CLARK COLLEGE GRANTS TENURE TO SEVEN EDUCATORS (Photo) - 06/11/26

Tenure is awarded by the college’s board of trustees based on professional excellence and outstanding abilities in their disciplines. The granting of tenure is based on the recommendations of tenure review committees to the Vice President of Instruction, which are then forwarded to the President, who presents a final recommendation to the board of trustees. Recommendations are based on self-evaluations, tenure review committee evaluations, student evaluations, supervisory evaluations, and peer evaluations. The final decision to award or withhold tenure rests with the board of trustees.

Kevin Edwards, Library                                     

Kevin earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Southern Oregon University and both a Master’s in Fine Arts and a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Washington. He has served in roles within academic libraries for the past 14 years, primarily at Portland Community College, before joining Clark College as the Technical Services and Systems Librarian. As part of his commitment to professional services, Kevin has actively contributed to his field through his involvement on the editorial boards of the Journal of Access Services and Art Documentation, as well as serving on several committees within the Orbis Cascade Alliance, a prominent library consortium spanning across 38 academic institutions in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Kevin honors students’ lived experiences, acknowledging them as knowledge creators and information consumers. He actively facilitates conversations that make explicit the issues of power, access, and social justice inherent in information creation and retrieval.

Jeff Rush, Diesel                                       

With more than two decades of industry experience, Jeff brings extensive expertise to Clark’s Diesel department. After earning an Associate of Applied Science degree from Mt. Hood Community College, he honed his teaching skills as an instructor for technical colleges and international companies. In 2023, Jeff joined the Clark College Diesel team, leading classes that prepare students to enter the workplace as entry-level technicians with careers that adapt to ever-changing technology. 

Bo Li, Nursing

Bo earned a Bachelor of Medical Science in Nursing and a Master of Medical Science in Nursing from Nanchang University in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. He is currently pursuing both a post-graduate certificate in Clinical Nurse Educator and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership degree from Jacksonville University. Bo became a full-time faculty member at Clark College in 2022 after 10+ years of experience as nursing faculty at colleges and schools in China and as a staff RN at hospitals and medical centers in the Pacific Northwest. 

His teaching philosophy focuses on building a respectful and trustworthy relationship between the learner and educator. He sees himself as a guide and mediator to learning, with the belief that students’ needs come first, nursing school can be fun, and educators should be easy to approach.

Sarah Blanchette, Addiction Counselor Education

Sarah earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Davis, and a Master’s in Social Work from Eastern Washington University. With more than 25 years of experience in the Human Services field — including 12 at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) — Sarah has developed a culturally responsive approach to teaching. She centers Diversity, Access, and Inclusion in everything she does, including creating learning environments that center on student culture, language, and lived experience. Her career as a practitioner and trainer allows her to help adult learners thrive and students to be competitive in the workplace, as she brings a strong foundation of subject matter expertise to the classroom. Sarah has been a faculty member at Clark College since 2019.

Nicole Mottier, History                                             

Nicole earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies (History) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Philosophy degree in Latin American Studies (History) from Oxford University, and a Ph.D. in History (Latin America) from the University of Chicago. She brings a wealth of knowledge on her subject matter to Clark College, including 10+ years as a professor at Stetson University in Florida, before joining Clark's history department in 2023.

Nicole’s teaching is rooted in an inclusive and empowering pedagogy that encourages students to improve their critical thinking skills and achieve their educational, personal, and professional goals. With a commitment to meeting students where they are, she uses culturally responsive teaching methods, active learning strategies, and a variety of assessments to provide students with a transformative education. 

Tina Jenkins, Mechatronics

As a student, Tina worked as a lab technician in the mechatronics program while earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Technologies from Eastern Washington University. She worked as an equipment technician in the semiconductor manufacturing industry before joining Clark College’s mechatronics department in 2022.

With a focus on interactive, hands-on learning, Tina believes students are more likely to understand concepts when provided with multiple learning methods.

David Zonana, Environmental Science                                              

After graduating from Bowdoin College, a small liberal arts college in Maine, David discovered his passion for teaching as an outdoor education teacher at the Catlin Gabel School in Portland. He continued building his teaching skills by earning a Ph.D. at the University of Colorado, where he studied bird behavior and evolution. With the support of a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship, David spent four years at the University of Denver, teaching and researching the evolution of island populations of insects. His broad interests in biology have led to his involvement in many diverse research projects, including the behavioral ecology of condors, the responses of desert populations of quail to climate change, and the migratory behavior of barn swallows in western China. 

David believes that passion for science is fostered by directly involving students with the scientific process, and this effect is further amplified when lessons take place in nature. He eagerly incorporates scientific research and local conservation into authentic educational experiences for Clark College students.

About Clark College 

Founded in 1933, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately half of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.  

About Clark College Board of Trustees 

Appointed by the Governor of Washington, the Clark College Board of Trustees consists of five members who serve a five-year term and must live in the college’s service district. The Board seeks to ensure the quality and relevance of college programs and provide stewardship of public resources. In this role, the Board is responsible for strategic planning; development and approval of college policies; and approval and oversight of the operating budget. The Board of Trustees meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Learn more.

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