2023 Alliance Speakers and Sponsors

Jeffrey Alexander

Alliance Executive Committee, Truckee Meadows Community College

Jeffrey Alexander has served as vice president of academic affairs at Truckee Meadows Community College since June 2021, and he represents Nevada’s 2-year public institutions as vice chair of the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders (Alliance). Previously, he served for 6 years as dean of arts and sciences at Pueblo Community College, prior to which he taught history at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Alexander is an historian of modern Japan and has published three books on Japanese consumer product manufacturing, sales, and consumption. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in history from The University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Hanan Al-Zubaidy

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Hanan Al-Zubaidy has served as the corrections education program administrator for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges since March 2022. Prior to this, Al-Zubaidy was the education director out at Larch Correctional facility. She continues to work closely with the department of corrections to offer education services to incarcerated individuals in Washington. Al-Zubaidy has a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from Portland State University.

Kaylyn Bondy

Alliance Executive Committee, Bismarck State College

Kaylyn Bondy, Ph.D., has served as the vice president for student affairs at Bismarck State College since 2020.  Previously, she served Williston State College as vice president for student affairs from 2015-2020 and as registrar/director for institutional research & effectiveness from 2011-2015. She has taught as adjunct faculty and for other organizations. Bondy earned a B.A. in French from the University of North Dakota (UND), a master’s in international business from l’Institut d’Administration des Entreprises à Caen, an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, and a Ph.D. in higher education from UND. She was also selected as an Aspen Presidential Fellow in 2020-2021.

MarcusAntonio Gunn

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

MarcusAntonio Gunn currently serves as the policy associate of equity, diversity & inclusion and professional development for basic education for adults at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Gunn’s focus during his entire 15-year career has been to serve in adult basic education. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, he is the first man in his family to receive his high school diploma. He is a first-generation college student and double alumnus of Albany State University, obtaining a B.A. in political science and a B.S. in special education. From Walden University, Gunn aspires to become a double alumnus once more, as he received his M.S. in adult learning from Walden and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in higher education administration – adult learning.

Joyce Hammer

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

jhammer@sbctc.edu

Joyce Hammer, Ph.D. has over 28 years’ experience in the community and technical college system, currently serving as the deputy executive director for education at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC). Previously, she served as vice president of instruction at Centralia College and as the director of transfer education at SBCTC, developing policy with higher education sector partners. She began her higher education career at Green River College as mathematics faculty and instructional dean. Joyce earned B.A. and M.Ed. degrees at the University of Washington and a Ph.D. in adult higher education at Oregon State University.

Brenda Hanson

Dean of Compliance , Flathead Valley Community College

Brenda Hanson, MA, serves as the dean of compliance at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC). Focused on institutional effectiveness and student success, she participates in institutional planning, serves as the primary resource for accreditation initiatives, manages non-instructional department reviews, and is a peer evaluator for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Previously, she served as dean of students, director of financial aid, director of educational services, and transfer advisor during her 25-year career at FVCC. Hanson received her B.A. in organizational communication studies from the University of Montana and her M.A. in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

Nicole Hopkins

Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges

Nicole Hopkins is a policy associate on the basic education for adults’ (BEdA) team at the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC). Her responsibilities include managing the Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) and English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) programming. She also provides technical assistance for the Ability to Benefit (ATB) funding given to students pursuing their high school credential and degree. Nicole’s past experience includes serving at Clark College for 10 years in various roles, with half of that time spent serving adult learners. She received her degree in psychology from Washington State University.

Emily Dykstra Jones

Tacoma Community College

Emily Dykstra Jones is an education navigator for Tacoma Community College and also works with students at Washington Corrections Center for Women and Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women. She is a member of education navigators funded through the Washington State Department of Corrections. Since 2016 her focus has been on understanding how to best support students in making their transition home and building a meaningful life after incarceration through education. Jones has nearly 15 years of working with womxn overcoming barriers, is inspired daily by the people she gets to work with and is grateful for opportunities to amplify their voices.

Summer Kennesson

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Summer Kenesson is currently serving as the director of policy research for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She and her team provide leadership and support to inform policy and practice for the 34 system colleges and the agency. Previously, Kenesson held research and leadership positions with Bates Technical College, Olympic College, and Pacific Lutheran University. Prior to moving to the U.S. in 2008, Kenesson worked for 10 years in educational policy in the United Kingdom. Kenesson received her B.A. in history of art from the University of Wisconsin Madison and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Plymouth and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Portsmouth.

Sheila Edwards Lange

University of Washington Tacoma

Sheila Edwards Lange serves as the chancellor at the University of Washington Tacoma. She was born in the small town of Pachuta, Miss., and, as a first-generation college student, received a bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine. She earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to her position at University of Washington Tacoma, Lange served as president of Seattle Central College (SCC). From 2007 to 2015, Lange served as vice president and vice provost for minority affairs & diversity at University of Washington in Seattle.

Stacy Maestas

Registrar, Laramie County Community College

Stacy Maestas, MSM, has served Laramie County Community College (LCCC) in Cheyenne, Wyoming since 2004, and as registrar since 2009. She oversees day-to-day operations within the Office of the Registrar, serves on multiple cross-functional committees on campus and within the state; she is integrally involved in curriculum and program development, new technology implementations, and process improvement initiatives. In addition to her role as the registrar, Maestas served as the colleague consultant for colleague institutions implementing the Interstate Passport.  She is also an adjunct instructor at LCCC and a graduate of the AACRAO SEM Endorsement Program. Maestas received a B.A. in leadership and a M.S. in management from Bellevue University.

Chris McGilvray

Front Range Community College

Chris McGilvray is the academic dean for the School of Manufacturing, Automotive, Construction Technologies at Front Range Community College where he focuses on leading Career Technical Education programming and teams to achieve innovative ways to better serve adult learners. He has over 20 years of retail and manufacturing industry experience, is a small business owner, community leader and higher education advocate. He has a doctorate degree in management with an emphasis in organizational leadership and change and a Master of Arts in business management. He wrote his dissertation studying the relationship among perceived and actual competencies performed of entrepreneurs of brick-and-mortar store locations.

Katelynn Orellana

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Katelynn Orellana has served as program administrator at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) since March 2023. Orellana collaborates with community and technical colleges as well as other adult education providers across the state to offer professional development rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion to faculty and staff to improve the experience and quality of education for adult learners. Previously, they served as program coordinator at SBCTC for student support programs, and for 7 years prior held various positions at Skagit Valley College in support of Workforce Grants, Counseling & Advising, and Basic Education for Adults. Katelynn received their A.A. in integrated studies from Cascadia College, and their B.A. in interdisciplinary studies from Western Washington University.

Suzanne Prefontaine-Phillips

Spokane Community College

Suzanne Prefontaine-Phillips, Ed.D., is an esteemed professional with over 25 years of invaluable experience in the field of reentry and corrections. With an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of justice-involved individuals, Prefontaine-Phillips has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Prefontaine-Phillips received her Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Azusa Pacific University and her M.P.A. from California Baptist University. She is currently serving as the education reentry navigator for the Washington Department of Correction in Spokane County. Prefontaine-Phillips plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing comprehensive reentry programs tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals transitioning back into their communities.

Quincy Rose-Sewell

Pueblo Community College

Quincy Rose-Sewell, Ed.D. has served as vice president of academic services/chief academic officer at Pueblo Community College in Pueblo, Colorado since 2022. She works with internal and external stakeholders to implement policy, to operationalize the institutions strategic plan along with ensuring the accreditation and the efficiency of programs, while securing resources and wrap around services for learner success. Previously, she served as assistant vice president for academic affairs at Baltimore City Community College, dean of the College of Education at Harris-Stowe State University, department head and associate professor at Grambling State University, and director of teacher education and department chair of the Bachelor of Science Interdisciplinary Studies Program and Master of Arts in teaching program at Tusculum College. Rose-Sewell received her B.S. in elementary education and her M.A. in curriculum and instruction from Delaware State University. She earned her Ed.D. in innovation and leadership from Wilmington University and also completed a post-doctorate program in women in educational leadership from Harvard University.

Dolly Rosenbrook

Front Range Community College

Dolly Rosenbrook is chair for business for creative industries, BAS and faculty of multimedia graphic design at Front Range Community College, a member of the Colorado Community College System. She focuses on building equitable opportunities for higher education degree attainment. She has over 15 years of online teaching experience in graphic communication, arts, and digital media at various institutions including the University of Maryland Global Campus. She is dedicated to serving career and technical education students through her leadership for adult learning and online curriculum design and prior learning assessment. Rosenbrook holds a M.F.A in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Todd Schwarz

Alliance Executive Committee, College of Southern Idaho

Todd Schwarz currently serves as provost at the College of Southern Idaho since January 2014. He has had a long career in a variety of roles at CSI that exceeds 30 years with over 20 in administration including department chair and dean of career technical education. In 2012 he was appointed to the role of state administrator of the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education where he was instrumental in the creation of the Idaho micro credentialing system before returning to CSI. In 2015 he was recognized with the Institutional Leadership Award by the International Economic Development Council. Schwarz holds an associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree from Idaho schools and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Idaho.

Valerie Sundby

Director of Transfer Education, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Valerie Sundby, Ed.D. serves as the director of transfer education at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She provides leadership for Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges in the areas of transfer and applied baccalaureate degrees and works collaboratively with higher education partners around the state. She has worked in higher education for the past 20 years, including more than ten years as an academic dean. Sundby holds a Doctorate of Education in higher education leadership, a Master’s of Education in educational policy and leadership, and a Bachelor’s of Science in cell and molecular biology, all from the University of Washington.

Olivia Tufo

Manager, Community Engagement and Development, Programs and Services

303.541.0261otufo@wiche.edu

Olivia Tufo is the manager of community engagement and development for the Programs & Services unit at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The Programs and Services unit broadens student access to postsecondary education and fosters higher education collaborations that increase institutional effectiveness. Tufo manages membership of the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders and the Western Academic Leadership Forum. Tufo also works on initiatives that bring together the West’s higher education leaders to address common goals and issues, such as the No Holding Back study and the Interstate Passport Network which aims to streamline the student transfer process through a nationwide network of institutions.

Mari Volk

Bismarck State College

Mari Volk has served as the dean of current and emerging technologies at Bismarck State College (BSC) for two years. She works closely with business and industry to ensure BSC’s programs prepare a quality workforce to support the region. Before accepting the dean position, Volk served as the medical laboratory program director and worked as a medical laboratory scientist at Sanford Health for 15+ years. Volk received her A.S. in laboratory tech from BSC, her B.S. in laboratory science from the University of Cincinnati, and her M.H.A. from Colorado State University. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. from National University, previously Northcentral University.

Ayelet Zur-Nayberg

Colorado Community College System

Ayelet Zur-Nayberg is the director of adult student success at the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), where she leads a project funded by the Lumina Foundation to increase credential attainment among adult learners of color. She has a Doctor of Education degree in leadership for educational equity in higher education from the University of Colorado, Denver. Zur-Nayberg is a lawyer and an economist and holds a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University and a Master of Arts in law and economics from Tel-Aviv University. She has been working in higher education for over a decade both as a faculty member and an administrator.