Speakers

As a first generation college graduate and passionate advocate for workforce education, Dr. Morrison has committed her career advocating for college students and community and technical colleges. During her tenure at LWTech, Dr. Morrison has seen the college through post-Great Recession budgetary challenges, while growing college programs and partnerships. The College has grown program offerings with a focus on equity, completion, and empathy. In 2019 LWTech was named one of the Top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute, in part because of the College’s substantive completion efforts. Morrison is extensively involved in local, regional, and statewide initiatives including One Redmond, Cascadia Innovation Corridor, Washington Technology Industry Association, and serving as a Commissioner for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). She is also substantively involved in statewide community and technical college system work, including chairing the presidents’ legislative and strategic visioning committees. Morrison has been recognized for her inclusive, collaborative, and transparent leadership by NCMPR in 2017 as the Pacesetter of the Year, 2019 by EvergreenHealth with their Community Service Award, and by her alma mater University of Nebraska Lincoln Educational Administration Department with their 2020 Impact Award. Prior to leading LWTech, Dr. Morrison served for nearly ten years in vice presidential roles including advancement, as well as, campus operations at Clover Park Technical College. She began her community and technical college career at Bates Technical College in 1999. Prior to her community and technical college career, Morrison served as the Deputy Director in the Office of Congressman Norm Dicks where she focused on higher education and workforce outreach. She received her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in December 2013 as part of the National Community College Leadership Cohort. Her dissertation focused on the importance of student completion (earning a credential such as a degree or certificate) for students pursuing a workforce or technical degree. She received her Masters of Public Administration at The Evergreen State College, and her undergraduate degree at Mills College.

Daria Schubert is a graphic designer, photographer, and Senior Adjunct Faculty at LWTech. Schubert has thirty five years of experience designing print graphics in freelance, small studio, print shop, and corporate environments. She received her Bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic State, San Luis Obispo, and later a LWTech certificate in web design. Schubert teaches a variety of design classes, which offers her the opportunity to engage with a variety of students in and outside of the Design program. Daria is inspired by nature and loves flowers and cats.

Nazanin Joseph-Laleh, who goes by Noa and uses she/ her/hers pronouns, moved to the United States with her family six years ago and learned English as her third language. This year she had the pleasure of serving as the Associated Student Government and Phi Theta Kappa’s Honor Society Chapter President, two experiences she would not trade for the world. Noa is graduating with a degree in Computer Science and as a Running Start graduate. Noa appreciates her LWTech journey and knows that she could not be here today without the support of the college’s amazing faculty, staff, and students. For that support, she thanks all that have been part of her educational journey.