LAUREN GRISWOLD BOLTS TO BOISE

It was a bittersweet farewell in MHCC’s Communications office on Sept. 26 as Lauren Griswold, associate director of creative strategies for the college, said goodbye to her co-workers.

Heaps of staff members poured in to share memories, talk about her exciting next step – moving to Boise, Idaho – and eat lots of cookies.

Griswold’s work at Mt. Hood since arriving in July 2018 included managing the college’s marketing and communication efforts. Part of that, she said, was to make sure that “students feel a stronger affinity to the college and see consistency along the brand.”

This includes directing the design of the “Be Your Dream” slogan and mountain seen along the new HUB center upstairs on the Gresham campus, and revamping the MHCC website, which she said is “one of the key decision-making factors in students selecting a college.”

Griswold said she is confident some of the changes she helped formulate at Mt. Hood, such as the website resdesign in line with the “Be Your Dream” slogan and bold red branding seen on and off campus, will help the school’s consistency in branding.

Her move to Idaho is to become associate vice president of creative strategy at Boise State University, a four-year school where she will work under the newly hired president, Marleen Tromp. The two first worked together at Arizona State University, and Tromp reached out to recruit Griswold to help Boise State’s current upward trajectory, she said.

Mt. Hood plans to find a replacement for Griswold. Until then, Al Sigala, executive director of development and communications for MHCC, will guide her former department.

Asked what she really loved about MHCC, Griswold brought up the efforts of faculty members to see their students succeed.

“I think what you see most is that people really care about students achieving their dreams and that’s what’s been one of the most impressive things – the dedication that faculty has to student success,” she said.