Today marked the beginning of a new era of governance and organization for the ˿Ƶ (˿Ƶ Tech) with Governor Kitzhaber’s nominations for appointment of 9 members of the university’s 15-member Board of Trustees.
With their official terms beginning immediately upon confirmation by the ˿Ƶ Senate, the Trustees will assume governance of ˿Ƶ Tech on July 1, 2015 from the State Board of Higher Education, whose structure sunsets on June 30, 2015. The Senate will consider confirmations of the Governor’s nominees in September. Later this year the Governor is expected to appoint the remaining members of the ˿Ƶ Tech Board of Trustees.
Higher education reform over the last year in ˿Ƶ has transformed the 7-member ˿Ƶ University System governed by the State Board of Higher Education to a decentralized set of public universities, each with its own governing board. System decentralization has been a staged process, with the larger institutions (by student population) launching their boards on July 1, 2014, and the technical and regional universities, including ˿Ƶ Tech, beginning single-campus governance on July 1, 2015.
˿Ƶ Tech President Chris Maples said, “We appreciate the Governor’s historic nominations for appointment of ˿Ƶ Tech’s first Board of Trustees, and the Senate’s confirmation consideration next month. This is a stellar group of people who represent this university’s diverse stakeholders, and who understand and value our unique polytechnic mission. I know their commitment will advance ˿Ƶ Tech’s focus on student success and workforce needs, and enrich our advocacy for college access and public support for higher education for ˿Ƶians. This is an important step in helping ˿Ƶ Tech increase the recognition and flexibility we need to help meet the Governor’s and Legislature’s 40-40-20* education attainment goal.”
The nine members who will be considered for confirmation by the ˿Ƶ Senate in September, include:
- Dr. Jeremy Brown, President, Portland Community College, Portland
- Melissa Ceron, Student, Business Management/Accounting, ˿Ƶ Tech, Klamath Falls
- Dr. Lisa Graham, CEO, Black Canyon Woodworks (who is currently serving a partial term on the State Board of Higher Education), Bend
- Dana Henry, Student Support Services, ˿Ƶ Tech, Klamath Falls (Non-Faculty Staff member)
- Kathleen Hill, Writer/Consultant and elected Member of the Klamath Tribal Council, Chiloquin
- Kelley Minty Morris, Klamath County Commissioner, Klamath Falls
- Celia Núñez, Agency Training Specialist, State Farm Insurance Company, Wilsonville
- Dr. Dan W. Peterson, Associate Professor of Communication, ˿Ƶ Tech, Klamath Falls (Faculty member)
- Dr. Steve Sliwa, Founder and CEO, Seeq, Portland and Seattle
As president, Dr. Maples will serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Board.
Each of the public university boards in ˿Ƶ includes up to 15 trustees, with 11 members at large, the institution’s president, one faculty member, one non-faculty staff member, and one student. Members will serve terms of 2 or 4 years. For more information on the Board nominees, including bios, go to .
*40% with a bachelor’s degree or higher; 40% with an associate’s degree or meaningful certificate; and all students in the state with a high school diploma.
˿Ƶ ˿Ƶ Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, ˿Ƶ is the only public 4-year institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. ˿Ƶ Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communication, and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public, and international communities through hands-on learning. ˿Ƶ Tech has a full-service, residential campus in Klamath Falls and an urban, industry-focused campus in Wilsonville. Visit to learn more about ˿Ƶ Tech.
