Board of Trustees

Clark College Board of Trustees

Jeanne Bennett, 2019-2026
B.S. Portland State University

Retired CEO of Workforce Southwest Washington, a Vancouver resident, and a longtime community leader. She began her career working as a congressional staff member, first for Oregon Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse and then for Congressman Brian Baird in Washington. After that, she moved on to leadership positions in Evergreen School District 112's Youth Workforce Program, the Mount St. Helens Institute, and finally Workforce Southwest Washington, where she managed local investments of more than $10 million annually in individuals’ workforce skills training and development.  

In her retirement, Bennett remains active in her community, including serving as Board Chair for Columbia Play Project. Community activities include: 

  • Mount St. Helens Institute
  • Mount Adams Institute
  • Empower Women + Girls

Cristhian A. Canseco Juarez, 2021-2026 (Chair)
B.A. Washington State University Vancouver

First-generation college graduate, as well as an immigrant and an alumnus of Washington State University Vancouver. He is deeply involved in community service in Vancouver, providing resources for those who have historically been under-represented. 

Canseco earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Washington State University Vancouver and graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver. He and his family have lived in Vancouver for 25 years, having emigrated from Mexico to the United States in 1991. Community activities include:

  • Board of Directors for Lighthouse Community Credit Union 
  • Council member, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 
  • Treasurer, Southwest Washington LULAC Council
  • 2019-2020 Clark College Presidential Search Committee 

Suzanne Donaldson, 2023-2028
AA—Centralia College
Pre-Law – University of Puget Sound and Washington State University

EO of Donaldson Consulting LLC, a national consulting firm, has over 21 years of experience in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction Industry as a Diversity Consultant Practitioner working with large general contracting and engineering firms, small minority owned firms and government agencies. 

Donaldson is a member of the Kinswa Family (Ike Kinswa State Park is named after her great grandfather). She is a current and former elected member of Cowlitz Indian Tribe Tribal Council. She served as Chair of The Cowlitz Indian Tribe Pow Wow Committee for many years, served as Vice Chair of The Cowlitz Indian Tribe Education Committee, The Cowlitz Canoe Family, The Cowlitz Drum Group, Elders Program Volunteer, Pathways to Healing Volunteer, and served as Event Planner for tribal Celebrations. In addition to designing and making regalia she is a Native American dancer, singer, drummer and artist. Community activities include:

  • Community activities include: 
  • Port of Portland’s Mentor Protégé Program 
  • The Providence Cancer Foundation Steering Committee 
  • The City of Portland’s Minority Evaluator Program 
  • SafeBuild Alliance 
  • Former board member of the Oregon Native American Chamber (ONAC) 
  • An alternate on PILR Portland Indian Leaders Roundtable 

Denise Gideon, 2021-2024 (Vice Chair)
A.A. Berkeley City College
B.A. Patten University
M.B.A. John F. Kennedy University 

A seasoned healthcare leader with an extensive record of service to communities. She is currently the System Vice President of Operations & Program Integration at PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Washington, where she also serves as the executive sponsor for the Black and Allies Network Group.  

Previously, Gideon's professional career spanned leadership roles at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland and at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland, as well as at the Alameda Alliance for Health. She is the former co-chair of the Board of Directors of St. Martin De Porres Catholic School and is active in faith communities wherever she lives and works.  Gideon served as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm.  Community activities include: 

  • :Educational Opportunities for Children & Families of Southwest Washington
  • Joyce Finley Foundation
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • Rebuild Together Portland

Marilee Scarbrough, 2023-2028 
B.S. Whitman College
J.D. University of Oregon School of Law

An experienced educational professional in both K-12 and higher education. Since 2011, she has served as in-house Legal Counsel for Vancouver Public Schools. 

Prior to her tenure in Vancouver Public Schools, she was employed as Policy and Legal Services Director for the Washington State School Directors’ Association; Counsel for the Washington State House of Representatives – Higher Education Committee-Office of Program Research; Staff Attorney for Pierce County Teamchild; and staff attorney for the Pierce County Public Defenders’ Office. Community activities include: 

  • American Leadership Forum Board of Directors - Past Chair and Selection Committee 
  • Bellarmine Preparatory Board 
  • Girls Scouts Pacific Peaks Council 
  • State Executive Ethics Board - Past Chair 
  • Tacoma School Board - Past President 
  • Tacoma City Council