Southwestern Executive Assistant Receives 2017 Desjardins Leadership Award, Dec. 1

News release SWOCC.  Southwestern Oregon Community College is pleased to announce that Deb Nicholls, Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Education has been awarded the prestigious 2017 Oregon American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Carolyn Desjardins Leadership Award. Each year, the award is presented in recognition of women who demonstrate the ability to inspire and champion women as leaders. Nominations are selected based on the individual’s outstanding leadership and significant contributions to community colleges. Oregon’s AAWCC Board honored Ms. Nicholls at the 2017 Fall Conference earlier this month. “Deb’s leadership, volunteerism and commitment extends beyond our college campus out into the greater community. She contributes to the community through her work with our Alumni Association and by participating in numerous local charitable organizations.  She helps organize Zonta’s Coos County Women’s’ Health Coalition ‘Walk and Talk with a Doctor’ event that encourages women to lead healthy lifestyles and gain health advice from professionals.  She assists with the annual KDOCK/Rotary ‘Bus Jam’ event collecting food and toys for South Coast families.  While we’ve had a campus AAWCC chapter for years, Deb is responsible for jump starting the chapter several years ago with the assistance of scholarships and grant monies from the Oregon AAWCC Board. Periodically, we host student interns in the President’s Office and I have had the privilege of listening from my office as Deb works to inspire another future professional, most of whom are women! She is an inspiration to all of us here at Southwestern,” shared College President Dr. Patty Scott. A graduate of Marshfield High School, Southwestern Oregon Community College and Southern Oregon University, Deb has worked in various positions throughout her more than 30-year career at SWOCC, becoming the Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Education in 1999.  She is an active participant and planner in events both on and off campus.  Responsible for the College’s involvement with the annual Shore Acres Holiday Lights event, Deb has organized numerous campus food drives that are still going strong today. She’s a member of the local AAWCC chapter serving as President-Elect, President and Past President.  In 2006, she attended the Oregon Institute of Leadership Development and has served on the Oregon AAWCC Board as the Vice President of Records since 2013 and President-Elect since January 2017.  As for her involvement with AAWCC, Deb shares that she is “always excited for the opportunity to work with such brilliant women and to assist in bringing development opportunities to women around the state.”  As a longtime resident of the South Coast, Deb has always made time to volunteer at both local school districts over the years.  She assisted with the Boys and Girls Club Annual Auction for many years and has served as a Table Captain for the Club’s Annual Ladies Luncheon in recent years.  Deb also enjoys the hard work involved in volunteering on Habitat for Humanity houses, when her schedule allows.  In collaboration with her daughters, local Mary Kay consultants, and the North Bend Boys Basketball team, Deb helped develop the Adopt-A-Grandparent program that has brought joy and gifts to residents in local care facilities during the holidays, an event of which she is extremely proud.  “Leadership isn’t about being the boss.  It’s about empowering others to find their strengths and help them to reach their full potential.  I’m truly honored to receive the award,” Deb shared.  When not working, Deb enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hunting and fishing, and traveling when possible. Founded in 1973, the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) is the leading national organization that champions women and maximizes their potential. AAWCC is guided in all of its endeavors by a firm commitment to equity and excellence in education and employment for women in community, junior and technical colleges. That commitment is translated into action at the national, regional, state and local levels through AAWCC programs, activities and services. To learn more about Oregon’s AAWCC chapter visit:  http://www.aawccoregon.org.