Pierce District dean New Puyallup campus president begins in August recognized with Daniel Pollock Editor-in-Chief Darrell Cain was announced as the new president of Pierce College Puyallup on May 7 in an district-wide email from Chancellor Michele Johnson. Cain was a first-generation student who began his higher education at community college. “He is the community college story,” Johnson said. “He clearly knows what our students endure.” At the beginning of his college career, Cain moved in with his aunt, who lived in Pasadena, and enrolled in just one class at Pasadena City College. He thought he was going to become a real estate agent. Then he failed the class. He decided to abandon a real estate career, and enrolled in more classes. With help from student services and tutoring, Cain finished his term with a B in English. That’s when he realized maybe he could get a degree. Now with a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in college student personnel administration and a doctorate in education leadership and policy studies, Cain is coming to Pierce from Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, Indiana. At Ivy Tech, Cain was vice
Dr. Darrell Cain, the new Puyallup campus president, was a firstgeneration college student. Photo courtesy Pierce College.
chancellor for student affairs. He has also worked at the University of Maryland, Eastfield College in Texas among other schools. Cain has experienced rural and urban campuses; Johnson said this experience was beneficial as Pierce serves rural and urban students. Ca in has worked in both student services and instruction. Cain works with the Achieving the Dream Pathways Program at the national level; Pierce is implementing the Pathways program in fall quar-
ter. And his time at Ivy Tech introduced him to Starfish, a Pathways-related monitoring program Pierce is also in the process of implementing. “Dr. Cain comes with a very broad base of experiences,” Johnson said. “He’s worked in some good systems.” Cain is on the chamber of commerce and workforce board in Indianapolis and is involved in the Boys and Girls Club. “He has a lot of involvement and activity in the community and that is what the president needs to do,” Johnson said. Cain is Pierce’s first permanent African-American president. Colette Pierce Burnette, who was an interim president in 2012, was also AfricanAmeri can. Johnson said Cain’s AfricanAmerican heritage was an “added bonus” to his qualifications. “I think he brings a different perspective to our team,” Johnson said. “We need a different perspective.” Cain was the only out-ofstate finalist; he heard of the position from a friend who lives in Seattle. He said the decision to move to Washington was easy for him, but hard-
Continued on page 2
national award
Maddie Ashcraft Photographer Pierce College Business and Social Science District Dean Sachi Horback recently earned national recognition for her work with student and faculty equity. She was given the Bernice Joseph Award through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for building student and faculty equity and diversity through mentorship and service. The award was created specifically through the Western Alliance for Community College Academic Leaders for the purpose of honoring a program developed to inspire positive change for staff, faculty and students within two-year colleges, focusing on innovation and creativity. “The Bernice Joseph Award is a great way to honor great ideas and great resource sharing,” Jeremy Simon, Director of Strategic Communications for the WICHE said. Horback joined Pierce in 2014 as dean after tenuring at multiple universities on the East Coast. She is also a clinical psychologist and takes time to counsel students and staff on campus. Horback’s interest in psy-
chology sparked in high school, when she joined a student-to-student counseling program, providing opportunities for her fellow students to have a mediator and confidant for daily life in school. While Horback loved her time as a professor and faculty member, she finds joy as a dean to support faculty in Sachi Horback their roles, helping them to grow professionally. While Horback does not work in the classroom, the focus is still on the students. Horback was granted the Bernice Joseph Award this April, created to honor the executive dean of the College of Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks of the same name, who passed away in 2014. An advocate for education for her native people, Joseph sought to break down stereotypes and allow greater accessibility to higher education for all students. After an intensive review by the selection committee comprised of highly-regarded aca-
Continued on page 7
The Tacoma Dome moves beyond the glass ceiling Steven Gonzalez Reporter The Tacoma Dome is currently undergoing renovations with a $30.7 million budget. With monthly concerts and high school ceremonies being held there, the revitalization this summer is occurring in the spirit of continuing the Tacoma Dome’s legacy. Kim Bedier, director for Tacoma Venues and Events, provided a breakdown on the renovation funds. Bedier has held her position for five years and was already focused on the idea of renovating the seating when she first took the job. Once the funding for renovations on the Tacoma Dome began to increase, Bedier decided to take her idea of renovating the seating and expand it to all facets of the Tacoma Dome. The renovations spread out over a few features: seating renovations, loading docks, artist lodging, restroom expansion, exterior renovations, security, heating and AC, seating area lighting and audio. With telescopic seating in mind, the projected cost of the seating alone is going to be $12.5 million. Just like chairs at most movie theaters, telescopic seating just means that the seats can be folded back when not in use. Bedier mentioned how important the expansion of restrooms would be as well, as some events would require the
Tacoma Dome to rent out portable toilets. Bedier excitedly noted that the total amount of restrooms at the Tacoma Dome would be increased by 300 percent. Performers and entertainers booked through the Tacoma Dome will have an “Artist’s Corner” for the performers to reside while they’re in between shows. Bedier said no expense will be spared as $3.5 million will be allocated solely for the quarters. “People talk,” Bedier said. “When they talk about the Tacoma Dome, we want them to have nothing but good things to say about their time with us.” The heating and air control system will be getting a tune-up as well with $7.3 million being used to aid in the comfort of attendees. The Tacoma Dome currently has the largest indoor seating capacity in the state of Washington with 22,500 seats in total. Bedier was proud to share that the overall attendance at the Tacoma Dome in 2017 had increased by 17 percent during 2016. With this revitalization being the first act of renovations on the Tacoma Dome since its erection in April 21, 1983, Bedier stressed the importance of the renovations as a whole. Bedier conveyed the absurdity of owning a car or home and not conducting tune-ups or renovations after 35 years.
Tacoma Dome renovations, which include increasing the number of restrooms and seating changes, are expected to be completed by the fall. Rebecca Morgan photo.
“We’re super excited about the future,” Bedier said. “ With the Key Arena’s closure for renovations, the Tacoma Dome will be the premiere venue for events in Washington.”