Russell succeeds late husband on board

By Rachel Kramer

Beverly Russell, wife of former board member Ron Russell who died in February, is the newest member of the MHCCD board following a vote Wednesday evening. Russell will be filling the seat left vacant by her husband.

“It is wonderful to see a Russell in that seat,” Ralph Yates, chairperson of the MHCCD board, said at the end of the meeting. Two candidates were nominated and Russell won with five votes. She was then given the oath of office.

Board member Brian Freeman voted for Kurt Engelstad.
According to Russell during her presentation to the board, she said she talked to her husband about applying and he had said nothing would make him happier or prouder than if she filled his position.

Russell, noting the absence of a female board member, also mentioned the high female student population and the lack of representation on the board.

She said she has a desire to reach out to the eastern part of the district boundary, where she lives, and connect them with the college.

President Robert Silverman said Thursday that “[Russell] is a welcome addition to the board as she fulfills her husband Ron’s term.”
The other applicants were:

• Harry DeWolf, a resident of Sandy. As well as serving on several boards, he also is an adviser to the Sandy Historical Society and is a Special Olympics coach.
• Engelstad, a resident of Gresham. A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Engelstad is an advisory board member for the Tribal Colleges and University Program.
• Steven Lewis, a resident of Gresham. An associate professor of historical theology and director of spirituality and church relations for the Northwest House of Theological Studies, Lewis was board member Rod Monroe’s instructor in the past
• Amy Staples, a resident of Gresham. A current student at MHCC, Staples expressed a desire to help the board connect with the student population.

Russell will serve until June 2007.