Michelle Thomas to speak at 2019 WESTOP Conference
February 12, 2019Yuma, AZ (February 12, 2019) – As the association’s current president, Arizona Western College Director of TRIO Programs Michelle Thomas will be speaking during the 2019 Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP) Conference.
With a theme of “Rising to Transform: Investing in the Future of Educational Equity,” the conference will provide professional development opportunities for educators who work in programs such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, Student Support Services, and Gear-Up.
"My hope for this event is that the attendees will leave with a renewed commitment and passion for serving historically underrepresented students and will take away new and innovative strategies to help increase the access and completion rates of first-generation and low-income students," she said.
WESTOP is one of ten regional associations dedicated to furthering educational opportunities for first-generation, low-income students as well as students with disabilities. As the sitting WESTOP president, Thomas presides over six chapters in Arizona, Central California, Nevada, Northern California, Pacific Islands, and Southern California. Over 380 educational equity professionals from those six chapters are expected to attend this upcoming conference.
The 41st annual WESTOP conference will be held in Phoenix, Arizona from Thursday, Feb. 14, to Monday, Feb. 18. Thomas shared that she is excited for the conference to be held in Arizona for the first time in 10 years. The board previously made the decision to not hold the conference in Arizona after the passage of Arizona Senate Bill 1070.
Contact:
Michelle Thomas
Director of TRIO Programs
Arizona Western College
Michelle.Thomas@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7763