Power of the Past, Force for the Future

For an overview of the day, see the tentative Conference at a Glance.

Dates:

November 19 & 20, 2015

Cost:

$210

Location:

Embassy Suites (near Washington Square in Tigard).

Overnight Accommodations:

The Embassy Suites Hotel
9000 SW Washington Square Road
Tigard, Oregon 97223
1.503.644.4000

Keynote Speakers

Shadiin Garcia

Shadiin Garcia is Chicana and Laguna Pueblo from New Mexico.  She has worked in the educational arena for 20 years as a teacher, as an administrator, and as a consultant. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Yale University in English with a specialization in education; a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from University of Oregon and is a doctoral student in Critical and Sociocultural Education at University of Oregon. Her work centers on culturally relevant curriculum, educational equity, systemic change, and culturally appropriate research.

She currently serves the Deputy Director of Policy and Research where she works with the Research & Policy Director and Chief Education Officer to develop a research agenda driven by culturally appropriate practices for improving key educational outcomes.

Jessica Howard

Jessica Howard is a campus president at Portland Community College. She holds a Ph.D. from New York University and, from Rice University, a Master and two Bachelor degrees. Her doctoral work was interdisciplinary and based in the humanities.

Prior to joining PCC in 2012, Dr. Howard enjoyed a long tenure at San Antonio College in San Antonio, Texas. There she worked as an adjunct instructor, a full-time assistant and associate professor, an online course developer and a department chair, Interim Executive Vice President (over student and academic affairs), and ultimately as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Howard’s administrative experience also includes being Director of Fine Arts for a K-12 college preparatory school.

While at PCC, Dr. Howard has presided over the college’s workforce and community development operations. She is now leading the development of the college’s newest comprehensive campus, located in Southeast Portland. The Southeast Campus is PCC’s most diverse, housing lower-division transfer and career/technical programs, as well as the college’s alternative high school programs and its signature ‘aspirations to college’ program, Future Connect.

Dr. Howard grew up primarily in San Antonio, but was born in Bombay, India and lived as a child in Bangkok, Thailand. She also spent a year abroad at King’s College in London during her college years. She considers her international experiences to be formative, as well as her lifelong efforts in the arts.