2012 Board of Directors
To contact the entire board, email board@lists.aawccoregon.org. For AAWCC contacts at each Oregon community college, see Campus Contacts.
- Jan Woodcock, Co-President
Jan Woodcock has been a full time faculty member at Umpqua Community College since 1994. She teaches psychology and human services. Jan directs the Pacific Northwest Great Teaching Seminar for community college faculty. She is a co-director of OILD (Oregon Institute for Leadership Development).
Jan has a Master's degree in Theological Studies from Harvard University and a BA in English and Secondary Education from Westminster College. Her past jobs include junior high English teacher, elementary school counselor, hospital chaplain, and YMCA Camp Program Director. She has also worked on a tall ship in the Mediterranean, a horse ranch in Molalla, and a youth camp in Kentucky.
"I love teaching in this small southern Oregon community where I can see the deer and the river from my classroom, yet staying in touch with a broader view of reality is essential to my well being. For this reason and many others, AAWCC has been a wonderful resource to me. I always get new ideas and a better perspective on best practices and current issues."
- Cherie Maas-Anderson, Co-President, VP of Finance
Cherie Maas-Anderson has worked for Portland Community College for the past 21 years. At PCC, she has been a Service District Liaison, a Employee Relations Specialist, a Budget Operations assistant and currently employed in the English/World Languages Division. In the past, she has served as the Union VP of Membership, Grievance officer and served on numerous bargaining teams.
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Cherie is currently the President for the PCC chapter of AAWCC and a recent receipt of the Carol DesJardins award. “I believe that AAWCC is a wonderful opportunity to meet people and build lasting relationships that inspire a network of professional colleagues.”
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When Cherie is not at work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, gardening, cooking and fly-fishing on the Deschutes River.
- Julie Kopet, President-Elect
Julie has worked for Portland Community College for twenty-one years. She is experienced in administration, management and program development in the college. Her background includes part time teaching, a full-time faculty position, Education Manager and Director of Corrections Education. She became the Division Dean of Adult Basic skills and Career Technical Programs. Currently she is serving as the Interim Dean of Instruction and Student Services at the Southeast campus. Julie says, "Since I attended the OILD I have been attending the AAWCC conferences. I know of no better professional organization for women in our field. The organization is a positive productive force in bringing women together for the purpose of professional and personal growth, as well as the development and nurturing of relationships. I would be honored to become more involved and eventually lead the group." Julie is currently a doctoral candidate in Community College Leadership at Oregon State University.
- Karin Magnuson, Past President
Karin has worked at Linn Benton Community College for 10 years as a Training Specialist in the Business and Employer Services Department and now serves as Department Chair. She is a talented and creative teacher, facilitator and instructional designer. Karin has been active in LBCC's local chapter of AAWCC, serving as co-President twice and holding a variety of other offices as well. She has been a regular presenter at the AAWCC Annual Fall Conference. Karin looks forward to the opportunity to grow and learn with other women committed to the AAWCC mission. In her time away from work, Karin plays the bassoon in community music groups, loves arts and crafts and spends more time in her garden than she does doing work in the house which, as she sees it, is at it should be!
- Carol McKiel, VP of Membership
Carol McKiel has worked at Lane Community College for 4 years. She currently serves as the director for the TRiO STEM program. Carol's background is in elementary education. She worked as a computer lab teacher, a 2nd and a 6th grade teacher, and had the opportunity to teach for two years in an international elementary school in China. In 2000, however, while teaching a reading strategies class at a community college, she found that she thoroughly enjoyed working with adult learners. "It felt rewarding to teach children, but working with adult students was energizing. I found that adults brought a different kind of enthusiasm for learning into the classroom that could be inspiring." This new career focus led her to earn an MS in Student Personnel Services and, just recently, in 2011, a PhD in Educational Leadership from Oregon State University.
Carol joined AAWCC during her first year at Lane. She was attracted to AAWCC because of its commitment to developing women's capacities. She has assisted with fundraising activities and program planning. Carol currently serves as the VP of Communications.
Carol has a daughter and son-in-law living in Dallas, Texas and a son in Washington, D.C. She enjoys working out at the gym during the week and walking on the beach or bicycling with her husband on the weekend. She also enjoys attempts at gardening.
- Jenni Newby, VP of Communications
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Jenni Newby is an Instructional Dean at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Oregon. She is responsible for the following instructional areas at the college: Humanities, Math, CIS, World Languages/Cultures, and Secondary Programs (Adult Basic Skills, Adult High School Diploma, and College Now).
Jenni received her B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and her M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis on Community College Leadership from Oregon State University.
Jenni’s has held a variety of positions in community colleges and educational organizations over the course of her career from high school Spanish Instructor to community college instructor to Adult Basic Skills Manager and Interim Dean at Portland Community College to Education Specialist at the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. In her role at CCWD, Jenni worked with all 17 community colleges in Oregon and the Department of Corrections.
Jenni is thrilled to join the state board and have the opportunity to work with and learn from so many amazing and talented women working in Oregon community colleges.
- Currently Vacant, VP of Fall Conference
- Lynn Irvin, VP of Summer Conference
Lynn Irvin, Vice President for Summer Conference has worked at Chemeketa Community College since August 1998. Her current position is with the College Support Services Division as executive assistant to the Vice President/CFO, Julie Huckestein.
An outgoing person, Lynn takes pride in the many college endeavors and activities she has been involved in at Chemeketa. She served for six years on the Wellness Committee, two years as the chair. She is very proud of creating the Wellness Health Fair held at Kickoff and the pedometer challenges held for employees every year. Lynn also coordinated the Kickoff and Wellness golf tournaments. She also serves on many committees including the President's Advisory Council, the Insurance Task Force, the Holiday Social Committee and the Employee Recognition Event. Lynn was Chemeketa's representative to AAWCC's OILD in 2002 and attended the college's LifeLong Leaders class. She participated on Chemeketa's Portland to Coast relay team twice. This year she is serving as president of the Exempt Employees Association. Their projects this year include awarding 9 spring term scholarships to students and collect food for the food pantry and funds for the Student Relief Fund. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, she takes online and PE classes every term and loves the lifelong learning environment that is a part of the college. She was selected as the AAUW Outstanding Graduating Woman in June, 2009.
Lynn is a newlywed! She married her long-time boyfriend/fiancé, Bruce Irvin on July 7, 2012 and honeymooned in Hawaii. She is super proud of her two children. Her son, Ross graduated from Chemeketa’s automotive program in 2011. He is now owner-operator of his own business. Her daughter Sara, is a freshman at Elmira College in Elmira, New York attending on a valedictorian scholarship.
Lynn loves being a part of the state board and is really excited to put her energy and skills learned planning the summer conference into coordinating a great fall conference next year!
- Donna Zmolek, VP of Records
Donna has worked at Lane Community College since 1990 and currently holds the position of Assistant to the President/Board of Education. She has been involved in AAWCC since 2000, serving on the board of Lane’s local chapter, attending activities hosted by the Oregon chapter, and participating as a national member. Donna has held the position of Secretary on the Oregon AAWCC Board since January 2007. AAWCC has had a positive impact on her life and career, and she finds it very gratifying to support the personal and professional development of women in community colleges.
- Janet McIntyre, Member at Large/Special Projects
Janet McIntyre begins her second year as the Dean of Integrated Media, Performing and Visual Arts at Mt. Hood Community College. Prior to MHCC, she was the Director of the Film and Photography Programs at the Art Institute of Portland. She has taught classes in acting, directing, film studies, screenwriting, marketing and producing in the grad program at NYU, at the Manhattan School for Film and Television, and the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Janet received an MFA in Film from New York University and a BFA in Painting from University of Illinois. An award-winning director and producer, her documentary COVERED GIRLS, about Muslim American teenage girls post 9-11 New York, aired on SHOWTIME and played at festivals worldwide. She recently completed her first feature entitled FADED: Girls + Binge Drinking which will premiere at the 38th Northwest Filmmakers' Festival this year. She is currently working on a biographical film on Sister Helen Prejean, the leading advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and subject of Dead Man Walking.
"I was introduced to AAWCC by attending the OILD conference this summer which was incredible and couldn't have come at a better time. I was renewed on so many levels and received a wealth of life/work tools and managerial strategies. But more importantly I was inspired by the brave, intelligent and industrious women who shared their personal stories. I want to give back and do what I can to honor and share the spirit of AAWCC."
- Michele Cruse, Member at Large/Registration
Michele Cruse has been working for Portland Community College for 2 years as the district-wide Student Account Manager. Prior to working for PCC, she has worked as the Fiscal Manager for the Portland Housing Center, Small Business Development Manager, Branch Manager and Relationship Manager for Wells Fargo Bank, Consolidated Federal Credit Union, and Dollar Bank, respectively. She currently co-owns a small business, serves as Board Chair of Black United Fund of Oregon, and is a member of the Finance Committee for the Portland Housing Center.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking/baking, reading, international travel, and spending quality time with her family.
- Melissa Aaberg, Web Developer
Melissa started her position as a web content specialist at PCC in 2011. She joined AAWCC shortly after, and is delighted to be surrounded by strong women doing such amazing work. She has a BA in English from PSU, and prior to joining PCC worked as an art teacher, PSU UNST Mentor, and web developer for a local kid's clothing/shoe company. Melissa is currently the webmaster for the PCC chapter of AAWCC as well, and is chair of the the PSC Community Outreach subcommittee. In her spare time, she likes to bake, practice yoga, play with her pets and make art.
- Carol Schaafsma, Ex-Officio Member
Carol Schaafsma is currently Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development at Linn-Benton Community College. She started this position July 1, 2006. In addition to her duties at Linn-Benton, Schaafsma has served as adjunct faculty in the Community College Leadership Program, a doctoral program at Oregon State University.
Carol received a Bachelor of Arts from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. She began her career in community colleges at Chemeketa Community College in Oregon working in the Child Development Center and later teaching part-time in the Early Childhood Education program. After ten years at Chemeketa, she returned to school to get her Masters of Science degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Oregon. She worked for Weyerhaeuser Paper Company in training and development for two years before coming to Linn-Benton Community College.
Carol joined LBCC in 1994 as a Training Specialist in the Training and Business Development Center. She designed and assessed curriculum and training for business and industry, and implemented a computer-based basic skills education program for local manufacturing businesses. She became Director of Professional and Business Development in 1997 and served in that capacity until 2001, when she was promoted to Director of Curriculum and Instructional Programs. In this capacity, Carol worked with faculty to develop new programs, promote the use of technology, and provide staff development opportunities, including the development of a new Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. She also facilitated the development of a new five-year strategic plan and an accompanying vision, core values, and mission statement for the college.
Schaafsma is an Accreditation Evaluator for the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities. She is president of the Oregon Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges and past president of the LBCC chapter of that organization.
- Mary Spilde, Ex-Officio Member
Mary Spilde, President, Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, August 2001 to present.
Mary joined Lane in 1995 as Vice President for Instructional Services. In 1997, she became Vice President for Instruction and Student Services. Prior to that, she served 15 years at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, in a variety of positions including dean of business, health, and training. Mary served on the Oregon Workforce Quality Council for six years and the Oregon Workforce Investment Board for three years as well as serving on numerous local boards.
Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in business and social systems and a law degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She completed a master’s in adult education and a doctorate in post-secondary education at Oregon State University.
Presently, Mary is past chair of the American Association of Community Colleges board of directors and serves on their Sustainability Task Force. Lane Community College is a League for Innovation in the Community College board college, and Mary currently serves as a board member and was co-editor of the League publication The Sustainable Community College: Holistic Approaches to Sustainability. She is also a board member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and recently served on the steering committee for the American Presidents’ Commitment to Climate Control.
- Julie Huckestein, Ex-Officio Member
Julie Huckestein has over 24 years of experience in community colleges and is presently the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. Prior to joining Chemeketa, Julie worked at Linn-Benton Community College. She earned an AS degree in Business Administration from Linn-Benton Community College, a BA degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from George Fox University and a Master's degree in Education: Policy, Foundations and Administration from Portland State University; Other work experience includes seven years at an accounting firm and two years working for a non-profit organization.
Julie has been active in local AAWCC organizations for 15 years and at the state level since 1997 where she is currently one of the Directors of the Oregon Institute for Leadership Development. She was named Region X Director for the National Association for Women in Community Colleges in 2010. She has presented at various conferences on the topics of budget and finance, computer software conversions and leadership and is an evaluator for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. She attended the National Institute for Leadership Development in 2007 and the Oregon Institute for Leadership Development in 1993. She and her husband Jim have three daughters, Rachel (28), Kelly (26) and Erika (22) and one granddaughter, Hannah (20 months). She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling and camping.
- Dawn DeWolf, Vice President for Professional Development for the National AAWCC
Dawn is from Lane Community College.