Workforce Deans Academy
Academy Alumni

Sixteen cohorts of workforce leaders.

Since 2005, the Workforce Deans Academy has trained deans, directors, faculty leaders, and administrators across Washington's community and technical colleges. Every one of the 34 CTC colleges has been represented in the Academy. This is the record, cohort by cohort.

16

Cohorts

287

Alumni

34

Colleges represented

2005

First cohort

Cohort 16

2025–2026

16 participants

01

Henry Brewster

Dean of Instruction, STEM & Business/IT

Lower Columbia College

02

Tsai-En Cheng

Dean of STEM-CTE

Shoreline College

03

Becky Coleman

Dean of Instruction, Career and Technical Education

Centralia College

04

Leann Dittmar

Full Time Tenured Faculty, Program Coordinator

North Seattle College

05

Tina Jenkins

Mechatronics Department Chair and Faculty

Clark College

06

Aaron Kirk

Associate Dean Workforce Pathways and Partnerships

Skagit Valley College

07

Robert Mandy

Dean of Instruction

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

08

Brittney Maruska

Director of Business & Community Education

Skagit Valley College

09

Lauren Reed

Director of Education Operations

Walla Walla Community College at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center

10

Camilla Rico

Dean of Community Education

Peninsula College

11

Jenny Rogoff

Dean of Instruction, School of Health Sciences

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

12

Christopher Russell

Associate Dean of Professional and Technical Education

Everett Community College

13

Melinda Saw-McBride

Associate Dean of Nursing

Pierce College

14

Zefire Skoczen

Dean of Health and Human Services

Renton Technical College

15

Rashawn Smith

Instructor/Prof. Honda P.A.C.T Automotive C.T.E

Shoreline Community College

16

Nausica Zorzi

Associate Dean

North Seattle College

Cohort 15

2024–2025

17 participants

01

Ron Burleson

Interim Director of Advising and Advocacy

Pierce College

02

Sarah Cabbage

Associate Dean of Workforce Education

South Puget Sound Community College

03

Ariel Finfrock

CTE Coordinator

Grays Harbor College

04

Kimberly Hassell

Division Operations Director, HSEWI

Bellevue College

05

Lorena Hernandez

Associate Director of Mesa

Seattle Central College

06

Kelly Koch

Director of BAS-TE

Yakima Valley College

07

Michelle Melero

Associate Dean of Technology Programs

North Seattle College

08

Michelle Morley

Dean of Workforce Education

Big Bend Community College

09

Ferdinand Orbino

Dean

South Seattle College

10

Min Pak

Chair and Associate Professor of New Media and Digital Design

Pierce College

11

Renuka Prabhakar

Interim Dean of STEM & Health Professions

Everett Community College

12

Heather Sneed

Associate Dean of Business

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

13

Amanda Thomas

Director of Workforce Education

Seattle Central College

14

Conrad Webster

Associate Director of TRIO

Seattle Central College

15

Jeff Williams

Interim Dean of Extended Learning and Workforce Initiatives

Spokane Community College

16

Dr. K.O. Wilson

Director, Education and Leadership Programs

Seattle Central College

17

Isabelle “Izzy” Wroblewski

Associate Dean for Student Life

Highline College

Cohort 14

2023–2024

17 participants

01

Brandon Censon

Professor / Program Chair, Respiratory Therapy and Community Health

Tacoma Community College

02

Vicki Dickson

Associate Dean of Nursing

Pierce College

03

Wendy Fox

Director, Program Development & Worker Retraining

Olympic College

04

Dennis Funk

Dean of Machining & Trades, Business & Technology

Olympic College

05

Stefanie Gilberti

Dean of Instruction and Learning Resources

Lower Columbia College

06

Matthew K. Green

Dean for Workforce Education

Whatcom Community College

07

David Hatfield

Tenure Faculty, Hospitality Management

South Seattle College

08

Wade Kendall

Interim Director of Dental Programs, Health Care & Human Services

Seattle Central College

09

Karen Lee

Associate Dean of Instruction (BEdA), Instruction/I-BEST

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

10

Jamie Martin

Dean of Instruction: STEM & Business/IT, Instructional Programs

Lower Columbia College

11

Willow Peppers

Program Manager, Workforce Programs

Peninsula College

12

Anna Saradeth

Interim Associate Director of Early Childhood Initiatives, Early Childhood Education

North Seattle College

13

Jenna Schlein

Opportunity Grant Specialist, Workforce Education

Shoreline Community College

14

Davida Sharpe-Haygood

Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education

Pierce College

15

Kellie Whitcomb

Associate Dean of Instruction, Dental Programs, Dental Hygiene Program

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

16

William L. White

Interim Associate Dean of Workforce Instruction, Workforce Education

North Seattle College

17

Lindsey Williams

Director, Agriculture & Natural Resource COE

Walla Walla Community College

Cohort 13

2022–2023

15 participants

01

Jaime Cardenas Jr, PhD

Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Seattle Central College

02

Ricardo Chavez

Director of Education Resources

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center for Walla Walla Community College

03

Sheena Marie Davis

Program Specialist, Occupational Life Skills

Bellevue College

04

Candis Eckert

Associate Professor, Business and Social Science – Education Programs

Pierce College

05

Chantel Fields

Executive Director – Student Financial Resources

Bellingham Technical College

06

Galila Getahun

College Navigator, Workforce & Economic Dev.

Seattle Colleges

07

Wendy Jones

Manager of Workforce Transitions

Spokane Community College

08

Kaylee Lamphiear

Director of Workforce Grants, Student Services

Skagit Valley College

09

Elizabeth Lazo

Interim Dean, Career & Technical Education

Centralia College

10

Nou Lee

Associate Director of Workforce Education Services

Highline College

11

Shannon Matson

Dean of Advanced Manufacturing

Renton Technical College

12

Lisa D. Meehan

Interim Dean of Health Sciences

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

13

Jeanette Miller

Director of Workforce Education

North Seattle College

14

Caroline O’Connell

JobLink College Navigator, Workforce & Economic Development

Seattle Colleges (District Office)

15

Matthew W. Williams

Instructor, Plant & Soil Science; Interim Dean, Academic Transfer

Walla Walla Community College

Cohort 12

2021–2022

18 participants

01

Mary “Jane” G. Blackman

Director, WorkFirst and Special Projects

Olympic College

02

Tsai-En Cheng

Dean, Branch Locations for Academic and Program Development

Green River College

03

Kristin Copeland

Director, Teaching and Learning

Clover Park Technical College

04

Wendy Drum

Director, ACT 2, Workforce Special Projects, Parent Education and Library Circulation Services

Spokane Community College

05

Lauren Hadley

Director, Workforce Education

Shoreline Community College

06

Claver Hategekimana

Director, eLearning

Skagit Valley College

07

Glenn D. Jackson

Director, High School Initiatives

Bellevue College

08

Tanya Knight

Professor, Information Technology

Peninsula College

09

KaraLynn LaValley

Associate Dean, Nursing

Green River College

10

Sherry-Anne McLean

Faculty Director/Professor, Mathematics

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

11

Adam Meyers

Workforce Education Navigator, Workforce

Tacoma Community College

12

Pedro Navarrete

Interim Director, BAS Programs

Yakima Valley College

13

Priyanka Pant

Professor, Science

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

14

Dalila Paredes

Director, MESA

Clark College – Vancouver, WA

15

Eugene K. Shen

Interim Dean, Advanced Manufacturing

Renton Technical College

16

Darlene Snider

Interim Dean, Workforce Education

Whatcom Community College

17

Warren Takata

Interim Dean, Transportation/Workforce

Renton Technical College

18

Ton Yazici

Associate Dean, Culinary Academy

Seattle Central College

Cohort 11

2019–2020

16 participants

01

Cathy Alston

Director of Workforce Education

Green River College

02

Mary Beans

Lead Faculty, BAS Department

South Seattle College

03

Vicki Chew

Associate Dean of Instruction

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

04

Cristie Crawford

BAS Educational & Career Navigator

Walla Walla Community College

05

Kelli Johnston

Workforce Director

Tacoma Community College

06

Shawna Freeman Lane

Business Faculty/Department Coordinator

Highline College

07

Katé Lyons-Holestine

Career & Technical Education Programs Director

Columbia Basin College

08

Chris Chen Mahoney

Interim Dean of Academic Instruction

Clover Park Technical College

09

Tiffanie Maule

Associate Professor and Program Coordinator

Pierce College

10

Kenna May

Manager of Apprenticeship

Spokane Community College

11

Rachelle McGinnis

Program Development Manager

Pierce College

12

Samantha Nelson

Director of I-BEST and Civics Education

Renton Technical College

13

Patricia Russell

Interim Associate Dean Healthcare & Human Services

Seattle Central College

14

Karen Townsend

Dean, Health & Human Services Division

Edmonds Community College

15

Carolyn Watson

Associate Dean for Health Professions

Whatcom Community College

16

Stacy Woodruff

Tenured Professor

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Cohort 10

2018–2019

18 participants

01

Laura Baker

Associate Dean of AMTEC

Everett Community College

02

Mariela Barriga

Student Success Coordinator

Highline College

03

Anne Brackett

Faculty

Everett Community College

04

Patricia Chase

Admission Officer/Recruiter

Bates Technical College

05

Justin Dampeer

Program Manager – Transition Success Center

Highline College

06

Ariane Hayes-Kouadio

Program Chair-Allied Health

Bellevue College

07

Lori Hunt

Associate Dean of Student Success & Outreach

Spokane Community College

08

Jennifer Johnston

Program Manager, Healthcare Workforce Transitions

Highline College

09

Julius Lloyd

BFET Coordinator

South Seattle College

10

Tonya McCabe

Dean, Professional Technical Education

Bellingham Technical College

11

Lisa Murray

Program Coordinator: Kinesiology, Nutrition, Health/Physical Education and Physical Therapy Assistant Program

Pierce College

12

Leanne Patricio

BAS Program Manager

Green River College

13

Tami Rable

Director of Workforce Education

Renton Technical College

14

Shanon Reedy

Principle Program Manager

Bellevue College

15

Melissa Rodriguez

Director of Allied Health & Safety

Walla Walla Community College

16

Bridgette Agpaoa Ryder

Human Resources Professor

Tacoma Community College

17

Tiffany Smith-Fromm

Assistant Professor – Nursing/ Nursing Program Director

Pierce College

18

Stephanie Thompson

Health Sciences Coordinator

Tacoma Community College

Cohort 09

2017–2018

27 participants

01

Anton Amaratunge

Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor

South Seattle College

02

Karen Bolton

Guided Pathways Faculty Lead

Olympic College

03

Samantha Bowen

Director, Early Childhood and Parenting Education

Walla Walla Community College

04

Armetta Burney

Director, Workforce Education Services

Clark College

05

Patrice Davis

Interim Director of Workforce Education

South Seattle College

06

Jake Fay

Associate Dean of Bachelor and Workforce Education

Centralia College

07

Maria Galindo

Workforce Navigator

Skagit Valley College

08

Nolan Gruver

CWCE Workforce Continuing Education & Corporate Training Operations Manager

CCS Center for Workforce & Continuing Education

09

Adria Harris

Director Workforce Education Seattle Central College and Seattle Vocational Institute

Seattle Central College

10

Kevin House

Associate Dean, Corrections Education

Spokane Community College

11

Krissy Kim

Director of Education Programs

Pierce College

12

Brian Kneidl

Worker Retraining Coordinator

Peninsula College

13

Monica Medrano

Workforce Education Services Coordinator & Working Student Success Network Grant Manager

Big Bend Community College

14

Kimberly Mucke

Program Manager, Aviation Technology

Green River College

15

Trish Newbold

Workforce Education Coordinator

Whatcom Community College

16

Mary Jane Oberhofer

Professor and Program Chair, Business & Logistics

Tacoma Community College

17

Michael Richmond

Department Chair/Professor-School of Transportation

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

18

Gretchen Robertson

Inclusive Excellence Coordinator, BEdA Tenured Faculty

Skagit Valley College

19

Douglas Rupik

Faculty

South Seattle College

20

Aparna Sen

Faculty Director and Professor

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

21

Heidi Summers

Title III HSI STEM Director

Big Bend Community College

22

Kari Sutlovich

Director – Open Doors Programs

Green River College

23

Jill Thornton

Employment and Internship Solutions Manager

Everett Community College

24

Joey Walter

Dean, Workforce Education and Transitional Studies

Wenatchee Valley College

25

Michele Waltz

Director of Workforce Funding & Student Support

Bellingham Technical College

26

Dusty Wilson

Chair of Pure and Applied Science

Highline College

27

Kao L. Zheo

Program Director

Highline College

Cohort 08

2016–2017

13 participants

01

Loyal Allen Jr.

Program Director of Workforce Education Services

Highline College

02

Chris Bell

Associate Dean, Office of Instruction

Bellevue College

03

Mostafa Ghous

Director of East County Campus

Everett Community College

04

Char Gore

Program Chair AAS Health Information Technology/BAS Health Information Management and Acting Director of Applied Baccalaureate degree programs

Tacoma Community College

05

Dani Gray

Director of Workforce Transitions

Spokane Falls Community College

06

Sarah Gray

Associate Dean for Workforce Education

Bellevue College

07

Walter Hudsick

Dean of Professional/Technical Education

Bellingham Technical College

08

Jayme Kaniss

Director of Workforce Education

Green River College

09

Alison Pugh

NSF Grant Director

South Seattle College

10

Rickitia Reid

Program Manager, Professional Technical Education

Highline College

11

Barry Robinson

Dean of Instruction for Career and Technical Education

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

12

Theresa Stalick

Director of Transitional Studies

Lower Columbia College

13

Julia Zavodov

Program Manager, Office of Instruction

Bellevue College

Cohort 07

2015–2016

18 participants

01

Anna Baldwin

Interim Director, Workforce Projects

Seattle Colleges (District)

02

Daneen Berry-Guerin

Dean, Professional Technical Education

Big Bend Community College

03

Shereese Braun

Administrative and Budget Director, Workforce Education

Bellevue College

04

Mat Carlisle

SBCTC Program Administrator, Workforce Education

SBCTC

05

Lisa Chamberlin

Director of eLearning

Walla Walla Community College

06

Cristeen Crouchet

Director of Workforce Development

Clover Park Technical College

07

Brian Dudak

Assistant Dean of Adult Basic Education

Spokane Community College

08

Dan Ferguson

Director, Allied Health Center of Excellence

Yakima Valley College

09

Alison Fernandez

Director, Workforce Grants

Skagit Valley College

10

Keeley Gant

Director for Tech Prep & Workforce Enrollment

Columbia Basin College

11

Tamara Hilton

Art and Design Program Manager

Highline Community College

12

Monica Hospenthal

Program Director/Professor

Pierce College

13

Jason Petrait

Director of Special Projects

South Seattle College, Georgetown Campus

14

Dr. Carey Schroyer

Associate Dean of Instruction

Edmonds Community College

15

Lora Senf

Dean of Business, Professional Studies and Workforce Education

Spokane Falls Community College

16

Sarah Stiffler

Manager of Workforce and Student Transitions

Spokane Community College

17

Katie Viola

Director, Student Development

Lake Washington Technical College

18

Tyler Wallace

Director of Adult Education

Big Bend Community College

Cohort 06

2013–2014

16 participants

01

Tamra Bell

Director of Work-Based Learning and External Outreach

Lower Columbia

02

Lynette Bennett

Health Grants Director (Project Manager)

Bellingham Technical College

03

Josh Clearman

Dean of Instruction: Trades, Technology, and Workforce

Green River Community College

04

Kim Davis

Director of Career Pathways Consortium

Skagit Valley

05

Jim Drinkwine

Faculty

Renton Technical College

06

Jaclyn Jacot

Director of ACT 2 and Career Transitions

IEL – Spokane

07

James Johnson

Special Assistant Program Manager/Coordinator, Military Programs

Pierce College

08

Kristi Lagrutta

Student Success Specialist (Workforce Education Advisor)

North Seattle

09

Jamilyn Penn

Associate Dean of Workforce and Economic Development & Health and Human Services

Clover Park

10

Tanya Powers

Workforce Advisor

Seattle Central Community College

11

Robert Prosch

Interim Dean/Director of East County Campus

Everett Community College

12

Michael Reese

Assistant Director, Experiential Learning

Bellevue Community College

13

Steven L. Thomas

Dean

North Seattle Community College

14

Janice Walker

Director of Workforce Education

Whatcom Community College

15

Tamar Zere

Director of Workforce Education

Green River Community College

16

Christopher “Kip” Zwolenski

Director of Basic Academic Skills

Bellingham Technical College

Cohort 05

2011–2012

15 participants

01

De Etta Burrell

Basic Studies Instructor

Renton Technical College

02

Fikru Diro

Program Specialist, Workforce

Shoreline Community College

03

Teri Echterling

Program Administrator, Workforce Education

SBCTC

04

Jose Esparza

Coordinator of Student Recruitment and Outreach

Big Bend Community College

05

Sinead Fitzpatrick-Plagge

Director, Workforce Grant Programs

Skagit Valley College

06

Lori Griffin

Transitional Education Division Chair, District

Pierce College

07

Dan Von Holten

Assistant Professor, Career and Technical Education

Columbia Basin College

08

Gabriel Mast

Project Director/Science Instructor

Bellingham Technical College

09

Teresa McDermott

Director for Shelton Campus and Work Integrated Learning

Olympic College

10

Monty Prather

Automotive Instructor, Assistant Professor

Columbia Basin College

11

Angel Reyna

Director for Workforce Education

Yakima Valley Community College

12

Edward Sargent

Associate Dean, Learning Resources

Lake Washington Technical College

13

Amy Warren

Faculty/Program Coordinator for Business Information Technology

Pierce College

14

Jamie Wells

Director, South King County Tech Prep Consortium

Green River Community College

15

Kenneth Young

Dean of Student Services

SVI/Seattle Central

Cohort 04

2009–2010

15 participants

01

Josh Baker

Program Manager / Prof. Tech Faculty Member

Highline Community College

02

Brian Bashinski

Coordinator, Worker Retraining

Lake Washington Technical College

03

John Bowers

Workforce Education Director

North Seattle Community College

04

Greg Brazell

Director of Education Programs

Pierce College

05

Joyce Carroll

Tech Prep Director

Bellevue Community College

06

Deb Casey

Dean of Student Services and Retention

Green River Community College

07

Sandra Davidson

Coordinator, Worker Retraining

Green River Community College

08

Linda DeFord

Institute for Extended Learning, Assistant Dean/PACE Services

Community Colleges of Spokane

09

William (Bill) Holt

Program Coordinator, Faculty

North Seattle Community College

10

Amy Metcalfe

I-BEST Director & ESL faculty

Pierce College

11

Diana Oltman

Business/IT, Instructor; Computer Education Program, Coordinator

Wenatchee Valley College

12

Frank Powers

Dean, Business, Professional Studies and Workforce Education

Spokane Falls Community College

13

Wendy Price

Grants Management

South Seattle Community College

14

Andrea Samuels

I-BEST Program Coordinator

Seattle Central Community College

15

Bill Sanderson

Instructor, Computer Network Technology

Renton Technical College

Cohort 03

2007–2008

16 participants

01

Kristine Barnum

Manager – Workforce Program

Community Colleges of Spokane Institute for Extended Learning

02

Dave Cox

Asst Dean for Technical Education & Rural Programs

Highline College

03

Jessica Gilmore

Coordinator Bus Info Technology

Seattle Central Community College

04

Mary Lockman

Advisor – Worker Retraining

Clark College

05

Barbara Loney

Director – WorkFirst

Shoreline Community College

06

Patricia Love

Coordinator WF & Corrections Training

Pierce College

07

Jenni Martin

Manager WorkFirst & Literacy

Community Colleges of Spokane Institute for Extended Learning

08

Tiffany Merkel-Rinke

Program Administrator Workforce Ed

SBCTC

09

Riva Morgan

Coordinator – Workforce Ed/Tech Prep

Wenatchee Valley College

10

Anne Penny

Coordinator – Business Outreach

Edmonds Community College

11

Melody Sims

Project Director – Medical Imaging

Columbia Basin College

12

Bill Sperling

Manager - Workforce

Cascadia Community College

13

Jan Stephenson

Director Workforce Ed

North Seattle Community College

14

Maggie Sutthoff

Director WorkForce Development

Renton Technical College

15

Erik Tingelstad

Director Workforce Development Services

Highline Community College

16

Kim Tucker

Asst. Professor of Nursing

Columbia Basin College

Cohort 02

2006–2007

13 participants

01

Cheryl Baddeley

Director Continuing Education

Clover Park

02

Pat Copeland

Dean Health & Human Services

Edmonds Community College

03

Terry Cox

Director Workforce Education

Whatcom Community College

04

Krista Fox

Dean Professional Tech and Workforce

Green River Community College

05

Troy Goracke

Job Readiness Training

Bates Technical College

06

Paulette Lopez

Director CoE Allied Health

Yakima Valley Community College

07

Debbie McLaughlin

Director Basic Studies

Renton Technical College

08

Darlen Molsen

Director Workforce Education

Bellevue College

09

Kerrie Rodriguez

Director Basic Skills

Yakima Valley Community College

10

Mary Shannon

Director Tech Prep

Big Bend Community College

11

Durelle Sullivan

Assistant Dean, Workforce and Continuing Education

Centralia College

12

Cindy Walker

Assistant Dean, Workforce and Continuing Education

Columbia Basin College

13

Cindy Wilson

District Chair Transitional Education

Pierce College

Cohort 01

2005–2006

17 participants

01

Paul Baeder

Instructor, Major Appliance & Refrigeration Technology

Renton Technical College

02

Sharon Buck

Dean for Student Learning

Cascadia Community College

03

Kelly Chun

Assistant VP of Instruction

Community Colleges of Spokane Institute for Extended Learning

04

Tami Clark

Manager of the Job Readiness Training Center (JRTC)

Bates Technical College

05

Mabel Edmonds

Director for Economic Development

Clover Park Technical College

06

Bob Etteldorf

Instructor Civil Engineering & Land Surveying

Bates Technical College

07

Mary Garguile

Dean for Workforce Development

Olympic College

08

Shelley Glendenning

Workforce Development Coordinator

Clover Park Technical College, South Hill Campus

09

Al Griswold

Associate Dean for Workforce Education

Green River Community College

10

Betsy Hale

Associate Dean for WorkSource Development & Employment Services

South Seattle Community College

11

Noreen Light

Instructor, Emergency Dispatch Program

Renton Technical College

12

Donald Miller

Director, Professional-Technical Education

Walla Walla Community College

13

Katherine Proff

Manager, Economic Development & Tribal Relations

Community Colleges of Spokane Institute for Extended Learning

14

Satpal Sidhu

Dean of Professional Technical Education

Bellingham Technical College

15

Jimmy Lou Smith

Testing Specialist

Bates Technical College

16

Kristi Tripple

Director, Business Training Center

Lake Washington Technical College

17

Margaret Turcott

Division Chair/Dean

Bellevue Community College

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