Mt. Hood Community College was overcome with sadness and grief this week when news of the death of long-time faculty member EveAnn Classen was released on Tuesday.

The part-time medical assistant teacher was found in her Vancouver home early Tuesday morning by a family friend. An autopsy revealed that she was stabbed to death with a pair of scissors. Her husband of 30 years, James Classen, 59, a Battle Ground dentist, was arrested later that afternoon and according to court records, admitted his guilt to detectives, and is now facing first-degree murder charges in Clark County. He is being held on $3 million bail and a judge has scheduled his arraignment for Friday, Feb. 18.

“We were very shocked,” said Paula Gubrud-Howe, the dean of Allied Health and Classen’s supervisor, who was notified by telephone of the loss at 11 a.m. Tuesday. “It is difficult news to process. It’s hard to make any sense of it.

“The fact that she was murdered creates even more difficulties. The grieving process is much more complicated,” she said.

Classen, 56, began teaching at MHCC in 1990 and, according to Gubrud-Howe, has been a valuable asset to the Allied Health Department ever since.

“For over 15 years she made a significant contribution to thousands of students. She was very highly regarded by MHCC students and staff.”

Beyond this, Director of Media and Public Relations Al Sigala said that Classen was one of the most-beloved teachers at MHCC. “She was one of the most popular instructors here. She was very well-liked by both the students and the faculty.”

Classen was teaching three courses this quarter, including two sections of Medical Office Procedures I and one section of Medical Office Procedures II. Gubrud-Howe said that her classes will be covered by other MHCC staff members for the remainder of winter term.

Classen’s students were told of her death during their classes on Tuesday and according to Gubrud-Howe, the school “allocated resources to respond to the tragedy” by offering a gathering for grieving students and faculty in the Town and Gown Room on Wednesday. The meeting allowed the students and co-workers to relay stories, talk about the grieving process and converse about the tragic circumstances surrounding her death.

“It will all help faculty and students to deal with their loss,” said Gubrud-Howe. “It’s important that people have the time to deal (with their grief), but they are being assisted.”

Another gathering of students and staff was scheduled for Thursday.

“This is a tough situation for folks. It’s important to share that she will be missed,” said Sigala.

“The students and the faculty were hit very hard by this. She was a good instructor and she touched a lot of lives,” he said.

Gubrud-Howe agrees with Sigala. “She touched so many people, not only the faculty, but the students too. This is a big loss for the school. She was very well-liked and made a difference in a lot of lives.”