Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Three Items: PCC Welcomes New Administrators to its District

Photos and story by James Hill

Portland Community College has announced three new hires this month at key administrative positions. Blaine Nisson has been selected to be the next dean of Student Development at the Rock Creek Campus, replacing the retired Sherry Robinson, who spent 27 years at the campus. Nisson will start on Monday, July 31. Kenneth Goodwin is already in his new job as the director of Public Safety, starting full time on Monday, July 10. Goodwin replaces Kent Reesor, who also retired this year after five years in the position. And Kelley Brayton will take over the position of Director of International Education on Monday, Oct. 2.

Blaine Nisson Rock Creek Campus Dean of Student Development

Nisson, who was interim director of Financial Aid and Veteran Affairs with Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., says he is committed to participatory decision-making and high ethical standards. At Clark College he oversaw the administration of federal and state grant funded programs, employment and loans, worker retraining, scholarships and welfare reform. At Idaho State University, Nisson received his bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1973 and a master’s in student personnel in 1977. He is currently working on his doctorate in education at Oregon State University. In all, Nisson gives PCC a person accomplished in planning, implementing and evaluating a wide array of programs, and serving a multi-campus institution. He says coming to PCC is an honor.

"PCC has a fine reputation that it enjoys regionally and nationally," Nisson said. "It is known as a quality institution that has quality programs, faculty and staff. They have demonstrated in the last 15 years a willingness to reach out to the community. The opportunity at Rock Creek with the changes in that county, the growth, and new business and industry make it an excellent place to work. From the family perspective, we also like the livability aspect of the Portland area."

Nisson will oversee the Rock Creek Campus student service functions like admissions, advising, counseling, basic skill department and ENNL (English as a Non-Native Language) program. He says he and his family are looking to find a home in the Beaverton area. He has one daughter, who will be a freshman at PCC this fall, and a son, who will enter a Beaverton high school as a freshman. He also said that the Washington County area is perfect for his wife, who works in the health administration business.

Kenneth Goodwin Director of Public Safety

Goodwin joins PCC with 25 years in leadership and management for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Air Force. He worked in Alexandria, Va., where he served the last three years as the assistant executive director for the National Sheriffs’ Association. Goodwin started his career at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii as a law enforcement specialist in 1971. Later, Goodwin prepared multi-million dollar budgets and commanded more than 50 officers as a lieutenant with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated with a criminal justice degree from California State University in Sacramento in 1982 and later went on to attend the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., in 1993.

Kelley Brayton International Education Director

Kelley Brayton has accepted the position as Director of International Education for Portland Community College. Brayton worked at Spokane Falls Community College where she was the Director of International Student Services, and prior to that she was with Southwestern Oregon Community College, guiding and coordinating the expansion of their International Education programs. Brayton brings with her an exciting background and has traveled worldwide, and her colleagues from her prior colleges describe her as a "visionary" with unlimited energy. Her office will be located at the Rock Creek Campus, but she will be serving the entire college.