Southwestern’s Blount accepts new position in Indiana

Southwestern Oregon Community College Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Dr. Joanna Blount has accepted a new position at Ancilla College, a private two-year institution in Donaldson, Ind.

Blount – who worked at Southwestern for 11 years, during that time serving as Associate Dean of Student Services and Registrar, Associate Dean of Collegiate and Professional Technical Education and her current position – has accepted the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs position at Ancilla.

During her time as Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Southwestern, Blount focused on articulation, accreditation and statewide program approval. During her tenure in that position, Southwestern received Emergency Medical Technician accreditation, Nursing Program approval and recently completed the five-year visit by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities – the regional accrediting body for all institutions of higher learning in the region. Oregon Coast Culinary Institute also recently completed its first accreditation visit by the American Culinary Federation.

“Joanna has served Southwestern well over the past 11 years,” said Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker. “I wish her all the best in her new leadership role at Ancilla College.”

Blount earned an associate’s degree from Matanuska-Susitna College in Social Science; bachelor’s from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, in Psychology; master’s from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania in Educational Psychology; and a Doctor of Education from Oregon State University in Community College Leadership.

“Southwestern has been very good to me,” Blount said. “I have learned a great deal from everyone I’ve worked with. These roles at Southwestern have positioned me for the job at Ancilla College by providing education, training, support and experience at the practical level.”

Press Release Date: May 30, 2007