On The Spot @ PCC

In this episode of On the Spot, host Misty Bouse is joined by Josh Laurie and Jana Daugherty to discuss the First-Year Experience (FYE) program at Portland Community College. They explore how the program uses personalized coaching, guided pathways, and gamified learning to provide holistic support for first-time college students. The podcast On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. Ea...

In this episode of On the Spot, host Misty Bouse, PCC Marketing and Communications specialist, is joined by Rebecca Ocken, Director of Planning and Capital Construction, to discuss the critical process of building and adapting Portland Community College's physical campuses. They explore the P&CC office's mission, the complex, multi-year process of implementing general obligation bond measures,...

In this episode of OntheSpot@PCC, we're heading out to the farm to talk with Dr. Ragan Borzcik, program director of the Veterinary Technology Program, to discuss a critical upgrade impacting Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus. They explore the college's new 10,000-square-foot state-of-the-art barn and how this innovative learning lab is preparing students for in-demand careers in anima...

In this episode of OntheSpot@PCC, host Danielle Gabriel speaks with Sylvania VRC Coordinator Matt Blankenship about the important work happening at the Veterans Resource Center and the impact of their star team member, a therapy dog named Bob. Discover how this dynamic duo is helping veteran students navigate the transition from military to college life by providing comfort, support, and a welcomi...

In this episode of On the Spot, host Ellen is joined by Vicky Lopez Sanchez, Vice President of Student Affairs, to detail the division's year-long journey to restructure from six units down to three: Student Affairs; Enrollment Management, Student Success; and Student Wellbeing Engagement and Belonging.  The podcast On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. Each bite-size episode answe...

In this episode of On the Spot, host Ellen Payne is joined by Dr. Howard Croom, Associate Vice President of People Strategy, Equity, and Culture (PSEC), to discuss two critical topics impacting Portland Community College. The podcast On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. Each bite-size episode answers an employee question about the college, its operations, or its people. Download a...

In this episode of On the Spot, PCC's Marketing Director Danielle Gabriel is joined by Kaela Parks, Dean of Inclusive and Accessible Education; Karol Ford, Senior ADA and Accessibility Partner; and Jennifer Gossett, ADA 504 Compliance Manager. They discuss how Portland Community College ensures equitable access for students and employees with disabilities, the college's proactive approach to acces...

In this episode of On the Spot, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dina Farrell demystifies Portland Community College's budgeting process and its alignment with college goals. Dina discusses the Fiscal Sustainability Action Plan, efforts to generate revenue, the new Workday system's role in financial reporting, and how employees can engage with budget planning. https://www.pcc.edu/fiscal-...

PCC's Emergency Preparedness Manager, Lorraine Churchill, joins On the Spot to discuss how the college prepares for and responds to crises. Lorraine explains PCC's coordination with external agencies, its multi-layered emergency planning, and how the community can engage in preparedness through drills, such as upcoming fire evacuations, and initiatives like the Community Emergency Response Team (C...

In the second half of our AI deep dive, Associate Vice President of IT and Security Brandon Gatke returns to explore the tools, risks, and future of artificial intelligence at PCC. Learn how the college is integrating AI into everyday operations—from AI note-taking tools and Zoom integration to student advising bots and security systems fighting fake enrollments. Brandon also addresses digital equ...

In this thought-provoking episode, we welcome Brandon Gatke, PCC's new Associate Vice President of Information Technology and Security, for a deep dive into the evolving world of artificial intelligence. From defining generative AI and its everyday uses to exploring its impact on higher education, Brandon shares how AI is reshaping workflows, enhancing student services, and posing new sustainabili...

In Part 2 of our 🌎 Earth Week special, Briar Wray shares how PCC is tackling big sustainability goals—from decarbonizing buildings and electrifying the fleet to growing edible landscapes and supporting student-led climate justice projects. It’s a look at how deep collaboration is making real change across our campuses. The podcast On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. Each bite-si...

In honor of 🌎 Earth Week this week's broadcast is a two-parter – and it's all about PCC Sustainability. We're doing so much we couldn't fit it in one episode. We talk to Briar Wray, Associate Dean, Sustainability Strategies. The podcast On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. Each bite-size episode answers an employee question about the college, its operations, or its people. Downlo...

The podcast, On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. We are getting answers to your burning work-related questions. In this episode Angela McMahon, Director of Application Systems for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs sits down with Danielle Gabriel, Director of Marketing to talk about the colleges transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning System. Each episode is 15 minutes...

The podcast, On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. We are getting answers to your burning work-related questions. In this episode Amber Mendel, Director of Auxiliary Services sits down with Danielle Gabriel, Director of Marketing to discuss food services at PCC. Each episode is 15 minutes or less and tackles an employee-submitted question about the college, its operations, and its...

The podcast, On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. We are getting answers to your burning work-related questions. In this episode Kurt Simonds, VP of SPIP sits down with Khylie Gardner, AVP of Marketing and Communication to discuss PCC's Strategy, Policy, and Integrated Planning. Each episode is 15 minutes or less and tackles an employee-submitted question about the college, its op...

The podcast, On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. We are getting answers to your burning work-related questions. In this podcast Sarah Rose Evans, Strategic Planning Manager sits down with Danielle Gabriel, Director of Marketing and Communications to talk about operational excellence. Each episode is 15 minutes or less and tackles an employee-submitted question about the college,...

The podcast, On the Spot@PCC! is hosted and produced by PCC staff. We are getting answers to your burning work-related questions. In this podcast Josh Peters McBride, Associate VP College Operations. talks about weather and how we prioritize safety during inclement weather. Each episode is 15 minutes or less and tackles an employee-submitted question about the college, its operations, and its peop...

Today's guest is Ryan Clark, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management & Strategy. Ryan is here to talk to us about our Fall enrollment trends, and factors impacting enrollment this year. For a transcript of this episode, click  here .