Will join the Community College in her new position March 2

According to a Yavapai Community College news release of January 29,  Dr. Tina Redd has been selected as the new Dean for the Verde Valley Campus and Sedona Center. It is anticipated that she will begin her duties in the Verde Valley as soon as March 2, 2020. Her role “will be to plan, direct, evaluate, and oversee administration of academic affairs for the Verde Valley Campus and Sedona Center. She is also expected to serve on district committees relating to academics, instruction, curriculum, and faculty affairs.”

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Tina Redd join Yavapai College” said Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine.  “Her passion and enthusiasm for education are apparent and we believe she will excel in leading our academic programs in the Verde Valley.”

Dr. Redd said that she is “excited to be in a leadership role at the Verde Valley Campus and Sedona Center during a time of exceptional growth and connection to our communities. I am excited to work with faculty who have expertise in such a wide variety of disciplines.  I look forward to making the Verde Valley my new home and can’t wait to explore the beauty of the area.”

Dr. Diane Ryan,  Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, said that “Dr. Redd brings a diverse and experienced background to our academic programs in the Verde Valley and Sedona. She has a history of successful implementation and expansion of academic offerings at the community college level. We are so lucky to have someone with her knowledge and experience joining YC.”

Dr. Redd comes to Yavapai Community College from Central Oregon Community College where she served as the first Director of the Redmond Campus. Prior to becoming a branch campus director, Dr. Redd taught humanities, women’s studies, and literature at Central Oregon and Portland Community College for twelve years.  She also taught for several years at two major universities.

Source:  Yavapai Community College News https://www.yc.edu/v6/news/index.html

Irwin joins with East County representatives to give East County first officer on Governing Board in at least 12 years

Tuesday’s Governing Board meeting of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board saw a member of the Board, Deb McCasland, who represents a large portion of the East County in the Verde Valley, appointed as its Chair for 2020. It took West County representative Steve Irwin’s  decision to abandon his West County colleagues in order for this occur.  

The issue was one of the first items listed on the agenda for the Tuesday morning retreat. It opened with Paul Chevalier making an impassioned speech on behalf of representative Deb McCasland for the position.  He carefully outlined her years of outstanding service on behalf of the Community College and several of her recent community projects.  McCasland’s impressive record on behalf of the College begins at a time when she and her mother went door-to-door with a petition that was used  to gather signatures in support of creating the Community College. Since then, she has been student, employee, Foundation executive, and member of the Governing Board.

After a second for McCasland by Representative Steve Irwin,  Chair Sigafoos asked if there were any additional candidates. This was followed by an awkward silence.

Then in a somewhat high pitched voice, , West County representative Pat McCarver spoke up and nominated herself for the position.  Both candidates then addressed the Board. McCarver said  she should be appointed  because she “had not been Board Chair for quite some time.”  McCarver omitted reminding  the Board that she had been  chairperson from 2009-2010 and 2015-2016, in addition to serving as the Board secretary at various times. 

The group then voted with McCarver and Sigafoos casting their ballot for McCarver but with three Board members in opposition.  However, as a shock to some, West County representative Steve Irwin broke from the West County voting bloc (Sigafoos, McCarver, Irwin) and swung his support to McCasland on the second vote. Following that vote, which was 3-1 (Sigafoos not voting; McCarver voting “no”),  there was a brief silence in the Boardroom. The fact that the West County voting bloc had been cracked sunk in with Irwin’s vote for McCasland.   Finally,  the Board attorney announced McCasland as the new Governing Board Chair.  

The meeting proceeded under the gavel of Ms. McCasland.  Most observers perceived an almost immediate increase in discussion among all Board members and a perceived reduction in the tension among Board members once McCasland was handling the gavel. Despite the fact that this was her first time as chair, the meeting moved along efficiently and smoothly for the entire day.

You may view Representative Chevalier’s nomination speech and vote on the video below.

Here is Mr. Chevalier’s speech in full in support of Ms. McCasland.

Today I will nominate Deb McCasland to be Chair of the Yavapai College Governing Board for the year 2020. My nomination of Deb is based on her ability and history with the Board and the College.

First she has Proven Leadership Ability:

Deb has served in numerous leadership positions on non-profit boards throughout her adult life. Currently she is the Board President of the Adult Center of Prescott. In addition, she is the Yavapai County Republican Women’s Club Treasurer, and she is the Vice Chair of the City of Prescott Library Advisory Board. 

Second she has significant Past Experience on the Yavapai Community College Board: 

For the last six consecutive years, Deb has been an active member of the Yavapai Community College Governing Board.  She is the only current member of the Board elected twice, consecutively, to her current Board position.  Each time, she was elected over her competition. During the six years as a Board member, she has attended six professional conferences focused on improving her skills as a Board member.  Deb comes to Board meetings prepared to participate and contribute ideas. 

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