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.” 

Clark
College is closely monitoring the outbreak of a respiratory virus called
COVID-19. At this time, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Clark County,
according to Clark County Public Health.

Because the safety of students, staff and faculty is top priority, today the college formally activated its incident response team to identify issues and prepare for possible impacts that could be caused by COVID-19.

The best source for information about Clark College’s response efforts is www.clark.edu/covid-19.

CURRENT STATUS: On March 13, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order restricting activity at all community colleges statewide. To slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health, Clark College will move to remote operations beginning Tuesday, March 17. The restrictions are in place beginning March 17 through April 24, 2020.

Essential college operations will continue. “Essential college operations” include Security, Student Affairs, Facilities Services, IT, computer labs, Administrative Services, Human Resources, the Bookstore, and the childcare center (CFS). Other employees who can work remotely will do so. If you are an employee who is unsure whether you should report to work in person or remotely, please contact your supervisor.

Ongoing Planning

Clark College is in the process of developing contingency plans for spring quarter, utilizing online learning. More details to be released soon.

We will continue to provide updates on this rapidly developing situation in several ways:

• Text messaging to students, staff and faculty using RAVE
• Emails to college community
• Daily updates at www.clark.edu
• Social media (@ClarkCollege on Twitter, “Clark College – Vancouver, Washington” on Facebook)

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we address this unprecedented situation. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, our staff and our faculty.

Clark College is in daily contact with the Clark County Public Health in monitoring the risk associated from COVID-19 and is taking appropriate precautions such as disinfecting high touch surfaces around campus such as doorknobs, handrails and light switches.

Students and staff can help by practicing everyday preventative actions as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• Wash your 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.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Don’t share food and drinks.
• Clean and disinfect shared surfaces and objects that are touched frequently.
• If you can, avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Please stay home when you are sick. Do not report to work or attend classes if you are ill. Stay home, rest, and stay hydrated.

The CDC government website is a great resource.
Correct information is a powerful tool and dispels mis-information that can
lead to stigma and discrimination.

While
COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, the disease is not specific to any ethnic
group or national origin. The risk of infection is based on exposure to disease
such as travel to an area where the disease is occurring.

Staff and students can help to reduce stigma and discrimination by speaking up if they hear, see or read harassing comments or misinformation.

Everyone is encouraged to rely on trusted sources about the causes of outbreaks from reputable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washington State Department of Health.

Clark College is closely monitoring the situation to make timely and prudent decisions that protect our employees and students. The college will practice an abundance of caution during this period of time.

Clark College will update this article when any relevant developments occur. This article was last updated at 6:59 a.m. on March 15, 2020.

Today Clark College marked a major milestone when its Board of Trustees announced its selection of Dr. Karin Edwards to be the college’s next president.

Dr. Edwards comes to Clark College with an impressive history of leadership, including her current position as Campus President of Portland Community College Cascade. (Full bio listed below.)

“Dr. Edwards is an incredible leader,” said Trustee Paul Speer. “Her ability to help close achievement gaps between student populations, her work in equity, her work in partnerships in workforce development, and her previous experience in a presidential role were certainly very influential in the board’s decision. When you look at her track record and at the information we gained during the course of this process, what you’ll find is an individual who is incredibly aligned with our stated values and the needs of our college over the coming decade.” 

Today’s announcement is the culmination of a rigorous search process that began last summer following the retirement of President Bob Knight. Working with a national search firm, the Board of Trustees was able to attract 65 applicants from across the country who were reviewed by a Search Advisory Committee composed of college employees, community members, and other key stakeholders. The committee narrowed the field down to a limited number of finalists. Three finalists visited the college for interviews and open forums, and trustees visited their respective campuses as well.

The Board of Trustees made the final selection based on the position profile, personal interviews, and a review of the data and recommendations gathered from the committee and from student and community forums held with each candidate on the Clark College campus. More information about the search process is available on the college’s Presidential Search web pages.

“Clark College Foundation has assisted Clark College with philanthropy for nearly five decades, helping the college align with the needs of Southwest Washington’s businesses and organizations while making college possible for those who face barriers to higher education,” said Eric Merrill, chair of Clark College Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We are committed to working with the new president and introducing her to vital community partners in order to sustain Clark College’s future.”

Dr. Edwards will be the college’s 15th leader in its 87-year history.

Dr. Edwards says she is excited to step into her new role, the exact date of which is still being determined along with other hiring details. “I have a full heart today, she said. “I’m excited to begin a new chapter as President of Clark College and grateful to everyone at Portland Community College who has walked with me these past six years. We have a great deal to be proud of, developing programs and support services that help our students succeed.”

Dr. Sandra Fowler-Hill, who has served as Interim President during the 2019-2020 academic year as the college conducted the presidential search, said she will continue in her current role until Dr. Edwards is able to join the college in summer 2020 and will help with the onboarding process.

About Dr. Karin
Edwards

Dr. Karin
Edwards’ 36-year career at community colleges spans roles from Admissions
Counselor to Campus President. Since July 2014, she has served as president of
Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus. In that role, her responsibilities
at PCC Cascade include supervising the advanced manufacturing programs at PCC’s
Swan Island Trades Center, a 20,000-square-foot facility housing the college’s
Apprenticeship and Trades department, as well as PCC’s Maritime Welding
Training Center at Swan Island, which trains welding students and has MOAs with
Vigor Industrial.

Her community
service includes serving on the board of directors of Portland Community
Reinvestment Initiatives and on the advisory board of the Oregon Association of
Minority Entrepreneurs, as well as being an active member of the Partners in
Diversity Leadership Council and the Oregon Presidents Council of the Oregon
Community College Association.

Dr. Edwards
earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her master’s degree in Higher
Education Administration at State University of New York at Albany, and her
doctorate degree in Educational Leadership at Johnson and Wales University in
Providence, Rhode Island.

About Clark College

Located
in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving up to 11,500 students per quarter,
Clark College is Southwest Washington’s oldest public institution of higher
education. The college currently offers classes at two satellite locations: one
on the Washington State University Vancouver campus and one in the Columbia
Tech Center in East Vancouver.

Clark College Theatre continues its 2019-2020 season with the musical Bare by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo.

Bare is a coming-of-age rock musical that
features a group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school who face
issues of sexuality and personal identity. As they struggle to come to terms
with who they are, and who the world thinks they should be, they seek answers
from their church, their friends, and ultimately, from within themselves.

The cast for Clark College’s production includes *Kloe Catchpole, *Sandra Fachial, Pearson Kunz, *Siniva Lee, *Kaila Ludvigson, *Sebastian Miranda-Givens, Aidan Nolan, **Linda Owsley, **Jared Pengra, *Laurence Sinclair, *Trinity Stegall, *Derek Slade Tucker, *Dea Whitley, **Sammy Williams, and *Natalie Worthy:  The director is H. Gene Biby and April Brookins Duvic provides vocal direction. Note: Cast member names marked with a single asterisk are current Clark College students; double asterisks indicate Clark College alumni.

Show Dates: February 21, 22, 28, 29 and March 5-7. All show
times are at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Theatre, Frost Arts Center, on Clark
College’s main campus.

Ticket Information: Students (with ID) $10; Alumni (with
membership) $10; Senior Citizens $16; General Admission $20. Tickets may be
purchased online at http://www.clarkbookstore.com/site_theatre.asp
or call 360-992-2815. View the entire Clark College Theatre season at www.clark.edu/cc/theatre.

If you need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Gaiser Hall room 137, as soon as possible.

The Clark College Columbia Writers Series continues its 2019-2020 season with national award-winning writer Terese Mailhot. This event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Monday, February 24, from 11 a.m. to noon in Penguin Union Building rooms 258 A & B on Clark College’s main campus.

Terese Mailhot is from Seabird
Island Band. Her work has appeared in Guernica,
Pacific Standard, Granta, Mother Jones, Medium, the
Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere. She
is the New York Times bestselling
author of Heart Berries: A Memoir.
Her book was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for
English-Language Nonfiction, and was selected by Emma Watson as the Our Shared
Shelf Book Club Pick for March/April 2018. Heart
Berries was also listed as an NPR Best Book of the Year, a Library Journal
Best Book of the Year, a New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, a
Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year, and was one of Harper’s Bazaar‘s Best Books of 2018.
She is the recipient of a 2019 Whiting Award, the Electra Quinney Award for
Published Stories, a Clara Johnson Award, and she is also the recipient of the
Spalding Prize for the Promotion of Peace and Justice in Literature. She
teaches creative writing at Purdue University in Indiana.

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 in the spring with
Subtext, a week-long festival beginning on May 18 and featuring a variety of
literary events.

Information
about the Columbia Writers Series is available at www.clark.edu/cc/cws.

This event is held on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way. Directions and maps are available online. 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.

High school students can learn how to take the next step in their education by attending one of four optional Running Start Information Night sessions at Clark College.

The identical sessions will be held 7:00-8:00
p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5; Monday, Feb. 24; Monday,
March 9; and Tuesday, March 24. All four events, which are free and open to the
public, will be held in the Clark College gymnasium in the O’Connell
Sports Center, located on the southwest side of Clark College’s main campus.

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 “regular” 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 to the college, which is why the college is hosting four sessions
this year. Clark College welcomed 2,428 Running Start students at
the beginning of the 2019 fall term.

These information sessions are for students and
parents who want to know more about beginning the program in Fall 2020. 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 eligibility criteria, expectations, timelines,
and more. Students and parents who live on the eastern side of the college’s
service district can also find out about expanded options available at Clark’s
East Vancouver location at Columbia Tech Center.

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.

Clark College is located
at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Wash. Parking will be available in the
college’s Red lots on the east side of Fort Vancouver Way and in the Purple Lot
on the west side of Fort Vancouver Way. Driving directions and parking maps are
available at www.clark.edu/maps.

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), or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 013, 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.

As the entry deadline approaches for Pitch Fest 2020 at Clark College, last year’s winners say participating in the Shark Tank-like competition sponsored by Clark Entrepreneurs made an enormous difference in moving their business to the next level.  

Teams of Clark College students are invited to apply for an opportunity to pitch their entrepreneurial business ideas at Pitch Fest 2020. The competition is open to any Clark College students enrolled full time from fall 2019 through spring 2020 and who maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. The deadline to apply is 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31. See details and apply online at clarkpitchfest.com/. 

Last year, when Clark College students Alison Warlitner and her husband, Scott Warlitner, entered the 2019 Pitch Fest competition, they hoped to glean expert advice from the business-owner judges. The couple recently had begun making CBD-infused bath bombs in their home, marketing them under the business name Cherry River CBD. Ali and Scott advanced to the competition’s final round of top three student businesses—and they won. 

Fast-forward one year after its Pitch Fest success. Cherry River CBD has tripled its gross sales, connected with capital investors, and hired their first employee, who markets their products at vendor trade shows. Emboldened by their Pitch Fest success, Ali pitched their business to a Shark Tank producer hearing pitches in Portland. Although they weren’t invited to pitch on camera on the TV show, the experience pushed the Warlitners to keep going. Last summer they were invited to be a sponsor of Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival. Actor Jim Belushi, who owns a cannabis farm in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, hung out in their booth. 

Scott, a fine arts student at Clark, will graduate at the end of winter quarter. Ali, a Clark graduate, is pursuing an accounting degree at Washington State University Vancouver and plans to graduate in spring 2021. They live in The Dalles, Oregon, 90 miles from Vancouver. Four days a week, they drive to their classes—90 minutes, each way. Their sons, ages 3 and 5, attend the college’s Child and Family Studies program. 

The couple met when both were enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Virginia. After completing active-duty service, they moved to the Pacific Northwest, where Ali grew up. But one thing hampered their new life: Scott suffered from chronic pain due to injuries he sustained while in the military. Originally a nonbeliever in CBD, he was treating it with narcotics prescribed by the VA. But after Scott began taking CBD daily to relieve his pain, he realized the cannabinoids worked, and he stopped taking the narcotics.  

This experience led the couple to begin thinking about creating their own CBD business. And, as luck would have it, this is when Ali walked by a poster advertising Pitch Fest outside her math class at Clark College. Enrolling in the contest forced the Warlitners to clearly articulate their business plan, refine their marketing materials, and answer tough questions posed by judges. It also provided them with mentorship from successful entrepreneurs that helped them take the next steps in their business. 

“We’re absolutely a success story,” says Ali. “While we would have made those steps eventually, Pitch Fest is the reason we were able to move so quickly in establishing ourselves as a viable business. We wouldn’t be where we were today if not for the help we received from Pitch Fest, Clark College and the Clark Entrepreneurs.” 

The Warlitners produce their CBD-infused bath, beauty and wellness products in their home. The hemp oil is grown on Ali’s cousin’s farm in Woodburn, Oregon.  

Cherry River has been featured twice in Broccoli, a Portland-based magazine created by and for women who use cannabis. Ali has spoken on a couple of podcasts about being a veteran, a business owner, a full-time college student and a mother of young children. 

“I’ve become a sought-after formulator in the cannabis world,” Ali says. “I like to bake. It’s just with different ingredients.” 

So far, Ali and Scott have invested all profits back into their company. In 2020, they hope to start paying themselves a salary. They also are considering opening a production facility in Hawaii. Learn more at https://www.cherryriver.net/ 

About Pitch Fest 

January 31 at 8 p.m.: Deadline for Clark College student teams to apply 

February 21 from 9 a.m. to noon: Top 24 teams participate in Clark Entrepreneurs trade show at Gaiser Hall Student Center. The free event is open to the public. In the afternoon, the top 12 teams pitch their business ideas to the judges in a format similar to the TV show “Shark Tank.” 

March 6 final round: Top 3 teams polish their pitches and present to judges; closed to the public. 

About Clark Entrepreneurs 

Founded in 2016, Clark Entrepreneurs is a student program under the Associated Students of Clark College. The club welcomes any student interested in starting a business. Its purpose is to encourage and support students with their entrepreneurial ideas and expose them to the resources to help grow ideas, support real student business ventures, and scale businesses. Program Director is Nathan Webster. Student Rebekah Sharp-Regnier recently became marketing event director. Learn more at https://clarkpitchfest.com/about-us/ 

Read more about the Warlitners and other student veterans in Clark College Foundation’s Partners magazine article.

Clark College will honor the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, January 21, by exploring a little-known aspect of the local African-American experience: the “Buffalo Soldiers,” all-black regiments who served in the U.S. military in the 19th century. The event will include both a screening of parts of a documentary film called Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest and a collection of historic memorabilia related to Buffalo Soldiers. All events are free and open to the public.

The film screening will take
place at noon, followed by a discussion with some of the individuals involved
in creating Buffalo Soldiers of the
Pacific Northwest as well as members of the non-profit group Buffalo
Soldiers of Seattle. The history display will be on view from 11:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. All events take place in Gaiser Student Center on the Clark College
main campus. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.
Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest examines
the history of African-American regiments formed by the U.S. government in the
1860s to help secure its interests in the West. These often-forgotten soldiers
served their country in many capacities—everything from constructing roads to
fighting in battles. The 56-minute documentary film, which is currently in post-production,
explores the history and legacy of this region’s Buffalo Soldiers.

In honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service to others, Clark College encourages your
donation of hair and skin care products for African-American families served by
YWCA Clark County.

For more information about
this event, visit www.clark.edu/cc/mlk.

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),
or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB)
room 013, as soon as possible.

Dates have been set for the open forums for community members to meet the three finalists for the Clark College President position. These forums are a chance for members of the Clark College community and other stakeholders to meet the finalists and ask questions about their leadership experience and philosophy.

Each candidate will hold two open forums during their visit to the college: one that’s open to the public, and one that’s specifically for students. The forums will be recorded. On January 27, the videos will be available to review at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php. There will be links to provide feedback available through February 4, 2020.

Biographies of all three finalists are available online at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php. Full resumes are also available online at http://www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/forums.php.

A fourth finalist, Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, has withdrawn from the hiring process.

Open forum dates

Public open forums

All public forums are scheduled for noon to 1:00 p.m. in Foster Auditorium on the college’s main campus. Each forum will be live-cast to the college’s Columbia Tech Center and Washington State University Vancouver locations–room numbers are posted at http://www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/forums.php.

• Tuesday, January 14: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College
• Friday, January 17: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College
• Wednesday, January 22: Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College

Student-focused forums

All student-focused forums are scheduled for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium on the college’s main campus.

• Monday, January 13: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College
• Thursday, January 16: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College
• Tuesday, January 21: Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps. 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), or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 013, as soon as possible.

Clark College will host a group of four Tibetan Buddhist monks from South India from Monday, January 13, through Friday, January 17, as they construct a sand mandala in Cannell Library on the college’s main campus.

All events are free and
open to the public; they are co-sponsored by Clark College International
Programs, Clark College Libraries, and Dharma Light Tibetan Buddhist
Association of Vancouver. (Full schedule printed below.) Cannell Library is
located on Clark College’s main campus at 1933 Ft. Vancouver Way in Vancouver,
Washington. Maps and directions are available at www.clark.edu/maps.
Anyone needing
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), prior to the event.

This project can be
appreciated simply as a beautiful and intricate time-based art form. But
according to Tibetan Buddhist belief, a sand mandala is meant to create a
profound experience of compassion for any who attend. The positive effects of a
sand mandala construction are believed to radiate out over the entire region,
blessing the environment and the beings therein, in an effort for world peace. The
mandala is destroyed in the closing ceremony, as a lesson in the impermanence
of all phenomena. The opening and closing ceremonies will include traditional
Tibetan Buddhist chanting and music. The closing ceremony will also include a
procession to the Columbia River, where a small portion of the colored sand
will be poured into the water as a form of blessing.

Schedule of events

Opening Ceremony    

• Monday, January 13,
  12:00 – 12:30 p.m.

Mandala Construction

• Monday, January 13,
  12:30 pm – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday,  January 14, 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 15,
  10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 16,
  10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, January 17,
  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Public Talk

• Tuesday, January 14, 12:00
  – 1:00 p.m.

Venerable Lobsang Dawa, with the help of translator Lobsang Dhondup,
will speak about the history and meaning of the sand mandala, as well as the
importance of compassion in daily life.

Closing Ceremony:

• Friday January 17, 2:00
  – 3:00 p.m., followed a procession that leads to the Columbia River from 3:00 –
  3:30 p.m.