Faculty and Staff Excellence
First Dean of Instruction John Terry articulated TCC’s people power in 1965 when he said the faculty are the continuity of the college.81 Of the college’s founding 27 professionals, 82 percent were still with the college in 1970 as it grew,82 demonstrating a commitment to the community and its enrichment.
TCC’s innovative faculty have created environments where teaching and learning is personally relevant and accessible in format and content to a diverse range of students. TCC faculty also engage in meaningful research, earning accolades such as Fulbright Scholarships,83 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH),84 National Science Foundation (NSF),85 and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)86 grants and fellowships.
College staff are equally dedicated to whole student support, identifying, building, and strengthening services that help students in their learning and career goals, personal growth, and basic needs. Staff, too, demonstrate a passion for their areas of expertise, engaging in their own continuous improvement.
Carl Brown
Carl Brown, TCC’s first Black economics professor and Minority Affairs Director, ran an informal loan fund out of his office to help struggling students of color make ends meet during the 1970s.
Joseph Kosai
Faculty counselor, administrator, and local JACL chapter Chairman Joe Kosai was a staunch ally to students of color, and facilitated essential teaching and learning on the experiences of Japanese Americans.
Georgia McDade
English professor Georgia McDade spearheaded experiential opportunities for her Humanities classes by obtaining her own commercial license to drive students to art galleries in Seattle and to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival.
Lorraine Hildebrand
Long-time library staff member “Hildy” was the core of the TCC library’s early ethnic studies research and growth.