Practice-oriented professor brings life to learning.

Laurie Brown has a self-proclaimed, unbridled zeal for the nursing profession. A professor at Clark College, she has been with the Nursing program for over twenty years. "Laurie is successful because she is always learning and growing," says Linda Kruse, interim director of Clark's Nursing program. "She's energetic, fun, and very engaging."

Currently, Brown is on sabbatical and has stepped into the student role again. After investing several years into the study of Reiki - the Japanese holistic healing art that employs the principle of channeling positive energy from practitioner to patient - she will soon complete the master level. "I'm especially interested in working with hospice patients," says Brown. "Reiki can reduce the pain, stress, and fatigue experienced in end-of-life transitions."

Naturally, all of Brown's activities enhance her nursing practices, knowledge, and teaching. "Laurie will look for ways to incorporate complementary and alternative healing applications into the curriculum," says Kruse. Along with holistic nursing practices, Brown is also involved in a nurse educator program to explore the use of online learning in Clark's nursing program.

In addition to furthering her education, she is examining the relationship of genetics in cancer. Research shows that seven percent of breast and ovarian cancer cases can be traced back to a mutation of the BRCA gene. Because of her own family history of cancer, Brown took the simple genetic test. Indeed, she has the BRCA gene mutation. "I didn't like the result, but it meant I could make informed choices about my health." To create awareness about the BRCA gene*, Brown gives presentations to her students and the community.

She also works as a nurse for Kaiser Permanente, which maintains her advanced critical care certification in cardiac care and oncology. "I consider my teaching role to be an extension of my professional practice, which is continuously evolving."

Brown is known for incorporating real-life situational experiences into her teaching. "I ask my students to treat each patient like they would a member of their family," says Brown. "She really brings the learning alive," Kruse adds. "Students are continually inspired by her."

Three Degrees Later

Retired Clark faculty member makes educational dreams come true.

While living with her mother at her grandmother's house during the height of World War II, Pat Fencl dreamed of going to college. That dream did not come to be until later in her life.

Pat graduated high school with stellar grades and a scholarship to Linfield College. The scholarship alone would not provide enough money for tuition, school supplies, and living expenses. Instead, life led to marriage and raising a family of six children, all of whom were strongly encouraged to go to college.

Years later, Pat was finally able to act on her childhood dream. With a supportive husband, and her five eldest children all graduated from - or attending - college, Pat enrolled at Clark College and took The Next Step toward the scholastic life she had been yearning for.

"My mother always inspired others to reach for their dreams," says Pat's daughter, Paula Lumbard. A successful entrepreneur and businesswoman in Los Angeles, Calif., Lumbard adds: "Clark College, and the faculty and staff there, motivated my mom to keep going and achieve her dreams."

Pat excelled on her academic path. After graduating Clark, she earned a bachelor's degree from The Evergreen State College and capped it off with a master's degree in history from the University of Portland. And yet, her heart belonged to Clark College. When the opportunity arose, she became a tenure-track faculty member in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program.

"It didn't surprise me that she wanted to do this," remarks Pat's husband, Jim Fencl. "She has always looked out for others. She got so much joy and satisfaction from teaching the ABE students, watching them learn, earn their GED [General Education Development], and progress in life."

When her mother passed away, Pat immediately established the Pat and Jim Fencl Scholarship Endowment with the inheritance. A yearly, full-tuition scholarship is awarded to a student from the ABE program who successfully completes a GED and plans to continue their education at Clark College.

Pat has enlisted her entire family in her passion for education. "My mom shared this idea - actually invited us [her children] to contribute toward this endowment on special occasions such as Mother's Day, Christmas, and her birthday," recalls Lumbard. "It is an honor for all of us to participate in the scholarship our mom set up in memory of her own mother, who also was not able to go to college."

Exceeding Expectations

Investment expert bolsters philanthropic projects near and far.

Like many parents of the boomer generation, Jim Martin's parents did not attend college. They made an honest living and had no expectation for their children to seek higher education. That changed when the family moved to Vancouver from Spokane, Wash. and Jim decided to attend college.

"Because of Clark, I was able to access a high quality, affordable college education, which set the stage for completing my degree," says Martin with a look of gratitude. After earning an associate degree at Clark College, he continued his studies at Eastern Washington University and received a bachelor's degree in accounting.

In 1970, Martin joined the staff of Deloitte & Touche - formerly Haskins & Sells - the world's largest professional services organization and one of the big four accounting firms in the United States today. He had a successful tenure with the company and achieved partner status.

For the past 23 years, Martin has served as the Chief Investment Officer for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver. He is responsible for overall management of the trust's investment program with current assets of $675 million.

The trust annually provides substantial support toward a variety of philanthropic causes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. With a principal emphasis on science, education, and youth, the trust has been a benefactor to Clark College in a variety of ways - including the nationally recognized Dental Hygiene program.

The Clark College Foundation turned to Martin for his expertise when the foundation was establishing its investment policy. "Jim is one of the top investment professionals in the country," says Lisa Gibert, the Foundation's president/CEO. "We feel fortunate to have benefitted from his advice over the years. Our success in growing donors' support along with their financial confidence in the Foundation is a reflection of his excellent counsel."

"Jim Martin has not only given great leadership to our investment program, he helped countless other foundations learn and practice good stewardship," says Dr. Steve Moore, executive director of the Murdock Trust. "He is also a quiet but generous supporter in time, talent, and treasure to numerous groups around Portland and Clark County."

Jim and his wife, Kym, have enthusiastically supported Clark College for many years. "We hope that by giving back, others can also pursue a college education," explains Jim. "Clark gave me a solid start and we want others to realize their own potential just as I was able to do."