.
Fellow student Imani O’Neill is in her first year of the McClaskey Culinary Institute’s Cuisine Management program. She stated that the reasonable cost of Clark classes and the resources available to students were part of the reason “Clark has been an ideal choice for my college education.” With students like Figone and O’Neill, the college looks to the future as it embraces change.
This year will bring the completion of the 2023–2028 equity-centered strategic plan. With a commitment to implementing this plan and focusing on closing equity gaps, Dr. Edwards reminded the audience that the plan will “…provide support for equity and access…” at Clark College and also serve as a “…needed roadmap for our future.”
Photography: Jenny Shadley/Clark College Videography: Joey Hicklin/Clark College
Opening Day 2022
Oswald, Clark’s penguin mascot, lead a dancing executive cabinet into Opening Day while “Don’t Stop Belivin'” by Journey played.
On September 12, Clark College employees came together to celebrate the start of the 2022-23 academic year, with its first in-person Opening Day since 2019. President Edwards said that although she has been at Clark College for over 2 years, this was the first in-person opening day celebration, and she was loving it!
A video introducing executive cabinet members featured Chris Layfield driving each member around campus with Oswald (Clark College’s penguin mascot). They shared why they work at Clark College and even had a little fun sharing their favorite songs in a short sing-along with Chris and Oswald.
This was President Dr. Karin Edward’s first in-person Opening Day since her start in 2020.
Based on the institutional priorities and the equity-centered strategic plan, the president’s work plan will guide her efforts into 2023. President Edwards also gave an update on Boschma Farms.
“We are very close to having the design of the building, which will house 5 general purpose classrooms, student support spaces, offices, conference rooms, and of course our advanced manufacturing, high bay area. The facility is smaller than we planned, but we’re still able to accommodate the courses and programs,” she shared.
A new initiative at the college, Clark Cares, was unveiled with a video (https://youtu.be/iPbuvj3ZIVs). It featured some of the things staff can and currently do to show our students we care about them and their Clark experience.
Brad Avakian, vice president of human resources, presented the years of service awards to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years by reading their names. Employees with service over 25 years were invited to come to the front to receive their certificates. All years of service awards also come with monetary compensation based on the number of years served.
The 30 Year employees honored were: Tina Barsotti, George Cole, Tracy Nehnevaj, Kristeen Nichols, and at 35 Years: Mark Owsley.
Paul Wickline, vice president of instruction, left, honoring Mark Owsley, for 35 years of service.
Exceptional Faculty Awards
The award honorees were announced at Commencement in June and were honored at Opening Day.
Kathrine Anastasi, libraries, was honored for her work at Larch Corrections to research, develop, and supply the best materials for their library.
Dr. Amy Castellano, phlebotomy, was honored for her work in the classroom supporting and respecting students, her attention to the wellbeing of her students, and her commitment to students understanding the subjects she was teaching.
Steven Clark, biology, was honored for his work in the classroom, creating deep interest in biology, openness to learn from his students, and acknowledging their work in meaningful ways.
Erielle Lamb, surveying & geomatics, was honored for her work in the classroom, letting students make mistakes, making complicated calculations fun and interesting, and sharing stories so that students could relate the schoolwork to their planned career.
Luanne Lundberg, career & academic prep, honored for her work making math understandable even for students with learning disabilities, instilling confidence in her students that would break them out of poverty. She also developed a pathway from CAP to MTH in 2016. She was a co-leader in the collaboration with the math department to develop outcomes and curriculum and kept us student-focused.
Gail Robinson, English, was honored for the extra help she offers her students in and out of the classroom, building their confidence in writing and offering specific, concrete feedback so that her student’s writing skills can grow.
Annual Exceptional Classified Staff Awards
Chris Layfield receiving his award.
Chris Layfield, Admin Services Manager in Security and Safety, was honored for his service to all those who pass through the doors of Gaiser Hall, often guiding them physically to where they need to go or contacting a department or person they need to talk to. Students often have come back to the desk to comment on how Chris’ help is what made them stay at Clark. He has served on hiring committees, the Security and Safety Committee, and the Social Equity Committee and is a WPEA steward,
Jessica Sanders, Program Support Supervisor in Transitional Studies was honored for her work in supporting students and faculty. Her extensive knowledge of Transitional Studies, and providing supplies to students, and finding new ways to do this during the pandemic has been instrumental to students and colleagues. Her exemplary service to students who often speak English as a second language is done with respect and care. She supplies faculty with valuable recruitment and inclusion data to help them better serve their students.
Exceptional Administrative-Exempt Award
Ayssa Voyles, center, being cheered on by her colleagues.
Alyssa Voyles, Associate Director of Employee Equity, Outreach, and Engagement in the Office of Diversity and Equity, was honored for her work in coordinating events, stepping in to help the ODEI team, adding new workshops, supporting others through co-facilitating of workshops, and her dedication to equity. She also has been instrumental in working beyond her team by stepping in as interim director of communications in Communications and Marketing, serving on the Boschma Farms team, and helping staff form Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to help build a stronger community and sense of belonging to Clark College
Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award
Left to right: Christina Smith, Dr. Karin Edwards, and Cydney Topping
Christina Smith and Cydney Topping worked together to create and co-lead the Anti-Racism Faculty Learning Community (FLC) in the English Department. This FLC is based on cutting-edge research on anti-racism and culturally responsive teaching. Their research, conducted in the Fall term and implemented in Winter and Spring, is at the highest levels of data-informed education.
While faculty are the intended recipients of this service they provide, students will be the true beneficiaries. In following their leads, implementing the strategies they are sharing, and continuing our own growth as faculty, the field of English Studies, including rhetoric and composition, will overcome centuries of implicit bias and colonial mindset that faculty in English have felt duty bound to uphold in the service of other programs, despite our qualms about the inequities of “Standard Written English” as a marker of academic achievement.
Opening Day at Clark
The new 2022 Student Ambassadors serve lunch to employees on Opening Day.
The event included refreshments provided by iQ Credit Union, Welcome Week shirts, Clark Cares buttons, and information from the “O Squad.” Additionally, there was an opportunity to have employee photos taken and visit with colleagues. The Clark College Foundation also provided lunch from Big Town Hero and Kona Ice at the Anderson Fountain.
Opening Day is part of a multi-day orientation and training for faculty organized by the Clark College Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). The Keynote address was given on Tuesday, September 13, by Melissa Williams, Policy Associate/ Interim Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Clark College alumnus.
Clark College honored its 86th graduating class at the 2022 Clark College Commencement ceremony held Thursday evening, June 16, at the RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater. The college conferred over 1,900 degrees and certificates for the next generation of our community’s workers, leaders, and scholars.
The ceremony featured remarks written by President Dr. Karin Edwards and focused on the power of persistence and resilience, “It’s the power of persistence that builds resiliency. It’s a power that assures you can overcome any challenge.”
Highlights from this year’s ceremony include:
Approximately 550 of the college’s 1,965 graduates participated in the commencement ceremony.
This year’s graduating class included 319 Running Start graduates.
The college conferred its first Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity degrees at the ceremony. This comes on the heels of announcing its 5th BAS degree program, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education.
The ceremony honored students graduating with bachelor’s or associate degrees and those earning certificates, high school diplomas, and/or GED completion.
During the ceremony, Vice President of Instruction Paul Wickline announced the recipients of the 2022 Exceptional Faculty Awards: libraries professor Katy Anastasi; phlebotomy professor Dr. Amy Castellano; biology professor Steven Clark; surveying and geomatics professor Erielle Lamb; and English professor Gail Robinson.
The student speaker was Associate of Arts degree recipient Alex Reid.
“Our community at Clark is diverse and as a tutor of a large range of classes, I have been able to get a glimpse of just how far that reaches. But even if we are so different in our backgrounds and our goals, today we are all united by one single fact: we made it.” —Alex Reid photo by Adeena Rose Wade
2021-2022 Community College Presidents’ Award
“..my academic training will allow me to influence the lives of students and juveniles positively; I will be a helping hand to my community, the same that Clark College has been to me.”—Madelyn Hennerty photo by Jenny Shadley
Graduate Madelyn Hennerty was the recipient of the 2021-2022 Community College Presidents’ Award in Honor of Val Ogden. This annual scholarship is given to a Clark College graduate who demonstrates leadership potential, a commitment to community service, and academic achievement. The scholarship award provides full-time tuition at Washington State University Vancouver (WSUV) and is renewable for one additional year, essentially providing full tuition to complete a bachelor’s degree. Hennerty is an excellent example of the resiliency and tenacity of first-generation college degree earners. She worked throughout high school to help support her family and eventually saved enough to pay for her first year of tuition at Clark College.
Actors Andrew Poletto and Dani Neblock rehearse a scene from the one-act “Sure Thing” in February 2022. They will be some of the first performers to be part of a live-audience theatre production at Clark College since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Photo: Mark Owsley/Clark College.
In theatre, they say, timing is everything. And now, at long last, the timing is right to bring back live dramatic productions to Clark College. After moving to remote operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Clark College Theatre Department returns to in-person performances at Decker Theatre, with a collection of one-act plays running March 10-12.
“We are elated to return to live theatre,” says Theatre department chair Dr. Gene Biby. “After nearly a two-year hiatus, our students are thrilled to be rehearsing and performing once again. This production is six sketches that include a cast and crew composed of current and former Clark College students.”
All in the Timing is a collection of six one-act plays written by David Ives. Winner of the John Gassner Playwrighting Award, the collection has been described by the New York Times as “like sketches for some hilarious, celestially conceived revue. The writing is not only very funny, it has density of thought and precision of poetry.”
All in the Timing runs March 10, 11 & 12 in the Decker Theater, on Clark College’s main campus. Visit www.clark.edu/maps for maps and directions. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased through the Clark College Bookstore. Seats will be assigned upon arrival. Social distancing and mask requirements are in effect for these performances.
This show contains adult themes, language, and content and is recommended for a mature audience.
Full cast and crew
Sure Thing
Directed by Linda Owsley
Cast: Andrew Poletto and Dani Neblock
Words, Words, Words
Directed by Sterling Buck
Cast: Neil Wade Freer, Colby Conerly, and Lizzy Swanson
Variations on the Death of Trotsky
Directed by Travis Beagley
Cast: Sterling Buck, Ariel Huntley, and Andrew Poletto
The Philadelphia
Directed by Lila Soelberg
Cast: Andrew York, Brenden Kinnee, and Madison Harris
The Universal Language
Directed by Autumn Fivecoats
Cast: Lizzy Swanson, Neil Wade Freer, and Vic Paxman
English Made Simple
Directed by Dani Neblock
Cast: Ariel Huntley, Vic Paxman, and Corey Harper
Shelly Williams contributed to this article.
Columbia Writers Series welcomes Lincoln Michel
Lincoln Michel. Photo courtesy of the author.
The Clark College Columbia Writers Series continues its 2021-2022 season with writer and critic Lincoln Michel. This event, which is free and open to the public, will be held virtually on Thursday, March 3, 10:00-11:00 a.m. The event will be held on Zoom (passcode: Clark).
Lincoln Michel’s debut novel, The Body Scout (Orbit), was named one of the ten “Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2021” by the New York Times. He’s also the author of the story collection Upright Beasts (Coffee House Press) and the co-editor of the anthologies Tiny Crimes and Tiny Nightmares (Catapult). His fiction appears or is forthcoming in The Paris Review, Granta, NOON, Lightspeed, and elsewhere. His essays and criticism appear in the New York Times, The Guardian, and Lit Hub, among others. You can find him online at lincolnmichel.com and @thelincoln.
The Columbia Writers Series was launched at Clark College in 1988, bringing local, national and international authors to the college and the region. This year’s lineup of authors will continue with award-winning poet Morgan Parker on May 12.
Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services (DSS) Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP). The DSS office is located in room 013 in Clark’s Penguin Union Building.
Get a Running Start at Clark College
High school students can learn how to take the next step in their education by attending one of three optional Virtual Running Start Information Night sessions hosted by Clark College.
The identical sessions will be held 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8; Wednesday, Feb. 23; and Thursday, March 10. All three events, which are free and open to the public, will be held virtually over Zoom.
Running Start allows eligible juniors and seniors to earn college credit while they fulfill their high school graduation requirements. Running Start students attend Clark classes along with other college students. They can choose from a full range of academic and professional and technical courses.
The program, which can significantly reduce the cost of a college degree, has proven popular in Southwest Washington. Some Running Start students are so motivated that they earn their associate degree from Clark at the same time that they earn their high school diploma. These annual information nights frequently attract hundreds of interested students and parents.
These information sessions are for students and families who want to know more about beginning the program in Fall 2022. While the sessions are completely optional, they are a good opportunity to hear current Running Start students candidly describe their experiences in the program and to learn about the program benefits, eligibility criteria, expectations, timelines, and more.
An American Sign Language interpreter, live captioning, and Spanish/Russian interpreters are available for all event dates. Additionally, sessions will be recorded and made available in March at www.clark.edu/runningstart.
Running Start students pay for books, transportation, and some fees, but do not pay full Clark College tuition. Students can attend part-time or full-time under the Running Start program. Fees are subject to change by the Washington State Legislature. A fee waiver is available for those demonstrating financial need.
Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP) as soon as possible.
For more information on Running Start, visit the Clark College website at www.clark.edu/runningstart. For information about Running Start Information Nights, call 360-992-2078.
Honoring Dr. King
Clark College is honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of virtual events on Wednesday, January 19.
Learn more about leading at educational institutions 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Meditative Stretching: Keyonda McQuarters
Join us for guided practive all levels welcome 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch
Free lunches (selection of pork, chicken or portobello) available for pick up at the McClaskey Culinary Institute, no advanced orders, first come first serve, while supplies last. 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Keynote speaker: Velynn Brown
We Shall Overcome: Reflections on the Spiritual Practice and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Sharing the bounty
Helping distribute food were, left to right, Director of Student Life Sarah Gruhler, Phi Theta Kappa member Jessica Smith, social work intern Brooke Niemer, PTK member Miya Hobart, ASCC Vice President Claudia Carrion, ASCC Student Relations & Promotions Casey Figone, ASCC President Xander Hawkins, APB member Melissa Lassiter, and Student Life Program Support Supervisor Sami Lelo. Jenny Shadley/Clark College
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving is often a sleepy time at Clark College, as students and faculty prepare to take time off for the long weekend. But this year, it was abuzz with activity, as students, staff, and faculty all worked to provide their community with holiday meals.
The event was a collaboration between the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, the culinary arts programs, Student Life, the Penguin Pantry, and the Clark College Alumni Association. Many Clark College employees donate funds for the project each year through Clark College Foundation.
Volunteers provided 333 Thanksgiving meals prepared by Cuisine Management students, baked goods from the Professional Baking program, bread donated by sponsors Meineke, as well as to the regular monthly food boxes provided to Penguin Pantry recipients. In total, 122 students and their households–481 people in all–were provided with 4,326 pounds of food.
Established four years ago, the Penguin Pantry provides Clark College students with food, other basic goods, and connections to resources. Learn more at www.clark.edu/cc/penguinpantry.
The day before, Cuisine Management professor Earl Frederick and his students worked to make Thanksgiving meals for families with a member in hospice. Read the Columbian article about the project.
Thanksgiving meals were prepared by Cuisine Management students including, left to right, Ruslan Ganzhin, Anthony McFarland, Quinten Teague, Ella Nelson, Ian Ryan, and Tom Aurellado. Clark College/Jenny Shadley
Educating for the Seventh Generation
For more than a decade, Clark College has honored the cultures and traditions of indigenous peoples with an annual celebration and powwow held in early November. This year, as in 2020, that celebration needed to be held virtually due to COVID-19. A video including interviews with community leaders and images from past celebrations has been posted on the college’s web page devoted to the event. It is also posted below.
Video: Introducing women to careers in manufacturing and mechanical
Guests tour Clark College’s Diesel Technologies lab during an open house held in September 2021 to encourage women to explore careers in the advanced manufacturing and mechanical trades. Photo: Jenny Shadley/Clark College
On September 9, Clark College hosted a free workshop for women interested in advanced manufacturing and the mechanical trades on the college’s main campus. More than 30 women attended the event, which included hands-on activities and tours of the college’s Automotive, Diesel, and Welding labs, as well as the chance to speak with professors.
The following video, narrated by Interim Dean of Workforce Professional Technical Education & STEM, captures some of the excitement from the event as well as the motivation behind it. Properly trained technicians are in high demand in the advanced manufacturing and mechanical industries, and these careers can be rewarding both financially and professionally. However, a recent study found that only 1 in 3 manufacturing professionals are women.
Two $1,800 scholarships will be made available to students who attend this event and enroll in a Clark College Automotive, Diesel, or Welding program by fall 2022. One scholarship was made available by Madden Industrial Craftsmen, the other through an anonymous donor.
