Clark College Announces Changes on Governing Board Marilee Scarbrough named to Board of Trustees
For additional information (media inquiries & photo requests):
Maureen Chan-Hefflin, Clark College Communications & Marketing
T: 360-992-2243 E: mhefflin@clark.edu
VANCOUVER, Wash.— Clark College welcomed a new trustee and said farewell to an outgoing
trustee at its June 7th Board of Trustees meeting.
Board President Paul Speer and College President Dr. Karin Edwards welcomed Marilee
Scarbrough to its governing board, and thanked Trustee Rekah Strong, who has served
on the board for a decade. Strong is the executive director of Educational Opportunities
for Children and Families.
Dr. Edwards said, “Rekah has been a champion for Clark College. She cares deeply about
students and their families and promotes education as an equalizer for those who have
been marginalized. Her intentional actions and commitment to diversity, equity, and
inclusion have fostered meaningful cultural change during her tenure here.”
Appointed by the Governor of Washington, the five members of Clark College Board of
Trustees serve five-year terms and must live within the college’s service district.
Clark College serves the community of Southwest Washington in District 14, which includes
Clark, Skamania, and western Klickitat counties.
Scarbrough has been legal counsel for the Vancouver School District since 2011. Previously
she served as the policy and legal services director for Washington State School Directors’
Association, and counsel for the Washington State House of Representatives’ Higher
Education Committee. She was also staff attorney for Pierce County Teamchild; and
a public defender for the Pierce County Public Defenders’ Office. Scarbrough holds
a Juris Doctor from University of Oregon Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree
in English literature from Whitman College.
“I am excited to serve my community in this new role,” said Scarbrough. “I look forward
to working with the Clark College board and administration to inspire learners to
excel, transform lives, and strengthen our increasingly diverse community.”
About Clark College Board of Trustees
The Clark College Board of Trustees is united in the college’s mission to serve the community by helping its constituents achieve their educational and professional goals. The Board seeks to ensure the quality and relevance of college programs and provides 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.
Each of the five members of the college’s Board of Trustees is appointed by the governor of Washington and serves a five-year term. They must live within the college’s service district, which includes Clark, Skamania and western Klickitat counties. The Board of Trustees generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. If you are interested in participating on the board, learn more: https://www.clark.edu/about/governance/leadership/board/
2023-24 Board of Trustees
- Paul Speer, Chair
- Cristhian A. Canseco Juarez, Vice Chair
- Jeanne Bennett
- Denise Gideon
- Marilee Scarbrough
About Clark College
Founded in 1933 and celebrating its 90th year, 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
three-quarters of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend
college.
Clark College is a member of the Washington State Board for Community Colleges (https://www.sbctc.edu/) which work with Washington state’s 34 community and technical colleges to help people
grow their skills and talents to build strong families and communities.