Mia Beightol with her NWAC Runner of the Year ring.
Mia Beightol earned NWAC Runner of the Year after finishing first in her 3K run at the Fall 2024 Women’s Cross-Country Championships. She finished the run with a time of 18:18:4, winning by over 14 seconds.
Beightol’s win helped catapult the entire Penguins women’s cross-country team to second place at the championships overall. She was also the Southern Regional Champion with a time of 18:35.6.
Left to right: Mia shows her ring to Chair Denise Gideon, President Dr. Karin Edwards, Vice Chair Marilee Scarbrough, and Cristhian Canseco Juárez.
She was recognized with a championship ring at the Clark Board of Trustees’ meeting on February 26. Clark President Dr. Karin Edwards presented her the ring as an audience full of supporters and her parents watched over Zoom.
While Beightol herself was humble, the women’s cross-country coach Owen Frasier—who also received the 2024 NWAC Southern Region Men’s Coach of the Year—made sure the trustees understood what an accomplishment this was.
With emotion in his voice, he shared with the trustees that Beightol was not only an excellent athlete but academically accomplished, with a 3.7 GPA. He also shared that his own daughter looks up to Beightol for being a great, kind person.
This is the second year in a row that Clark College won the honor of NWAC Runner of the Year, the 2023 honoree was Sydnee Boothby.
The Northwest Athletic Conference is the parent organization for thirty-six (36) community colleges located in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. It is the mission of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) to foster athletic participation in an environment that supports equitable opportunities for student-athletes consistent with the educational objectives of member colleges. (From NWAC’s website)
Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent
Winter Students of Color Luncheon
Left to right: Dr. Terry Brown, Dr. Karin Edwards, student speaker Chishayla Kimmons, scholarship recipient Navjot Hundal, and Vanessa Neal.
Chishayla Kimmons’ educational journey has been anything but ordinary—but that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring. As the president of Clark College’s Black Student Union and a soon-to-be graduate in business and marketing, Kimmons took center stage at the Winter Students of Color Luncheon on February 6 to share her story of perseverance, purpose, and resilience. From navigating multiple colleges to finding her home at Clark, she embodies the power of determination and the impact of community.
The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs. The purpose of the student luncheons is to allow students and employees to hear inspiring stories, connect with faculty, meet new friends, consider different career paths, and identify community resources and potential mentors.
President of the college’s Black Student Union, Kimmons’ educational journey hasn’t been linear and has never been traditional. She started at Portland Community College and then attended Arizona State University. Next, she enrolled at Aveda Institute and currently is a student at Clark College. Her goal has always been to focus and finish what she started, even if she couldn’t finish where she initially started. She says her motto will always be to never give up while inspiring others.
Dr. Edwards wrote in her weekly email to faculty and staff: “I had the pleasure of attending the Students of Color Luncheon, where Chishayla Kimmons, who will graduate in June with degrees in business and marketing, shared her journey. After enrolling in several colleges, Chishayla found her place here at Clark. She expressed her appreciation for all the college has provided her.”
Q & A with Chishayla Kimmons
Q: How has your career path changed since you attended your first college classes at Portland Community College?
CK: Since attending my first college classes at Portland Community College, my focus has always been business. Now, I am heavily focused on business and marketing.
Q: Along your journey, did you experience an obstacle that made you change your course—and it turned out to be a better option for you?
CK: Having a child changed that course for me. Prior, I allowed life and outside factors to get in the way and to shift my focus, which resulted in me dropping out of college the first time. Having a child brought that initial hunger back. Now I am enrolled at Clark College, which in turn was a better overall option for me.
Q: What have you learned along your educational journey that you’d like to pass on as advice to Clark College students who are unsure of their career path?
CK: Something that I have learned is to try all the things! You don’t have to fit in a box. If you want to be an astronaut, be one. If you want to be an astronaut and a chef, be that! You may find that along your journey, you want to switch courses and that is okay too! Keep trying until you find that career that best suits you and who you are today!
Q:What other encouragement do you offer to students?
CK:
Remember: It is never too late!
Never, ever give up!
Focus and finish!
You got this!
Scholarships Awarded
Left to right: Dr. Terry Brown, Dr. Karin Edwards, scholarship recipients Mercy Kariuki and Navjot Hundal, and Vanessa Neal.
Two Clark students were awarded scholarships during the Students of Color Luncheon:
Mercy Kariuki, a student enrolled in the Pre-Nursing DTA program, was awarded the Constance Baker Motley Scholarship.
Navjot Hundal, a student enrolled in the Dental Hygienist program, was awarded a DREAMers Scholarship.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) offers these and other scholarships in partnership with the Foundation and the community. Apply at the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by emailing Rosalba Pitkin at rpitkin@clark.edu or calling 360-992-2672.
SAVE THE DATE: Next DEI luncheon
March 6 at noon: Students with Disability Luncheon in PUB 161
Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI):
A student chats with Career Services employees Alex Kison and Michael Caldwell about the Career Connect event.
How do Clark students who are enrolled in technology or engineering programs learn about the multitude of career paths available to them?
Who can offer them real-world insights about what it’s like working as a civil engineer in the private sector versus the public sector?
Where can students find out about paid summer internships in their field?
The answer to these questions is simple: Career Connect!
Career Connect events are open to Clark students, alumni, and community members. They provide opportunities to make connections and learn about internships, jobs, careers, and academic pathways. Clark staff, faculty, and local employers were in one place to support students. Opportunities are also regularly posted on Penguin Jobs, Clark’s online job and internship board.
Career Connect networking events provide an opportunity for Clark students in specific programs to connect with employers. At the Career Connect on February 4 in Cannell Library, students pursuing engineering and technology career paths had opportunities to meet with industry professionals and explore their career options.
Connecting with employers
Multnomah County employees talk to a Clark student about more than 50 paid summer internships
At the Multnomah County table, students were waiting to speak to the two representatives. Cole Whitehurst, who coordinates Multnomah County’s College to County Mentorship Program, had good news for Clark students. The program is hiring about 50 summer interns in a variety of county departments. The internships pay $24 per hour.
Whitehurst handed students a flyer with a QR code that linked to the internship webpage and encouraged them to apply. Applications will open March 14 and will close at 9 a.m. on April 15 deadline. It requires a resume and cover letter.
Wallis Engineering employees chat with a Clark student about civil engineering career opportunities.
At the Wallis Engineering table, an Engineer and a Recruiter spoke with a Clark engineering student who had many questions. What kinds of projects do civil engineers work on? What does the day-to-day work look like?
Similar conversations happened throughout the space as students and industry professionals talked about the opportunities in their professions.
Clark Public Utilities employees speak to a Clark student about internship and employment opportunities.
Connecting with resources
“If students would like assistance creating a resume and cover letter for any opportunity, the team at Career Services is ready to help,” said Alex Kison, Workforce and Student Engagement Navigator of Career Services.
In addition to exploring career pathways, students connected with the Career Services team, the Academic Advising department, and Student Success Coaches, learning more about the resources available in the Clark College community.
The following employers participated in the Career Connect on February 4:
Clark Public Utilities
C-Tran
edgefi
Multnomah County, Oregon
Wallis Engineering
About Career Connect
Career Connect Events are open to Clark students, alumni, and community members and provide opportunities to make connections and learn about internships, jobs, careers and academic pathways. Clark staff, faculty and local employers will all be in one place to support students.
Next Career Connect
Who: Clark students enrolled or interested in biological, social, and physical sciences or STEM. All students and community members are welcome!
When: Tuesday, February 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: STEM Building Room 156
What to expect: Local employers and industry professionals will be at these events to speak with you about what it’s like to be in their profession and engage with you in career conversations. If you are currently looking for a job or internship related to STEM fields, you are encouraged to bring your resume to share with local employers.
The NERD Girls and GEEKs, an ASCC student program, hosted an “experiment social” on Tuesday, January 28 in the STEM Building Collaboratorium, inviting the Clark STEM community to come together to hang out and explore by doing hands-on science experiments. The student-led club is directed by professors Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu.
At the social, attendees created stress balls, made wildflower seed paper, and “elephant toothpaste,” (using dish soap to trap oxygen gas bubbles and create a foam that looks like toothpaste). Some projects were more successful than others, but the students kept trying and approached the experiments in different ways to achieve better results.
Professor Barsotti said, “The best part of the social experiment was how it brought students together for hands-on experimentation—proving that failure is just part of the journey in science and engineering. One student thought they had made a mistake when making their stress ball, but upon completion, they realized it was exactly what they intended.”
Students experiment with making “elephant toothpaste”.
According to its mission statement, the student program “strives to provide opportunities for diverse learners to achieve their educational goals by promoting social connectedness through peer support, volunteering, professional interaction, and mentoring. By providing these opportunities, the program encourages students to continue their path in the STEM fields.”
This mission can be summarized by one student’s answer to the question: “What do you like about the club?” The student smiled, pointed at her friend, and said, “Well, I met her.”
Clark NERD Girls and GEEKs hosts events throughout the year. Last December, they hosted the Second Annual Free Holiday Market that gives students and their families an opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for their families and themselves—for free. Read more about that here.
Learn more
NERD Girls posts about upcoming events on its Instagram. You can also reach out to Tina Barsotti and Carol Hsu for more information.
Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent
MESA’s Fall Travels
Four Clark College MESA students attended the National Diversity in STEM Conference in Phoenix.
Our MESA scholars had a busy fall term attending conferences, transfer fairs, internship info sessions, and workshops. Below is a list of MESA activities during fall term and upcoming opportunities in 2025.
October 30: November 2: National Diversity in STEM Conference in Phoenix, AZ
Four Clark College MESA students attended the nation’s largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event. It was presented by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science. Students were immersed in cutting-edge research, professional development, keynote sessions, and the Academic & Career Expo. The experience equipped them with valuable skills, scholarship information, and networking opportunities.
These Clark MESA students participated in the STEM Research & Transfer Fair in Seattle on November 14.
November 14: STEM Research & Transfer Fair, Seattle
MESA Scholars visited North Seattle College for the STEM Research & Transfer Fair, connecting with the University of Washington’s resources on research pathways, research experiences for undergraduates, funding opportunities, and transfer support for Clark students who plan to transfer to UW.
November 19: WSU Vancouver Workshop
MESA hosted an Admissions and Financial Aid workshop with WSU Vancouver counselors. The sessions covered transfer admissions, scholarships, and financial aid, with one-on-one assistance with WSU Vancouver counselors.
November 20: Introduction to Success Coaching
In partnership with Clark College’s Student Success Coaching program, we offered a session to connect MESA scholars with the college’s Success Coaches who offer personalized guidance to help them navigate coursework, college life, and long-term academic planning.
November 26: MESA Giving Event in Clark’s MESA Center, STEM Building
A gathering with games, food, and crafts for MESA scholars to build community, relax, celebrate their progress, and prepare for their finals.
December 3: Summer Health Professions Education Program Webinar
MESA hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Summer Health Professions Education Program for students to learn about its summer internships and application process. This transformative summer experience offers students opportunities to explore careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and public health.
December 5: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Community College Internships Info Session (virtual)
MESA hosted a virtual info session with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory in Richland, Washington about its Community College Internships. MESA Scholars learned about paid internships for Summer 2025, key application dates, and the application process.
December 12: Transfer Student Preview Day at University of Washington, Seattle
MESA scholars attended University of Washington’s Transfer Student Preview Day, designed for prospective transfer students to explore programs, services, and connect with academic departments. The UW College of Engineering hosted a lunch and info session just for MESA engineering students! It was attended by students from Clark, Columbia Basin, Edmonds, Everett, Highline, and Green River community colleges.
December 13: Internship & Scholarship Application Work Session, Clark MESA Center
MESA Scholars are invited to join their MESA peers for a focused session to work on their applications for internships and scholarships. With deadlines fast approaching for many of these opportunities, it is the perfect time to get started before heading out for winter break. Food, coffee, and snacks were provided to keep students energized as they work.
Coming in 2025
January 9, 2025: ISB Summer Internships Info Session
In partnership with the Institute for Systems Biology, MESA will host a virtual info session for students to learn about ISB’s summer internships and why it’s important for students to engage and participate in these experiences. ISB offers various internships for students interested in biology, chemistry, computer science, information science, applied mathematics, and engineering. ISB is an internationally renowned nonprofit institute in Seattle, which is dedicated to studying and applying systems biology to unravel biological complexity.
January 14: Health Sciences Career Panel
In partnership with The Mentoring Project, we are excited to host a virtual health sciences career panel that offers MESA Scholars an opportunity to explore diverse health sciences careers. Students will gain valuable insights from experienced professionals and will ask the professionals questions during a Q&A session.
January 25, 2025: Silicon Forest Tech Summit, Hillsboro, Oregon
MESA plans to take several students to the Silicon Forest Tech Summit. The summit brings together the entire tech ecosystem, uniting emerging tech startups, established corporations, innovative technologists, and educational institutions. Students will have the opportunity to explore emerging tech, gain insights into advanced manufacturing, discover exciting career opportunities in the tech industry, and network with other students and professionals.
January 28 & February 19: WSU Vancouver Office Hours for MESA Scholars, MESA Center
We’ve partnered with WSU Vancouver and their admissions department to host office hours for MESA Scholars. WSU Vancouver’s Admissions Counselor, Laura Arellano-Karki, will be available to meet with students and support them through the transfer admissions process, including completing their admission application.
February 4: Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center Visit, Seattle
MESA will be taking students to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center to explore cutting-edge research, discover exciting internship opportunities, and learn about careers in cancer research and health sciences, participate in hands-on lab activity and tour lab facilities. Fred Hutch is renowned for its groundbreaking work in cancer treatment and its impact on both cancer and infectious diseases worldwide. As an independent organization, Fred Hutch also serves as the cancer program for University of Washington Medicine.
February 21: Portland State University Campus Visit, Portland, OR
MESA Scholars will visit PSU to explore their transfer options, learn about PSU academic programs, admissions, transfer process, financial aid, and to tour the campus.
March 5-9, 2015: Annual National Society of Black Engineers Convention, Chicago, Ill.
The NSBE Convention will gather students and professionals to promote Black excellence in engineering. The NSBE mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. Clark’s MESA program plans to take several scholars to participate in this impactful event.
March 14, 2025: iFLY STEM Field Trip and Indoor Sky Diving, Portland, OR
We will be participating in a fun indoor skydiving experience at iFLY Portland! iFLY offers STEM visits including learning about the engineering and physics behind their state-of-the-art wind tunnel. Students will participate in an immersive, hands-on lab activity before experiencing the thrill of indoor skydiving.
MESA Q & A
Q: What is MESA?
A: MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) is a national program designed to increase the number of historically underrepresented populations to succeed in STEM fields. This includes African American, Native American, Latino/Hispanic, and Pacific Islander/Hawaiian and women community college students who transfer to universities and earn STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) bachelor’s degrees.
Q:When did Clark College begin its MESA program?
A: Clark College began its MESA program during the 2018-19 academic year.
Q: How many Clark College students participate in MESA?
A: Clark’s program can serve up to 100 students. It currently serves more than 60 students.
Q: Where is the MESA Center at Clark College?
A: Clark College has a dedicated MESA Center in the STEM building for studying and creating community, as well as opportunities for mentorship, assistance with books and fees, conference participation, campus visits, and more.
Book an appointment with MESA Director Román Lara here.
Student Artist Recognized by Phi Theta Kappa
Student Beheshta Eqbali, a member of Clark’s Phi Theta Kappa honors society, has been named a PTK Visual Arts Award recipient for her painting Afghan Girl. Her work will be published in the 30th edition of Nota Bene, Phi Theta Kappa’s honors anthology, and she will receive a $500 scholarship. The anthology will be printed in 2025.
Eqbali is a student leader in the Activities Programming Board. Her painting is being displayed in the ASCC Student Life offices in PUB 160.
PTK Advisor Darci Feider said, “Beheshta is a valued member of Clark’s PTK chapter. We are so proud of her for receiving the PTK Visual Arts Award for her beautiful painting, Afghan Girl. We’re excited that her work will be published in Nota Bene, and we can’t wait to see her honored in the Parade of Scholars at the PTK Catalyst convention in April. It’s wonderful to see her talent recognized on such a big stage. Our chapter is thrilled to support her and to celebrate this incredible achievement!”
About PTK
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges. PTK recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. Clark’s PTK chapter is Alpha Sigma Phi. Students are invited to join PTK when enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and achieve a minimum 3.25 grade point average.
BE: Art has been part of my life since I was a kid, but it became something much stronger in my teenage years and continues to be a powerful part of my life today. At first, painting was just a way to express myself without words. English is still new to me. Over time, though, it became something deeper, almost like therapy. It’s where I feel myself most, a space where I can share my thoughts and emotions without saying a word.
Q: What inspired you to paint Afghan Woman? Was there a specific person or event that inspired you?
BE: This painting is inspired by the courage and resilience of Afghan women, especially those who have faced unimaginable hardships yet carry strength in their eyes. It’s also deeply personal for me a way of staying connected to my culture and honoring the people who have shaped me. When I paint, I feel like I’m preserving a piece of my identity, even as I grow and adapt in a new world.
Q: What is the significance of your painting?
BE: For me, Afghan Girl is more than just a painting; it’s a reminder of where I come from and the heritage I carry with me. I see it as a silent storyteller, one that speaks of beauty, struggle, and quiet pride women into Afghan life. Through her expression, I hope others can feel the same depth of love and resilience that I see in my own people.
Q: What field are you studying at Clark?
BE: I’m studying web development because I love creating and problem solving, but painting remains close to my heart. My studies keep me grounded in technology, but painting keeps me balanced. It is where I can explore my creativity. It’s my place to be vulnerable and tell stories that go beyond the digital world and into something more personal. It’s a space where I can connect with my roots and share a part of myself that goes beyond the pixels on a screen.
Learn more
See Beheshta Eqbali’s painting in the ASCC Student Life offices, PUB 160.
Read more about PTK’s honors anthology, Nota Bene here
The Comic Club of Clark College hosted the highly anticipated release party for the sixth edition of The Iceberg annual comic anthology on December 5 in PUB 161. This year’s Iceberg marks the largest and most impressive volume to date, featuring comic stories by about 44 creators. Some creators had submitted multiple works, making this edition a truly collaborative and expansive showcase of talent from students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
The party kicked off with speeches from English professor Tobias Peterson and art professor Grant Hottle. Together, the pair makes a dynamic duo, co-advising The Iceberg. Peterson and Hottle thanked all the creators and members of the Comic Club for their dedication and hard work.
Comic Industry Guests
Diana Schultz, retired editor at Dark Horse Comics.
Then they introduced the four industry comic professionals who joined the event to offer invaluable feedback to the student creators. The industry guests included:
Jeff Parker, artist and writer
Matt Fraction, artist and writer
Diana Schultz, translator and retired editor at Dark Horse Comics
Steve Lieber, artist
During the first hour of the VIP session, these industry professionals gave valuable feedback, offering advice and critique to the contributing creators whose work was published in The Iceberg. By 2:00 p.m. another 20 attendees had joined the event. The industry professionals generously stayed beyond the scheduled end time, offering critique, advice, and encouragement until about 5 p.m., two hours past the event’s expected close.
Producing The Iceberg
The Iceberg faculty advisors (left to right) Art Professor Grant Hottle and English Professor Tobi Peterson.
The release of The Iceberg offers Clark College students a rare opportunity to have their comic work published and reviewed by established professionals. The publishing process follows the academic calendar. We will open for submissions in the winter term. We make decisions and print the book in spring. And then in the fall, we celebrate the book release.
Peterson shared that people in academics still think of comics as kids’ stuff. The reality is that these books are a hybrid form of storytelling that produces beautiful and complex stories that examine what it means to be human.
Professor Peterson said, “I love The Iceberg because it provides a showcase for students’ creativity and passion. The release event is a yearly celebration of why we, as educators, got into this business to begin with!”
Steve Lieber, left, meets with a contributor to The Iceberg.
Speaking about the importance of the release party, Professor Hottle said, “It is a chance for students to showcase their comics. Thanks to the generous support of ASCC, we can have students published and have industry professionals give direct feedback.”
This year’s edition is also special for its perseverance. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, The Iceberg continued to be published, with many students sharing their work and receiving feedback via platforms like Discord.
Being a Contributor
Jeff Parker meets with one of the artists featured in this edition of The Iceberg.
Students Majic and Amelia had their work featured in The Iceberg for the first time. Both said they found the feedback from the professionals to be incredibly beneficial.
Majic, a fine arts major with aspirations in comics, said the anthology offers students a platform to refine their craft. “The Iceberg gives you a taste of what to do in the industry,” Majic noted. “Submitting comics allows you to have industrial professionals critique my work. There were things I was doing that I received help on correcting to make my comic better.”
It’s rewarding for students to see their work in print and enjoyed physically by other people. It also helps us create more work for our portfolios and makes for a great item to leave behind at a job interview.
Contributor Amelia Newbie, Clark College alumni who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in digital technology and culture at WSU Vancouver, said, “Reading, enjoying, and sharing our comics helps us get our work out into the world!”
To find your free copy of the sixth edition of The Iceberg, look for the blue stands around campus to pick your copy up today.
Learn More
For more information on The Iceberg and future events, stay tuned to Clark College’s Fine Arts department.
Comic Club meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Submit your comics for the 2025 Iceberg through May 5, 2025 via Submittable.
Photos submitted by Stephanie Wagner and Bryce Van Patten.
Web Development Program Technology Celebration
Bruce Elgort (pictured in the center holding a big duck) with students, program alumni, and guests holding CS50 ducks at the pizza party.
About 25 students from my online and remote courses gathered at Clark College on November 7 in Scarpelli Hall to eat pizza—lots of it! I typically throw a pizza party for my students every quarter and pay for it myself.
During the fall pizza party, each student also received a CS50 Rubber Duck. Alums and other friends were also in attendance. Quite a few students arrived after we snapped this picture. CS50 was kind enough to supply the rubber ducks!
Certificate from CS50 at Harvard
CS50 is Harvard University’s introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming. For the past several years, I have used CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python curriculum in my Intro to Programming and Problem-Solving course at Clark. Dozens of students not only have earned credit from Clark College, but also a certificate from CS50 at Harvard University.
Here’s a video from CS50’s very own David J. Malan congratulating Clark students for earning their certificates.
I recently brought a taste of community to our online and remote coding classes—through pizza and a little piece of the iconic CS50! This pizza party wasn’t just about food; it was a chance to unite students who usually connect only through screens. There’s something about sharing pizza that goes beyond filling our stomachs. It breaks down barriers, opens up conversations, and lets us see the human side of coding, a profession often steeped in virtual interactions and code blocks.
Pizza is almost a universal language, and even in a digital classroom, it creates a sense of camaraderie. From coding newcomers to seasoned tech enthusiasts, students gathered, laughed, and bonded over slices, sharing their coding challenges and side hustles.
Moments like these highlight the importance of community—reminding us that while we work individually, we’re part of a larger team learning and growing together.
Left to right: Bruce Elgort and David Sims, retired ITS Systems Administrator at the pizza party.Left to right: Katie Massey, Disability Access Center and Bruce Elgort holding CS50 rubber ducks.
Why a rubber duck?
And what’s a coding celebration without a twist? Each attendee walked away with a CS50 rubber duck. In case you’re wondering why a rubber duck, it’s not just a quirky gift—it’s a legendary problem-solving tool in coding circles!
Rubber duck debugging encourages students to explain their code out loud, often helping them uncover solutions simply by verbalizing their thought processes. Now, every student has a little buddy to “talk” to while tackling their toughest challenges.
Whether solving bugs or sharing a laugh, we’re more connected, engaged, and inspired than ever. Here’s to pizza, ducks, and the strong coding community we’re building at Clark College!
Republished from LinkedIn Photos courtesy of Bruce Elgort.
Why Basic Needs are Essential
Caitlin Malvar, far left, welcomes visitors including Dr. Edwards, far right, to Basic Needs Hub on November 6.
Recently I gathered with our college community to celebrate the opening of our Basic Needs Hub that will connect our students with resources and opportunities that can help them stay in school, complete their education, and achieve their academic and career goals.
Standing in that welcoming space, I felt gratitude for our basic needs team who will be working with our students: Caitlin Malvar, Basic Needs Navigator, is assisted by two Portland State University graduate students earning master’s degrees in social work, Meagan Montalto and Pearl Brown, who are the team’s Basic Needs Program Specialists. And of course, Oso, our Basic Needs therapy dog!
That experience in our Basic Needs Hub caused me to contemplate how education, opportunity, and support can impact lives.
The youngest of eight children, I grew up in one of New York City’s housing projects in the South Bronx. I attended public schools until my seventh-grade teacher noticed that I wasn’t being challenged enough academically and suggested I consider attending a private school, which I did. I received support from A Better Chance, an organization that opened the door for me to attend Columbia Prep—and changed my life.
At Columbia Prep, I was in the same city I’d lived in my whole life, but it seemed like an all-new city to me. I was exposed to many new experiences: the ballet, the symphony, museums, Broadway shows, all of which were part of my academic experience. That is when I first experienced the transformative power of education as well as the disparities that exist between the haves and have-nots.
One teacher assigned us to do research at the New York Public Library’s flagship location downtown where I was greeted by Patience and Fortitude, the regal marble lion sculptures at the entrance at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. It was a long way from the South Bronx, in many ways. In my music appreciation class, we were assigned to attend the New York Philharmonic. Although I used my free transit pass to travel to Lincoln Center, it was a stretch both culturally and financially because I had to pay for my own ticket.
I was fortunate. I had a home, my mother’s home-cooked meals, clean clothes to wear, and a loving family. But money for extras like symphony tickets was not easy to come by.
That experience got me thinking: Why aren’t my friends in the Bronx afforded the opportunity to the symphony or the ballet or the museum? Why did I have to leave my neighborhood to get a good education? I realized how unfair that was. My quest for education was driven by that realization—that “aha” moment.
Straddling the two worlds of midtown Manhattan and the South Bronx, I developed survival skills to co-exist in both worlds. I got an excellent education at Columbia Prep, but I was frustrated that I couldn’t get the same quality education in schools in the Bronx. That’s been part of the reason for my advocacy for equity. It has led me on the quest for equal access and equitable success for students. It is what drives me to champion Clark College’s equity-centered strategic plan.
Eliminating barriers for students
During my entire career working in higher education, I have learned that providing opportunities for equitable success for college students means eliminating barriers that can prevent them from beginning or completing their education. Many students struggle with maintaining basic needs including housing, food, clothing, healthcare, childcare, paying their utility bill, and more.
We are seeing these same barriers reflected in Clark College students:
31% of our students are low-income
45% of our students are first-generation college students without a family member to help them navigate college, including financial aid concerns
Our campus food pantry saw a 70% increase between 2022 and 2023 in the number of students accessing food for themselves and their households.
Clearly, our students’ needs are great—and even overwhelming for so many. At Clark College, we continually ask ourselves:
How can we eliminate barriers for our students?
How can we help them stay on their path and complete their degree?
We already were offering free food pantry boxes every month, free bus passes, reduced membership to our campus fitness center ($10 per term), free counseling and health center, and much more.
But it wasn’t enough. Many students at Clark College and throughout our state still face so many barriers. Recognizing this need, the Washington State Legislature passed Second Substitute House Bill 1559 in 2023 requiring all public postsecondary institutions to address student basic needs by employing a benefits navigator, a single point of contact for students to access resources including public benefits, emergency assistance grants, housing supports, and more.
Providing access to basic needs
The state’s plan includes these action points for every public college or university:
Hiring a basic needs navigator (or benefits navigator)
Creating and implementing a hunger-free and basic needs campus plan
Providing services through a basic needs hub (or benefits resource hub)
I am pleased that we have hired a basic needs navigator, a new role supported by the state to provide a single point of contact for students seeking essential resources.
Our navigator, Caitlin Malvar, first developed a comprehensive, holistic plan of action for addressing our students’ food insecurity, housing instability, and other basic needs so that they can focus on their education.
Next, our navigator focused on establishing a basic needs hub in our student union building. It provides a single location on campus where students can connect with our navigator to access a range of vital services, learn what benefits they may be eligible for, and get help completing various enrollment applications for food, housing, healthcare, utilities, and more. Although many college students can qualify for assistance, most do not realize they are eligible for these resources.
“So many of our students do not realize they are eligible to receive SNAP benefits,” said Caitlin, who is helping eligible students apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). “We are destigmatizing the need for essential resources to thrive in higher education and in life.”
Crashing through barriers
Through the collaboration of our basic needs hub and our Workforce Education Services (WES) office, our students can now access wrap-around services and resources to help them complete their education. With all of these in place as we step into a new academic year, Clark students—and students around Washington State—are crashing through barriers as they step toward achieving their academic goals.
Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish
Challenging Limitations
Left to right: Vanessa Neal, Dr. Terry Brown, peer mentors Addie Kuria and Elina Bui, and Dr. Karin Edwards.
Vice President of Instruction Dr. William “Terry” Brown shared his story with Clark students, faculty, and staff at the Fall Student of Color Luncheon on November 12 in PUB 161.
The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs. The purpose of the student luncheons is to allow students and employees to hear inspiring stories, connect with faculty, meet new friends, consider different career paths, and identify community resources and potential mentors.
Dr. Brown began by saying, “Today I have the opportunity to address the most important people here at Clark College—our students.”
Then he spoke directly to the students, weaving his personal stories into his narrative as a Black man growing up in Florida at the beginning of desegregation. He challenged societal norms, earning a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and then a doctorate.
Dr. Brown said, “Never underestimate what students can achieve.”
He talked about how during the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, and how students were instrumental in bringing about societal change.
“When I look around this room, I see people who are fully capable of changing the world,” he added, “I am convinced that when capable, talented people are supported, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.”
He challenged students: “Nobody does anything really important by themselves. Surround yourself with people who will help you become successful.”
Decide who you want to be:
Conceive your vision of yourself as a fully functioning human being.
Choose – There’s power in choice: what you choose to be, where you choose to go, who you choose to spend time with. Not choosing is also a choice.
Commit to where you’re going and what you’re doing.
Challenge limitations, especially if they are self-imposed.
Dr. Brown told students: “Challenge your own limitations. Sometimes the biggest obstacles are the limitations we put on ourselves. To students of color, there are enough limitations out there. Don’t put limitations on yourself.”
He added, “People challenged my intellect, my competence, my identity, even my personhood.”
Here are some of the questions people have asked him:
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Why are you here?”
“You’re too black.”
“You’re too white.”
Dr. Brown said, “For the person of color, there will always be some challenge to your personhood. Take time every day to affirm your personhood. Your strengths. Your weaknesses. Where you come from. Where you’re going. This is a fight for our personhood.”
He spoke about the importance of finishing what we start: “Completing a task gives you a record of your accomplishment. You look back on what you’ve already done. That can be your guide to go forward.”
He charged the students to have the courage to conceive their vision of who they are and who they want to be, then to commit to their vision and achieve their vision. “It takes courage to see this through to the end.”
Dr. Brown concluded with a quote from author Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
Read a story here about Dr. Brown’s Penguin Talks presentation at Vancouver Community Library.
Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)
