ACCT

Central Region
Robin M. Smith
Lansing Community College, MI
It is my passion for student inclusion that drives me to promote diversity in education. I bring to the ACCT Diversity Committee a commitment to diversity based on the philosophy to encompass acceptance and respect of the historically underrepresented, to help cultivate understanding of their uniqueness, and recognizing their individual differences. As an educator with the diverse Lansing School District, and as an elected Trustee with Lansing Community College, I offer a unique perspective of professional and civic experience as it relates to diversity in education.

As Chairperson of the Personnel & Compensation Committee for LCC, I work to promote diversity in the College's hiring and employment practices. I frequently serve as a Guest Lecturer on topics of diversity throughout Michigan, and work as a mentor with the Yes Club, Young Educators Society within the Lansing School District, a group that promotes student recruitment for the underrepresented.

Jody Wadhwa
Oakton Community College, IL
For the past 20 years, I have been a Trustee at Oakton Community College in Des Moines IL, holding various offices, including Chairman of the Board three times. As a member of the OCC Foundation, I have brought many business leaders on board. In addition, the Wadhwa Foundation that I have set up has endowed a yearly scholarship for the past 15 years, which goes to needy science and engineering students.

I would like to spend more time at the national level, working on diversity that reflects the values of our republic. As a naturalized citizen, it would be a tribute to serve on this committee with total dedication. There is no better way to uplift the members of our diverse population than through education. It would be an honor and privilege to serve on this committee.

Cid Wilson
Bergen Community College, NJ
Cid Wilson has been a Trustee at Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ, since 2006. He is the Director of Equity Research for Kevin Dann & Partners LLC. In 2006, Forbes ranked Mr. Wilson as the #1 financial analyst in his field of coverage. He is the former National President of the Dominican American National Roundtable in Washington, DC. He is a Life Member of the NAACP and a President's Council member of the National Council of La Raza. NJ Governor Jon Corzine named Mr. Wilson to his Property Tax Reform Policy Team in 2006.

Mr. Wilson is a nationally renowned Afro-Latino corporate and community leader who has used his corporate success to advocate for educational excellence. He routinely speaks at various schools and colleges, mostly as a keynote speaker. Mr. Wilson's corporate and civic successes have been documented in the national media.

Pacific Region
Walter G. Howald
Coast Community College District, CA
I am committed to diversity as a core value in our community colleges. I believe it is our communal ability to embrace change and foster diversity that allows us to provide exceptional educational and career opportunities to all students. My commitment spans 30 years of working in higher education and striving to provide leadership based on educational rather than political considerations.

A commitment to diversity has profoundly shaped California. I have extensive experience in community colleges, legislative affairs, business, law, and have worked diligently to promote diversity throughout the state. I hope that you will allow me the opportunity to continue to work on a larger scale as your representative on the ACCT Diversity Committee.

Southern Region
Harriett Gardin Fields
Midlands Technical College, SC
We live in a global society that requires us to train and educate to live and work for a global economy. It is important that all Trustees have training and education in diversity. I have worked with many cultures during my career and served with the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, which develops models for use with diversity. All of our colleges have a diverse student population that we must assure are understood. All of our programs and students must be culturally provided for in our planning as Trustees. I would be honored to be elected as a member of the ACCT Diversity Committee.

Western Region
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Houston Community College, TX
Last year's campus groundbreaking in the Houston Community College District represented a milestone - both for HCC and for me. My parents taught us the importance of community service, and I know my efforts to find the land and build the new campus will help more students fulfill their dreams. My goals to help people seek success and better lives through education are reaching fruition in my service as an HCC trustee and I believe my experience will serve me well on ACCT's Diversity Committee. Our role as leaders in higher education is to make opportunities available to all students, no matter their wealth, gender, race or religion. My participation in many ACCT leadership gatherings over the past several years tells me ACCT members share this philosophy of inclusiveness and opportunity for all. I would be privileged to offer my time, commitment and experience to the ACCT Diversity Committee.