Services + Support = Student Success

Clark College welcomes William Belden
as Vice President of Student Affairs

 

VANCOUVER, Wash. – William Belden, a statewide leader dedicated to supporting student success, is the new Vice President of Student Affairs at Clark College. 

Belden joined Clark in August 2010 after serving 15 years at Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash.  While at Green River, Belden worked in various capacities with the most recent being Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management.  He has spent 20 years working in community colleges, 12 years in college administration. 

His statewide credits include service as the past president of the Washington Council for High School-College Relations and 10 years on their board of directors.  He serves on the Washington State Student Services Commission (WSSSC) and as their liaison to the Transfer Policy Group, Technology Committee, and Financial Aid Council.

Throughout his career, he has committed himself to "maintaining meaningful contacts and interactions with students."  He said, "All members of the college community benefit from understanding the personal strengths, challenges, and dreams of our students." 

At Clark College, Belden leads the teams responsible for registration, enrollment, financial aid, advising and counseling, Disability Support Services, the Clark College Career Center and other services. For the fall quarter of 2010, Clark College is distributing just under $11 million in grants, loans, scholarship, and waivers for students.

He began his higher education career as a student leader at Eastern Washington University where he served as president of the student government association.  Belden received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University, a master's degree in student personnel administration from Western Washington University, and a certificate in career development from the University of Washington.

Belden served as a counselor and instructor at Northern Marianas College in Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) from 1990–1993. A majority of his time was devoted to working with federally funded TRIO programs geared toward providing academic assistance to low-income, first-generation college students. 

As Vice President, Belden believes his role is to help build and support strong institutional partnerships between student affairs, instruction, and administration to support success for all students.  "I am very excited to join the leadership team at Clark College," he said. "This college has a long history of providing exceptional educational programs, student services, and lifelong learning opportunities to the community." 

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