This content was published: January 25, 2006. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Persson meets Rock Creek Campus staff
Photos and story by James Hill
On Monday, Jan. 23, the Rock Creek Campus community got an opportunity to meet its new leader – Katherine Persson. The new campus president hosted a meet-and-greet in her office at Building 9. Staff and faculty were able to meet Persson in person and enjoy cake and coffee."I am very pleased to finally be here," Persson said. "I enjoyed getting to meet many of you and plan to spend more time getting to know everyone." 
She has set a goal of meeting with all 400 full-time employees for about 20 to 30 minutes and hearing what they think works well and what could be initiated or changed at Rock Creek. Starting in February she will host monthly open forums with all faculty and staff. A similar event will be planned for students. "In the meantime, I will be walking around campus trying to see who and what areas are located where," Persson added. "I know that many changed since I was here in October, then again in November and even December. Again, I am glad to be here and am looking forward to meeting with you."Comedienne Debbie Wooten to entertain Rock CreekDebbie Wooten will bring her magical blend of humor and inspiration to the Rock Creek Campus, starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9 in the Event Center of Building 9. Wooten has the enviable gift of taking the worst adversities and turning them into positives. She was born with scoliosis and spina bifida, then contracted polio at five months. As a child of the sixties, white kids wouldn’t play with her because of her color and the black kids didn’t accept the fact that she was different. At age 8, she met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a civil right’s rally in Chicago. He influenced her to realize that her color and physical ability are overshadowed by the content of one’s character. Wooten, a mother of five, found her way out of poverty and adversity through humor.Blood drive at Rock CreekOn Monday, Feb. 6, the Rock Creek Campus is hosting a Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is part of the American Red Cross community of service for the quiet disasters that require a gift of blood. A positive identification is required to donate. If interested, call 503-614-7442 to donate or sign-up at the Student Help Desk in Building 3.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »