Spring 2015

In general, students of color – especially males – have a lower college

completion rate than white students. At the Maricopa Community

Colleges, however, there’s a program designed to change that.

In 2008, the Minority Male Initiative (MMI) was created to improve

the retention and degree completion rates of minority male students

attending the Maricopa Community Colleges. In 2013, the District Office

of Student Affairs collaborated with the colleges to establish Male

Empowerment Network (MEN) Chapters at each site. The Chapters

have grown to a brotherhood of more than 250 members across all ten

Maricopa Community Colleges.

The percentage of Maricopa Community Colleges’ students identifying

as persons of color (i.e., Black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Asian/

Pacific Islander) has risen to 43%. That number represents significant

growth. In 2005, less than one third of the Colleges’ students identified as

persons of color. At the same time, the percentage of White students has

decreased from 58% in 2005 to less than 48% today.

Kenney Pratt, a recent graduate of Paradise Valley Community College’s

(PVCC) Administration of Justice Studies program, first came to the

college in 2011. When looking for classes, he started by checking the

professors’ names in the class listing. “I just needed something to

connect to,” says Pratt, who is Black. “Call it stereotyping, but when I

saw there was a Professor Sharif…I wasn’t expecting that. I was looking

to create some sort of comfort, and taking his Sociology class was the

best thing I ever did.” Pratt soon became involved with the MEN group.

Cranston Forte, PVCC’s MEN Chapter Advisor, says the group provides

a safe haven and support. “The MEN group offers a place where we can

feel comfortable and safe, and no one is going to judge us. We have

Issue Highlights

25

69

11

CHANCELLOR GLASPER ON FINANCING

BIOTECH PROGRAMS OFFERED

STUDENTS WORK TO HELP OTHERS SLEEP

GILA RIVER COMMUNITY PARTNERS

THEN AND NOW

MARICOPAMatters News for the Community From the

Maricopa Community Colleges

MEN continued on Page 7

Economy continued on Page 8

Maricopa’s MEN Program Helps Men Work Toward Academic Completion

Maricopa Community Colleges Adds $7.3 Billion to Local Economy AnnuallyThe Maricopa Community Colleges adds $7.3 billion in various kinds of income to the Arizona economy each year, according to a research

report released in March 2015. The report, Demonstrating the Economic Value of Maricopa County Community College District, summarizes

economic impact and return on investment of the Maricopa district in fiscal year 2013-14. The analysis was conducted by Economic Modeling

Specialists International (EMSI), an organization that specializes in providing economic impact studies and labor market data to educational

institutions.

Among the report’s findings, based on EMSI’s calculations:

• The combination of spending by the Maricopa organization, its students and its alumni employed in the regional workforce amounted to $7.3 billion in added income.

• For every dollar contributed by taxpayers to the Maricopa Community Colleges, $4 in benefits are returned to taxpayers

• Society as a whole benefits from Maricopa both because of increased earnings and because of savings generated by the improved lifestyles of students who attend and graduate from college. For every dollar that society spent on the Maricopa Community Colleges

Cranston Forte with PVCC MEN chapter members

Meet Kenney PrattVolunteer, community leader and graduate of a Maricopa Community College

Leadership2Future Community College Financing Will Require Discussion, Innovationby Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges

The Arizona Legislature approved a budget that

eliminates the remaining $8.8 million in state

aid for the Maricopa Community Colleges.

This plan effectively ends state funding for an

educational asset that contributes billions of

dollars to the state’s economy every year.

We regret that the state no longer wishes

to invest in this vital enterprise. From an

historic and education policy perspective,

this withdrawal is also significant given the

levels of state support to community colleges

seen previously in Arizona. From a highpoint

of 29% of our operating budget in 1981, the

adopted budget for 2016 drops state funding

to Maricopa Community Colleges to $0. From

2007 alone, the state has eliminated about $57

million in funding to the Maricopa Community

Colleges’ operating budget and $11 million in

capital budget.

It is ironic that in the same week that the

budget plan was passed, a research organization released a report that found the Maricopa

Community Colleges adds $7.3 billion in various kinds of income to the Arizona economy every

year. [ See related story, page 1 ]

You can find the report here: http://goo.gl/SNqy5f

This withdrawal in state investment in community college education to Maricopa forces very

difficult conversations about our ability to serve the growing education needs of our community

and to contribute to the economic development goals of our state. The fact is that without

adequate funding from the state, tuition, and property taxes, we will face decisions about how

many students we can educate and prepare to fill quality jobs.

As we’ve implemented since 2007 and before, we will continue to apply entrepreneurial

solutions to provide education and workforce opportunities in our region. These solutions

include public-private partnerships and generating revenue through corporate enterprises.

However, our ability to do so at scale is limited by state regulation. We need relief from

regulatory disincentives and more flexibility to generate revenues to replace state aid if we are

to continue to be Arizona’s leading workforce trainers.

To capture the full benefit of our entrepreneurship, no time is better than now for the state to set

the regulatory framework that encourages and incentivizes a new community college education

funding model.

We look forward to future engagement with our internal and external community, business

leaders, the Legislature, and the Governor in making these critical decisions.

Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick

Dr. Rufus Glasper

Maricopa

Community

Colleges

Executive Vice

Chancellor and

Provost, Dr.

Maria Harper-

Marinick, has

been selected

for two

distinguished

fellowships. In

March, she joined the 2015 class of Aspen

Institute Ascend Fellows, which recognizes

and invests in diverse leaders from a range

of sectors who have breakthrough ideas

to build economic security, educational

success, and health and well-being for

low-income families in the U.S.

“Poverty and inequality are the central

economic, political, and moral issues of

our time,” said Walter Isaacson, CEO of the

Aspen Institute. “The Ascend Fellowship

is part of our commitment to advancing

opportunity and equality in America.”

In November 2014, Dr. Harper-Marinick

was named an ASU Morrison Institute

Distinguished Fellow, which recognizes

Arizona’s best and brightest in public policy.

“Maria is a tireless proponent for better schools and brighter futures,” said Thom Reilly, director of the Morrison Institute for Public Policy. “Anyone who’s involved in education knows her. She seemingly is everywhere – wherever and whenever she’s needed to push education forward, especially Latino education.”Dr. Harper-Marinick serves on several

boards and councils, including chair of the

federal Advisory Committee on Student

Financial Assistance by appointment of U.S.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Dr. Harper-Marinick Awarded Fellowships

The 2014 election marked the first time that candidates were chosen for two at-large

Board seats, elected by voters across the entire county. Ms. Tracy Livingston won her seat for a

four-year term. Another new Board member, Mr. John Heep, was elected to a two-year term.

A fourth new member, Ms. Jean McGrath, was elected from District 4, which encompasses

northwest Maricopa County. Mr. Alfredo Gutierrez, who was chosen to fill the remaining term

of a Board member, Ben Miranda (deceased), won election in District 5, southwest Maricopa

County. Ms. Livingston, of Peoria, a newly-elected at-large member, was selected as Board

President for 2015. Ms. Johanna Haver of Phoenix, elected from District 3, was elected

Secretary.

The new members join Mr. Doyle Burke of Tempe and Mr. Dana Saar of Fountain Hills, both of

whom were elected in 2012.

Maricopa Welcomes New Governing Board

Board members, back row: Ms. Tracy Livingston Mr. John Heep | Mr. Alfredo Gutierrez | Mr. Dana Saar

Front row: Mr. Doyle Burke | Ms. Jean McGrath | Ms. Johanna Haver

Focus on Faculty3

Phoenix College (PC) mathematics professor

James Sousa is the 2014 Arizona Professor

of the Year. The honor is awarded each

year by the Carnegie Foundation for the

Advancement of Teaching and the Council

for Advancement and Support of Education

(CASE).

“James brings innovation and enthusiasm to

our math department,” said Dr. Anna Solley,

President of Phoenix College. “I am delighted

for him to be recognized for his outstanding

commitment to student success, not only

here at Phoenix College, but across the

country and around the world.”

Dr. Solley, who described Sousa to members

of the Maricopa Governing Board as “a rock

star,” noted that Sousa is known nationally

and internationally for creating thousands

of short math videos that are available free

of charge on YouTube to students needing

help with math concepts. Sousa said that

altogether, those videos are viewed an

average of 35,000 times a day.

Sousa, who has been at PC for 12 years, was

chosen from 400 top professors nationwide.

“It is an honor to receive this award because

I know there are so many other dedicated

instructors who work extremely hard to help

students succeed,” said Sousa. “I enjoy

helping students reach their educational

goals and it is an honor to provide students

with resources that they can use whenever

and wherever they need them at no cost.”

Phoenix College’s Sousa Named Arizona Professor of the Year

Trimble Honored for Long Career Preserving Arizona Historyby Jonathan Higuera

After 37 years of teaching at

Scottsdale Community College

(SCC), Marshall Trimble is

hanging up his spurs and putting

on a new pair to mark another

phase of life.

To commemorate the moment,

SCC held a retirement

celebration for Trimble.The

longtime SCC instructor and

Director of Southwest Studies

listened to tributes from friends,

a former student, colleagues,

and even Sen. John McCain.

While Trimble is retiring, he still will maintain an office at SCC and carry on with appearances and

projects. The difference will be that his salary will be drawn from his retirement pension. So it was a

farewell celebration, but not really a good-bye.

The breakfast event was supposed to be a roast, but comments were kind, appreciative, and

humorous, reflecting Trimble’s generous contributions to students and Arizona history. Jack

Graham, a former student of Trimble’s at Coronado High School, where Trimble started his teaching

career, said his former teacher encouraged him to pursue his dream of being an artist. Graham

became a graphic artist and named his first son after Trimble. “He took the time to listen to the

dreams of a skinny 16-year-old kid and always had an encouraging word,” Graham recalled.

Senator McCain lauded Trimble’s books and writings on Arizona history. “What Marshall has done

with his ability to write is make those characters come alive,” said Senator McCain.

Former SCC President Art DeCabooter recalled with a chuckle that on his first day on the job in

1970, he asked Trimble where the president’s office was located, and Trimble replied, “I don’t even

know who the president is.” Trimble would end up having an adjacent office for 30 years.

His efforts to preserve the history and culture of Arizona have made him an icon and earned him the

designation as Arizona’s official historian, a gubernatorial appointment he first received in the late

1990s. At the tribute, two proclamations in his honor were issued – one from the City of Scottsdale

Mayor’s Office, and another from Governor Jan Brewer. He also received a guitar from SCC with an

SCC design on the body featuring SCC’s “Fighting Artichokes.”

Trimble said none of it would have occurred if he hadn’t pursued a career in the teaching profession

and if he hadn’t landed at SCC. “Somebody asked me what I wanted on my headstone. I told them

I only want it to say one thing. ‘He was a teacher.’ All I ever wanted when I was a little kid was to

make a difference. As a teacher and educator, I got that opportunity.”

Senator John McCain, Marshall Trimble, and SCC President Jan Gehler

Professor James Sousa

View math videos created by Sousa:

http://goo.gl/Ki78Kq

NISOD Honors Faculty MembersThe Maricopa Community Colleges have eight faculty members, along with 12 non-faculty employees, who will be honored in May at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development’s (NISOD) annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence. NISOD is part of the University of Texas at Austin; the program honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their institutions.

The 2015 conference will feature nearly 300 sessions facilitated by leading community and technical college practitioners covering everything from recruiting and retaining students for STEM-related programs to more effectively engaging students in instruction.

Faculty winners this year are: Estrella Mountain – Shannon Manuelito, (Biology), Stephanie Natividad (STEM), Peter Turner (Education); Phoenix College – Cristie Roe (English), Jeni Ussery (Reading), Lucia Kisiel (Mathematics); Scottsdale Community College – Susan Moore, (English), Matthew Bloom (English).

Maricopa Welcomes New Governing Board

Student Success4 BILL GATES Blogs about Rio Visitby Bill Gates, November 18, 2014

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates visited the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Rio Salado College in November 2014. He was so impressed with the college’s activities that he wrote this blog entry on the subject:

Online, All Students Sit in the Front RowI went to Arizona earlier this month to see what the college of the

future might look like. What I found taking shape is an exciting new

era of higher education that will help more students get a great,

personalized education at an affordable price.

This future may not always include the lecture halls, dormitories,

football teams and other features of the traditional college experience.

Instead, the colleges I visited are experimenting with ways for

students to get their degrees online, allowing them to take courses

anyplace and at any time.

These “colleges without walls,” as they are sometimes called, are

at the forefront of the effort to broaden access to higher education,

especially for low-income students juggling their studies with full-time

jobs and families. During my visit, I heard inspiring stories of students

who are taking advantage of these flexible learning models to pursue

degrees that can put them on paths to new careers.

Tucked away in an industrial park in Tempe, Rio Salado doesn’t look

much like a traditional institute of higher education. There were no

students running to class. No ivy-covered walls. Just a couple of

glass-faced office buildings.

As we walked inside for a tour, there was an even bigger surprise.

The college has just 22 full-time faculty serving 60,000 students, with

more than half of them attending their classes online. (The full-time

faculty depend on 1,400 part-time teachers who manage individual

class sections, review/grade assignments, and consult with students.)

Students can start any of the school’s 1,000 courses almost any

Monday of the year. Classes cost $84 per credit hour, far less than

what other colleges charge.

Rio Salado and other institutions are researching new approaches

to student advising. Using the growing body of data available about

online students’ learning habits—for example, are they completing

assignments and logging onto their courses regularly?—the institution

can intervene to help students at risk of falling behind or dropping

out. “Students don’t get lost because no one can just sit in the back

corner. Everyone is in the front row,” a Rio Salado faculty member

told me.

I left Arizona feeling quite optimistic about what the future holds for

higher education. It also reminded me how much work still needs

to be done. What’s most exciting is that the institutions I visited are

not standing still. They are taking risks and using their creative and

intellectual powers to reinvent themselves for the future. In doing so,

they will give many more students the opportunity to do the same with

their own lives.

Dr. Jennifer McGrath, VP of Academic Affairs at Rio Salado; Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Kishia Brock, VP of Strategy and Compliance, District Office; Due Desmond-Hellmann, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Maricopa Chancellor Dr. Rufus Glasper; Allan C. Golston, President, United States Program, Bill & Melinda

Gates Foundation Photo credit: (c) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Mark Makela

John Dalen and his home-baked energy bars

John, hard at work in his kitchen

Paradise Valley Community

College (PVCC) student John

Dalen wants to bring joy to

as many people as possible

through home-baked energy

bars. He created his own

product and is using his baking

talents and faith to grow a

successful business, serving

and connecting people.

Dalen’s form of autism makes

him unable to communicate

verbally. He uses a cutout

paper keyboard to type out

letters into words that are then translated by his mother – a process

known as facilitated communication (FC). When asked about his

inspiration and goals, he says he wants to create a community center

café to serve and help people.

He created the energy bars as a healthy alternative to store-bought

snacks, and packages them in eco-friendly materials. Ingredients

include a healthy mix of dates, almonds, pecans, and essential oils that

provide multiple flavors. Their high fat content comes from nuts and

the bars are approved for both vegan and Paleo diets.

The Rising Entrepreneurs® program through the Southwest Autism

Research & Resource Center (SARRC) provided Dalen the opportunity

for creating a recipe for a satisfying energy bar. That effort went hand

in hand with classes Dalen was taking at PVCC to develop a small-

business model. Currently, he attends college part-time and is working

toward earning his Associate’s Degree in Business Marketing, with an

emphasis on entrepreneurship.

Dr. Dina Preston-Ortiz, business/marketing faculty at PVCC, taught

Dalen in one of her online marketing classes.

“In that class,

students really learn

about how to create

business strategies,”

said Dr. Ortiz. “John

really embodies

entrepreneurship

and small business

development. He

took the concepts he

learned and applied

them to create his

own product.”

Outside of school and his business, Dalen works part time at the

Arizona Centers for Comprehensive Education and Life Skills (ACCEL)

as a part of their maintenance crew. Balancing work, school, and

a business is no easy task, but Dalen feels blessed to have to the

opportunity to reach others through baking.

“I’m a college student with goals for marketing,” said Dalen. “PVCC

has helped me live my dream.”

See John Dalen’s story online at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgzBeLbPzd0.

Student With Autism Finds Business Success

Innovations 5

Dr. Pilar Ramos

Dr. Anna Solley, President Phoenix College and All-American Recipient Gilberto Sosa

Biotechnology Programs Available at Two Maricopa Colleges

Despite the fact that biotechnology is a

growing field, community-college-based

biotech programs are not common. But

two Maricopa Community Colleges,

Glendale (GCC) and Mesa (MCC), offer

the cutting-edge subject.

It’s a timely subject because biotech-

nology is a buzzword when civic leaders

talk about the advantages of their region

to attract businesses. It’s also important,

because biotechnology innovation can

lead to major breakthroughs in healthcare.

Pilar Ramos, currently a postdoctoral

fellow at Phoenix-based Transformational

Genomics Research Institute (TGEN), was

among the first group of students to take

GCC’s two-year biotechnology track.

“I’ve always liked science,” says

Dr. Ramos, who graduated from GCC in

2005 before transferring to ASU for her

bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

“The university seemed a little bit overwhelming so, for me, community college was a perfect

place to get started.” She entered an internship at TGEN in 2007 and hit the ground running.

“I noticed that most people in my laboratory classes had no lab experience. Coming from GCC, I knew how to do all of it. I felt very prepared,” Dr. Ramos said.

In less than ten years after graduating from GCC, Dr. Ramos made an enormous contribution to

medicine. In 2011, she began studying an aggressive type of ovarian cancer that mainly affects

women in their twenties; less than 35% of women survive more than two years after diagnosis.

One day she and her team discovered something amazing: a genetic marker for this cancer.

“We sequenced the coding regions of several tumors and found one gene that mutated in the

majority of the cases. It was an incredible moment when we put it all together.” Her research was

published in Nature Genetics, the world’s leading genetic research journal.

Not everyone makes the path that Dr. Ramos carved out for herself, however. In fact, many

students don’t even know the program exists or where it can lead.

“The problem is that the career progression is rather ill-defined,” says Dr. James Tuohy, who

directs the Biotechnology program at GCC. “In my opinion, it’s the best pre-med curriculum

available. And it’s really the best preparation for any STEM career. If people want to go to

medical school, to pharmacy school … if they want to work in biofuels … ours is the perfect

curriculum for them.”

You might think that people who choose the Biotechnology program need a science background.

In fact, that’s not necessarily the case, says Stanley Kikkert, MCC’s Biotechnology Director. “The

program is designed so you can start with nothing,” he says. “We get students who are just

starting college. We get students who are going for a bachelor’s degree and want to build up

their lab skills. We get students who have finished their bachelor’s and are looking at medicine as

a career. First, you learn about DNA. Then you learn how to work with DNA.”

GCC’s Dr. Tuohy adds that being smart isn’t necessarily the most important trait for

biotechnology students. “The right sort of person for this field is incurably curious, stubborn,

motivated, inquisitive, persevering, and won’t be easily dissuaded from what they’re doing,” says

Dr. Tuohy. “And they’re interested in doing something of worth – contributing to curing cancer or

Alzheimer’s disease.”

Pilar Ramos certainly fits that bill. “We’ve made incredible advances in our understanding and

treatment of cancer,” she says. “We’ve gotten better at extending people’s lives but not getting

rid of the disease yet. So that’s the challenge.”

26 Maricopa Students Named Academic All-AmericansAt its 20th Annual

All-Arizona Academic

Awards Luncheon

on Feb. 18, the

Phi Theta Kappa

(PTK) organization

honored academic

all-stars from Arizona

community colleges,

including 26 students

from across the

ten Maricopa

Community

Colleges. To be eligible for the award,

students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or

higher on a 4.0 scale, be in good academic

standing, be working on an associate’s

degree, demonstrate leadership, and

interact with their community as a college

ambassador.

PTK recognizes and encourages scholarship

among two-year college students by

providing opportunity for the development

of leadership and service, for an intellectual

climate in which to exchange ideas and

ideals, for lively fellowship with scholars,

and for stimulation of interest in continuing

academic excellence. www.ptk.org

MCC Wins National Conservation AwardMesa Community College at Red Mountain

was honored with the North American

Native Plant Society’s (NANPS) 2014

Founders Conservation Award, which

recognizes major contributions to the

natural habitat.

When the Red Mountain campus was

built, preserving as much of the desert as

possible during construction was a goal.

Keeping the building footprint small and

creating a culture of educational excellence

and environmental preservation, MCC Red

Mountain is home to roadrunners, quail,

rattlesnakes, coyotes, desert tortoises,

occasional bobcats, and most recently,

endangered desert pupfish.

Harold Smith, a member of the NANPS

Awards Committee commended MCC

in its letter to MCC stating, “Our Awards

Committee was very impressed with the

work to maintain the natural heritage and

native flora of the Sonoran Desert.”

View the acceptance video played

during the conference at:

http://youtu.be/3Pyh-X8h33A

Community6

Sherman Alexie

A GateWay Community College (GWCC) program is preparing

students for careers helping others get a good night’s sleep. The

Polysomnography Technologist program, which began at the college

in 2010, graduates highly trained technologists with associate’s

degrees, ready to take their place in sleep labs across Arizona.

It’s a necessary profession because many Americans suffer from

undiagnosed sleep disorders, said Wendi Nugent, Director of the

GWCC program. She said that the number has been estimated at

more than 70 million. Some don’t recognize that they have a problem,

while others cannot afford the tests, she said, adding, “With the

Affordable Care Act, there are likely to be more people who want to

get tested.”

Students who enroll in the program can finish it in about two years.

They must complete the general college education courses that

qualify them for an associate’s degree and must also take courses in

electroencephalography, or EEG, the recording of electrical activity

along the scalp; neuroanatomy and physiology, to understand the

brain and how it functions; biomedical engineering, to understand

sleep study equipment; respiratory care, to learn respiratory anatomy

and physiology; and sleep, to understand the various phases of sleep.

The average salary of board-certified respiratory technicians is about

$20 per hour.

Nugent, who started working in the area of sleep studies in 1985, said

that growth in the industry is cyclical. Right now is a good time to be

entering the job market in Arizona. “All my students who graduated

in the spring got job offers,” she said, “and I know of nine open

positions and no one to fill them.” Longer-term prospects also look

good because of aging Americans.

Still, students thinking about a career in sleep studies have to

remember one important fact: This is nighttime work. “Working nights

isn’t for everyone,” Nugent observed. The reward, she said, is in the

reaction of patients who are diagnosed and are helped by treatment,

usually with a CPAP machine, which provides a continuous stream

of air to the sleeping patient. “The treatment is so efficacious,” she

reports. “People say, ‘I haven’t felt like this in 20 years.’”

GWCC Students Work to Help Others Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Wendi Nugent with student and patient in the sleep lab

Chancellor Receives East Valley Partnership Award

Chancellor Rufus

Glasper was given

the Dwight Patterson

Lifetime Achievement

Award by the East

Valley Partnership in

December 2014. This

award is given to a

person who lives or

works in the East Valley,

is well respected, has

made significant lifelong

contributions to their

community, and is a

true leader.

“He’s taken the Maricopa Community Colleges, which involves

hundreds of thousands of individuals and touches the lives of millions

all at a very small expense, to a higher level of performance,” said

ASU President Michael Crow. “He’s done that in a way that makes

education available to any member of the community regardless

of ethnicity, income, and age. I don’t think people realize how hard

things like that are to accomplish.”

“In his 28 years of services, he has helped shape education policy

throughout Arizona,” said U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon. “I thank

you, the East Valley thanks you, and countless students thank you for

your tireless dedication to education,” said Congressman Salmon in

a video message prepared for the event.

See the short video from the awards ceremony online at: http://vimeo.com/119280343

Chancellor Glasper receives the East Valley Partnership’s Lifetime Achievement Award from John Wolfe, Senior

Vice President and Southwest Region Manager of Cox Communications

Sherman Alexie visits SCC for Inspiring Talkby Jonathan Higuera

Author-poet-screenwriter Sherman Alexie kept the audience laughing

while injecting poignant moments and observations from his

childhood on an American Indian reservation and his transition into

the person he is now during a one-hour presentation at Scottsdale

Community College.

Addressing an audience of

more than 300, the author

of 25 books, including, The

Absolutely True Diary of a

Part-Time Indian, shared

stories and experiences from

his childhood as a “poor rez

boy” with a humorous take

on his path to become a

nationally acclaimed writer

and social commentator.

Alexie compared his thoughts on today’s institutional barriers for

people of color to his own people’s attitudes that hurt and limited him.

He challenged the young people in the audience to “pile up the

degrees” and end any debilitating addictions to alcohol or drugs.

“An Indian with a degree is a powerful person,” he commented.

Sherman Alexie

Community 7

that sports team mentality; we’re here to

win this battle of getting through higher

education. Life happens, and that means

lots of distractions. We want them to stay

focused so they finish.”

The exact moment when Pratt actively

connected with the MEN group was his

recognizing the first and most difficult

barrier for men of color to break when they

want to succeed in school: asking for help.

“Some factors are most predictive of

success,” says Dr. J. Luke Wood, an

Associate Professor of Community College

Leadership at San Diego State University. “First, help-seeking behavior – the willingness to ask for

help – is a common challenge and a critical determinant of success for men of color.”

Dr. Wood is Co-Director of the national Minority Male Community College Collaborative (M2C3),

which supports colleges in building capacity around men of color. To date, Dr. Wood and his

Co-Director, Frank Harris III, have partnered with 45 community colleges in eight states.

“Maricopa’s program is unique because leaders were very thoughtful and use institutional

effectiveness data, and to state goals and outcomes to inform strategic planning. The MEN program

is a priority from the Chancellor’s office down to each college chapter. We don’t always see that level

of leadership support,” says Dr. Wood.

Hector Cedillos is a graduate of Scottsdale Community College and was in its MEN program. “Men

of color – we’re naturally standoffish and suspicious,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons it’s so hard

to reach us on campus. I was ashamed of my past and couldn’t talk to many people about it. But just

because I didn’t share personal information didn’t mean I don’t have anything to say. It wasn’t until I

joined the MEN group that I was able to start letting go of a lot of stuff.”

“MEN provides the platform for any male student to commit to his educational path, to connect with

our colleges, and to reach his goals,” says Felicia Ganther, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student

Services, who oversees MEN. “All three steps are critical to their success.”

Cedillos, now pursuing a bachelor’s degree at ASU, and Pratt are both still involved with their friends

from the MEN program. And they’re giving back to the community. Cedillos is working for Release the

Fear, a Phoenix-based group that helps at-risk kids in juvenile facilities get on the right track. “I used

to think that everyone who went to college graduated,” said Cedillos. “I had no idea there was such a

gap with men of color. I want to change that and close up the gap.”

Pratt started his own non profit, U-Belong, to help men being released from prison get used to life

again. “When they get out, they have nothing,” says Pratt. “They don’t have any education or life

skills, or even know how to write a résumé. I want to make sure that when they get out, they stay out.

U-Belong is my way of giving back. It’s what keeps me motivated.”

MEN (continued from front page)

Hector Cedillos

Breaking ground for the new Aquila Hall

Black Mountain Campus Plans ExpansionParadise Valley Community College

(PVCC) at Black Mountain celebrated its

fifth anniversary December 4, 2014, with a

groundbreaking for the new Aquila Hall.

The building, a $10 million project

designed by Dick and Fritsche Design

Group (DFDG), will add approximately

20,000 square feet of classroom and lab

space to house Science Division courses.

The building will comprise three multi-

purpose classrooms, two science labs and

one science classroom, a computer lab, a tutoring center, an astronomy high-powered telescope

and a viewing deck, student study and collaboration areas, faculty offices, and classrooms.

Black Mountain Campus is a multigenerational facility providing lifelong learning opportunities,

community services, and health and wellness programs. A partnership among PVCC, Desert

Foothills YMCA, and Foothills Community Foundation, the campus is designed as a neighborhood-

gathering place for people of all ages to exercise both their minds and bodies. It is located at the

foot of the iconic Black Mountain at 60th Street, just south of Carefree Highway.

All of the facilities at Black Mountain are being named after constellations. The new building is

named Aquila Hall after the constellation that is viewable in the clear night skies at Black Mountain.

CGCC, MCC Win Top Service Honors

The Carnegie Foundation for the

Advancement of Teaching has recognized

Chandler-Gilbert (CGCC) and Mesa

(MCC) Community Colleges by awarding

each a 2015 Community Engagement

classification. This represents a significant

and competitive recognition that

highlights the institutions’ dedication to

community service.

This is the first classification for MCC

and a renewal of CGCC’s initial 2006

designation. The colleges represent two

of only three Arizona schools and just 361

colleges and universities nationwide that

currently hold the designation. Between

MCC and CGCC, more than 5,000

students performed upward of 115,000

hours of community service last year.

“As guided by our Governing Board

outcomes, we value student learning and

development through community and

civic engagement on and off campus,”

said Dr. Shouan Pan, President, Mesa

Community College.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to our faculty, students, and staff for their leadership and commitment to living out our value.”Dr. Shouan Pan

“Community engagement is part of

our culture,” said Linda Lujan, CGCC

President. “From its early years, nearly

30 years ago, until today, CGCC has held

community engagement as an enduring

core value through service-learning,

global and civic engagement, curricular

and cocurricular linkages, and community

partnerships in our region.”

Both colleges were also named to the

2014 President’s Higher Education

Community Service Honor Roll in

December. The recognition highlights

the role colleges and universities play in

solving community challenges and helps

students pursue a lifelong path of civic

engagement.

Jobs8

Grant Allows for Expansion, New Directions for Machining Programs

When Larry Geczy learned that Maricopa Skill Center (MSC) would

receive part of the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Community

College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant, he said he would

have done a somersault if he were 20 years younger. Geczy, the lead

instructor for Precision Machining at MSC, a division of GateWay

Community College, is responsible for spending $2.1 million of the

federal money to upgrade the Center’s Machining program. The

money comes from the $10 million federal job-training grant given in

late 2014 to a local consortium lead by Central Arizona College.

Geczy has big plans to expand the reach of his program, including

a new lab space that will open in fall 2015. “There is a critical skills

shortage today,” says Geczy. “We need to get more students in so

we can train them as entry-level machinists and prepare them for

the growing aerospace industry.”

Geczy is ordering upgraded mills, lathes, and a nine-color 3D

printer, just to name a few items. The new lab space expects to

accommodate three shifts of students, running 18 hours a day. The

grant will allow Geczy to hire another instructor as well as a lab

technician, and new hires that also will enhance the curriculum.

Students can attest to the program’s quality. “I guess I was made to

be a machinist,” says Reggie Williams, a recent MSC graduate. “As

a kid, I always took things apart and put them back together. This

program gave me a chance to learn different types of math, which

was a challenge that I liked. I was supported every step of the way.”

Geczy, who has been in the profession for more than 40 years, is

passionate about his students’ success and is quick to turn the

spotlight away from himself. “Reggie is one of the students I almost

lost to lack of interest,” says Geczy. “I entered him into a team

competition that they won, and that lit the fire under him. This career

is going to set him up for a lifetime. Before he came to us, he was

doing cold call telemarketing. I told him he could do something

about it. He took off, and hasn’t stopped since.”

Larry Geczy and Reggie Williams

during 2013-14, society will receive a cumulative value of $12.10 in benefits for as long as the 2013-14 student population at Maricopa remains active in the state’s workforce.

• For every dollar that a student spends on a Maricopa Community College education, that student gets back $4.20 in higher future income. A student’s average annual return is 16.6 percent.

• The spending of students who relocated to the region to attend college in Maricopa County added approximately $240.6 million in income to the economy during the 2013-14 fiscal year.

• The Maricopa report was issued at the same time as Demonstrating the Economic Value of Arizona Community Colleges, EMSI’s study of the impact of community colleges located throughout Arizona on the statewide economy.

“This report confirms the fact that an

education at the Maricopa Community

Colleges is a great investment, both for

students and taxpayers,” said Maricopa

Community Colleges Chancellor Rufus

Glasper.“A $4.20 return on every dollar

spent means students’ money is being

spent wisely. From the taxpayers’ point of

view, a 10.3% rate of return is better than

they can get almost anywhere else.”

Economy (continued from front page)

Girl Power: EMCC Student Achieves First Nuclear CertificateThis month, Estrella Mountain Community

College (EMCC) is honoring recent Power

Plant Technology (PPT) program graduate,

Fadwa Sandoval, as the first Arizona student

to receive an accredited and nationally

recognized nuclear certification.

Launched at EMCC in the summer of 2012,

the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program

(NUCP) is a certification offered to degree-

seeking students pursuing a career in the

nuclear energy industry. The certification is

a component of the College’s PPT degree

pathway and is recognized by all U.S.

nuclear power plants. EMCC is currently the

only college in Arizona accredited to offer the

NUCP to students and is proud to announce

its first recipient of this distinction.

On February 12, Sandoval was formally

recognized as the first EMCC completer of

the NUCP, which required her to achieve a

grade of at least 80 percent in each core

class of her PPT degree pathway. She was

a member of the charter, cohort class of

NUCP-eligible students and graduated from

the PPT program in fall of 2014.

“We are thrilled to have Fadwa lead our program as the first NUCP graduate,” said Dr. Clay

Goodman, Vice President of Occupational Education at EMCC. “She has demonstrated what

it means to be a leader by serving as a model student in our program.”

Sandoval has always enjoyed math, science and hands-on learning, which motivated her to

pursue a career in the nuclear energy industry. She is hopeful that her story can inspire other

young women who may be intimidated by the thought of working in an industrial environment.

PPT students Teresa Tipps (left) and Fadwa Sandoval (middle) practicing with radiation monitoring equipment with PPT faculty Gregory Haught (right). The equipment shown in the photo is used to determine if personnel have picked up any radioactive contamination

News in the District 9EMCC Receives Crescordia Award for Campus LandscapeEstrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) has been named recipient of the coveted

Crescordia Award for Site Development and Landscape in the Public Sector category of the 2014

Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards.

Sponsored by the

environmental organization

Arizona Forward, the highly

competitive Crescordia

Award sets standards

for outstanding physical,

technical, and social

development of Arizona

while maintaining a high level

commitment to sustainability.

EMCC completed construction

of the Estrella Hall and

Conference Center in fall 2013.

Crescordia is a Greek term that means “to grow in harmony.” The Arizona Forward awards

spotlight distinguished projects throughout the state that demonstrate a high level of

environmental commitment and contribute to the region’s overall sustainability. The Crescordia

Award sets standards for Arizona’s exceptional physical, technical, and social development.

According to Arizona Forward, the low-maintenance landscape surrounding EMCC’s new

structures appears complex and wild. However, it consists of all low-water-use, climate

appropriate planting with drip irrigation. The success of the landscape reveals that even with an

extremely modest budget, meaningful and engaging learning settings can be created if coupled

with a critical understanding of microclimate, plants, materials, and detail.

Two Maricopa Community Colleges are

celebrating their 50th anniversaries this

year. Mesa and Glendale Community

Colleges held separate celebrations

throughout the school year.

Mesa Community College (MCC) began in

1963 as an extension of Phoenix College,

with classes in what is now known as The

Landmark Restaurant. Over the years,

MCC has grown from 330 students to more

than 40,000 learners annually. The college

opened its 160-acre campus at Southern

and Dobson Roads in 1966.

Glendale Community College (GCC) began

classes in 1965, also as an extension of

Phoenix College. That same year, ground

was broken for the college’s 147-acre

campus at 59th and Olive Avenues. Classes

began at the new facility the following

year. On its first day of classes at the new

campus, 4,082 students were enrolled and

taught by a faculty of more than 100.

Both colleges have expanded over the

years to meet the growing needs of

students in their regions. MCC opened its

Red Mountain campus in 2001, while GCC

opened the North Campus in 2000.

Mesa, Glendale Community Colleges Celebrate 50 Years

Gila River Community, SMCC Partner to Promote EducationIn a historic Indian mission, some 35 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, lives are being

changed. South Mountain Community

College (SMCC), partnering with the Gila

River Tribal Education Department, has

enrolled a group of community members in

its Teacher Prep program.

The program teaches Gila River Community

members the basics of teaching, but

means a great deal more then that to the

community, said Matthew Molina of the Tribal

Education Department. “This program is

not just responsible for teaching kids in the

classroom, but is responsible for teaching the

whole community-wide base,” he observed.

“The partnership has allowed us to educate our

own people to start teaching ourselves, and it’s going to be growing in the future.”

The program started in 2011, according to Dr. Shari Olson, President of SMCC. “It’s really taken off.

We have a beautiful partnership.”

The first cadre of students graduated with certificates in Instructional Assistance last spring. Many

of those students have continued their education at Arizona State University.

Students from the first graduating group were enthusiastic about the experience, some for deeply

personal reasons. “Doing this really made me feel like I am worth something, and I really want my

students to know they can do it,” said graduate Sharon Shelde. Her classmate Marcella Hoover

added: “What I value is to see a lot of our people continue their education, get a master’s, get a

bachelor’s, or even an associate’s. There is a limited number of us who have a degree, and I just

want our numbers increased.”

New cohorts are currently underway in Culinary Arts and Phlebotomy, with future cohorts being

planned for Medical Assistants and Early Childhood Education.

GCC Earns Its First Volleyball National TitleThe Glendale Community College Volleyball team celebrated winning its first National title with fans, coaches, family, and fellow students.The team received national championship rings and ended what was the best, most memorable season in Glendale volleyball history. Congratulations to Coach Lisa Stuck, the players, and her staff for a great season.

GCC Women’s Volleyball Champs

Gila River Community and SMCC cohort

Foundation Board Member Attends State of the Union Event at White House

A Phoenix attorney and member of the Maricopa

Community Colleges Foundation was chosen to attend

President Obama’s State of the Union address this year.

Ashley Kasarjian said that attending the event in

Washington presented a unique opportunity. “I wanted

to attend the event as a result of the President’s current

community college initiative,” she said. “I was intrigued

by his proposal to make two years of community college

free for qualifying students.”

For the past four years, the White House has invited

various industry and social media leaders to watch the

President’s State of the Union address at the White

House, participate in the interviews following the State of

the Union, and speak with administration officials.

After the White House viewing, Kasarjian took part in the post-State of the Union White

House discussion with senior-level White House officials, including Dan Pfeiffer, Senior

Advisor to President Obama, and Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. “Secretary Perez stated

that ‘community colleges are the secret sauce to success in America,’” Kasarjian recalled.

Community colleges are, as Secretary Perez alluded, the most important ingredient in that

recipe for success.”

At the event, social media was encouraged to further promote engagement with those watching

the State of the Union. Accordingly, Kasarjian live-tweeted the event on Twitter and posted

about the event on her employment law blog.

“To view Ashley Kasarjian’s play-by-play Tweets during the State of the Union Social, follow

her on Twitter: @Employment_Atty

You can subscribe to Kasarjian’s blog at: http://employmentandthelaw.com.20946052

Foundation10 Foundation Spotlight: Dominique Hunter

Dominique Hunter

is a young woman

determined to

succeed. After

her plan to attend

the University of

Saskatchewan fell

through because

of unforeseen

and unfortunate

circumstances, she quickly formulated a

second option.

Mesa Community College (MCC) became

her second chance to achieve a higher

education; an opportunity made possible

through scholarships. She is just one of many

Maricopa students who are helped every year

by scholarships offered through the Maricopa

Community Colleges Foundation.

Dominique is now one semester away from

finishing her associate’s degree and transferring

to Arizona State University, where she will study

Therapeutic Recreation and American Indian

Studies. Her ultimate goal is to begin helping

Native American families through counseling

and other therapeutic methods.

“With the help provided by scholarships from

many generous donors, and delineated through

the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation,

my dreams are an active and present reality,”

she said. “As my goals are already beginning

to be achieved even during my education at

MCC, I’m now able to participate in and

co-coordinate community events such as

social- and human-rights-themed art shows

that directly help Native American people right

here in Maricopa County.”

Ashley Kasarjian

Dominique Hunter

Autumn Barber

Our Quest for Student SuccessThe Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation is

embarking on a comprehensive campaign to ensure that

students have the resources they need to succeed. The

Foundation’s goal is to raise $50 million over four years to

support student success in these three thematic areas:

• $25 million to fund scholarships that will directly support student success;

• $15 million in support for faculty and staff innovation, creativity, and excellence to develop new programs, initiatives, and methodologies to enhance student success; and

• $10 million to support community partnerships that expand opportunity for students.

The Foundation distributes over $2 million in scholarship funds annually to an average of

2,000 students, and your gift can really make a difference to a student.

By contributing to the Maricopa Community Colleges and Maricopa Community Colleges

Foundation, you will:

• Expand the access to – and quality of – a college education, as well as increase the opportunity to graduate;

• Increase the number of educated, productive, employed and engaged citizens, and taxpayers;

• Maintain a highly prepared and skilled workforce; and

• Ensure a robust economy and community where people want to live and work.

Won’t you join us? Visit us at mcccdf.org and become acquainted with the college campaign projects and how you can partner with the Foundation.

S T U D E N T S U C C E S ST H E C A M P A I G N F O R

F O R T H E M A R I C O PA C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E S

Endcating our Community,Ensuring our Future

My name is Autumn

Barber, and I am the

delighted recipient of the

Women’s Philanthropy

Circle Scholarship for

2014-15.

I am a non-traditional

student returning to finish

my degree after the death

of my late husband. My husband, Detective

Tim Barber, died of prostate cancer three years

ago. At the time I was pregnant with our twins,

who are now thriving two-and-a-half year olds.

Returning to school full time is emotional for

me, but I know that Tim would be excited

for my being granted this scholarship. Kind

gestures like this are what make it possible for

me to pursue my degree and help others in the

future. I am deeply grateful for your generosity.

—Autumn Barber

2014-15 Women’s Philanthropy Circle Recipient

Then and Now 11

When did your Maricopa career begin?I joined Maricopa in 1987 as a one-year-only

at Mesa Community College. I taught English

and Reading. At the end of the year I was

told that Mesa did not have a position. Then

Dr. Homero Lopez called from Glendale and

asked me if I would be interested in joining

the faculty there. I was in Mississippi visiting

my parents when he called, and we did the

interview from my parents’ bedroom. My

niece was on the outside of the door during

the entire interview trying to get in.

What was it like being chosen to work on creating Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC)?We didn’t have a campus yet – we held

our classes in three local high schools:

West View High School, Agua Fria High

School, and Tolleson High School. We did

many planning meetings with people in the

community. They welcomed us and really

wanted us there. We worked with a number

of architects as to what the campus would

look like and what buildings would be there.

EMCC has progressed greatly over the years, hasn’t it?We’ve made a long journey in 20 years. We

always wanted a diverse college with people

who look like the community there, and

today, I must say that we have that.

What kind of work are you doing now?I am teaching online courses now, and I

miss the face-to-face. I miss hearing about

their hopes and dreams. I miss seeing

the enthusiasm on their faces as they talk

about books that they’ve read. I’m currently

teaching children’s literature. I love the idea

that students have so many choices.

Dr. John Waltrip

Doyle Burke

Maricopa MemoryPearl Williams Long-time faculty member discusses joining Estrella Mountain Community College at its inception.

Maricopa Memories: Waltrip, Burke Recall History of Glendale and MesaThis is the 50th anniversary year for Mesa (MCC) and Glendale (GCC) Community Colleges

[see related story page 9]. In honor of the event, we are publishing portions of interviews from two

people who were important to the formation of these institutions.

The late Dr. John Waltrip was President of GCC for more that 20 years. He passed away in 2013

but recorded an interview a year before his death. Doyle Burke was one in the first group of faculty

members hired at MCC and taught there for more than 38 years. Today he serves on the Governing

Board of the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Dr. John WaltripI started in ’66 as a history instructor at Glendale Community

College and I was in that position, oh—I don’t know how long.

Anyhow, I managed to get elected as the district faculty leader,

President of the Faculty Association, or whatever we called it in

those days. And after that I became a Dean of Instruction for three

years, and then I became President of Glendale Community College,

in which position I served for 20 years. And then I officially retired,

and in retirement, I taught at Estrella Mountain, a college which was

founded originally as part of Glendale Community College. I actually

taught there roughly half time for ten years in retirement. And when I

hit 80, I retired completely.

Glendale Community College was an instructor’s dream. Everything was brand new. We were

lucky in that our college had been chosen to get most of its original buildings as permanent

construction, whereas poor old Mesa only got part of their buildings as permanent, and I think all

of their classes were taught in temporary facilities built on campus, and it took them a few years to

get those replaced by real buildings. We all had offices, something that certainly not all of us had

before we got the jobs at Glendale.

We had one of the finest men that’s ever served in education in this country as our president,

Dr. (John) Prince, who had quite a background in establishing the community college system in

Arizona. Then he became the first president of Glendale Community College, and after serving one

year there, he became the president of the District.

Doyle BurkeWe were on the new campus when I started at Mesa

in ’68. In 1962, they started in storefronts in Mesa

and in ’65 or so they started building at Southern and

Dobson. So when I started, they had three or four large

buildings. We had lots of trailers on the south side and

surrounding us for a mile at least were fields. I think there

was one service station across the street on the corner

of Southern and Dobson, but nothing else around there –

just sheep and the fields. We used to joke about that.

During the first decade there was a great deal of construction and the campus was growing. From

1962, and for the next ten years we grew into about 8,000-8,500 students. So it was a place

of growth, lots of activity amongst students and we could see the campus growing during that

period. There was a lot of vitality at the college.

One of the really fascinating experiences I had when

I was a teacher was the growth of technology. I

learned to do word processing on a DEC computer.

It was a huge machine. It cost probably $7,500, and

I had to go to the library to use it because faculty

didn’t have those in their offices. But I learned to

do word processing on that DEC computer. Shortly

thereafter the Apple II came out and the IBM desktop, and when

those machines came out there was just a sea change in education. One of the things that I’m

really proud about in the English department at Mesa Community College is that our faculty were

dedicated to developing online courses.

Pearl Williams

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Welcome to Maricopa Matters! News For the Community From the Maricopa Community Colleges

2411 W. 14th S

treetTem

pe, A

rizona 85281

The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa | Paradise Valley | Phoenix | Rio SaladoScottsdale | South Mountain | Corporate College | Maricopa Skill Center | SouthWest Skill Center | maricopa.edu

Maricopa Matters is published twice a year by the Marketing and Communications Department of the Maricopa Community Colleges.

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Tom Gariepy, Editor

Carol Diego, Managing Editor and Art Direction

Andrew Tucker, Writer; Natalie Vaughn, Online Edition

When did you com

e to the U.S.?I w

as originally from Saigon, Vietnam

and I’ve been in the U.S. for tw

o and a half years.

What are you studying?

Fashion Merchandising at M

esa Comm

unity College.

What is your dream

job?I w

ant to move to New

York and become a visual

designer for a large department store like Saks Fifth

Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, or Neim

an Marcus.

You recently won a contest?

Yes, I won the Phoenix Fashion W

eek “Inspire Fashion” T-shirt design contest. M

y inspiration was derived from

seeing a tattoo that said, “Free As A Bird.” To m

e, fashion isn’t only the dress styles or trends, but also the colors and the spirit.

Are there any sayings or quotes you love?Be positive, keep going, and don’t give up – there’s alw

ays an opened door out there waiting for you.

Meet Anh Huynh-Nguyen

fashion designer and student of a M

aricopa Comm

unity College

Rufus Glasper, Chancellor

Maricopa Community Colleges Governing BoardMr. Doyle Burke | Mr. Alfredo Gutierrez | Ms. Johanna Haver Mr. John Heep | Ms. Tracy Livingston | Ms. Jean McGrath Mr. Dana Saar

Nearly 50,000 people are following the Maricopa Community Colleges across our six major social media platforms.

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