The Clark College Board of Trustees voted unanimously tonight to offer the interim college presidency to Dr. Sandra A. Fowler-Hill. 

She
has accepted, pending completion of contract negotiations.  The decision was made at a special board
meeting Tuesday June 25 following a two-month process led by the Board of
Trustees with support from a national search firm. 

The successful
candidate was selected after a series of interviews with faculty, staff,
students, and trustees, as well as a collegewide open forum. “We
received many comments through the process, which were all taken into
consideration as we made our deliberations,” said Trustee Paul Speer. “We had
three excellent candidates and we think Dr. Fowler-Hill will be a tremendous
asset to our college during this year of transition.”

Dr. Sandra A.
Fowler-Hill is an experienced leader in higher education, having served as
President of Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus from 2014 to 2018.
She has also served as Vice President of Instruction at Everett Community
College and Dean for Student Learning at Cascadia Community College. She began
her career at Olympic College, where she worked for 19 years, beginning as
program manager of Women’s Programs, then moving into a tenured faculty position
before being named to the position of Dean for Social Science and Humanities. Since
retiring from PCC Rock Creek, she has served as a consultant for the
Association of Community College Trustees. She earned her bachelor’s degree in
Applied Behavioral Science from George Williams College in Downers Grove,
Illinois; her master’s degree in Human Development Counseling from the
University of Illinois at Springfield; and her doctorate degree in Community
College Leadership from Oregon State University.

Retiring
President Bob Knight will meet with the incoming President to help with the
transition, both before and after his planned retirement date of July 15, 2019.

“We are grateful to Bob Knight for his leadership. This marks
a major milestone in Clark’s history. By appointing an interim president for
the year, the college and the community will have ample time to recruit,
screen, interview and interact with candidates for the permanent position,”
said Speer. “We want this to be a robust, inclusive and transparent process.”

To
read more about the presidential search process and next steps go to www.clark.edu/presidential-search.

About
Clark College

Located
in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving up to 12,000 students per quarter,
Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest 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. Additionally, its Economic & Community
Development program is housed in the Columbia Bank building in downtown
Vancouver.

During the 2019 Commencement ceremony, President Robert K. Knight announced the names of the recipients of the 2019 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Awards. The awards are presented annually to full-time and part-time faculty members. Nominations can be submitted by Clark College students, faculty, classified employees, administrators, alumni, Board members, and Foundation directors.

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

This year’s Exceptional Faculty members are:

Dr. Karl Bailey,
Chemistry

Dr. Karl Bailey has taught chemistry at Clark College for the past 13 years. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 2012 to 2016 and has had a key leadership role in the college’s implementation of the Guided Pathways model of higher education, which works to eliminate “achievement gaps” between different populations of students.

Dr. Bailey holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, Davis. In addition to his tenure at Clark, he has taught at Everett Community College and the Florida Institute of Technology, as well as at both his alma maters.

“Dr. B continuously shows that he supports his students and will do anything to help them succeed,” wrote one student. “He has offered to help outside of office hours. … I’m a single mom fighting to succeed, and he has been there during two quarters, doing everything he can to accommodate any hardships, within reason. Teachers like him leave marks on your academic heart.”

Nadine Fattaleh,
Chemistry

Nadine Fattaleh has taught chemistry at Clark College since 2002 and currently serves at the head of the chemistry department. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Scripps College in Claremont, California, and her master’s degree in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Fattaleh is a member of the leadership team of the Pacific Northwest Green Chemistry Network. At Clark College, her primary teaching responsibilities are in general and organic chemistry, where she has implemented green chemistry lab experiments. 

“Having taken a year of college-level chemistry before, I walked into Nadine’s class nervous because the classes I had taken in the past made no sense to me or anyone else in the class,” wrote one student in their nomination. “It turns out, though, that some educators can teach these complex concepts in a way that actually makes sense to students. Nadine sets us up for successful careers in science.”

This is Fattaleh’s second time earning the Exceptional Faculty Award, which she also won in 2010.

Deena Godwin,
Communication Studies

Deena Godwin has taught communications courses at Clark College since 2001. She currently serves as chair of the communications and humanities division, and served as interim dean of the college’s BEECH (Basic Education, English, Communication and Humanities) unit for two years. Over her time at Clark, she has contributed to the college community in many ways, including as advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, chair of the Associate of Arts Advisory Committee, and facilitator for many Teaching and Learning Center workshops providing professional development to Clark College employees.

Godwin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational communication from Dana College in Nebraska and her Master of Science degree in communication studies and journalism from South Dakota State University.

One student wrote in her nomination that Godwin helped her not only during class, but also after the class was over by writing her a letter of recommendation. “She not only wrote me a personalized letter, but she filled out recommender forms for five colleges for me—all of which I got into,” she wrote.

Zachary Grant,
Libraries

Zachary Grant’s career at Clark College Libraries began in 2005, when he interned at Cannell Library as part of his coursework to complete his master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University. He was hired into a tenure-track position at the college in 2006.

At Clark, Grant serves on the Emergency Management Planning Committee and has been active in the college’s work toward implementing the Guided Pathways model of higher education, which is focused on eliminating the “achievement gap” between different populations of students. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Oregon State University.

Grant earns praise from colleagues for his patience and care when helping students find reliable sources for their research projects. One faculty member wrote in a nomination, “He is so concerned that the library be equally accessible to all that he began studying American Sign Language in order to be able to better communicate with Deaf students.”

Malcolm Mccay,
Economics

Malcolm McCay did not come to teaching until after a 20-plus year career spent working in the energy and public-utility fields, primarily providing policy and legislative analysis. In 2007, heretired from Portland General Electric, where he had served as a federal policy specialist. In 2010, he began volunteering as a tutor at Clark College, where his skill and depth of knowledge led to an offer to teach classes.

McCay earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, and his master’s degree, also in economics, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

One student wrote in their nomination that McCay “makes everyone feel important,” adding, “His teaching style really makes you start looking at the world and the history of the world in a different light. He brings to the subject a lot of examples of the effects of economics on our world and community.”

Erin Staples, Health
and Physical Education

Erin Staples has taught health and physical education classes at Clark College since 2009. She has been active at Clark as a faculty academic advisor, a faculty advisor to a student club, and participant in the Curriculum and eLearning committees. She also volunteers with the YWCA SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program.

Staples earned her Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality management from the University of North Texas and her Master of Public Health in health education/healthy promotion from Portland State University. Additionally, in 2018 she earned a graduate certificate in diversity, social justice, and inclusion, which she used to revise the curriculum for a new Multicultural Health course, as well as her existing Women’s Health course.

It was taking that latter class that prompted many students to nominate Staples for this award. One wrote, “Erin is absolutely amazing! She does a wonderful job at making every student feel comfortable in her class without judgment.” Another wrote, “This instructor has taught me more about myself and helped guide me toward a better understanding of the world than any other previous instructor.”

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Clark College has
selected Gold Hill Associates to assist the Board of Trustees in identifying
and recruiting a new president for Clark College.

Clark College President Robert K. Knight has announced he plans to retire August 31 at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year. He has served as college president for 13 years, helping Clark College expand and grow both in its programs and locations. Clark College is the largest community college in Southwest Washington and one of the largest community colleges in the state of Washington.

“For more than a
decade President Knight has provided stability and vision helping the college
grow, adapt and serve its community,” said Paul Speer, board trustee. Speer and
board vice chair Jane Jacobson are co-leading the board’s recruitment and
selection process. “This is an important moment for Clark College. We are
looking for the right person for the next chapter of the college,” said Speer.
“The board is fully committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive and
transparent national search. Gold Hill Associates will be a good partner in the
process.”

Gold Hill
Associates was selected following a competitive bid process. Its CEO, Dr.
Preston Pulliams, has worked in a variety of higher education leadership roles
for 25 years. From 2004-2013, he served as District President at Portland
Community College. Gold Hill has made successful placements at more than 20
colleges in the Pacific Northwest.

Gold Hill
Associates will also assist the board in identifying and recruiting an interim
president for Clark College.

The interim
president is expected to serve beginning August 2019 for a one-year period
allowing sufficient time for the permanent presidential search. The interim
will not be considered as a candidate for the permanent position.

“The presidential
search will also be assisted by a Presidential Search Advisory Committee
including representatives from the college and external community,” said
Speer.  “We look forward to updating and receiving feedback from the
community as we move forward.”

All interested
applicants must contact Gold Hill Associates directly. To contact Gold Hill
Associates or learn more about the presidential selection process, visit Clark
College’s website: www.clark.edu/presidential-search.

 

On March 7, while people around the world prepared to celebrate
International Women’s Day the next day, members of the local community gathered
in Gaiser Student Center to honor five women’s contributions to Southwest
Washington at the 2019 Iris Awards.

Guests enjoyed refreshments and light fare provided by
Beaches Restaurant as they celebrated the honorees. Ceremonies began with a
greeting from Clark College President Bob Knight, after which the evening was
turned over to emcee Colleen Boccia, chief marketing officer of Columbia Credit
Union. Boccia introduced speeches by both the honorees and their nominators.

This year’s Iris Award recipients were:

• Ann Fischer, founder of the Healthy Equitable Living Project
• Stacey Graham, president of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington
• Maureen Montague, executive director of Columbia Springs
• Rekah Strong, executive director of Educational Opportunities for Children and Families
• Lynn Valenter, vice chancellor for finance and operations at Washington State University Vancouver

This annual ceremony has a long tradition in this community.
The event began in 1985 as a photography exhibit during Women’s History Week,
which later developed into a larger awards program and ceremony known as the
Southwest Washington Women of Achievement Awards. In 2012, the event was
reintroduced as the Iris Awards with the same core mission: honoring the women
of Southwest Washington for their outstanding contributions in the categories
of public, private, philanthropic, and civic service.

Ann Fischer

The evening got off to an emotional start when Diane Irby
took to the podium to describe her experience being a client of the Healthy
Equitable Living Project, which Ann Fischer runs and founded.

“The pantry has fed my body quite well,” she said. “But the
pure unselfish love [Ann] provided me has fed my soul and my heart and was
something I didn’t even know I was starving for.

“The pantry keeps me alive,” Irby continued, facing Fischer
directly, “but you make me want to stay
alive.”

Fischer embraced Irby before beginning her own remarks,
which centered on the work that HELP does providing food to families in need at
14 different schools. She spoke about the importance of not just providing
people with food and assistance, but doing so in a way that allows them choice
and dignity, mentioning how HELP sets up its food pantry so that clients can “shop”
for the groceries they prefer instead of receiving a pre-made box. Fischer also
thanked the many volunteers and partners that support HELP, including Clark
College nursing students who volunteered to provide clients with education on hygiene
and first aid.

Fischer also made clear that it was not just the clients who
benefited from HELP, but she herself found inspiration and motivation from the
work. “The biggest gift you can give yourself is helping other people,” she
said.

Stacey Graham

The next honoree of the evening was Stacey Graham, president
of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. Before coming to HSSW, Graham
had a long career that encompassed work in the Oregon State Legislature,
national public relations and advertising agencies, the United Way of
Columbia-Willamette, and First Independent Bank. When she joined HSSW in 2013,
she was charged with raising the level of awareness and visibility of the
Humane Society in the local community and animal welfare industry; and
dramatically increasing the save rate of the animals in care. Under her
leadership, HSSW launched a five-year, $6 million capital campaign. In 2018,
HSSW was named the Best Nonprofit in Clark County.

“I’ve been a volunteer with HSSW for 20 years,” said
nominator Debra Hentz. “One thing you see with people at humane societies is
they say, ‘We want to focus on the animals.’ Stacey really focused on the
people and building them up.”

Graham admitted that she wasn’t a born animal-lover. “I didn’t
grow up with animals,” she said. “The first time I walked into the kennels, I was
scared to death—that’s how I learned I was afraid of dogs. But I walked those
kennels every day, and I learned to love dogs.”

Graham noted that caring about animals is part of caring
about humanity, and noted that HSSW donated pet food to pantries like Ann
Fischer’s. “We know how much animals mean to people,” she said. “We know they
will give food to their animals before they feed themselves. So we’re hanging
in there with you.”

Maureen Montague

The next award presented was the H-RoC Iris Award, a special
category created in 2017 to honor women in the community who have promoted
civil discourse, teamwork, collaboration, and cooperation. H-RoC, a
non-partisan political action committee dedicated to the advancement of elected
and appointed female leaders in Southwest Washington, sponsors this annual
award.

H-RoC member (and 2016 Iris Award recipient) Heidi Johnson
Bixby introduced honoree Maureen Montague. Montague currently serves as the
executive director of Columbia Springs, an environmental education nonprofit and
protected urban natural area on the Old Evergreen Highway in Vancouver. Previous
to this position, she was the co-founder and eventual executive director of
North Bank Artists.

Johnson Bixby described Montague as “the first to raise her
hand to volunteer” and someone with a gift for collaboration and
community-building.

Like most of the night’s honorees, Montague said she learned
the value of community service from her family. She recalled watching her
grandmother sewing a quilt with fellow church members to donate to a recently
widowed woman to keep her warm during the winter, and feeling “the kindness of
that good deed in my heart.”

“Community service, to me, means collective kindness,” she
said. “These things add up. … I’m blessed to live in Clark County, where so
many people seem to understand this.”

Rekah Strong

The next honoree of the night was also nominated by a former
honoree. Jada Rupley, 2004 Women of Achievement Award recipient, introduced
Rekah Strong by noting that they currently served together on the Clark College
Board of Trustees. She praised Strong for her dedication to the community,
saying, “Thank you for being a gentle teacher, thank you for being a fierce
advocate, and thank you for changing our community.”

Strong is executive director of Educational Opportunities
for Children and Families. Prior to that position, she served in leadership
roles at the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and at Clark County. Along
with her work on the Clark College Board of Trustees, she serves on Clark
County’s Developmental Disability Advisory Board and is a former board member
of We Reign Youth Foundation and Southwest Washington Chapter Red Cross.

Strong spoke about her experiences as a young child
attending political events with her grandmother and mother, drawing with
crayons and not entirely understanding why she was there, but even so learning
the importance of public engagement. “What my grandmother was doing for me was
pouring into me, and creating a template for me that would come full circle in
my life,” she said.

Strong also noted a theme that arose from her experiences: “Small
yesses can have huge outcomes.” As examples, she offered the time she said yes
to an employee who needed to bring her baby to work, which led to a program
that served a dozen employees and became a model for other workplaces. Another “small
yes” was agreeing to speak at an open forum about Clark County’s system of
governance, which in turn led to her becoming part of the work group that
changed the county’s Freeholder process and expanded the Clark County Council.

Strong also recounted providing her own children with
crayons as she took them to public meetings—and how, years later, her daughter
would volunteer to visit the State Capitol to advocate for others.

“You never know the ultimate outcome of modeling for others,
of pouring into other people, and all those small yesses,” she said.

Lynn Valenter

The final honoree of the night was Lynn Valenter, vice
chancellor for finance and operations at Washington State University Vancouver.
Valenter, who began her career at WSUV more than 20 years ago, now leads a
range of functions including budget and accounting, capital planning,
facilities operations, human resources, public safety, and dining services.

Valenter was introduced by WSUV Chief of Staff Renee
Bartocci, who expressed her appreciation for her colleague’s work ethic and
enthusiasm. “She’s there to be a partner, to bounce ideas off of, and to ask
the hard questions,” Bartocci said. “And she’s really good at it.”

Valenter thanked her family for supporting her work—both in
her career and as a volunteer—acknowledging the difficulty women face when they
try to manage the obligations of their families with those of their workplaces
and communities. “For many, many years, the daily prayer was for balance,” she
said. Even so, she said the balancing act was worth it.

“I believe each of us finds satisfaction when we make a difference,” she said. “That can be in your family, in your work, and in your community.”

To view more photos from the event visit our Flickr page.

Since 2007, Clark College President Bob Knight has presented
Presidential Coins to faculty, staff, and community members to honor their
exemplary service to the college and the community. In 2016, President Knight
expanded the coins’ recipients to include exemplary supporters of the college.
The honorees are decided by the president and are kept secret until the names
are announced–generally on Opening Day in the fall or during the annual State
of the College address in January.

Six Clark College employees received Presidential Coins during
the 2019 State of the College address on January 17.

Eben Ayers

Eben Ayers first began working for Clark College as an
intern in the Security department while he was in high school. Starting in
2004, he worked in part-time positions at the college until becoming a
full-time security officer in 2012. Since then, Ayers has developed into the
Security department’s primary training officer for all new-hire parking
enforcement and security personnel.

“He is well-known throughout the college for being
approachable, responsive, and caring,” said Knight.

Ayers’s professionalism and compassion has been recognized by the local community. In October 2017, he was featured in an article published jointly by The Independent and The Columbian that illustrated his strong work ethic and commitment to serving the Clark community.

Randy Broberg

For the past four years, Randy Broberg has been a volunteer
tutor in the Veterans Resource Center. As a veteran himself, having served in the
Navy in the late 1960s, Broberg is known for being willing to offer whatever
help and support the student veterans need to be successful.

“He drives from Portland to volunteer four or five days a
week, for seven hours a day, sometimes coming in as early as 6 a.m. to help
students prepare for exams or go over troublesome homework,” said Knight.

His students describe him as patient, supportive,
encouraging, and having a great sense of humor while being able to lend a
sympathetic ear when needed.

Karen Hagen

Karen Hagen has been a Clark College employee since 1994. Beginning
as a receptionist, she has worked her way through several positions including
database management, facilities maintenance, IT oversight, and departmental
historian. Hagen currently works as the Accounting & IT Manager for the Clark
College Foundation, where she is the longest-tenured employee.

“Her attention to detail, her pleasant personality, and her
overwhelming commitment to Clark College and its mission make Karen a dedicated
and exemplary employee,” said Knight.

Vanessa Neal

Vanessa Neal, pictured above, has been an employee of Clark College since 2016 and has made many positive contributions in that time. As an Employee Development Manager, Neal focuses on providing meaningful, engaging employee development opportunities for staff and enhancing the employee experience. She also co-chairs the Teaching and Learning Days Workgroup.

“She cares deeply about the college community and has a genuine interest in the well-being of those around her,” said Knight. “Not one for surface interactions, she is known for pausing folks to ask, ‘No, how are you really doing?’”

Janice Taylor

Since 2006, Janice Taylor has held nearly every staff
position in Tutoring Services. She began as a part-time work-study student
before becoming a full-time Program Assistant and then Program Manager. For the
past 18 months, Taylor has served as Interim Associate Director. She supports
college-wide initiatives by serving on committees and work groups, including
co-leading the Guided Pathways Pillar 3 group.

Taylor is known for brainstorming creative ways to improve
services and provide equitable access to resources to improve student outcomes.
In the words of President Knight, she tracks data “like a bloodhound,” searching
out bits of information so Tutoring Services can make informed decisions about
how to use resources effectively to support student success.

Bill Raedy

As an adjunct math instructor at Clark College for 20 years, Bill Raedy has helped countless students, but Knight shared one recent story that exemplified Raedy’s willingness to go the extra mile for students.

When a student had missed several days of class, Raedy reached out in concern. He learned that this student was a veteran and had been the last living member of his combat team, and he confided that he was contemplating ending his life. Raedy immediately reached out to the Veterans Resource Center. Together they were able to get the student connected to resources and convince him he was safe and welcome at Clark.

“It took a whole team to get this student up on his feet again,” said Knight before presenting Raedy with a coin. “But it all started with this one instructor caring enough to reach out to the student and knowing enough to connect him to the right resources on campus.”

President Robert K. Knight has announced that he plans to retire at the end of the 2018-2019 contract year on August 31.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I want to thank President Knight for his exemplary service during his 13 years leading Clark College,” said Royce Pollard, chair of the Clark College Board of Trustees. “For more than a decade, he has provided stability and vision that has allowed the college to grow, adapt, and serve its community.”

Knight joined Clark in 2004 as Vice President of Administrative Services. In 2006, he was named acting president, and a year later was named president. During his tenure, he has overseen many changes at the college, including the opening of its Columbia Tech Center location in 2009, a new STEM Building in 2016, and the development of the college’s first three Bachelor of Applied Science degree programs. 

Knight publicly announced his retirement on January 18, the day after delivering his annual State of the College address, in which he shared the news of the college’s recent successful accreditation process.

President Knight will continue to serve as president until his retirement date.

“While this is a decision that my wife and I have been weighing for some time, I wanted to see the college through its accreditation process before informing trustees and Executive Cabinet,” Knight wrote in an email to college employees this morning. “Now that our review is complete and the college has received commendations in six areas, I feel comfortable that I am leaving this institution on firm footing.”

Pollard said that the Board of Trustees will begin the work of selecting a replacement for President Knight at a special board meeting to be announced soon.

Read the full text of President Knight’s email below:

Dear college community,

As many of you know, I have spent 15 years working at Clark. It has been a privilege and an honor to lead the college for more than a decade, and I am proud of the work we have done together to serve our students and our community.

So it is with mixed emotions that I announce that I will be retiring at the end of my contract year on August 31.

While this is a decision that my wife and I have been weighing for some time, I wanted to see the college through its accreditation process before informing trustees and Executive Cabinet. Now that our review is complete and the college has received commendations in six areas, I feel comfortable that I am leaving this institution on firm footing.

The Board of Trustees will be holding a special meeting, to be announced soon, to begin the process of seeking new leadership for the college. I have the utmost faith in their ability to steward the college safely through this period of transition and to find the right leadership to guide Clark into the future. In the meantime, I am committed to spending the next seven months ensuring that the college continues to work toward fulfilling its mission.

Please know that I will continue to support Clark and be a part of its community, even after I retire. After all, once a member of the Penguin Nation, always a member of the Penguin Nation.

Thank you,

Bob Knight
President

Clark College computer technology instructor Bruce Elgort recently received grants from the national organizations Teach Access and the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT), as well as the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), to incorporate accessibility principles into computer science curriculum.

Elgort was just one of 13 faculty members across the nation to receive this grant and the only instructor from a community college to do so. He plans to use the funds to enhance his current curriculum so that it expands its teaching of Universal Design principles.

“We teach accessibility in our HTML classes—you know, ‘add a description to all your images so people using screen-reader technology know what they are,’” Elgort said. “It’s time to start taking accessibility further. It’s time to create forms for people with cognitive disabilities, or physical disabilities that go beyond visual impairment.”

The topic is deeply personal for Elgort, who is visually impaired himself. “I am a user of accessibility,” he said. “I am someone who is challenged as a user of technology.”

Funded by Teach Access and PEAT, the Teach Access Curriculum Development Award totals $5,000. The SBCTC is matching that grant with an additional $5,000. Elgort plans to use the funds to develop curriculum enhancements over the summer, and have them ready to share with other faculty in the fall.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have a faculty member like Bruce working at Clark College. His strong commitment to ensuring everyone can use technology is commendable. With the Teach Access and PEAT grant, which SBCTC is matching, Bruce can impact an entire industry by making sure future web developers are equipped to develop accessible technology as soon as they enter the field,” said Jess Thompson, program administrator for accessible technology initiatives at SBCTC.

About Bruce Elgort

Bruce Elgort began his career as an electrical engineer and then moved into the world of enterprise information technology. He was responsible for designing and developing collaborative computing solutions to serve global businesses. Elgort also started one of the largest open-source communities for IBM’s Collaboration Software division. He is a popular speaker at conferences and industry events. As an entrepreneur, he created the award-winning IdeaJam idea-management software. Elgort began teaching at Clark College in 2013 and has earned the college’s prestigious Exceptional Faculty Award in 2014 and 2018.

About Clark College

Located in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving more than 12,000 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. Additionally, its Economic & Community Development program is housed in the Columbia Bank building in downtown Vancouver.

About Teach Access

Teach Access is a unique collaboration among members of higher education, the technology industry and advocates for accessibility, with a shared goal of making technology broadly accessible by infusing accessibility into higher education, with enhanced training and collaborations with people with disabilities. Teach Access includes members from leading tech companies, academic institutions and disability advocacy organizations and other non-profit institutions. Teach Access operates as a fiscal sponsorship fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF). To learn more visit teachaccess.org or email info@teachaccess.org.

About the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is led by a governor-appointed board and provides leadership, advocacy, and coordination for Washington’s system of 34 public community and technical colleges. Each year, about 374,000 students train for the workforce, prepare to transfer to a university, gain basic math and English skills, or pursue continuing education.

 

This year’s recipient of the Community College Presidents’ Award in Honor of Val Ogden was Grace Moe, who graduated with an Associate of Arts transfer degree. “She has shown an exemplary work ethic, participating in student government and volunteering with community organizations while maintaining a high GPA,” said Clark College President Robert K. Knight in announcing the scholarship during the college’s 2018 Commencement ceremony.

Moe came to Clark College through the Running Start program, which allows high school students to earn college credit. A first-generation college student, Moe has excelled at Clark, serving as the president of the Associated Students of Clark College (student government) and earning a cumulative GPA of 3.82. In addition, she has volunteered with Friends of Trees, the Clark County Food Bank, and New Heights Church.

Moe, 17, says that this scholarship will allow her to complete her bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing in two years, when she will be 19 years old; because her parents are unable to financially contribute to her college tuition, without the scholarship she would have had to attend WSUV part-time in order to earn enough to cover the costs. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she intends to spend a year volunteering with her church before beginning a career at a local business.

“My roots are definitely ingrained in this area,” said Moe, who has lived in Vancouver her whole life. “I plan to give back to the community that raised me, by working in the area so that I can continue to volunteer and serve for Vancouver.”

Because Moe was already sitting on stage during the Commencement ceremony in her capacity as ASCC president, Knight invited her to the podium as he announced the scholarship. “You’ve been a wonderful leader and I know we’re going to hear a lot more about you,” he said.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley.

During the 2018 Commencement ceremony, President Robert K. Knight announced the names of the recipients of the 2018 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Awards. The awards are presented annually to full-time and part-time faculty members. Nominations can be submitted by Clark College students, faculty, classified employees, administrators, alumni, Board members, and Foundation directors.

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

This year’s Exceptional Faculty members are:

• Bruce Elgort, computer technology instructor
• Sara Gallow, English as a Second Language professor
• Richard Inouye, music professor
• Dr. Kanchan Mathur, mathematics professor
• Don Wissusik, addiction counselor education instructor

Bruce Elgort

If there is one word to describe computer technology instructor Bruce Elgort, it is probably “connected.” He stays connected to his students through email, social media, and online tools. “Never in the history of teaching has a professor been more available to his students,” raved one student in their nomination.

Elgort is also connected to local industry through his long career in tech, which includes high-level positions at major companies like Sharp and Underwriters Laboratories, as well as launching his own successful software company. And he creates connections in his community, regularly attending (and sometimes speaking at) conferences and inviting others to come with him. “I can’t count the number of events I’ve attended because Bruce posted something on Slack or Facebook—or gave me a digital nudge saying, ‘You should go to this!’” wrote another student.

Small wonder, then, that Elgort has gathered a significant fan base at Clark since beginning to teach here in 2012. Indeed, this is his second time winning an Exceptional Faculty Award at the college; the first time was in 2013. Elgort says that, since then, he’s become involved in numerous Clark committees and initiatives. In other words, he’s become more, well, connected to Clark—and clearly Clark is all the stronger for it.

Sara Gallow

When Sara Gallow began her teaching career, she imagined it would be a way to travel the globe. But one day, while teaching English in Japan, she read a newspaper article about a program in the U.S. teaching English to immigrants and refugees; instantly, she realized that was what she wanted to do. Within a year, she was living in Portland and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) at area colleges, including Clark.

Clearly, it was the right fit: Gallow was hired full-time in 1999 and has been here ever since. Currently, she serves as chair of the Transitional Studies division and has been described as the division’s “consistency, vision, driving force, and backbone.” Under her leadership, Transitional Studies has redesigned all of its ESL and basic education courses, as well as developed a new program serving inmates in the Clark County Jail.

Throughout her career, however, Gallow’s first love remains teaching. “My students teach me strength, persistence, and humility,” she says. “I’ve had doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and musicians in my classes. I’ve had students who weren’t able to finish elementary school and others who have escaped war. All of them came to this country for a better life, and for one quarter they trusted me to teach them English and help them reach their goals—it’s truly an honor to be their teacher.”

Richard Inouye

It’s hard to imagine Clark College’s exemplary concert band and jazz ensemble without their fearless band leader, music professor Richard Inouye. Since 2007, Inouye, who is retiring this June, has not only led the band but also raised its musical reputation in order to recruit top notch student musicians to attend Clark. Additionally, he has directed Clark’s annual Jazz Festival, which has grown to attract more than 50 middle and high school bands from around the region.

Inouye has a long professional career in music, beginning with teaching band in Colorado public schools and followed by a 20-year career in the United States Air Force Academy Band as a saxophonist, music director, and band leader. He also served on the music performance faculty at The Colorado College for eight years before moving to Vancouver to begin teaching at Clark.

“Although Rich can come across as stern and direct, he’s also got a soft heart, often coaching and mentoring students on his own time and with his own resources,” wrote one nominator. “He believes in giving students second chances, within parameters designed to help them become successful.”

“He wants us all to be responsible, of course, but he will lend a hand whenever needed,” wrote one student. “He continues to push us to be the best we can be—in band and outside of band.”

Dr. Kanchan Mathur

“I enjoy everything about math,” says mathematics professor Dr. Kanchan Mathur. “The clarity of thought it brings, the seemingly unrelated quantities that come together in a beautiful formula, the numerous applications of it, the elegant proofs of theorems, the history behind some of the most important developments—and, well, numbers in general.”

Dr. Mathur is all too aware, however, that not all her students feel the same way. “Math should not be intimidating, but it is, sadly,” she says. A tenured professor at Clark since 2008, she helps students overcome their math hurdles by making herself available outside of the classroom for one-on-one help with tricky concepts—and with other challenges they face.

“In addition to her dedication to our students’ academic success, she also genuinely care about their well-being,” wrote one nominator, point out that Dr. Mathur stocks a variety of snacks in the Mathematics Department office for hungry students.

In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Mathur has served as the Mathematics Department’s scheduler. She also works with local schools to hold several math competitions and to get young students excited about mathematics and higher education. And she’s teamed up with other math faculty on many of the department’s math-themed events, like its annual Pi Day celebration and its “Read a Math Book to your Child” campaign on Bring Your Child to Work Day.

Donald Wissusik

For almost two decades, Donald Wissusik has made the long commute to Vancouver from Newberg, Oregon, to teach evening classes to students in Clark’s Addiction Counselor Education (ACED) program. That he has done so on top of his full-time job as a clinical services manager in addiction medicine for Kaiser Permanente speaks to his dedication to teaching.

“The wisdom from his many years of experience, along with his gentle and kind demeanor, makes him very approachable and makes us students feel valued,” wrote one nominator. “Don has made a huge impact on me, and I will carry his words of wisdom with me into my professional career.”

Wissusik’s own career is coming to a close, as he is retiring from Clark this year. (He retired from Kaiser in 2016.) But his legacy will continue at Clark through his many years as a volunteer on the ACED’s advisory committee, which helps ensure the program’s outcomes match employers’ needs.

“I am very honored and amazed to receive this award,” Wissusik says. “I have tried to be guided by being mindful of how I wanted to be mentored when I started this career over 40 years ago.”

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On May 7, a reception was held in Gaiser Student Center to welcome the nine newest  members of the tenured faculty at Clark College. Glenna Afflerbaugh (dental hygiene), Patricia Atkinson (economics), Caron Ford (career and academic preparation), Rebecca Herman (dental hygiene), Yusufu Kamara (economics), Donald Ludwig (sociology), Laura Nagel (library), Robert Weston (mathematics), and Tess Yevka (psychology) were all granted tenure during the Clark College Board of Trustees meeting on March 14.

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

Glenna Afflerbaugh

Glenna Afflerbaugh graduated from Clark College’s dental hygiene program with an associate degree. She received a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. She has worked as a dental hygienist in private practice and began teaching at Clark in 1994. She has served as senior lead clinical instructor in Clark’s dental hygiene program since 2015.

At Clark, Afflerbaugh coordinates mock board exams for senior dental hygiene students; she also mentors and advises students as they move through the dental hygiene program. She also serves on the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee.

“My teaching approach is to lead with integrity, and provide a learner-centered environment in which trusting, supportive, and synergistic relationships allow individuals to grow, become empowered, and accomplish their goals,” said Afflerbaugh.

Patricia Atkinson

Patricia Atkinson earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in economics from Marist College and Portland State University, respectively. She has taught at Clark College since 2008, and has previous teaching experience at Portland State University and other community colleges in the Portland-Vancouver metro region.

At Clark, Atkinson serves as Lead Economics instructor and sits on the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Business task force. She co-hosts weekly brown-bag lunches where students are invited to discuss different economic topics, and also serves as advisor to the college’s Chess Club.

“As an economics instructor, I try to create community in the classroom and connect economics to students’ everyday life,” Atkison said of her teaching philosophy.

Caron Ford

Caron Ford received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University. She earned her English Teaching Credential and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University Bakersfield. She has previous teaching experience at South High School in Bakersfield, California, and has worked at Clark College since 2009.

At Clark, Ford serves as I-BEST Lead Teacher for the Department of Career and Academic Preparation (CAP), as the curriculum developer for CAP English, and as the Transitional Studies CAP representative in the college’s work to adopt a Guided Pathways model of higher education.

“I approach teaching from a learning perspective, and I approach curriculum from a student perspective,” said Ford. “I want my students to see themselves in what they read and what they write so they can effectively engage in, challenge, and change the world.”

Rebecca Herman

Rebecca Herman graduated from Clark College’s dental hygiene program with an associate degree. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Communication, as well as a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, at Concordia University.

Herman has previous work experience as a clinical dental hygienist for many years. She has also taught at Mt. Hood Community College. She began teaching at Clark College as an adjunct instructor in 1994. At Clark, Herman advises and mentors students as well as new faculty. She serves on the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and regularly contributes to work and initiatives within her department.

“My approach to teaching is to focus on student learning and retention,” said Herman. “I also believe a learner-centered environment is best for the students to achieve outcomes.”

Dr. Yusufu Kamara

Dr. Yusufu Kamara earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with honors from the University of Sierra Leone. After being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in Economics from the University of Kansas. He has previous teaching experience at Avila University, Baker University, Neosho County Community College, and the University of Kansas (all of which are located in Kansas). He began teaching at Clark College in 2015.

Dr. Kamara sit on the International Education Committee at Clark college, and has helped to plan the college’s annual International Education Day. He also serves as a faculty advisor to the college’s Harambee Black Student Union.

“I always strive to create an interactive and inclusive class environment, providing the opportunity for students from all backgrounds to participate in collaborative problem solving, engage in constructive class discussions, and to relate the issues discussed to their communities and beyond,” said Dr. Kamara. “I focus on developing the critical thinking skills students need understand and apply the basic principles we cover in class.”

Dr. Don Ludwig

Dr. Don Ludwig earned his associate degree from Spokane Community College and his bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University. He holds doctorate degrees from both the New York-based International University for Graduate Studies and from Portland State University.

At Clark, Dr. Ludwig has served as the Faculty Assessment Liaison and Sociology Department Lead; a Guided Pathways faculty liaison; and the Clark Representative to The Democracy Commitment, a non-partisan national program to promote civics at community colleges. He has participated in both the I-BEST and Learning Communities and the Integrative Faculty Learning Community. He also served as a faculty panelist during a 2015 discussion on economic inequality.

“Teaching and learning should be committed to social justice and equity in all things and all ways,” said Dr. Ludwig. “The best question you can ask my students on any day is, ‘What are you learning today, why is that important, and what are you doing about it?’”

Laura Nagel

Laura Nagel earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Art History from Pacific Lutheran University. She earned her Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Before coming to Clark, she worked as a librarian at Linn-Benton Community College.

Since coming to Clark in 2015, she has served on the Library Leadership Team, as the Collection Development Lead, and as the Business and Health Sciences Liaison. She also served as project director for the college’s 2016 hosting of a traveling exhibit called “Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Heath and Illness.”

In discussing her philosophy toward education, Nagel quoted the librarian James Elmborg, saying, “I tell students that it is my job to work with them to find, evaluate, and use information to ‘ask and answer questions that matter to them and to the world around them.’”

Robert Weston

Robert Weston earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Oregon State University and his master’s degree in Mathematics from The City College of New York. His work history includes teaching mathematics at numerous institutions in both New York City and Portland for 10 years, working as an instructional designer for an online college, and serving as a consultant on education projects through his own small business.

At Clark, Weston serves on the Guided Pathways Steering Committee and is developing a co-requisite remediation version of MATH 105.

“Student understanding of mathematics is developed by well-designed experiences that challenge students in a supportive environment,” said Weston in describing his teaching philosophy. “In order to meet these challenges students should be supported in developing effective study habits, organization skills, and healthy attitudes towards learning.”

Tess Yevka

Tess Yevka earned her bachelor’s degree from Marylhurst University and her master’s degree in Counseling from Portland State University. Her previous teaching experience includes Carrington College, Marylhurst University, and Mt. Hood Community College. She has additional work experience as a counselor in private practice and as a community educator working in child-abuse prevention.

At Clark, Yevka serves as a member of the Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee and the Faculty Development Subcommittee. She assists other faculty members in setting up and conducting online classes as well as in creating accessible teaching materials. Additionally, she is involved in the Vancouver community as a certified Long Term Care Ombudsman.

“My teaching philosophy is to make it real,” said Yevka. “By anchoring the content of a course in the context of daily life, students learn real-world application. Being able to see the relevance of material, and have the opportunity to apply it, increases interest and participation.”

 

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley