This content was published: March 13, 2023. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC selects three finalists for Vice President of Student Affairs position
Photos and story by James Hill
Portland Community College has announced the finalists for its next Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA). The finalists are Dr. Dennis Baskin (Dean of Workforce Development at Kellogg Community College), Dr. José Dela Cruz (Dean of K-12 Partnerships for Dallas College) and Dr. Sue Orchard (Vice President of Student Services at Lower Columbia College).
The forums are set for 9:15-10:15 a.m. and 2:15-3:15 p.m., March 20, 21 & 23, Room 100, ST Building at the Sylvania Campus. Each forum will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in-person, but not recorded. Links for the live streams will be provided prior to each forum. We will have short presentations by each finalist followed by a Q&A session that will include participation by in-person and online audiences. Staff will get to as many questions as possible, and will alternate between in-person and online questions.
To submit a question, visit this online Google form. Please, contribute your questions no later than Thursday, March 16.
Finalist Bios and Forum Information
Dr. Sue Orchard – Monday, March 20
Time: 9:15 – 10:15 am and 2:15 – 3:15 pm
Location: SY ST 100.
Dr. Orchard has more than 20 years of progressive experience in higher education leadership at institutions in Oregon and Washington, including Chemeketa Community College and Oregon Health & Science University. She currently serves as the Vice President of Student Services at Lower Columbia College overseeing a comprehensive student affairs team and leading various college initiatives, including Guided Pathways and Strategic Enrollment Management. With the past 10 years working in community colleges, she has experience leading and supporting student learning and development at both large and small colleges. Dr. Orchard earned a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from Pacific University, a Master’s of Counseling from Eastern Washington University, and bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Communication Studies from Eastern Washington University.
Dr. Dennis Baskin – Tuesday, March 21
Time: 9:15 – 10:15 am and 2:15 – 3:15 pm
Location: SY ST 100.
Dr. Baskin is a student-centered leader with over 20-plus years of educational administrative leadership and teaching experience at community colleges and universities. Currently, he serves as Dean of Workforce Development at Kellogg Community College and has held other senior leadership positions, such as Dean of Business and Human Services, Executive Director of Pre-College/TRIO Programs, Minority Services Coordinator, as well as Divisional Program Service Director for Adult Institutions with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. He has taught courses in Finance, Financing Post-Secondary Education, Strategic Management, Marketing, General Business, Employee Benefits/HR, and Entrepreneurship. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration Degree in Business Management, both from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a Doctorate Degree of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. José Dela Cruz – Thursday, March 23
Time: 9:15 – 10:15 am and 2:15 – 3:15 pm
Location: SY ST 100.
Dr. Dela Cruz has more than 15 years’ experience as a higher education practitioner and approaches his work of student advocacy and support through the lens of action research. Dr. Dela Cruz is currently the Dean of K-12 Partnerships for Dallas College, providing leadership for and management of the expansion and improvement of dual credit programs, Early College High Schools (ECHSs), Pathways to Technology ECHSs and T-STEM programs in coordination with Dallas College and local K12 independent school district executive leadership. Prior to his current role, he served as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success at Eastfield College, which was part of the Dallas County Community College District before its reorganization. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma and earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Oklahoma State University with his dissertation research focusing on the college experience of undocumented Latino students.
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 »