The vice president of instruction at Centralia College has been named as a board member for the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA), a national association dedicated to promoting affordable access to community college baccalaureate degrees.
Dr. Joyce Hammer was named to the CCBA Board of Directors during CCBA’s annual conference in Tucson, Arizona last month.
The CCBA is one of the nation’s leading networks of community colleges that build, sustain, and provide high-value baccalaureate degree programs, according to a news release from Centralia College.
“I am really excited to be part of this national organization that is striving to provide improved career pathways for students, particularly students who are seeking educational opportunities close to home,” said Hammer.
Centralia College currently offers five bachelor’s degrees in applied business management, information technology, diesel technology, teacher education and behavioral healthcare, according to the news release.
Washington is one of 24 states that currently have bachelor’s degrees at community colleges, according to the news release.
“Having previously worked to implement bachelor’s degrees at the state level and now experiencing directly the impact these degrees have on the lives of students at Centralia College, I’m proud to be part of a state that is a national leader in conferring these degrees,” said Hammer.
“The CCBA believes bachelor’s degrees are a gateway to advanced career opportunities and an enhanced lifestyle,” stated the news release. “As a result, the CCBA strives to ensure all students who desire to pursue a bachelor’s degree can do so in a way that is convenient, accessible, and affordable.”
Hammer was appointed to the CCBA board along with three other colleagues: Dr. Cynthia E. Spiers, president of Rhodes State College in Ohio; Madeline Pumariega, president of Miami Dade College in Florida; and Dr. Tod Allen, president of Weatherford College in Texas.
