COMMUNITY COLLEGES, RANKED BY ENROLLMENT
EDUCATION
Top 10 RIO SALADO COLLEGE 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, 85281 // 480-517-8000 // riosalado.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 557 ENROLLMENT 56,472 PRINCIPAL Chris Bustamante, president HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Dana Reid, acting vice president of academic affairs PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE 4905 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, 85715 // 800-860-7462 // pima.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 1,666 ENROLLMENT 47,288 PRINCIPAL Lee Lambert, J.D., chancellor HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Dolores Duran-Cerda, Ph.D., acting executive vice chancellor and provost MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, 85202 // 480-461-7000 // mesacc. edu AZ EMPLOYEES 718 ENROLLMENT 36,938 PRINCIPAL Dr. Shouan Pan, president HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Dr. Sonya D. Pearson, vice president of student affairs GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale, 85302 // 623-845-3333 // gccaz.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 1,929 ENROLLMENT 30,000 PRINCIPAL AND HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Dr. Irene H. Kovala, president
CONSENSUS BUILDER
JONI GROVER VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS BY DAVID M. BROWN
66
Joni Grover’s 39-year career in education grew from humble beginnings. Grover’s father, a former elementary school teacher and principal, then administrator in the Maricopa Community College system, first encouraged her to apply to one of its colleges as a clerk typist in the financial aid department. She is now vice president of student affairs at GateWay Community College, and is responsible for activities and tasks associated with the vision and mission of the community colleges. Founded in 1968 as Maricopa Technical College, GateWay was the state’s first technical college and the first to tailor courses to business and industry needs. It was also the first to offer classes at off-campus locations and even to install a computer. “At the district level, we are striving to expand upon a national movement dedicated to building healthy academic communities and providing an opportunity to consider how we, as a college system, can engage and support our students and employees to consider a healthy lifestyle,” Grover says. At Gateway, she is working to integrate the four GateWay Community College and Maricopa Skill Center locations into one GateWay Community College. “This means we will be able to develop similar processes, be more efficient in our efforts, offer programs beyond current locations and find better fits for students by working collaboratively,” she says.
Grover also oversees 18 student affairs departments including the Children’s Learning Center, student life, athletics, enrollment services, financial aid, student success, disability resources and services, and Title IX. “Our vision is to be the compass and support to navigate student dreams and potential through a knowledgeable, caring and respectful student affairs workforce,” she says. Grover particularly enjoyed guiding students through the federal financial aid process during College Goal FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a statewide initiative coordinated by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. Several years ago, she received the Robert Thompson Memorial Leadership Award, the Arizona Association of Student Financial Aid Professionals’ highest honor, awarded for commitment to the profession through the sustained mentoring, training and support of members. Born and raised in Phoenix, Grover received her associate’s degree at Mesa Community College and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University’s extended education program. She and her husband will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this August. They have two sons. Although she is not in the classroom, she aspires to teach as a daily role model interacting with students and staff. She leads with her strengths: harmony, responsibility, discipline and consistency.
CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2626 E. Pecos Rd., Chandler, 85224 // 480-732-7093 // cgc.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 1,335 ENROLLMENT 14,654 PRINCIPAL AND HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Sylvia Orr, vice president of academic affairs ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale, 85392 // 623-9358000 // estrellamountain.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 273 ENROLLMENT 14,644 PRINCIPAL Dr. Ernest Lara, president HIGHEST-RANKING WOMEN Dr. Patricia Cardenas-Adame, vice president of student affairs; Sue Tavakoli, vice president of administrative services PARADISE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, 85032 // 602-7877862 // paradisevalley.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 695 ENROLLMENT 13,300 PRINCIPAL Dr. Paul Dale, president HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Dr. Mary Lou Mosley, vice president, academic affairs PHOENIX COLLEGE 1202 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, 85013 // 602-285-7777 // phoenixcollege. edu AZ EMPLOYEES 385 ENROLLMENT 11,865 PRINCIPAL AND HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Christina Haines, interim president GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 108 N. 40th St., Phoenix, 85034 // 602-286-8000 // gatewaycc. edu AZ EMPLOYEES 250 ENROLLMENT 11,000 PRINCIPAL Steven Gonzales, president, GateWay Community College HIGHEST-RANKING WOMEN Maria Wise, vice president of academic affairs; Joni Grover, vice president of student affairs SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 9000 E. Chaparral Road, Scottsdale, 85256 // 480-4236000 // scottsdalecc.edu AZ EMPLOYEES 400 ENROLLMENT 10,000 PRINCIPAL AND HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Jan Gehler, president
WHO’S WHO IN BUSINESS // 2016
Education_Master.indd 66
5/17/16 5:46 PM