2022 Alliance Annual Meeting

Belinda Miles

Westchester Community College

Belinda S. Miles, Ed.D., has served as president of Westchester Community College since 2015. Her leadership contributed to the college’s selection to the Achieving the Dream network; the founding a full Honors College; and procurement of a major gift to establish the Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity.  Previously, she served as provost and executive vice president at Cuyahoga Community College.  Miles received her B.A. in political science from York College (CUNY), and an M.A. in educational psychology and an Ed.D. in higher education organization and leadership development from Columbia University Teachers College.

Carli Schiffner

Alliance Executive Committee, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Carli Schiffner serves as the deputy executive director of education at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She is a dedicated leader in higher education, with over fifteen years of progressive senior leadership experience in positions including interim university president, university provost, vice president for instruction, and dean of arts and sciences. Schiffner values servant leadership, collaboration, quality improvement, focusing on the whole student, an entrepreneurial spirit, equity, hard work, and a sense of humor. She has a B.A. in history and political science from Gonzaga University; a M.A. in cultural and intellectual history from Drew University; and a Ph.D. in American women’s history from Washington State University.

Kimberly Dale

President, Western Wyoming Community College Rock Springs

Kimberly Kuster Dale came to Western Wyoming Community College in 2019 as Western’s 8^th president.  She attended a large university after high school and left after one semester to go to work.  She later returned to college and never stopped, finding her love for learning and serving students.  Dr. Dale received a bachelor of science degree in business education from Metropolitan State College of Denver, a master’s degree in management and organization from the University of Colorado Denver, and a doctorate degree in educational leadership and human resource studies from Colorado State University. 

Kim worked within the Colorado Community College System for over 20 years, serving as a faculty department chair, dean of instruction and outreach.  She also taught as an adjunct professor in management and organizational development at the University of Colorado Denver.  Prior to coming to Western, Kim served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Western Nebraska Community College.

Kim and her husband, Randy, have five children and four grandchildren who reside in northern Colorado and Kentucky.  Kim and Randy have fallen in love with Wyoming and take time to enjoy the great outdoors every chance they get.

Liliana Diaz Solodukhin

Senior Policy Analyst, Policy Analysis and Research

303.541.0263ldiaz@wiche.edu

Liliana Diaz Solodukhin, policy analyst with WICHE, works on a diverse range of activities including conducting and communicating policy research on a wide array of higher education-related topics, developing and sustaining relationships with external stakeholders, and conceptualizing and executing short- and long-term collaborative projects with states. Diaz received her B.S. in journalism and mass communication, B.A. in film studies, and a certificate in Technology, Arts, and Media from the University of Colorado at Boulder, earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Denver.

Todd Helvig

Director of Education and Training, Behavioral Health Program

303.541.0287thelvig@wiche.edu

Todd Helvig earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University after completing his internship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC) in 2000. He began his clinical work as a Psychologist at the Colorado Department of Corrections’ Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center, and became the Manager of Behavioral Health services for the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility in 2004. He supervised the work of correctional Psychologists, Social Workers, and Substance Use counselors alongside supervising the UCHSC correctional-based interns/internship. He then moved to the Division of Parole in 2007 where he was the Administrator of Community Behavioral Health Services and organized behavioral health resources in the community for offenders releasing from institutional settings who had mental health, substance use, or sex offender treatment needs. In 2013, Helvig left State correctional services to join Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network (ADMHN) as their Director of Business Development for community behavioral health. While developing new business opportunities for ADMHN, Helvig was also building a private consulting and coaching practice. Then, in 2018, his passion for nonprofit community behavioral health led him to CHARG Resource Center where he served as Executive Director of a consumer-centric organization supporting the social, emotional, and psychiatric programs and services for those managing chronic mental illness in Denver, Colorado.

Throughout these roles, Helvig has had the pleasure of working with a wide variety and broad scope of behavioral health programs and services. He has worked alongside both City and State leaders to identify gaps in mental health and substance use services, implement evidence based practices, and raise awareness for the needs of those for whom there are barriers to accessing services. He thrives not only on developing behavioral health resources, but on developing those professionals who are providing services, including: Doctoral Interns, Psychologist Candidates, and mental health as well as substance use treatment professionals. Helvig’s 20+ years of work in community behavioral health now joins the work of WICHE’s behavioral health unit in the goal to develop programs, processes, and professionals which create essential access to behavioral health services for all those in need.

Russ Poulin

Executive Director, WCET and Vice President for Technology-Enhanced Education

303.541.0305rpoulin@wiche.edu

As the executive director of WCET, Russell Poulin leads an organization focusing on the practice, policy, and advocacy of digital learning in higher education. WCET member institutions and organizations hail from all fifty states and Canada. As WICHE’s vice president for technology-enhanced education, Poulin advises on policies and projects. WCET includes the membership-based State Authorization Network and the grant-funded Every Learner Everywhere network. Poulin has been recognized for national contributions to digital learning policy and practice. Poulin previously led distance education collaboration for the North Dakota University System. Poulin is partial to movies, cats, and his wife.

Jeffrey Alexander

Alliance Executive Committee, Truckee Meadows Community College

Jeffrey Alexander has served as vice president of academic affairs at Truckee Meadows Community College since June 2021, and he represents Nevada’s 2-year public institutions as vice chair of the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders (Alliance). Previously, he served for 6 years as dean of arts and sciences at Pueblo Community College, prior to which he taught history at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Alexander is an historian of modern Japan and has published three books on Japanese consumer product manufacturing, sales, and consumption. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in history from The University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Scott Eychner

Montana Department of Labor & Industry

Scott Eychner was born in San Antonio, Texas to a career Air Force officer which allowed him the opportunity to live in locations and experience cultures all over the world. Growing up in this type of ever-changing environment instilled in him an appreciate and even desire for change. Eychner has spent 25 years in the workforce development world and serves as administrator of workforce services at the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. His passion for workforce development built itself over time through various positions and fantastic opportunities to be a part of helping others. Today he continues to work to understand Montana’s unique and dynamic workforce challenges and focus on making sure the public workforce system is a relevant and active partner in helping businesses and individuals address those challenges.

Satine Stone

Front Range Community College

Satine Stone is a psychology student and president of the Student Government Associate at Front Range Community College. She is from Los Angeles, CA, and recently moved to Longmont, CO. She is working on receiving her A.A. in psychology from Front Range Community College and transferring to the University of Colorado, Boulder to study for a bachelor’s and master’s in psychology. Stone’s final educational goal is to attain her Ph.D. in psychology focusing on developmental trauma and recovery in family and community systems.