Board of Directors

Lena Spencer

President

Teri Olsen

Past President

Teri has worked for Clackamas Community College for 24 years. She has worked in the Business Office, the Small Business Development Center and the last 21 years in the Customized Training & Development Services department. That experience has allowed her to work with many different organizations and industries, and she strives to turn every customer engagement into a continuing long-term customer relationship. Teri has an Associate’s degree in Accounting and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Teri has been part of the AAWCC board for six years, and a member for over 19 years. “I was very fortunate to work with an AAWCC board member when I was new to the college and that introduction to the organization has stayed with me throughout my years at CCC. It is my pleasure to be a part of this great organization!

Kasena Dailey

Kasena Dailey

President-Elect

Tami Hill

Vice President – Communication & Marketing

Elizabeth Facanha

Elizabeth Facanha

Vice President – Annual Statewide Conference

Elizabeth Facanha has worked at Chemeketa Community College (CCC) for three years as the Events & Food Services Manager. Prior to her joining CCC she worked at Brandman University in California as a recruiting manager for eight years. Elizabeth graduated from Brandman University with a Master’s in Human Resources. She was introduced to AAWCC by a long-standing and well know member in her local chapter and has been a member ever since. Elizabeth currently serves as the CCC chapter President where she is busy collaborating and exploring new ideas to bring more women into this incredible organization. Elizabeth stated that one of the most touching and memorable moments she has experienced to date in AAWCC was listening to a scholarship recipient story about how the money she received helped change her path in life. She believes that AAWCC allows women to be authentic and adaptable and in turn inspires others to lead. Elizabeth hopes that AAWCC can create a place and sense of belonging for all women to be successful, especially in the upcoming 2025 Annual Conference.
Joy Yori

Joy Yori

Vice President – Finance

Joy Yori currently serves as the Purchasing Manager at Umpqua Community College. Prior to this role she served Academic Services as a Dean’s Assistant, curriculum compliance specialist, and faculty support. Before entering higher education, she worked in workforce development as part of the CCWD’s regional workforce board and in the private sector. A lifelong learner Joy has served as a UCC Alumni President, process renovator, public speaker and AAWCC Campus Ambassador.

After attending OILD in 2017, she was inspired to continue her education and obtained a Master of Art – Leadership specialized in Higher Education degree. Being a member of AAWCC has ignited her passion to inspire and champion others to be the best they can be, wherever they are on the organization chart or in their personal journey. Joy is a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, friend, co-worker, leader, encourager, believer, and lifelong learner.
Selena Niles

Selena Niles

Vice President – Membership/Registrar

I have worked at Portland Community College for the past 16 years. I had worked in the Arts Humanities, Communication, and Design Pathway for the majority of that time, and recently in January 2024, have a new position as a Program Review Coordinator with Effectiveness and Planning within the IE/SPIP group at PCC. I have a great deal of institutional knowledge, over 30 years of project management work, and possess a diversity of skills that I build upon. One can never stop learning and growing. I have attended many AAWCC conferences over the years and I really wanted to give back, and thus I’m honored to be on the AAWCC Board. I really enjoy mentoring and empowering others, and I’d like to “build people up”!

Outside of work I enjoy many outdoor activities, from hiking, bicycle riding, walking, swimming, yoga, etc…. I have my awesome boyfriend of 9 years, three cats, and when I can I enjoy gardening and working on my house.
Sandra Joseph

Saundra Joseph

Vice President – Records

Saundra Joseph currently serves as a TRIO Peer Mentor Coordinator and Advisor at Portland Community College, bringing six years of dedicated service to the institution. With prior experience at Clark College in various roles within Student Affairs, Saundra has cultivated valuable skills within higher education for nearly three decades.

Outside of work, Saundra finds joy in spending time with her family and beloved cats, and by participating in Zumba classes. Additionally, she has held a position on a non-profit organization’s Board of Directors involved in the prevention of human trafficking. Having attended the Oregon Institute for Leadership Development in June 2023, Saundra joined AAWCC and now serves as the VP of Records on the Board, where she continues her mission of empowering women and making a positive impact in their lives.
Alyson

Alyson Lighthart

Vice President – Special Projects

Alyson Lighthart currently serves as the Pathways Dean for Sciences, Computing, and Engineering at Portland Community College (PCC). Before coming to PCC in 2011, she supported STEM transfer and student success programs for the San Diego Community College District, San Diego State University (SDSU), and the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), and taught geology at colleges in Texas, Colorado, and California.

Alyson joined the PCC chapter of AAWCC in 2011, as a way to get to know all PCC’s campuses and to build relationships across silos. She is currently finishing out her second term as PCC AAWCC president, during which we had a global pandemic and a collegewide reorg. She is excited to take on this unlooked-for role supporting our statewide mentoring program for AAWCC. There is so much potential and opportunity within AAWCC that we can harness through mentoring.

By way of entertainment outside of PCC and AAWCC, Alyson enjoys solo travel adventures, camping with her kids, strategy board games, and stamp collecting (Mcmenamins-style).

Kristina Holton

Vice President – Oregon Institute of Leadership Development (OILD)

Kristina Holton is the Dean of Science, Engineering and Mathematics at Linn-Benton Community College. She worked previously at Lane Community College and taught math at both the middle and high school levels. She has great enthusiasm and passion for the work we do within community colleges and a strong drive to help students succeed in achieving their goals and dreams. Kristina’s involvement with AAWCC has grown over the past few years, starting with her attendance at OILD and now serving on her local chapter board and the state board. She credits AAWCC for helping her make and maintain many awesome friendships!

Outside of work, Kristina enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and friends. When she’s not running kids to activities, she makes time to indulge in her hobby of baking. Kristina has an affinity towards watches, even though she won’t tell anyone just how many she has in her collection!

Lydia Rediske

Vice President – Web Development

Lydia is a Web Development Specialist at Portland Community College, where she started working in 2008. Lydia has a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate degree in Applied Computer Science. She was raised in Clackamas and Multnomah counties, and likes to spend time exploring the PNW by foot, bicycle, train, van, jeep, and boat.

Cam Preus

Cam Preus

Ex-Officio Member

Dr. Camille (Cam) Preus is the Executive Director of the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA). Cam was appointed September 2019 by the OCCA Board of Directors. The association represents and advocates for the 17 community colleges.

Prior to her OCCA appointment, she was the President of Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) serving Morrow, Umatilla and Baker counties in Oregon. With service centers in Pendleton, Milton-Freewater, Boardman, Hermiston and Baker City, the BMCC district covers primarily rural and frontier Oregon, serving over 8,000 students.

Dr. Preus serves on numerous regional/national boards that champion and advocate for increasing opportunity for postsecondary education, a few of note include: American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Presidents Academy Executive Committee, the AACC Advocacy Advisory Committee, Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition, Eastern Oregon Regional Solutions, and the Eastern Oregon Workforce Board.

Prior to her appointment as President in 2013, Cam held leadership roles in Oregon in community colleges & workforce development at both state and local levels. She also has private sector experience as a chemist and quality control manager with United States Steel. Cam graduated from Cumberland College (TN), Middle Tennessee State University, earned an MSBA from Indiana University and received her doctorate in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University.

Mary Spilde

Ex-Officio Member

Mary Spilde, President, Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, August 2001 to present. Mary joined Lane in 1995 as Vice President for Instructional Services. In 1997, she became Vice President for Instruction and Student Services. Prior to that, she served 15 years at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, in a variety of positions including dean of business, health, and training. Mary served on the Oregon Workforce Quality Council for six years and the Oregon Workforce Investment Board for three years as well as serving on numerous local boards.

Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in business and social systems and a law degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She completed a master’s in adult education and a doctorate in post-secondary education at Oregon State University.

Presently, Mary is past chair of the American Association of Community Colleges board of directors and serves on their Sustainability Task Force.  Lane Community College is a League for Innovation in the Community College board college, and Mary currently serves as a board member and was co-editor of the League publication The Sustainable Community College: Holistic Approaches to Sustainability. She is also a board member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and recently served on the steering committee for the American Presidents Commitment to Climate Control.