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.

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.

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.

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.

Raymonda Burgman Gallegos

Vice President, Programs and Services

303-541-0222rbgallegos@wiche.edu

Ray Burgman Gallegos began serving as the Vice President, Programs and Services in October 2021. In this role, she increases student access to high-quality postsecondary education and fosters collaborations between institutions. The Programs and Services unit has four regional student access programs, which include the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP), and the Online Course Exchange (OCE). It also manages the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders, the Western Academic Leadership Forum, and Interstate Passport ®. The unit also partners with Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) to provide institutions cost savings through four programs—the Master Property Program, MHECare Student Insurance Solutions, MHECtech, and Cyber Insurance. Previously, Burgman Gallegos served as director of programs and research at HERS (Higher Education Resource Services), a non-profit leadership development organization focused on women who work in postsecondary settings, for eight years. She also served as an administrator at DePauw University, located in Greencastle, IN, in Academic Affairs and the Office of the President and at New College of Florida, located in Sarasota, FL. Burgman Gallegos was also a tenured professor in economics and management at DePauw University. She also taught at two other institutions in Florida, Santa Fe College and the University of South Florida-St. Peterburg. She received a B.A. in Economics from New College of Florida and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Florida, located in Gainesville, FL.

Shannon Reed

Woodland Community College

Shannon L. Reed is dean of arts & sciences at Woodland Community College in California. Before moving to Woodland, she served as director of excellence in teaching and learning at Regis University in Colorado and as professor of English at Cornell College in Iowa. She loves being dean at a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) where she supports a diverse range of programs. As a dean at an HSI, she values the collaborative relationships she’s developed with other Minority-Serving institutions like Sac State and University of California Davis, and local programs like Woodland Adult Ed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.