Foundation Board of Directors

The Foundation Board of Directors are dedicated to increasing private support for Whatcom Community College. They are local people involved in the community, donating their professional expertise and time to make higher education more accessible for Whatcom students.

CherylThornton_47

Cheryl Thornton
Co-Chair
About Cheryl

CarolynSimpsonScott_22

Dr. Carolyn Simpson Scott, MD
Co-Chair
About Carolyn

Bob MacIsaac BobMacIsaac

Bob MacIsaac
Treasurer
About Bob

A headshot of WCC Board Member Bob Carmichael

Bob Carmichael
Secretary
About Bob

TimDouglas

Tim Douglas
About Tim

Rebecca-Johnson

Rebecca Johnson
Trustee Representative
About Rebecca

President Kathi Hiyane-Brown

Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, EdD
College President
About President Kathi

Deb headshot

Deborah DeWees
Interim Executive Director, WCC Foundation

JenniferSlattery

Jennifer Slattery
About Jennifer

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Saran Poovarodom
About Saran

AllenPemberton

Allen Pemberton
About Allen

BevJacobs

Beverly (Bev) Jacobs
About Bev

Anne-Marie Faiola

Anne-Marie Faiola
About Anne-Marie

"When I first began volunteering for the Whatcom Community College Foundation, I was new to Whatcom County. This effort provided me an opportunity to learn about our community and I quickly connected with new people who are also motivated to work for change. Helping with community outreach and raising funds for scholarships has a direct impact on the lives of WCC students. In the current economic environment, our students are facing increasing financial pressures and often work full-time while juggling coursework and family commitments. If we can help alleviate their struggles by providing financial assistance, we not only transform their lives but build a community which is more tolerant and understanding of individual differences. It is exciting to watch the growth of our students and I am proud that my volunteer efforts help them achieve their goals. I appreciate all our current volunteers and welcome anyone new who also has a desire to improve the path to education for WCC students."
Dr. Carolyn Simpson Scott, MD, Board Member, 08/19/2022

About Us

Tim Douglas

Cheryl Thornton

Dr. Carolyn Simpson-Scott MD, Immediate Past Chair

Carolyn Simpson Scott, MD (she/her) is a retired obstetrician-gynecologist previously with Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. Her entrepreneurship interests led her to own and operate several small businesses over the years, most recently as the founder and co-owner of Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub in Bethlehem, PA. Carolyn received her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and was in practice for 25 years. Prior to LVHN, she was a staff gynecologist at Women’s Health Consultants, LLC and the co-owner of Lehigh Valley Women’s Health Care Alliance Ltd.

Before her career in medicine, Carolyn worked as the Director of the Credit Division at Robert Morris Associates. Carolyn holds an A.B. degree in Economics from Davidson College. She is a current member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologists and a former National Speaker for Myriad Genetics in its Preventive Care Division. She is also the Vice President of the Board of Directors of SATORI Chamber Music Group, is a board member of The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pa where she serves on the Trusteeship and development committees. She formerly held board positions with the Allentown Women’s Center, Baldwin’s National Board of Advisors, the Piedmont Group of the National Association of Bank Women, and the Women’s Division of the North Carolina Bankers Association. WCC’s Simpson Intercultural Center is named after her father, W. Robert Simpson, whose generosity has had significant impact at Whatcom.

Bob MacIsaac, Treasurer

Bob Carmichael, Secretary

Rebecca Johnson, Trustee Representative

Anne-Marie Faiolia

Anne-Marie Faiola (she/her) is a serial entrepreneur who lives in Bellingham with her two children and seven koi fish. She is a published author of three books, including 'Live Your Best Day Ever: Thirty-Five Strategies for Daily Success', and she is known as ‘The Soap Queen’ on YouTube where she runs a popular soap making channel. The companies she has created and bootstrapped include Bramble Berry Handcraft Provisions, BestDayEver, and Otion Soap. She currently employs over 60 people in Bellingham.

Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, College President

Kathi H. Hiyane-Brown, Ed.D, (she/her) became the fourth president of Whatcom Community College in 2007. Dr. Hiyane-Brown leads this comprehensive community college that serves 11,000 annually, employs more than 400 employees, and operates with an annual state budget of approximately $20 million. During her tenure, she has built vital community partnerships, inspired innovation and excellence throughout the College, and encouraged a culture of inclusiveness.

Dr. Hiyane-Brown was the President of Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN, for four years prior to being appointed president at WCC. She also held administrative posts at Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA; Leeward Community College, Pearl City, HI; and Muscatine Community College, Muscatine, IA.

Born in Hawai‘i, Dr. Hiyane-Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Grinnell College; a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology, University of Iowa; and a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership, Oregon State University. Dr. Hiyane-Brown has been recognized as one of 2010’s Outstanding Women Educators by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation and was the recipient of the 2002 Leadership Award from The Association. In recognition of her commitment to staff and program development, she received NCSPOD’s College President’s Award in 2012. She also received the 2014 CEO of the Year Award from Washington Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges.

Deborah Dewees

Deborah has over 30 plus years of experience in philanthropy at higher education institutions. She most recently served as the Assistant Vice President of Alumni & Constituent Relations and held multiple positions with growing levels of responsibility at Western Washington University during her 23-year tenure. Previous to WWU, she held positions at foundations with the University of Maryland and Edmond Community College. Deborah is a seasoned executive-level leader with demonstrated experience in strategic planning, fundraising, board development, staff development, and community relations, all of which are critical to meeting our current needs.

Please feel free to reach out to Deb or to visit the Foundation Building to greet her on campus. Email Deborah at ddewees@whatcom.edu

Beverly Jacobs

Beverly Jacobs (she/her) came to Bellingham in 2003 to be closer to her two daughters. One is a family practice doctor from Dartmouth Medical and the other is a PhD clinical psychologist in Fairhaven. Between them, Beverly has five grandsons.

Beverly is from the Hawaiian islands, went to Punahou, Vanderbilt, Stanford and did graduate work at Emory University and Georgia State. She spent thirty-three years in Special Education administration for high I.Q. programs in the metropolitan school systems of Atlanta, Georgia.

Beverly has been a volunteer with the ESL program under Sophia Shang to help Whatcom Community College students speak English. At most she has had 17 students in one season. She has been on the board for the Cordata Neighborhood Association for 14 years. She is currently advocating for a library in the Cordata neighborhood and works with city planners on that endeavor.

Deborah DeWees, Interim Executive Director for WCC Foundation

Jennifer Slattery

Jennifer Slattery (she/her) is a family law attorney in Whatcom County. She graduated from University in Washington in 2004 (after transferring from Green River Community College), and from Seattle University School of Law in 2008.

Jennifer has practiced law since 2008 when she was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association. In 2017, Jennifer started the firm Kulshan Law, PLLC. The firm became Kulshan Law Group in April 2018 when Jennifer’s three partners joined.

Jennifer is a former board member of the Whatcom Women Lawyers. She also serves on the boards of Bellingham Sunrise Rotary and Whatcom County Bar Association.

Saran Poovarodom

Allen Pemberton

Bruce Burpee