Portland Community College

Board of Trustees

A volunteer board of trustees, who represent a wide range of business and community interests, leads the PCC Foundation. Many serve on individual Foundation committees.

Jans Dykhouse, President

Jans Dykhouse is Vice President, Business Integration Office, Data & Analytics for The Standard. He joined the company in 1999 and has served in multiple roles including assistant vice president, Sales Operations and Service, and second vice president of Employee Benefit Sales Operations. Dykhouse earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is also an alum of Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota.

“My personal experience with community college was in preparation for a four-year degree,” he says. “It was community college, not high school, that inspired me to be more curious in STEM fields and establish a baseline of skills. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to further their education, and the PCC Foundation is a critical component of providing that access.”

Amy J. Winterowd, Vice President

Amy Winterowd is Vice President of Client Solutions in JE Dunn Construction’s Portland office. Her 20+ years of experience in facilitation, project management, client relationship building and maintenance, marketing, and public relations has led to successful strategic initiatives and visioning for globally-practicing firms. She is an innovative, high-energy client ambassador and a motivated team player. As a communications and management professional, Amy has been versatile and accomplished in helping groups come to consensus and bringing projects to fruition. She brings that same passion to volunteer activities and is particularly interested in endeavors that focus on design and education. When she’s not out and about in the community, you can most likely find her baking up something delicious in her kitchen or wandering her neighborhood with her rescue pup, Juneteenth.

Sama Shagaga, Secretary

Sama Shagaga believes strongly in the role community colleges play in providing pathways to family-wage careers. As a native Oregonian and former PCC student, he has seen firsthand the impact the community college system can have. Sama worked in the nonprofit sector in development and programming for more than 15 years. His stops include Swaim Strategies, a nonprofit consulting firm, and several organizations across the Pacific Northwest: YMCA of Greater Seattle, New Avenues for Youth and Community Vision. He joined the NW Natural team in 2022 where he works with local nonprofits, unions and trade partners with a strategic focus on workforce development, energy education and community investment.

He is an American Leadership Forum (ALF) Senior Fellow and a current Board Director for ALF Oregon. He also sits on several advisory groups working with local workforce boards and STEM Hubs.

A native Portlander and eternal optimist, Sama is driven by personal connection and a dedication to caring for this beautiful city. He lives in NE Portland with his wife, young daughter, and dog, where they can be found cooking together in the kitchen, maintaining their garden, and adventuring outdoors.

Ernest L. Stephens II, Treasurer

Ernest Stephens is the Chief Executive Officer of Morant McLeod, a business consulting firm that helps businesses manage change, create funding, develop strategies, and grow. He has 20 years of experience in leadership, compliance, operations, strategy, continuous improvement, and finance having worked as a CEO, COO, CFO, and entrepreneur. Ernest served on the boards of Portland Housing Center, Molly’s Fund, Outside In, Ronald McDonald House, and City Club. Ernest has an MBA from Suffolk University.

Mohamed Alyajouri

Mohamed Alyajouri is a proud Oregonian, a Yemeni-American, and a first-generation Muslim immigrant.

In 2017, Mohamed became the first and only Muslim-immigrant to be elected to any public office in Oregon. He was elected to the 7-member Portland Community College Board of Trustees and was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to serve on the Oregon Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OCAPIA). He also served as PCC district board chair for two years.

Mohamed has always had a passion for positive civic engagement and for bettering the community. For most of his adult life, his professional and community involvement has been around community building, social justice initiatives empowering BIPOC communities, interfaith outreach and partnerships, and public health promotion.

Mohamed grew up in Oregon and completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at Oregon State University, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and his Master of Public Health.

Professionally, Mohamed is a healthcare administrator at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). He has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. His experience includes program development work for Oregon’s Community Health Centers, project management for Multnomah County Health Department, and other quality improvement work. Additionally, Mohamed has international experience working with the World Health Organization.

Mohamed is a dedicated public servant who is committed to making a difference in the lives of others. He is a strong advocate for equity and inclusion, and he is passionate about creating a more just and equitable world.

Françoise Bourdonnec

Françoise Bourdonnec retired from Intel after a 30-year career in chief of staff, operations, and design research roles.

Bourdonnec holds Master’s degrees in Anthropology from Portland State University and International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, as well as a Finance degree from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris.

“PCC creates opportunities for Portlanders to access further education and job training,” she says. “I value equality of opportunity, and I’ve been impressed with PCC’s thoughtful, systematic, and effective approach to addressing barriers to educational access. I’d like the opportunity to contribute to that effort.” Bourdonnec is a PCC alum and a Future Connect Industry Professional. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and puzzles of all kinds.

Joel Campos-Alvis

Joel Campos-Alvis is a seasoned financial executive with deep expertise at the intersection of risk and strategy. He currently serves as head of business risk for the international division at UBS Wealth Management, leading efforts to identify and mitigate risks across global markets. Previously, he was co-head of U.S. regulatory relations at UBS, serving as the firm’s primary liaison with federal regulators. He also worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and began his career at J.P. Morgan in New York.

Joel’s leadership is informed by his personal journey and belief in the transformative power of education. A proud Portland Community College alumnus, he began his academic path in evening ESL classes, earning both his high school diploma and associate degree at PCC. He holds a B.A., cum laude, from Portland State University, with graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He brings strategic insight and a deep commitment to PCC’s mission.

Carmen G Castro Sanchez

Carmen G Castro Sanchez is the founder and principal at CGCS & Associates LLC. Her current work includes supporting nonprofits with internal structure optimization, programming, and strategic relationships. She also supports for-profit organizations with community relations. This work is an extension of her experience as the past executive director at the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and Latino Program Manager at AAA Oregon/Idaho. Through those positions Carmen supported underrepresented communities in their journey to access superior education and economic stability. While at AAA, Carmen originated their scholarship program for students of Hispanic ancestry. Carmen is originally from Peru but grew up in Brazil and Ecuador. Carmen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon’s Charles H. Lundquist School of Business where her desire to advocate for students started with a position in student government as an officer for the international student association. She and husband Dan have called Portland home since graduation from college and a short stay in Seattle. They have twin sons, one of whom also attended PCC. With the PCC Foundation, Carmen is looking forward to supporting greater access to education for all.

Abby Coppock

Abby Coppock is an independent consultant who helps leaders create great culture. With over 17 years of experience across industries, Abby’s work specializes in organizational transformation, leadership development, team effectiveness and change management. Prior to consulting, Abby worked in communications for the City of Portland and partnership development for a workforce reentry program in Chicago. It was in Chicago where Abby experienced firsthand the vital role of community colleges in providing accessible education, and ultimately, economic mobility for so many people.

Abby grew up in Portland. She enjoys abstract painting and also volunteers with the PDX Housing Solidarity Project. She has an MA in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, with bachelor degrees in Communications and Economics from Wheaton College.

Dimas Díaz

Dimas Díaz is an active investor, keenly focused on creating opportunities for growth in his portfolio (i.e., equities, real estate, and others). He is also an enthusiastic art collector, who has collected paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glass, and other artistic artifacts from artists in Oregon and Latin America. In addition, Dimas serves on the Board of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME), a non-profit, tax-exempt membership organization with a mission to promote and develop entrepreneurship and economic development for ethnic minorities in the State of Oregon and SW Washington. Dimas graduated from the University of Oregon with a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning.

Brigid S. Flanigan

Brigid Flanigan has been developing and managing retirement communities in Oregon and California for 30 years. In her role as Founder and Principal of Tenfold Senior Living, she manages all aspects of the development process, including market analysis, public approvals, design, financing, construction and marketing.

Brigid’s work building vibrant senior communities also includes a commitment to urban redevelopment. She has worked for the US Congress, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and City of Port Chester, NY on issues relating to redevelopment of central cities and production of low-income housing. Brigid was a member of the Portland Design Commission from 1992 to 2002. In 2002 Brigid received the “Spirit of Portland” award in 2002 in recognition of her efforts to improve Portland’s “urban fabric”.

Brigid’s interest in supporting local arts organizations includes seven years as Board Member and Finance Committee member of Portland Center Stage. She holds a BA from Brown University and a MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Brigid has been an active supporter of PCC’s Future Connect program since 2015.

She says, “I’ve been inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of Future Connect. The program continues to pivot, finding new and better ways to serve students and help them overcome barriers to success. I’m excited about new possibilities as Future Connect expands into the First Year Experience program to serve more PCC students”.

Gang Fong (he/him)

Gang Fong is a director at Copia Power, an energy transition company in the U.S. committed to accelerating decarbonization in all areas of our economy. Prior to Copia Power, Gang was a management and technology consultant for 15 years, leading and supporting organizations to implement transformational programs, improve their processes, and optimize their operations.

Gang received his Executive Master of business administration (valedictorian) from the University of Oregon, a Bachelor of Science in management information systems from Oregon State University, and an Associate of Science in business administration from Linn-Benton Community College.

As a first-generation Chinese American immigrant and a graduate from an Oregon community college, Gang is inspired and passionate to support the Foundation’s work of removing barriers and creating opportunities for all students.

Marion Haynes

Marion Haynes has over 25 years of experience in public policy, communications and civil engagement. Marion was most recently Vice President of External Affairs for Comcast Pacific Northwest, overseeing strategic communications, community investments, and political and regulatory engagement and relationships at the local, regional, and state levels. Previously, she worked at the Portland Business Alliance, serving as Vice President of External Affairs. During that time, Marion was chosen to participate in the Regionalism and Sustainable Development Fellowship funded by the Ford Foundation and Heinz Foundation. Marion has also served on the boards of Oregon Business and Industry, Portland Business Alliance and Greater Portland, Inc. She holds a Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark Law School. “I’ve had the opportunity to hear stories from students that participate in Future Connect that are really inspiring,” she says. “I’m also interested in workforce training as I think this will be critical in the face of changes in the future of work and artificial intelligence.”

Tamara Kennedy

Tamara Kennedy is the director of economic development for the Port of Portland in the trade and economic development division. The Port of Portland’s mission is to build shared prosperity for the region through travel, trade, and economic development. In this role Tamara partners with leadership and external partners in the region to attract investment, design workforce pipeline strategies, and advance international trade strategy and equitable development initiatives for industry clusters in advanced manufacturing with a particular focus in climate tech and mass timber ecosystems.

Kennedy served on regional boards advancing equity and economic development including Black United Fund of Oregon, Greater Portland Inc., Clean Tech Alliance, and Transition Projects. Tamara holds an M.B.A. in nonprofit management from the University of Portland and a bachelor’s degree in communications, training & development from Marylhurst University.

Andres Lopez, Ph.D. (they/he/el)

Dr. Andres Lopez is a trained sociologist and professional research and evaluation scientist. Academically, their training and research centered on how inequalities of race, gender, and sexuality are reproduced in organizations. Andres has expertise in various research methodologies that utilize feminist, anti-racist, and queer theories. They have over ten years of experience conducting action research for solving social/practical problems and equitable evaluations of programs, processes, and organizations. Andres’ applied research experience is highly collaborative, partnering with various stakeholders from cross-cultural backgrounds in community-based, grassroots, and non-profit organizations and governments, universities, and businesses. In their role as Research Director at the Coalition of Communities of Color, Andres leads two tracks of research: first, supporting communities of color and organizations that serve them to develop and expand their data justice efforts through action research and community data practices; second, supporting dominant institutions like governments with their data equity practices through consulting on research and data tools, approaches, engagements, training, and organizational assessments.

Andres received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Xavier University and a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Their doctoral training began at Iowa State University, where they finished their doctoral coursework in the sociology department and earned a graduate certificate in Education for Social Justice. Andres holds a Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology from Oregon State University.

Kalpana Merchant, Ph.D.

Kalpana Merchant is a translational neuroscientist with over 30 years of experience in drug development for neurological disorders. She retired from Eli Lilly as the chief scientific officer for tailored therapeutics – neuroscience. Prior to Lilly, she spent a decade in neuroscience research at Upjohn/Pharmacia. Kalpana has co-founded biopharma companies and served as chief executive/chief scientific officer. Currently, she serves on boards of directors, scientific advisory boards, and as a consultant in the biopharma sector. She is an adjunct professor of neurology at Northwestern University and an advisor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. She has been appointed to the Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC) and has served on advisory boards/council at the National Institutes of Health. She earned her doctorate from the University of Utah and held faculty roles at the University of Washington.

Jennifer J. Peet, J.D.

Jennifer Peet is Senior Associate General Counsel at Cambia Health Solutions and Echo Health Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on driving systemic healthcare transformation.

She spent 15 years representing the Oregon State Treasury investment division and served as Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon. She is a Portland Business Journal Woman of Influence for 2019.

Jennifer was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to the Oregon Growth Board, and she serves on the board of Portland Women in Investment Management. She has a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and an undergraduate degree from Miami University.

Elaine Charpentier Philippi, Ed.D.

Elaine Charpentier Philippi is a Senior Program Officer at M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust helping facilitate grants for the Trust’s work investing in education, leadership and development across the Pacific Northwest. Elaine came to her current role following 12 years at In4All, an education nonprofit in Oregon that brings educators and business leaders together to engage students who are historically underserved, increasing interest and relevancy in key subjects. For the last seven of these 12 years, Elaine was Executive Director, overseeing the strategic growth and vision of the nonprofit, as well as managing board and committee leadership, partnerships and advocacy, fundraising, corporate and financial management and more. Elaine has served on a number of boards and committees in Oregon and has her doctorate in educational leadership from Lewis & Clark College, a master’s in social work from Portland State University and a bachelor’s in social work from Pacific University Oregon.

As a first-generation college student (former community college student) and lifelong learner, Elaine believes deeply in the power of education and in addressing barriers that individuals, families and communities navigate when accessing education pathways. She lives in North Portland with her husband, is grateful to get to do life with her three adult children who also live in Portland and is thrilled to be a part of the PCC Foundation.

Angela Schaffers

Angela Schaffers is an investment officer at the Oregon State Treasury and has spent more than a decade providing prudent financial management to entities of the state of Oregon. Her experience spans asset classes including public and private equity and fixed income. Angela has worked in the Oregon State Treasury investment division since 2015 and is currently focused on the Private Equity Portfolio. Angela was born and raised in Oregon, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Willamette University. Angela believes strongly that every person deserves the opportunity and support necessary to achieve their educational goals. She enjoys utilizing her deep experience in investments and financial management to support the PCC Foundation and its crucial mission of removing barriers to education.

Richard R. Truitt

Richard Truitt, P.E., served with the Indian Health Service (IHS) for over 50 years (over 36 years as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Public Health Service and 14 years as a civilian). During this time, he worked with Indian Tribes throughout the West to plan, design and construct safe water supply, waste disposal and healthcare facilities. For 15 years he served as advisor to the director of IHS in Rockville, Maryland, facilitating input from Tribal leaders and agency executives to shape agency policies and structure. He also served as executive member of governing boards of six federal healthcare facilities.

Rich earned his B.S. in civil engineering at Swarthmore College, his M.B.A. in international development at Cornell University, a graduate certificate in dispute resolution at Willamette University’s College of Law and did additional graduate studies in arctic engineering at the University of Alaska and in executive leadership at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He maintains his registration as a Professional Engineer in Oregon.

His volunteer activities over the years included serving as a Big Brother; coaching girls and boys’ basketball; serving on the Budget Committee for West Linn Wilsonville School Board, the Development Review Board for Wilsonville, and the Board Chair for Wilsonville Community Sharing; tutor for Laotian immigrants; management advisor to tenant farmers’ cooperative in Louisiana; the Boards of three churches; Alumni Council President and member of the Board of Managers for Swarthmore College.

Since his retirement, Rich has focused his volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity, currently serving as Chair of the North Willamette Valley affiliate; developing scholarship opportunities for first-generation college students; and supporting scholar athletes at Swarthmore College.

Rich and his wife, Toni Avery, live in Wilsonville, Oregon, where they enjoy spending time with their four daughters, six grandsons and three granddaughters.

David Wiltz

David Wiltz is a technology industry professional with over 30 years of experience across software engineering, human resources, and product marketing. He currently serves as Chief of Staff, working closely with industry executives to translate strategic vision into meaningful and lasting action. This role draws on the intersections of his varied career experiences to drive organizational effectiveness and innovation. David is also a career mentor and coach, facilitating courses on leadership, emotional intelligence, and coaching. David received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois. A volunteer opportunity with the Future Connect program, applying his work with professionals to those facing the start of their career journey, was the start of his interest in the PCC Foundation’s work. He appreciates the Foundation’s holistic approach to meeting the needs of students in their learning journey.

April E. Wright

April Wright believes in the transformational power of education for all and has a heart for improving access to education for students from economically disadvantaged communities. She believes every student needs an advocate. As a Portland native, she had the opportunity to enroll in her first college-level courses at PCC while attending Jefferson High School. She credits that experience as the beginning of her post-secondary career.

After working as a budget analyst and attorney, she spent many years working in local ministries, serving leaders, and improving systems, policies, and procedures.

April earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Portland and a JD from Lewis & Clark. She has recently earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Church Management (MSCM) at Villanova School of Business.

Dr. Adrien L. Bennings, PCC President, Ex-Officio

Dr. Adrien Bennings joined Portland Community College in the summer of 2022 as the college’s eighth president, making her PCC’s first permanent female president in its history. Dr. Bennings has taught courses in human resources development, academic development and retention, and small business development. She has held progressively higher-level positions in higher education for more than 15 years.

Before coming to Portland, she served as the president of Kellogg Community College, one of 28 community colleges in Michigan whose service region spans three counties. She was also the president of the Kellogg Community College Foundation, helping to lead the foundation’s strategic planning and fundraising activities, and advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Prior to joining KCC, Dr. Bennings was the vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer at Clovis Community College in New Mexico. Prior to this, she served as regional director of small business development at Texas Tech University where she advanced economic development initiatives spanning a 16-county area. Additionally, she serves as a certified peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.

Dr. Bennings’ educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University; a Master of Science in Business Administration with a Human Resources concentration from Wayland Baptist University; and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University.

Christina Kline, PCC Foundation Executive Director, Ex-Officio

Christina Kline serves as the Executive Director of the Portland Community College Foundation. In this role, she works closely with the Board of Trustees and the Foundation team to grow critical support for student success. Kline has been at the Foundation since 2016 and previously served as Assistant Foundation Director, supporting the College’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, The Campaign for Opportunity.

She has fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector and institutions of higher education, focusing on development and marketing. Kline has worked at Boys & Girls Aid, Linfield College, Arizona State University Foundation, and Make-A-Wish America. She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit studies from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s of science in mathematics and journalism from the University of Oregon. She also serves as an adjunct instructor for nonprofit leadership at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.

Brandy Penner, Ex-Officio

Brandy Penner (she/her) brings a deep commitment to equity and community to her role on the Portland Community College Board of Directors. With a background in sociology and social work (B.A.), she has served as an elected official, campaign manager, community organizer, and advocate. Her leadership is guided by empathy, resilience, and a passion for building a more just and inclusive world.

Penner is known for her warm presence and dedication to uplifting underrepresented voices. At PCC, she channels these values to help shape policies and programs that foster real, lasting change for students and communities.

Outside of her professional and civic work, she is a proud parent to three teenagers, a giant dog, and one curious cat. She enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures, and quiet moments with strong black tea and honey.

Fareeha Nayebare, Student Trustee

Fareeha Nayebare is a student at Portland Community College, where she is pursuing an Associate of Science degree in accounting. Born and raised in Uganda, she came to the United States in 2023 as a Rotary Youth Exchange student, hosted by the Rotary Club of Forest Grove — an experience that helped shape her into a resilient and purpose-driven individual. At PCC, she has served in multiple leadership roles, including ASPCC Senator, Vice President of the African Student Union, and Financial Advisor of the Muslim Student Association. Prior to this, she was the Interact Club President at Forest Grove High School.

Guided by the belief in “Service Above Self,” Fareeha is committed to advocating for her community with empathy and a willingness to speak up.