Four of the seven seats on the MHCC District Board of Education are up for grabs on May 16, but only one contest is contested. That contested Zone 5 race features two newcomers hoping to succeed Kenney Polson, who will step down from the Board in July after serving eight years.

Five members represent distinct zones of the district, while two more serve in an at-large capacity. Each serves a four-year term.

The District Board oversees the college president, sets tuition/fee and other student policies, and has ultimate say on financial and academic decisions for the college.

Zone 5 (Centennial/south Gresham to Damascus in Clackamas Co.): Open Seat

Fox-Quamme has years of experience as executive director for Independent Living Resources, a local nonprofit focused on delivering peer-based disability resources. He has seen how community college has been a driving force in helping lower-income classes get a good education and progress to a better life, and said he believes that his experience of “direct service, and also experience with oversight and creative problem solving” will help him strive as a board member.

His extensive government experience includes being on the Pleasant Valley North Clackamas Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Committee, where he works on “rezoning parks, water, infrastructure, transportation, and livability” issues.

Fox-Quamme said he believes Mt. Hood is doing an excellent job of getting students real-life, workforce experiences, particularly through internships. He noted that one of the college’s biggest challenges is the reality that the demographics are changing. As a result, there are fewer students for institutions to compete for. “There are real opportunities for the college because Mt. Hood has a lower tuition entry point and more of an invitation to education across the age spectrum.”

Stroud is currently an administrator for the Oregon Medication Association and a graduate student at Capella University, studying marriage and family therapy.

She said she is running for the Board seat because she believes in the power of education to transform lives and communities. Her main campaign focus, she said, is on three main areas: affordability, accessibility, and accountability. She supports initiatives that make college more affordable, such as providing more financial aid and scholarships and increasing access to affordable textbooks and technology.

With experience in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, she said she is committed to making MHCC more accessible. She supports expanding online education options, increasing outreach to underrepresented groups, and creating partnerships with local businesses and organizations to provide students with real-world experience and job opportunities.

Climate change is also a significant focus of her campaign. She hopes to focus on reducing the college’s climate footprint, promoting sustainable practices, and creating a more environmentally conscious campus culture, she said. 

Stroud also said promoting transparency and accountability in college budget decisions would be important in serving the Board.

Zone 3 (Parkrose/Northeast Portland):

Speer is the current chair of the Board of Educators at Mt. Hood Community College. With his uncontested race for the Zone 3 seat, he seeks to implement those visions in his next four-year term.

An economist by trade who attended Mt. Hood himself, Speer looks forward to improving the student and faculty culture and “meeting students where they’re at,” he said. “The next four years are an opportunity to increase transparency and engagement with other members and colleagues.”

He said some of the top challenges facing MHCC include state funding and the college’s overall finances, while there is great opportunity to work on strategic planning regarding workforce training and tailoring current programs and offerings to ensure the college is meeting future needs.

Zone 6 (at-large):

Noriega is seeking re-election in an uncontested race for a third term on the Board (she previously served from 2011 to 2015, then rejoined the Board in 2019).

With her education work background, she said she is dedicated to ensuring that MHCC continues to provide high-quality education to its students.

One of Noriega’s primary goals is to ensure that Mt. Hood “remains affordable and accessible to everyone who wants to pursue their dreams through education,” she said.

She also has pushed for creating an inclusive campus environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. “I believe that diversity is our strength. It’s important that we create a campus environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued,” she said.

Zone 7 (at-large):

Bentley was appointed to the Board in late 2022 to a short, five-month term for departing member LaVerne Lewis.

She is an MHCC graduate with an associate’s degree in business management, with a focus on working with small business, nonprofits, and governments over the past decade.

She is executive director of The Ebony Collective Community Development Corp., a nonprofit aimed at building workforce and life skills preparedness, developing leadership and promoting unity in Portland metro Black communities.