Left to right: Clark nursing student Kevin, the first attendee to complete a Career Connect BINGO card, hands his card to Alex Kison from Career Services.
The Community Room in the Clark College Building at WSU Vancouver was the place to forge community and career connections on October 22. Students, alumni, community members, and local employers intersected at Clark’s Career Connect event, the first-ever Career Connect event the college has hosted at this campus.
Clark students pursuing Health Care and Bioscience programs connected with campus supports and with employers to discuss available internships, jobs, and other opportunities.
Looking around the room busy with people making connections, Alex Kison from Career Services said, “We got the word out to students!”
The event was organized by the Career Services team, with Kison leading the logistics. The Career Services team includes Kison, Emily Meoz, Trisha Haakonstad, Michael Caldwell, Aaron Campbell, and Niira Krupnick. Student employees Eli Knapp and Paul Dulaney also assisted with the event.
Connecting with Clark services
Advising Services, Career Services, and Student Success Coaches worked together to staff the event. Staff members assisted students who had the opportunity to ask questions and gain an understanding of academic pathways, career possibilities, and strategies for success.
These departments partnered with faculty to coordinate timing for the event that would make the most sense for student participation. The event was held in the community room on the main floor of the building that houses the majority of Clark’s Allied Health programs. Organizers scheduled a lunchtime event and offered free pizza, salad, and drinks.
Jordan Wilcox, program specialist for Clark’s upcoming surgical technology program, spoke to students about the new program and its prerequisites. The new program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025.
Lana Strickland, Student Success Coach for students pursuing Healthcare and Biosciences was on hand to chat with students about scheduling time with a coach, improving study skills, and more.
Connecting with employers
Clark biology student Logan talks with representatives from Multnomah County Oregon about health care jobs.
Logan, a Clark biology student who plans to pursue a career in either microbiome research or zoology made his way around the various tables as he talked to employers. He stopped at the Multnomah County Health Department table to discuss potential career opportunities.
Ardon Health, which operates specialty pharmacies, is hiring pharmacy technicians. A Clark pharmacy tech student is currently doing an externship with them.
Kaiser Permanente is hiring medical assistants, nurses, and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
Consumer Direct Care Network is hiring in-home caregivers.
Clark nursing student Kevin was the first to make connections with people around the room and turn in his Career Connect BINGO card, which includes activities related to career exploration and connections made at the event.
Over a two-hour period, valuable connections were made as Clark students stepped closer to their much-anticipated careers.
Emily Meoz, far right, greets students as they enter the Career Connect event.
Next Career Connect Event
If you missed the October 22 event or are looking for more opportunities to connect, here is an upcoming opportunity:
Exploring Healthcare & Biosciences Careers – A Career Connect event
When: Tuesday, November 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Clark’s main campus in PUB 161 (Penguin Lounge)
“We want to meet students where they are already taking classes,” explained Kison. “The November 19th event is more exploratory for students and community members who are interested in a healthcare and bioscience career but want to learn more and explore the different options. There will be healthcare and bioscience employers and industry professionals such as nurses, pharmacy technicians, and healthcare administrative specialists who will be available to speak to experience in their field.”
Employers who participated in the October 22 Career Connect:
A high school competitor works on a welded piece in the Clark College welding lab.
Can you pass this welding pop quiz?
Q: As more than 155,000 welders in the U.S. approach retirement age, how many new welders will need to be trained by 2027?
155,000
200,000
360,000
The answer is C. The U.S. will need 360,000 new welding professionals by 2027, according to the American Welding Society. That translates into 90,000 welding jobs that need to be filled annually through 2027.
Regional employers came to the event to support the competitors.
On Friday, Oct. 18, the Clark College welding program welcomed SteelDays, a welding competition for local high school students to showcase the welding and fabrication industry. It’s one of 25 SteelDays events organized by the American Institute of Steel Construction from October 14-18 around the U.S.
Attendees from high schools with welding programs in Battle Ground, Fort Vancouver, and Kelso school districts spent the day welding, receiving guidance from Clark welding instructors, and competing to win. Representatives from the SteelDays sponsors, including Industrial Source, Thompson, and Central Welding Supply came to support the students.
Left to right: Wade Hausinger and Tiffany Saari helped organize the event.
Wade Hausinger, instructor of welding technologies at Clark, said that Clark’s relationships with local companies are important. He regularly visits welding employers around the region to learn the techniques they’re using in their shops so he can teach current skills to Clark students.
He also shared that local companies are hiring from Clark. One student was hired at Vigor Aluminum Fabrication right after finishing the program and started at $34.95 an hour. Vigor even brought some of their employees to Clark to learn some new welding skills from Hausinger.
Clark College’s Welding program:
Two-year degree, Associate of Applied Technology in Welding
Vice President of Instruction Dr. Terry Brown kicked off the Penguin Talks series on October 17 at Vancouver Community Library.
Speaking on the theme “The Power of Education,” Dr. Brown shared stories about how education transformed his own family in only three generations. His grandparents and parents grew up in the segregated South where their opportunities were limited.
Dr. Brown’s grandparents did not graduate from high school. A generation later, his mother attended community college but did not graduate. Eventually, she returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree. Her children took their education even further. Both Dr. Brown and his brother earned doctorate degrees.
For an hour, Dr. Brown spoke about how education transforms people, families, and communities. Here are some highlights.
The power of education
“The power of education extends far beyond the individual being educated. It extends to our families, our communities, our nation.”
“Education is a conduit for personal transformation. It provides a way for people to learn how to solve problems, to learn about the world and how to navigate it, to discover and develop their abilities and talents so that they can become who they are meant to be.”
“Education is a catalyst for family and of community wellbeing. Education provides the means for people to expand their opportunities to care for their families. This impact can be intergenerational.”
“Education is a cornerstone of economic vitality. An educated workforce dramatically raises the economic prospects of a family, a community, and a nation.”
“Education is a call to civic engagement and services.”
Investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion
“Attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion say something. We are seeing diversity, equity, and inclusion being questioned, and being under attack. The antonyms of DEI are homogeneity, inequity, and exclusion.”
“The power of education is limited only by our willingness to invest and engage with it. Disinvestment of our schools and colleges says something. Not providing support to people trying to learn says something.”
Investing in lifelong education
“If we want a society filled with highly developed human beings, a nation and society rich materially and culturally, then we need to invest our resources into each other’s lifelong education.”
“I believe in the power of education. Education is both our inheritance from those who came before us and our legacy to those who come after us. It’s our responsibility to preserve and protect it.”
The first of three Penguin Talks, held at Vancouver Community Libary in the Columbian Room.
About Penguin Talks
Clark College and Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries are partnering to present Penguin Talks, a lunchtime speaker series offered at noon on two more consecutive Thursdays, October 24 and 31 in the Columbia Room at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street, Vancouver. The free, public series features local experts sharing their knowledge about critical topics impacting our community. October 24: Red, White, and Brown: Race in the United States with Melissa Williams
Explore the formation of race in the United States and its lasting consequences. Learn how to define systemic racism and begin steps to mitigate its impacts.
Melissa Williams is the Policy Associate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She has almost 20 years of experience working in administrative leadership positions in higher education, including 13 years at Clark College. She serves on the Alumni Board of Clark College Foundation. October 31: Native American, Indigenous or Indian? with Jhon Kuppens
Jhon Kuppens, enrolled member of the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrielino/Tongva, will speak about American Indian tribal histories, sovereignty, federal trust responsibility, and rights. Kuppens will explore the impact of tribal politics, culture, law, jurisdiction, and values while examining the legacy of historical trauma.
Kuppens holds a Master of Legal Studies degree in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Washington State University.
Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish
Environmental Science
Environmental Science Professor Josie Lesage, (far left) holds up mullein—a non-native, but not invasive plant.
On a misty, rainy morning in October, Josie Lesage’s Environmental Science 101 students gathered around her in the gravel parking lot at Sams Walker Recreation Area near Skamania Landing in the Columbia River Gorge, about 34 miles from the Clark College main campus.
Lesage distributed gardening gloves and asked for volunteers to carry supplies to the work site. One student carried a bucket of garden spades. Others carried flats of Canada goldenrod. The native plants are grown by Clark students in Environmental Biology/Biology 101 classes at the Native Plant Center’s greenhouse. As they hiked along a gravel trail, Lesage stopped to point out a field that previous Clark students had seeded with native plants.
“Clark students have been involved with a habitat restoration project here for the past two years,” says Clark Professor Kathleen Perillo, Environmental Science and Biology, and co-director of the college’s Native Plant Center. Students gain hands-on experience learning about and working with native plants at the Native Plant Center and planting them at the U.S. Forest-managed restoration sites in the Columbia River Gorge.
This restoration effort is a partnership with Clark College, the U.S. Forest Service, and The Center for Ecodynamic Restoration, a nonprofit organization based in Washougal.
Restoring habitat
After Lesage demonstrated the preferred planting technique, the group stepped off the trail and passed a sign that read: “Please keep off. Revegetation in progress.” As they walked uphill to the planting area, they snaked around a rusty relic of farm equipment, its iron wheels encased with thick moss. This artifact and a crumbling foundation are the few remaining remnants of the farms operated by the Sams and Walker families on this land in another era.
But much more recently, this entire area—the field and adjacent wooded areas—was overgrown with non-native invasive species including reed canary grass, pasture grasses, and towering Himalayan blackberry plants. Now, the ground is covered in decomposing blackberry canes. Over the past two years, Clark students and other volunteers have begun planting non-invasive native plants. Fields are sewn with a mix of 33 different native species including Canada goldenrod, western yarrow, streambank lupine, bigleaf lupine, Douglas aster, milkweed, and more.
Reaching a broad hillside, the group stopped while Lesage offered final instructions. Setting down their umbrellas, backpacks, and clipboards, the students carried pots of Canada goldenrod all along the field, then knelt on the rain-soaked ground and got to work.
With so many hands working, the planting was soon completed. Although these plants are tiny now, they soon will mature and reseed with the help of the wind and birds. To demonstrate how quickly this transformation can occur, Lesage led her students over the hill and stood amid a thriving native landscape students had planted two years earlier.
Sams Walker Recreation Area
Sandy Haigh, a former Clark College biology professor, is the president of The Center for Ecodynamic Restoration (CEDR). She manages the restoration project at Sams Walker Recreation Area, which was established by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1990s. Working with the Forest Service, Clark College, and other partners, CEDR works to restore native habitats at the site. The project is funded with National Forest Foundation grants to CEDR.
Haigh defined ecological restoration as the process of restoring damaged or disturbed ecosystems to their natural state. CEDR works closely with Clark College Native Plant Center. Biology students propagate native plants in the campus greenhouse. Then professors Lesage and Perillo’s environmental science students plant the native species at Sams Walker and at St. Cloud, another project two miles west. This cooperative work introduces students to ecology, demonstrates the role of natives in ecological systems, and encourages them to enter related fields of work.
Perillo said, “We want our students to learn what a healthy Pacific Northwest ecosystem looks like and what it takes to restore it. We are teaching them about native plants and their role in native systems. But it goes beyond that to be able to show how a healthy system starts from the ground up and goes from soils to plants to pollinators on up to our apex predators. Everything in the system relies on everything else. That’s an important takeaway.”
She added, “We also want to empower students to see that they can be a part of worthwhile work in restoring systems and even take that knowledge back to their own backyards. It’s a way to tackle some of the nihilism that infuses many of our students in the face of climate change and the biodiversity crisis.”
Becoming an Environmental Scientist
First-year Clark student Kylie Miller (pictured above), one of the students who participated in the restoration work at Sams Walker, is pursuing a career as an environmental scientist. “I chose this field because I grew up in Southern Oregon and constantly being in nature made me a proud tree hugger.”
Miller grew up hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, gardening “and doing just about anything outdoors I could.” In high school, she took environmental science classes and was inspired by her teacher to pursue a career in the field. She helped start an environmental activism group, worked toward restoring the campus greenhouse, and planned local cleanups.
She chose Clark College for its strong environmental science program and because she was recruited to play volleyball for the Penguins. Miller is pursuing an associate transfer degree in environmental science and plans to earn her bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University, University of Oregon or Washington State University.
Miller said the planting project at Sams Walker Recreation Area “was a great experience to get a taste of what it would really be like to work in the field. I know for a fact I want to be hands on and in the field making change and impacting the ecosystems I’m working with for the better.”
Learn more
Call to action: Volunteer at the October 26 work party at Sams Walker Recreation Area. Click here to sign up.
Visit the site:
Sams Walker Day Use/Picnic Area: Located 34 miles from Clark College and 12 miles east of Stevenson, Washington.
Directions: No street address. Take Washington State Highway 14 west into the Columbia River Gorge. Turn right at milepost 32.8 onto Skamania Landing Road. Drive ¼ mile, crossing the railroad tracks. Turn right into the parking lot.
Habitat restoration at the Sams Walker Recreation Site near Skamania Landing along Highway 14 in the Columbia River Gorge here.
Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish
The Importance of Unlearning
Diane DeVore kicks off the 2024-25 student luncheons hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Diane DeVore (formerly Hernandez-Olortiga) has achieved some notable “firsts.” She’s a first-generation college student, the first member of her family to come out as queer, and a first-generation Latina in her family in the United States.
An academic advisor at Clark, DeVore shared her story at the first Queer Student Luncheon of the academic year on October 8. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to create community for students who identify as queer and allies.
The luncheon provides food and community for students and employees.
DeVore grew up in Compton and Long Beach, California, and lived in a household committed to traditional gender norms, including her father who holds machismo world views. She was outed to her family when her father read her Myspace messages with her girlfriend. She said, “I was never afraid of myself, but I was scared of the world around me.” She was shaped by the pressure to come out early to a family that was not accepting.
When she had the opportunity to move out of her parents’ home, she took it. In college, she met queer and Indigenous mentors who allowed her to unlearn the gender norms and colonial thinking she grew up with. “In the queer community, especially, we ask ourselves hard questions… just by existing we are pushing against these boundaries every day.”
Her college journey was non-traditional. She dropped out twice but eventually earned her master’s degree in a primarily online program. She said “It’s okay to take breaks and step back. You’re not on anyone’s timeline but your own.”
When asked how her queer and Latina identities intersected, she said, “It took more unlearning than learning because of the machismo culture.”
Now, her relationship with her family is stable, she’s recently married, and she works at Clark helping students like herself navigate college.
Students had the opportunity to ask DeVore questions.
She left students with three pieces of advice:
“In the queer community, we are never really alone.”
“Give yourself the space to grow and figure out who you want to become and unbecome.”
“Together our stories help build for the next generation of queer community.”
Upcoming ODEI Luncheons
October 22 @ noon: Students with Disability Luncheon in PUB 161
November 12 @ noon: Students of Color Luncheon in PUB 161
Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)
lunch is servedstudents attend the luncheonDeVore answers questionsDeVore tells her storyemployees also attendstudents ask questions
Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley
Columbia Writers Series
Clark College hosted award-winning author Kaveh Akbar on October 3 to a near-capacity audience of about 100 people. With nearly every seat full (and some attendees standing), Akbar read from his novel Martyr! and answered questions posed by the audience.
Left to right: English professors and Columbia Writers Series coordinators Alexis Nelson and Dawn Knopf, author Kaveh Akbar, and Vice President of Instruction Dr. Terry Brown.Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish
The first Columbia Writers Series event of the academic year attracted multiple creative writing classes, the Addiction Counseling Education Students Club (ACES), Clark’s Vice President of Instruction Dr. Terry Brown, and Clark librarians with a pop-up check-out cart featuring works by Akbar as well as past CWS speakers.
The pop-up librarians were on hand to suggest books ready for check-out.
Akbar spoke extensively about his writing process (he called himself an ‘ox’ writer who needs to write every single day) and what drove his writing of Martyr!. Historically a poet, he found himself writing a novel. He said, “I tried to tell the story in lyric poetry. But I’m not a good enough poet to do that. I recognized I needed to learn a new skill.” He started with the idea of Orkideh — a performance artist at the center of the book — and the other characters evolved from their narrative need to exist along with Orkideh.
In Martyr!, Cyrus, who is a recovering alcoholic, becomes obsessed with having a meaningful death and decides to write a book about martyrs. When he sees that Orkideh, who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, is living out the rest of her life in an art museum, he undertakes a journey to visit her. The book explores the tension and commiseration between their two perspectives on death, along with multi-layered ideas on family, love, grief, and so much more.
Akbar shared the relationship between writing and addiction recovery. He said that doing the work of recovery involves a kind of honest self-analysis that is also key to writing honest work. “If you’re really doing the recovery work… it means you’re taking a searching and fearless look at your own life. It means that you’re rigorously accounting in ways that are not ethically infantilized, that are not rhetorically hygienic… you have a leg up.”
While writing is his profession, he shared that recovery, and working in recovery groups to help others in recovery, is the central mission that drives him. “The work of my life, the actual what I do with my life, is working in my recovery community.”
Though the poet has become a novelist, Akbar still writes love poems for his spouse and knows he will continue writing poems for the rest of his life. He believes his poems don’t have to be published to be meaningful.
When asked about how he creates his characters, he replied, “I wanted my characters to feel like the people I know.”
Lisa Barsotti waits in line to have her book signed after the reading.
Kaveh Akbar is an acclaimed poet, novelist, and editor, whose works appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Paris Review, and Best American Poetry. He is the author of Calling a Wolf a Wolf and Pilgrim Bell, with Martyr!, his debut novel, recently becoming a New York Times bestseller and one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of the year. His writing delves into themes of empire, immigration, addiction, and the healing power of art.
Left to right: author Kaveh Akbar with Carly Rae Zent.
The Columbia Writers Series hosted Akbar along with the college’s Addiction Counseling (ACES) Club.
Next Up:
Winter Columbia Writers Series: Paisley Rekdal, January 30, 2025, at 1 p.m., GHL 213. Rekdal is the author of four books of nonfiction, and seven books of poetry, most recently, West: A Translation, which won the 2024 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and was longlisted for the National Book Award. Her work has received the Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA Fellowship, and various state arts council awards. The former Utah poet laureate, she teaches at the University of Utah where she directs the American West Center.
Spring Columbia Writers Series: Chelsea Bieker, May 29 at 10 a.m., PUB 258A-C Bieker is the author of three books, most recently the nationally bestselling novel, Madwoman, a Book of the Month club pick the New York Times calls “brilliant in its depiction of the long shadows cast by domestic violence.” Her first novel, Godshot, was longlisted for The Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and named a Barnes & Noble Pick of the Month. Her story collection, Heartbroke won the California Book Award and was a New York Times “Best California Book of 2022.” Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Marie Claire UK, People, The Cut, Wall Street Journal, and others. She is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Writers’ Award, as well as residencies from MacDowell and Tin House. Raised in Hawai’i and California, she lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two children.
Families stopped by the booths, including Clark College’s allied health information table.
Clark College hosted Noche de Familia on October 1, a special night for Latiné families to learn about academic options and college and community resources available to Clark students. This event is designed to deepen the connection with Latiné communities by providing programming in the Spanish language for new, prospective, and current students and their families.
The entire program was presented in Spanish, including introductions and all presentations. Offered in the fall and spring quarters by the college and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), this free event included activities for kids and a delicious dinner for all.
Staff from Admissions, Adult Basic Education, and Financial Aid made presentations—offering information on how to apply to Clark, and for services and like financial aid, and the many student support services.
Faculty from the college’s Business, Engineering, and Allied Health programs spoke about their programs and the types of job opportunities available to graduates.
Attendees also had opportunities to speak with Clark representatives from Financial Aid, Transitional Studies, Workforce Education Services, Clark Libraries, Counseling and Health Center, Career Services and more, Allied Health, Engineering and Computer Science, and more who sat at tables around the perimeter of the room.
WES table.Carol Hsu plays a game at the Engineering booth.Rosalba, far right, with members of the Mexican consulate.Mexican Consul Mónica Ochoa Palomera, center meets members of the ODEI team.VP of ODEI Vanessa Neal plays at the kids table.Trustee Juarez talks to John Anderson.Lizette Drennan talks to visitors about Financial Aid.Many academic and community partners tabled at the event.
While parents learned about resources and opportunities to assist them along their educational journey, their young children were busy with activities including face painting, creating artwork, reading books, and playing games.
Vanessa Neal, Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), welcomed our special guests, Mexican Consul Mónica Ochoa Palomera; John Anderson, Southwest Washington regional representative of the office of Governor Jay Inslee; and Clark College Trustee Cristhian Canseco Juarez.
Left to right: event coordinator and student success coach Katia Quintero and keynote speaker Liliana Salazar.
Inspiring Clark alum
Liliana Salazar, our keynote speaker, shared her inspiring story from undocumented childhood immigrant to first-generation college graduate and business owner. Growing up in Vancouver, Salazar decided she wanted to attend college, but she was not eligible for federal financial aid because she was a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. But she did not let the difficult financial barrier stop her. She was determined to get an education.
To pay for school, she worked as a waitress and applied for countless scholarships. First, she attended Clark College for two years before transferring to Washington State University Vancouver. Passionate about helping her community, she transformed her hobby of creating web pages into Website Chicks, which she calls “a business that has allowed me to empower others for the past seven years.”
At tables around the perimeter of Gaiser Student Center, several community nonprofits and organizations provided information about scholarships and other support and assistance also offered information at tables. They included:
Artist Daniel Duford stands in front of his painting Paisley Caves.
Art appreciators gathered to welcome artist Daniel Duford at the opening reception for his exhibit “American Underland” at Archer Gallery on October 1. The exhibit closes on December 20, so if you missed the reception, you still have time to visit this exhibit.
Duford chatted with guests, who included Clark students, staff, faculty, and community members.
He created all the exhibited work after his January 2024 residency at PLAYA in rural Summer Lake, Oregon, a land of open spaces and sagebrush at the edge of the Great Basin.
Standing in front of his painting Paisley Caves, he spoke about how spending a month in that landscape influenced his art. He spoke about walking across shallow, frozen lakes and taking in that landscape. He observed and said, “I took a ton of photos.”
Gallery Director’s Statement: I was initially drawn to Daniel Duford’s work because of his rich color palette and the unique mix of painting, drawing, and ceramics in his practice. I also appreciate how he combines landscape imagery with shamanistic and folkloric symbols to lead the viewer on a poetic journey—a deeper sense of time and space is brought to the forefront.
Our country is coming up on an election and, at times, the campaigns have felt shallow or short-sighted. In other words, the problems and solutions seem to have a four-year expiration date. This exhibit presents an alternative look at our country. The work on display depicts North American landscapes, characters, and stories that have long roots and deep time.
“That sense of time and change connects us to the larger, living world. That’s true deep time,” Duford says in an interview for Artsy.com. My hope is that this exhibit is both visually evocative for viewers and starts conversations around what it means to be American. Archer Gallery is excited to welcome this engaging political show that is refreshingly non-partisan just in time for the election.
American Underland events
Exhibition: September 16 – December 20
Saturday reception: November 2, 1-4 p.m.
Artist Talk: October 15, 1-2 p.m. (in person, PUB room 161)
Artist Daniel Duford stands in front of his sculpture Wellspring Processional Gonfalon.
Artist’s Statement about American Underland: The motifs filling these new works are the Janus head, coyotes, and processions. Janus is the Roman god of doorways, of endings and beginnings. The double-faced god presided over city gates marking times of war and peace. Old Man Coyote too has many faces. He is the Changeable One. Coyote the deity created death, the stars, and lots of chaos. His stories are bawdy, absurd, and alive with the electricity of a living landscape.
Coyote the animal has a complicated relationship to the United States’s history of Puritanical programs of extermination and persistent resilience. The procession is an image I’ve long been interested in. From Goya’s penitents to Courbet’s A Burial at Ornans, the procession can be solemn, grotesque, mocking, or an exuberant carnival.
Given the flowing energy of protest movements in the past several years, I see the image of the procession as an image of collective soul. I am more interested in the chthonic energies rumbling beneath the ground and lava flows animating the collective unconscious of the nation.
About the artist
Daniel Duford is an artist, writer, and teacher. His work tells stories drawn from North American history and mythology. He is a 2019 John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, a 2010 Hallie Ford Fellow, and a recipient of a 2012 Art Matters Grant. His murals and public art can be found throughout Portland. His books include John Brown’s Body, The Unfortunates Graphic Novel, The Naked Boy, and The Green Man of Portland. His work has been shown at MASS MoCA, The Atlanta Center for Contemporary Art, Maryhill Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum, Clay Studio, The Boise Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Craft, PICA, and The Art Gym at Marylhurst University. Residencies include MacDowell, Crow’s Shadow Art Center, and Ash Street Project. His writing has appeared in High Desert Journal, Parabola, Artweek, ARTnews, The Emily Dickinson Award Anthology, The Organ, The Bear Deluxe, Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics: Technical and Ceramics: Art and Perception. His work has been reviewed by The New York Times, The Village Voice, New York Press, The Albany Times Union, The Oregonian, Sculpture Magazine, Art Papers, Artweek, The Willamette Week and The Portland Mercury. He is currently the Visiting Professor of Art at Reed College and Creative Director at Building Five in Portland, Oregon. Learn more here.
About Archer Gallery
Archer Gallery serves the students and community of Clark College by exhibiting contemporary art in a not-for-profit educational setting. In order to exhibit work that has a strong interest for an academic institution, the gallery brings work that fulfills at least one of the following criteria.
Regionally, nationally, or internationally exhibiting professional artists
Artwork that has a strong connection to new contemporary art concepts or methods
Artwork that connects to Clark College Art Department curriculum and programs
Works by artists with significant historical influence on contemporary art practices
Clark College faculty and staff gathered on September 16 to kick off the 2024-2025 academic year during Opening Day festivities at O’Connell Sports Center.
It was a homecoming of sorts. People greeted each other as they lined up at tables laden with gallons of coffee and hundreds of bagels for a breakfast hosted by iQ Credit Union. Staff and faculty gathered in small groups all over the gym to reconnect and catch up on their summer activities. Dozens got a new staff photo taken by Jenny Shadley from Communications and Marketing. During the celebration, several employees were honored with awards. Read more about the employee awards: https://news.clark.edu/2024/09/2024-employee-awards/
Cristhian Caseco Juarez, Andrew Gratze, and Denise GideonMelissa O’Dea, Levi Nelson, Kristina Martin, and Brittanie CastreyDr. Terry Brown, Mike Law, and Niira Krupnick Dr. Edwards, Carl Douglas, Tiffany Saari, Brian McVay, and Chad LaughlinDr. Michele Cruse, Vanessa Neal, and Courtney HooverZach Lattin and Laura Nagel
Welcome by Dr. Edwards
Dr. Edwards greeted faculty and staff in a message focused on the power of unity, with everyone working together and using the college’s Equity-Centered Strategic Plan as our roadmap. Next, a new Strategic Plan video was screened.
Speaking about unity, Dr. Edwards quoted Thomas Paine, an 18th-century political writer: “It’s not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
Following the theme of “unity,” Oswald, our beloved Penguin mascot, starred in a video that showed Degrundra “Dee” Harris from ODEI leading him around campus in search of components to build a special Opening Day surprise gift. (View the video: https://youtu.be/Ok2Q0T63LUA) The video concluded with real-life Oswald entering the gym with an ASCC leader and bearing his special gift. With an extra power boost from the clapping and cheering from the audience, Oswald pushed the button and launched a wall of confetti into the audience, who shrieked appreciatively.
Dr. Edwards thanked the Clark College Foundation for their partnership. Each year, the foundation awards $1.3 million in scholarships, special awards, and financial support to hundreds of our students, and contributes an average of $3.5 million annually to the college for programs and capital support.
She said, “This collaboration has been a pivotal component of our success over the last 50 years. Please join me in giving another heartfelt thank you to our partners at the Clark College Foundation.”
Dr. Edwards highlighted a dozen projects and programs including:
An AI-powered chatbot will be added to our website to enhance user experience.
Our new Associate of Applied Technology (AAT) degree in Surgical Technology has been approved.
Our first building at Boschma Farms is nearly completed. General education classes will begin in Spring 2025. Our Advanced Manufacturing program is awaiting NWCUU approval.
We currently have $13 million in grants and allocations including a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to close opportunity gaps by providing cohort-based support and academic preparation program, faculty mentoring, and scholarships to 48 students pursuing associate degrees in Engineering or Computer Science.
We have hired Caitlin Malvar as our Basic Needs Navigator, a new role supported by the state to provide a single point of contact for students seeking essential resources.
We are preparing for accreditation for 2024-2025 under the leadership of Dr. Cecelia Martin.
And much more!
ASCC President Gurraj Singh Dhami, pictured above, introduced this academic year’s student leaders. Then he spoke about his focus: To “ensure that every student has access to the resources and support they need to succeed. Each of us has unique obstacles, and it’s vital that we create an environment where every student feels supported, whether through financial aid, mental health resources, or extracurricular involvement. We all need that sense of community, and I’m committed to making sure no one feels left behind.”
Board of Trustees Chair Cristhian Canseco Juarez spoke about unity throughout the Clark community: the board of trustees, Dr. Edwards, Clark College Foundation, and faculty and staff across campus. He closed by saying, “Imagine what impact we can make this academic year as we work together in unity on behalf of our students and our college community. I am honored to work with you and to be part of Penguin Nation.”
Dr. Edwards closed Opening Day by saying: “Next week, we will welcome a new cohort of students who have put their trust in Clark College—and all of us collectively—to help them step onto a path toward success in their academic goals, their careers, and in life. I thank each of you for being a part of the Clark team doing this important work on behalf of our students. We have our equity-centered Strategic Plan as our road map in place. We have our team of good people in place. Now it’s time for us to focus on finding ways to work together—in Unity.”
Fall Faculty Focus
Opening Day is part of a multi-day orientation and training for faculty organized by the Clark College Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) to inspire, inform, and engage faculty to build community, learn, and grow in their teaching.
Fall Faculty Focus on September 17 welcomed faculty back for the new academic year. The theme was “Me, Myself, and AI.” The keynote speaker was Wilson Nitunga, pictured above, a professor of Business and Marketing at Portland Community College (PCC) who works with PCC’s Center of Artificial Intelligence and Cultural Computing. He shared his academic journey from refugee to at-risk student to faculty member. Then he shared instructional and relational strategies to develop the best possible support system for students, and innovative ways to use AI for enhanced teaching and learning.
Dr. Terry Brown, center, meets with faculty at Faculty Focus.
Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley and Susan Parrish More photos from Opening Day can be viewed on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBHKt8
2024 Employee Awards
Clark College employees gathered on September 16 to kick off the 2024-25 academic year during Opening Day festivities at O’Connell Sports Center. During the event, the following faculty and staff members were recognized. Congratulations to all the recipients! Read more about Opening Day: https://news.clark.edu/2024/09/opening-day-2024/
Left to right: Becky Engel, Halina Brant-Zawadzki, Tanya Diaz-Kozlowski, Sarah Blanchette, Catherine Johnston, and Sarah Luther
Clark College Exceptional Faculty Award is one of the highest honors that the college bestows. While anyone at the college can nominate a faculty member for this award, most nominations come from students to recognize professors who truly made a difference in their lives.
Halina Brant-Zawadzki, Nursing
Dr. Halina Brant-Zawadzki (Dr. B-Z) has taught Nursing at Clark College since January 2022. She has more than 18 years of experience in nursing education from various nursing schools in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, including being tenured faculty at the University of Portland’s School of Nursing. She teaches in the classroom, in the acute care setting, and in the simulation lab.
Dr. Brant-Zawadzki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lewis and Clark College, both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Portland, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from the University of Washington. Her area of scholarship focuses on trauma-responsive education, stress management, and coping strategies in undergraduate nursing students.
Her student nominator wrote: “Dr. Brant-Zawadzki is the definition of ‘I’m here to help.’ She was attentive to each student and made everyone feel valid, supported, and wanted. She takes every question into careful consideration and tries different approaches for different learning styles. Her lectures and notes had videos, readings, demonstrations, and more to make sure every learner was addressed in their style.”
Sarah Luther, Mathematics
Sarah Luther earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from Lewis and Clark College. She earned her Master of Science in Mathematics from Texas A&M University. Luther previously was a middle-school math teacher and a mathematics editor and textbook problem writer. She taught math at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon before she started teaching at Clark College 11 years ago.
Luther serves on the college’s Sigma Scholarship Committee and a tenure committee. She also is a member of Clark’s Math Activities Committee that organizes events to give students opportunities to interact with math outside the classroom. These include origami events, game nights emphasizing strategy and logic, and an event exploring the Pythagorean Theorem.
Her student nominator wrote:“Math is not at all my strength and when I first began Math 105, I was absolutely terrified. These feelings quickly vanished when I met with Professor Luther and realized I didn’t have to feel embarrassed to ask for help. She is not only very easy to understand, but also such an empathetic and understanding person who knows exactly how to work with students. It’s clear that she truly cares about the success of her students and I’m so incredibly grateful for her help this quarter.”
Sarah Blanchette, Human Services
Sarah Blanchette received an Associate of Arts in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Social Services from College of the Redwoods, a community college in Eureka, California, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at University of California Davis.
Next Sarah worked in social and human services leadership and administration for 25 years: 13 years at the Department of Social and Health Services and 7 years at Developmental Disabilities Administration. Working with youth, families, aging adults, and individuals with developmental disabilities led her to complete her master’s degree in Social Work at Eastern Washington University, which was co-located at Clark at the time.
Her master’s studies led Sarah to Clark College in 2019 to teach the next generation of human service workers through the BASHS and ACED programs.
Sarah said, “Teaching deepened my life. I have been inspired by my students’ resilience and by their passion for making the world a better place.”
Her student nominator wrote: “Sarah gives me hope for the future of my field. She teaches us alternative ways to view and use old ideas so we can apply conventional practices in a contemporary way that’s more trauma informed, culturally adaptable, and influenced by acknowledgement of the unique strengths and needs of various populations. She’s cultivating the generation of counselors that the world needs, and it’s both inspiring and motivating as an aspiring researcher trying to change the way helpers help for the better.”
Tanya Diaz-Kozlowski, Women’s Studies
Dr. Tanya Diaz-Kozlowski (she/her/ella) is a meditator, writer, and teacher who has taught Women’s Studies courses at Clark College since Fall 2020. She centers queer and BIPOC narratives in all courses to explore knowledge, subjectivity, and power with students as co-partners in learning, encouraging students to forge connections rooted in awareness, accountability, and compassion rather than reactivity, stereotypes, and dis/mis information.
Her contributions at Clark include mentoring queer and BIPOC students, serving on multiple hiring committees, speaking at the Queer Student Luncheon, serving as chair of a tenure committee, serving on the Instructional Planning Committee, and co-creating community and connection gatherings for Clark College faculty and staff.
Dr. Diaz-Kozlowski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of Wisconsin-Parkside, a Master of Science in Higher Education from Eastern Illinois University, and a doctorate degree in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a focus in social and cultural foundations from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to her tenure at Clark, she has worked at the Uniting Pride Center of Champaign County and has taught at Illinois State University and The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Her student nominator wrote: “Race, gender, and sexuality all intersect with our identities. This is what we were taught in Women’s Studies and how Dr. Diaz-Kozlowski treats us reflects exactly what we learn. They respect pronouns and queer individuals. Also, they advocate for BIPOC and queer authors, which respects students’ identities as they may be relatable to us.”
Rebecca Engel, American Sign Language
Rebecca Engel earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Oregon State University and a Master of Education degree in Deaf Education from Western Oregon University. Before coming to Clark College, she taught middle school at Washington School for the Deaf. She has been teaching at Clark since 2006 and was granted tenure in 2020.
At Clark she teaches all levels of American Sign Language as well as Deaf Culture courses. She serves on Clark’s Curriculum committee, is ASL Club advisor, and actively participates in Teaching and Learning Center communities.
She also serves on CTE advisory boards for Evergreen and Vancouver school districts. She also serves on the Language Access advisory committee for OSPI.
Her student nominator wrote:“I am one of many students who have been touched by Becky’s contagious light and electric energy. She has supported me in my two years as an ASL student at Clark College and has always encouraged me to chase my dreams of becoming an ASL interpreter. Her willingness to teach me and her excitement toward my journey is a huge part of the reason why I am here today. She has shared resources with me, given valuable feedback that has grown my ASL skills, and reminded me why my dreams matter.”
“As a Deaf woman, Becky understands the value of respecting differences and has encouraged others to do so as well. Many times, we have discussed the importance of Deaf Culture as well as taking the time to learn from other people’s experiences. Becky is always willing to help and wants all of her students to feel supported in her classroom. She makes me feel like I am important and so are my opinions.”
Catherine Johnston, English as a Second Language
Volunteering with a literacy organization prompted Catherine Johnston to begin a career in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Fifteen minutes into her initial tutoring session with a pre-literate speaker of Arabic, she decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at University of San Francisco. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at DePaul University.
Since 1997, she has enjoyed teaching children and adults in language schools and universities, training teachers in a training certificate program, and writing and editing educational materials for several publishers. She has worked in educational settings in Hong Kong, Mexico, and various parts of the United States. She began teaching full time at Clark College in 2007.
Catherine said it is a privilege and a pleasure to have a role in the cultural adjustment process of her immigrant and refugee students, some of whom came here by choice and some of whom came here by circumstance.
She said, “Whether students are accomplished professionals, new to formal education, or somewhere in between, I appreciate the opportunity to help my ESL learners realize their goals. Serving alongside my Transitional Studies staff and faculty colleagues is a joy.”
Her student nominator wrote:“In the realm of education, there are teachers who simply impart knowledge, and then there are those rare individuals who leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of their students. Catherine Johnston, without a doubt, falls into the latter category. As an older student representing our diverse class, she is the best teacher I have encountered who helped me to believe in myself and have the courage to start a new life here in the United States, where English is not my first language.”
Exceptional Classified Staff Awards
Left to right: Terry Haye and Andra Spencer.
Andra Spencer,Office of Diversity Equity & Inclusion
Her nominator wrote:“Andra has been a part of ODEI for a little over a year, and the positive impact of her work and dedication were immediately felt. Andra’s passion for equity and education is contagious. She dove into creating a PPI training on recognizing and disrupting antisemitism this summer and introduced many to a body of knowledge previously undiscussed at the college.”
Teresa Haye, Bachelor of Applied Science Teacher Education (BASTE)
Her nominator wrote:“Terry has been essential to the success of this program, which grew from 5 students in the first year to 20 students in the second year. Her passion for student success, removing barriers, and prioritizing tasks that allow for those dynamics are all part of her superpowers.”
Exceptional Administrative-Exempt Award
Monica Knowles, Bookstore
Her nominator wrote: “They are a productive leader; their work performance is exemplary. This is due partly to the fact that they have created well thought out procedures for the operation of the Bookstore. More importantly, they make sure that team members understand the importance of their roles in the big picture and provide the proper training for team members to perform their roles well. They foster an encouraging environment in which staff members want to collaborate and give their best for the Bookstore.”
Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award
Ciera Jones, Athletics
Lora Whitfield was an Early Childhood Education professor at Clark College who cared deeply about this community. She was committed to the success of her fellow employees and the students she served. As a tenured professor, she promoted equity and inclusion, creating a culture of community for all.
Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reviews the nominations for this award and makes a recommendation based on a Clark employee’s demonstrated and sustained commitment to advancing equity. The recipient receives $1,000 and a plaque in honor of Lora Whitfield.
Her student nominator wrote: “Coach Ciera preaches equity and opportunity—and she stands by it. From allowing members onto her team who lack a background in the sport due to systemic failures, to promoting mental health resources and seeking ways to give back to the community, Ciera acts on her beliefs. She continuously goes above and beyond to ensure her team is involved on the field, in the school, and in the world around them. She is a shining example of leadership.”
“Coach Ciera demonstrates her leadership on the field, and in her office. When you speak with her, you can sense her respect for others. As a Deaf player on her team, I never felt lesser or othered by her. I was given numerous opportunities to grow in the sport, challenge my own obstacles, and better my mind and body. Her leadership instilled confidence in me that I carry to the classroom, and Ciera has reached out to me about partnering with the ASL Club to provide softball camps to the local Deaf community, furthering this inclusion and equity.”
Years of Service Awards
Brad Avakian, vice president of Human Resources, presented the years of service awards to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service. Thanks to an anonymous donor through the Foundation, all years of service awards also come with monetary compensation based on the number of years served.
5 years
Human Resources: Alicia Dingivan
Instruction: Aaron Ahn, Andrea Belleisl, Sandra Bennett, Opinderjit Bhella, Sarah Blanchette, Chris Cerone, Kristin Christophersen, Joanne Costello, Kymber Croft-Miller, Jennifer Denrow, Cassia Gammill, Hernan Garzon, Katherine Goforth, Jesse Kysar, Nicholas Luisi, Erin Lynch, Olga Lyubar, Kathryn Matsuura, Stacie Murdoch, Kenneth Murr, Valenti Pischanskaya- Cayanan, Brian Shannon, Richa Sharma, Tabitha Stokes, Christopher Thompson, Christina Wallace
Operations: Courtney Braddock, Laurie Mitchell, Darcie Daniel
Student Affairs: Michael Aguirre, Kelsey Gramm, Amanda Mabrey
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Alyssa Montminy
Foundation: Andy Palmquist, Angela Torretta
10 YEARS
Instruction: Christopher Chaffin, Lindsay Christopher, Amy Ellis, Jay Fancher, Caron Ford, Jaron Gardiner, Rebecca Herman, Alec Josephson, Sergey Kachenkov, Darcy Kennedy, Manda Levie, Donald Ludwig, Brian McVay, James Powers, Cathy Reynolds, Jeffrey Snyder, Aubrey Tobias, Kurtis Trimbo, Michelle Vincent, Tiffani Young, Shelly Williams
Instruction: Linda Appert, William Athens, Jack Bohl, Loni Bramson, Amanda Brown, Erin Burrows, Amanda Crochet, Alison Dolder, Wendy Edgar, Nicole Ekle, Rebecca Engel, Heidi Fay, Cynthia Foreman, Michael Guerra, Marilyn Hale, Shanda Haluapo, John Jarvie, James Jensen, Divya Kashyap, Donna Marshall, Angelica Quinn, Julie Saiturn, Stephen Shepherd, Erin Staples
Operations: Kay Martinez
Student Affairs: Cindy Aplin, Margaret Estes
20 YEARS
Instruction: David Caldwell, Isaac Erskine, Gothard Grey, Izad Khormaee, John Kuhn, Gayle Lee, Kanchan Mathur, Christopher Milner, John Mitchel, April Mixon
Thao Schmidt and Dr. Edwards.Mark Bolke, Jennifer Dean, Sarah Gallow and Dr. Edwards.Sabra Sand, Monica Knowles, Billie Garner, and a poster of Damon Grady.Shirley Schwartz and Dr. EdwardsGail Robinson, Don Gonser, Judy Emenegger, Kayoko Barnhill, Kristine Barker, and Aaron Bingham.Mike Arnold and Dr. EdwardsLisa Hasart and Dr. Edwards
25 YEARS
Human Resources: Thao Schmidt
Instruction: Mark Bolke, Ray Cooper, Jennifer Dean, Sara Gallow, Kathleen Perillo
