Getting to Know Dr. Sue Orchard
Clark's new VP of Student Affairs speaks to leadership, connection, and student success
Clark College warmly welcomes Dr. Sue Orchard as the new Vice President of Student Affairs. Dr. Orchard started at Clark on Jan. 5, arriving just as winter term began and quickly immersing herself in the campus community.
Stepping into the Role of VP of Student Affairs
As VP of Student Affairs, Dr. Orchard provides the strategic vision for a broad range of student programs to support them throughout their college journey, including enrollment, career services, financial aid, athletics, international programs, disability support, the Veterans Center of Excellence, and the Counseling and Health Center, among others. She also serves on Clark’s Executive Cabinet, led by Dr. Karin Edwards.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Orchard to Clark College,” Dr. Edwards said. “She brings an exceptional depth of experience in student affairs. Her collaborative leadership style and strategic vision make her an outstanding fit for this role and for our college community.”
An Experienced Leader
Dr. Orchard brings more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in student services, enrollment management, and holistic student support in higher education. Most recently, she served for nine years as the VP of Student Services at Lower Columbia College in Longview, where she co-led the collegewide Guided Pathways implementation, strengthened advising and onboarding practices, advanced strategic enrollment management efforts, and championed equity-focused student support initiatives.
Before that, Dr. Orchard served as the Dean of Counseling & Student Support Services for Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon; Associate Director for Student Access at Oregon Health & Science University; Training Director for the University of Puget Sound; and a Staff Psychologist for the University of Oregon.
She holds a Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology from Pacific University, a Master of Science in mental health counseling from Eastern Washington University, and bachelor’s degrees in organizational communication and psychology, also from Eastern Washington University.
Inspired by Students, Motivated by Purpose
During her first week at Clark, Dr. Orchard has been meeting with colleagues across campus, engaging in onboarding activities, and gaining a deeper understanding of Student Affairs priorities. The transition is busy, but energizing, and she has felt warmly welcomed by the campus community.
Her experiences on campus so far have reinforced why the role is so meaningful—the students themselves.
“I’m inspired by student stories all the time, and how much they overcome to achieve their goals. They remind me of the spirit of perseverance—every time I think I can’t do something, I think back to the students I’ve engaged with and how much they do every day that takes so much courage, and I’m so inspired by that all the time.”
On her first day, a student asked her for directions. Together, they studied a campus map and found their way. On a tour with a student ambassador, Dr. Orchard listened as the student shared their journey coming back to education as an adult, including how many times they drove to campus before finding the courage to walk through the doors.
It’s those little moments with students that bring her joy throughout the day. “It’s the conversations, ‘What are you studying’ or ‘How can I help?’ Those are the joyful moments that are just about connection,” she said.
Dr. Orchard is also looking ahead to opportunities to engage more deeply with the college community. She has participated in the Northwest Equity Conference in the past and looks forward to continuing that engagement in her new role. She is also especially excited for her first commencement with Penguin Nation this coming June.
“That’s always such a special moment when faculty and staff are coming together to celebrate students,” she said. “Watching the families’ reactions to their loved ones graduating is such an emotional and beautiful celebration.”
That sense of shared purpose is a cornerstone of Dr. Orchard’s leadership philosophy, which is strongly influenced by a surprising hobby—IMPROV. She’s been taking classes for the past two years and has fallen in love with it.
“The principles of improv apply to life and workplace culture—listening, being flexible, being part of a team,” she explained. “There’s an acronym that improvisors use to establish a scene and help them focus on the story: CORE, which stands for Character, Objective, Relationship, and Environment. It connects in so many ways to our real lives—establishing our character, having a clear purpose, fostering relationships, and creating an environment of trust. That’s a mindset that I bring to my work and to Clark—for all of us to be thinking about who we are as people, our purpose of student success, how we do that in relationship to each other, and the environment we create that builds a culture of support and connection.”
Fun Facts About Dr. Orchard
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- Her household is ruled by pets. She and her wife—who she’s been with for almost 30 years—live in north Portland with their three-year-old Mini Bernedoodle and two cats.
- She’s a true Pacific Northwesterner. She spends time outside kayaking, jogging, and hiking. “I love the beauty of this region and the four seasons. I grew up in Spokane, so I don’t miss the snow, but I enjoy ‘visiting’ it from time to time.”
- She’s a team player. Dr. Orchard played rugby for 5 years on Eastern Washington University’s and Spokane’s club teams. “For me, it was the team aspect. That’s where I met so many of my friends that I still have now. It was that aspect of being part of the culture in college that helped me persist.” She also loves playing pickleball!
- Her taste in books is eclectic. While she’s currently absorbed in books on organizational leadership and positive psychology, she also enjoys listening to audiobooks, such as The Thursday Murder Club series and Stephen King novels.
Story by Malena Goerl, Staff Writer, Communications and Marketing