For the week of June 27, 2005For Immediate ReleaseESTRELLA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPOINTS DEAN TO ENHANCE ARTSThrough a continued commitment to public art and fine arts curriculum, Estrella Mountain Community College announces the appointment of Joyce M. Jackson to the role of Dean of Academic Affairs, with a primary focus on the development of fine arts education and accessibility to the arts in the West Valley. As a founding staff member of the college, Jackson's knowledge and artistic vision was key in the implementation of public art and the college's unique environmental design. Jackson enriches college administration with a combination of professional and personal experience in both education and the arts, including seven years experience with the West Valley Arts Council Board of Directors in a variety of roles including President of the Board. In addition to her years of service directing educational activities and advancement in the West Valley, Jackson is a trained singer and actress, and currently performs with the Arizona Arts Chorale. DUCKS ‘FLOCK' TO RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AT SOUTHWEST SKILL CENTERStudents, faculty, staff and community members raised nearly $1000 dollars in scholarships for needy SouthWest Skill Center students at Estrella Mountain Community College when they sponsored dozens of rubber ducks in the college's first annual Duck Race. The brightly colored rubber ducks, whose sponsorships sold for $5.00 each, raced to the finish in one of the college's soothing, regionally inspired water features, and funded a number of scholarships that will assist continuing adults in their quest for workforce-ready skill sets specializing in the areas of business technology.EMCC PROFESSOR SELECTED FOR MARICOPA INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING FELLOWSHIPThe Maricopa Institute for Learning (MIL) has selected Roberta Gray, Estrella Mountain Reading/ESL faculty as one of the recipients of its 2005-2006 fellowships. MIL, which focuses its fellowship efforts on improving teaching and learning through classroom projects, selected Gray's research project that focuses on improving the quality of critical reading and thinking among students in reading and evaluation courses by creating a more dynamic and interactive learning environment at Estrella Mountain Community College.LANGUAGES ENHANCE COURSE OFFERINGS AT ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN IN FALL 2005This fall students and community can take advantage of new course offerings focusing on communication with diverse audiences. In addition to classes in Spanish and French, the college offers SLG 101 and 102, introductory American Sign Language courses, and for the first time, SLG 110 Finger Spelling, and SLG 201, American Sign Language III. For a detailed list of classes offered in the coming semester, prospective students can check online at estrellamountain.edu or call 623-935-8888 for more information.Estrella Mountain Community College is a Maricopa Community College. Located on Thomas and Dysart Roads in Avondale, EMCC offers transfer-ready academic courses and job-specific occupational training to residents in the West Valley. Maricopa County Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the nation serving more than a quarter million students annually. For more information visit www.estrellamountain.edu or www.maricopa.edu # # #
