Karin Edwards has been chosen as the next president of Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. She will take office this coming summer.
The public college offers mostly associate’s degree programs. According to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education, the college enrolls just under 10,000 students. African Americans make up just 2 percent of the student body.
Since July 2014, Dr. Edwards has served as president of Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus. In that role, her responsibilities include supervising the advanced manufacturing programs at the Swan Island Trades Center, a 20,000-square-foot facility housing the college’s apprenticeship and trades department, as well as the college’s Maritime Welding Training Center at Swan Island. Dr. Edwards has served in administrative roles at community colleges for the past 38 years.
“I have a full heart today, Dr. Edwards said. “I’m excited to begin a new chapter as President of Clark College and grateful to everyone at Portland Community College who has walked with me these past six years. We have a great deal to be proud of, developing programs and support services that help our students succeed.”
Dr. Edwards earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in higher education administration at the University at Albany of the State University of New York System. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
