Board of Trustees

Clark College Board of Trustees

Jeanne Bennett, 2021-2024
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 (Vice Chair)
B.A, Business Administration, Washington State University Vancouver
Community activities include:

  • Treasurer and Secretary, Lighthouse Community Credit Union
  • Treasurer, Southwest Washington LULAC Council
  • Parish Council Member, St. John Evangelist Catholic Church

Denise Gideon, 2021-2024
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, 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

Paul Speer, 2018-2023 (Chair)
Has extensive experience and skills in strategic planning, nonprofit fundraising and capacity building.  A resident of Clark County for the past 37 years.  Speer has long demonstrated a commitment to his community.  For more than 25 years, he worked at Hewlett-Packard Company, where he retired as Vice President of Development Strategy in the Office of Strategy and Technology.

Currently, is an executive advisor and coach, who also appears as a guest lecturer and panelist on topics including leadership, new business creation, business planning, venture philanthropy, sustainable energy, and encore careers.
Community activities include:

  • The Historical Trust - Board Member
  • Oregon Public Broadcasting - Board Member
  • Social Venture Partners International - Past Board Member
  • Leadership Clark County - Past Board Member
  • iUrban Teen - Advisory Member
  • Cascadia Tech Academy - Advisory Member
  • Superintendent's Management Task Force for Vancouver Public Schools - Advisory Member
  • University of Portland's Engineering Dean's Advisory Council - Past Council Chair
  • University of Portland's Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Board - Past Board Chair
  • Pearson Field Education Center - Committee Chair

Rekah Strong, 2012 – 2022
B.S. Criminal Justice, Portland State University
M.A. Social Work/Administration, Portland State University
Ph.D. Social Work Research, Portland State University in progress

Ms. Strong is currently the Executive Director for Educational Opportunities for Children & Families. She has more than 16 years of experience working in public agencies and developing strategies to improve organizational cultural humility.
Community activities include:

  • Board member, We Reign Youth Foundation
  • Board member, Partners in Diversity