Clark College
Dr. Michele Cruse joined Clark College in October 2020 as Interim Vice President of Student Affairs. She was hired into the permanent position in November 2021. Prior to coming to Clark, she served as Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Experiential Education at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in Pennsylvania. A native Pittsburgher, Dr. Cruse earned her associate degree from the Community College of Allegheny County, her bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, her master’s degree in public administration and nonprofit management from Portland State University, and her doctorate in community college leadership from the University of Oregon.
Dr. Cruse’s work experience includes both faculty and staff positions at Portland Community College, including dean of student development. She has owned her own business and served as co-founder of an organization focused on workshops and education for community members, women, disenfranchised youth, and those in alternative education.
At Clark College, Dr. Cruse leads Student Affairs, a unit that includes a wide range of services and programs including enrollment services, athletics, career services, international programs, financial aid, disability support, the Veterans Resource Center, and the Counseling and Health Center, among others.
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Clark College
Clark College is a public community college in Washington State, serving up to 12,000 students per quarter in highly respected programs including Addiction Counselor Education, Automotive Technology, Computer Science, Culinary (Cuisine and Baking), Data Networking and Cybersecurity, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Mechatronics, Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, and Welding, among others. In addition to our technical programs, Clark offers exceptional academic courses for students completing an associate degree. The college currently offers classes at two satellite locations, on the Washington State University Vancouver campus, and the Columbia Tech Center in East Vancouver in addition to the main campus in downtown Vancouver. Additionally, its non-credit Community and Continuing Education provides community education and job and career training classes.