Lauren Smith, MHCC’s director of Academic Support and New Student Programming, and Bhaktirose Dawdy, the college’s coordinator of the STEP (SNAP Training and Employment Program) grant, will join other statewide community college leaders at the Oregon Institute of Leadership Development (OILD), held June 25-28. Smith and Dawdy were nominated by their colleagues at MHCC to attend OILD. The seminar will offer training in building teams, navigating institutional politics, and affecting organizational change.

“This event is important to me for many reasons, including the opportunity to ask questions on how to navigate leadership challenges and pitfalls, and the experience of learning from others who have forged paths ahead of me,” said Smith.

OILD was formed in response to AAWCC’s National Institute for Leadership Development to provide a regional opportunity for female community college presidents, deans, and leaders to learn from each other and build upon their skills. In 2006, OILD received the Model Award from the American Association of Community Colleges.

“As the current president-elect of the AAWCC-MHCC Chapter, I look forward to putting newly developed leadership skills into practice over the next year at the college and for many years to come,” said Dawdy.

Smith has worked at MHCC for 6 years in various capacities, including as AVID Coordinator and College Success Instructor, and as a teacher for 6 years at Reynolds High School. She has a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland and a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University.

Dawdy began working at the college in 2009. She brought with her more than 10 years of experience in workforce development and education. At MHCC, she has served in the areas of Workforce Development, Human Services, and Student Services. She has a Master of Public Administration in Cross-Cultural Management and an advanced certificate in Organizational Development from Portland State University.