This content was published: April 16, 2014. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Karin Edwards picked to lead Cascade Campus
Photos and story by James Hill
A new era is set to begin at Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus.
Karin Edwards, dean of student development and services at Three Rivers Community College (Norwich, Conn.), has been chosen as the next Cascade Campus president. The job became vacant last fall when Algie Gatewood left to be the next president of Alamance Community College in his home state of North Carolina. Edwards will start in her new position on July 21.
Edwards will start in her new position on July 21.
At Three Rivers, Edwards serves as chief student affairs officer, overseeing marketing, public relations, admissions, recruitment, financial aid, veteran affairs, records and registration, counseling, advising, placement testing, career services, student activities, childcare, off-campus operations, and student discipline. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that foster student success and participates in college-wide planning, budgeting and assessment.
“I am looking forward to coming to Portland to join the students, staff and faculty of the Cascade Campus of PCC,” Edwards said. “The level of concern, commitment and connection to the community this campus has demonstrated is so impressive. I’m absolutely honored to serve as the president.”
Prior to her current position, Edwards held several positions at Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y., including Director of College Extension Centers, Director of the Newburgh Extension Center and Student Development Counselor. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Albany-SUNY.
“Throughout the hiring process, Karin impressed the search committee with her depth of knowledge based upon many years of community college leadership experience,” said PCC President Jeremy Brown. “I believe she will be a great leader for our students, staff and faculty at Cascade and an excellent partner with the Cascade neighborhood and community.”
The Cascade Campus, located at 705 N. Killingsworth St., is being transformed through $43 million in bond construction that will result in a new three-story academic building and student center, both on top of a single-level underground parking structure. First opened in the fall of 1971, the Cascade Campus has become a focal point for much-needed job training, college transfer and self-improvement courses. It is home to a number of programs offered nowhere else in the PCC system, such as Medical Laboratory Technology, Emergency Telecommunicator / 911 Dispatcher, Emergency Medical Services, Professional Music, Fire Protection Technology, Multimedia, Criminal Justice, Trades and Apprenticeship, Middle College and the Margaret Carter Skill Center. Cascade serves more than 23,500 students annually.
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 »
Congratulations to President Edwards and to the members of the Portland Community College Presidential Search Committee who had the wisdom and foresight to select Dr. Karin Edwards as president. I personally know Dr. Edwards and can say unequivocally that she will be an outstanding asset to the Cascade Campus as well as its surrounding community. Excellent choice!!! I hope everyone is prepared for the good things to come as President Edwards takes the helm. This is great news!
[…] Karin Edwards took up her new post in July. Edwards comes to Cascade from Three Rivers Community College in Connecticut, where she served as chief student affairs officer. Recently, Edwards sat down for a Q&A session to reveal who she is and what she has planned for PCC’s North Portland campus. […]
[…] the Bronx, New York, has over thirty years of experience in higher education administration and is Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus President. She’s worked at public and private four-year colleges and universities, as well as, two-year […]
You’ve always been a class act modeling competence and commitment in all that you do. Continue to work your magic.
[…] Edwards, Ed.D., a native of the Bronx, New York, is Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus President. She’s worked at public and private four-year colleges and universities, as well as two-year […]
I am delighted in that Dr. Karin Edwards was chosen to lead the Cascade campus of Portland Community College. She is a true leader and a compassionate woman with high moral standards, character and dignity. She will truly be missed in the Connecticut Community College System.