Leadership academy accepts three LCC administrators

Nikki Gavin, Donyel Hill and Russ Pierson begin the year-long program this month

EUGENE, Ore.– Nikki Gavin, interim dean of Mathematics and Engineering at Lane Community College, Donyel Hill, director of Student Engagement, and Russ Pierson, dean of the LCC Florence Center, have been accepted into the Oregon Executive Leadership Academy. They are among 14 community college professionals selected for the year-long program which kicks off June 26 at Lane.

Gavin joined Lane in 2009 as part-time faculty in mathematics and became the interim dean in 2018.  She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and education and is currently working on her doctorate in curriculum, instruction and the science of learning in collaboration with the School of Social Work at SUNY Buffalo. Her research focuses on trauma-informed educational practices in community colleges and mathematics classrooms with the goal of developing resources for educators to support greater understanding and skill in trauma-informed teaching and learning practices.

Hill joined Lane in February of this year. He previously taught and led a variety of student-focused service programs at Prince George’s Community College, Community College of Baltimore County, Academy of College and Career Exploration, College of Liberal Arts at Morgan State University, and Coppin State University. He has a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University; a master of science in adult and continuing education and a bachelor of science in liberal arts, both from Coppin State University.

Pierson joined Lane in 2010 and held increasingly responsible positions in the college’s Facilities Management and Planning department including associate director from 2013-2017 before taking the helm at the Florence Center. He is a facilitator for the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project and serves as a doctoral faculty advisor at George Fox University, where he earned his doctor of ministry in leadership and global perspectives and completed a master of arts in leadership. He earned a bachelor of arts in language from New Hope Christian College.

The OELA is sponsored by the Oregon Community College Association to coach and mentor current and upcoming

senior level administrators at Oregon’s community colleges. The facilitator is former LCC President Dr. Mary Spilde. State and national speakers will present throughout the year.

For more information about Lane Community College:

• www.lanecc.edu/Newsroom
• twitter.com/LaneTitans
• www.facebook.com/LaneCommunityCollege

Lane is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabilities Employer

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