College of Western Idaho (CWI) faculty, staff, leadership, and trustees gathered via Zoom, Wednesday, Aug. 18, for the Fall 2021 College Address. The address, emceed by Communications Representative, Ashley Smith, kicked off with a welcome from Interim President Denise Aberle-Cannata who introduced guest speaker, Michael Mathews.
Mathews is the Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His presentation, Accelerating Your Imagination to Design a Future for Success, underscored the importance of teaching from the heart to spark a passion for learning while using technology to connect students to the curriculum.
Mathews was followed by a video presentation celebrating the past academic year and looking forward to a bold future at the College and a word from Board of Trustee Chair, Molly Lenty.
“I am so proud of CWI’s success over the past year. We never lost sight of our focus, advancing student success, and we launched and completed a number of initiatives all through extraordinary times.”
Comparing these extraordinary times to the Blue Angels flying at 400 miles an hour feet apart from each other while staying in formation, she continued, “Our faculty and staff continue to adapt and move as one. Similar to anything in life, we can anticipate encountering turbulence. However, without a doubt, I know collectively we will most definitely soar boldly into the future.”
Congratulations to Juanita Manzo, Project Manager for Instruction, who was named Staff of the Year and Heather Schoenherr, Professor of Psychology, who was name Faculty of the Year, as well as all the employees who received five- and 10-year service awards.
The event concluded with a live Q&A session with members of President’s Cabinet.
Thank you to all joined the address and to those who participated in the polls. Be sure to read CWI News next week where the winners will be announced.
