This past week

Usually the week before the holidays is quiet on a collegecampus. Not so at Clark College this past week.

Presidential SearchFinalists Named

I am happy to share the news thatfour finalists have been selected in the search for Clark’s next college president.The Board of Trustees approved the list as recommended by the PresidentialSearch Advisory Committee.

The four finalists are: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College; Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, district vice provost of institutional effectiveness at Miami Dade College; Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College; and Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College.

Full biographies of all four finalists are available online at www.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php

Clark College received 65 qualified applications. Last week, the Presidential Selection Committee interviewed ten semifinalist candidates and made their recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

This is a milestone in theprocess and I thank everyone from Clark College who served on this committee:Danielle Plesser, Dannie Nordsiden, Donivee Randall-Jones, Dr. SiriWickramaratne, Evans Kaame, Heather Adams, Justin Flint, Rashida Willard,Suzanne Southerland and Tanya Kerr. Thank you!!

The finalists will be invited to the college in January for constituent panel interviews and public forums. It is expected that the Board of Trustees will make its selection by the end of February 2020 and that the new President will begin onboarding in the summer of 2020 in preparation for the 2020-2021 academic year.

More information about the ongoing search process—including photos and complete biographies of the finalists—can be found at www.clark.edu/presidential-search. 

FacultyNegotiations continue

Clark College and the AHE will meet Friday,December 27 to continue negotiations to settle a contract dispute. I want toacknowledge the strain that this places on everyone at Clark: our students, ouremployees and our faculty.  Clark College is committed to our students toensure they are able to start and successfully complete their winter quarter.

Contingency planning is underway in theevent there is a strike. Communication will be critically important as we moveforward. Starting Monday, December 23, we will provide updated information onour website on the homepage.

I am deeply concerned a strike would havedetrimental impacts on students and our college community. Please know ClarkCollege wants to reach a settlement, move forward and support our students.

I want to also remind employees of our EAPresources during these times of stress. It’s easy to say and sometimes harderto do, practicing good self-care as stressors build up.

Washington State EAP is accessible, freeand confidential. You can call (360) 407-9490 or toll-free at (877) 313-4455.You can also Visitthe EAP website formore information.

New campus safety tool

Clark College is launching a new safetytool called RaveGuardian. It’s a free mobile app that turns your smartphone into apersonal safety device and college resource center. I just downloaded it on myphone and it was really simple.

By downloading the app on your mobile phone, you’ll have accessto safety features that directly connect you to the college’s Security andSafety staff, as well as the ability to submit anonymous tips should you seesomething suspicious. You can invite friends and family to join your network asyour “Guardians” and have one or more of them virtually walk with you on or offcampus. It’s like having a trusted friend with you at all times.

The Office of Security and Safety encourages all students,faculty and staff to enhance their personal safety by downloading the freeapp.  You can text “Guardian” to 67283 to instantly receive the downloadlink to register OR you go to your App Store or Google Play Store on yourmobile device and search “Rave Guardian”.

Jeff Kaliner can answer any questions you may have at jkaliner@clark.edu. Iappreciate all the work that has gone into this project, providing an extralayer of safety on campus.

StudentEntrepreneurship

I want to give kudos to one of our BusinessProfessors, Nathan Webster. He’s working with students who areentrepreneurs.  Clark College is a member of the NACCE (NationalAssociation of Community College Entrepreneurship). Clark is hosting anetworking event on Monday January 13, from 11am-2pm. This event is open to allstudents, staff and faculty.  In fact, our faculty and staff businessowners will be speakers. Nathan welcomes your questions about this event orother activities scheduled throughout the year. You can email him at nwebster@clark.edu. Thank you Nathan for all you do.

Community Service

I want to acknowledge the service work thatyou do out in our community. Clark College Director of Teaching and LearningCenter, Dr. Judith Hernandez Chapar recently spoke at the Habitat forHumanity’s Women Build Luncheon. Her topic was the intersection between housingand educational attainment. Judith has been a volunteer with Habitat forHumanity and carries a strong message about the need for safe housing in ourcommunity and the impact it has one people’s lives. Well done Judith!

This next week

To all those who are heading off campus forthe break, I wish you safe travels and good cheer shared with friends andfamily.