Denise Gideon appointed to Clark College Board of Trustees

The Reflector

Governor Jay Inslee has named Denise Gideon to the Clark College Board of Trustees.

Gideon has worked in the healthcare industry and has an extensive track record of serving the community, according to a press release. She is currently System Vice President of Operations and Program Integration at PeaceHealth in Vancouver and serves as Executive Sponsor for the Black and Allies Network Group.

“I have an affinity for community colleges and wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t earned my undergraduate degree from Berkeley City College,” Gideon said in the press release.

Gideon has served on the board of directors of Educational Opportunities for Children & Families of Southwest Washington, board member of the Joyce Finley Foundation, member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and volunteer coordinator for Rebuild Together Portland.

Prior to PeaceHealth, Gideon served at Benioff Children’s Hospital at the University of California-San Francisco in Oakland, the Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, and the Alameda Alliance for Health. She also served as co-chair of the board of directors at St. Martin De Porres Catholic School.

Gideon served as a licensed practical nurse in the US Army during Desert Storm. She received her bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Patten University in Oakland and a master’s degree in business administration from John F. Kennedy University with a concentration in strategy.

Her tenure on the Board of Trustees began on November 19 following the death of Jane Jacobsen in May. The term expires on September 30, 2024, the press release said.

“Denise is an exceptional addition to the Clark College Board,” said Rekah Strong, Chair of the Board of Trustees, in the press release. “Her mergers, acquisitions and human resources leadership experience, as well as her background in the medical field, will bring a much-needed form of acumen to our board.”

The board of trustees consists of five members elected by the governor. Members serve five-year terms and reside in the college’s service district. The board develops strategic planning, developing and approving college policies, and approving and overseeing the operating budget, the press release said.