News

Public invited to college forums to meet Entrepreneurial College EVP finalists

April 13, 2026

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Yuma, Ariz. (April 13, 2026) – Members of the Yuma and La Paz communities are invited to attend candidate forums on April 16th and 20th to meet the five finalists for Executive Vice President of the Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College.   

"We had a great response to our posting to lead this remarkable arm of the college,” said Kathy Ocampo, AWC Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “We're looking to build on the momentum of the last few years, to take our Workforce Development and Career Technology offerings to the next level. The next leader will chart a path for our faculty, staff and students while keeping us connected to the emerging trends in higher education and industry.”

Executive Vice President Candidate Forums

Thursday, April 16, AWC Yuma Campus, Matador Activity Center (MAC) room 106 
•    7:30-8:30 a.m. – Candidate #1 Dr. Isaac Zúñiga
•    2:00-3:00 p.m. – Candidate #2 Dr. Shadi Kilani 
•    3:45-4:45 p.m. – Candidate #3 Dr. Shelley Pearson 

Monday, April 20, AWC Yuma Campus, Matador Activity Center (MAC) room 106 
•    7:30-8:30 a.m. – Candidate #4 Dr. David Campbell 
•    2:30-3:30 p.m. – Candidate #5 Andrew Clegg

About the Candidates

• Dr. Isaac Zúñiga
  Dr. Isaac Zúñiga is a community college leader focused on aligning academic and student services with workforce demand, equity, and student success, currently serving as Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Success at Richland Community College. He has led initiatives in Guided Pathways, workforce-aligned programming, and inclusive, student-centered systems, with prior leadership roles at Kennedy-King College and South Mountain Community College.
   
• Dr. Shadi Kilani
  Dr. Shadi Kilani is a higher education leader focused on aligning academic pathways with workforce needs, currently serving as Dean of Health, Business, and Industry at Tarrant County College, where he oversees programs in high-demand fields. He has also served as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, leading system-level efforts to strengthen student success, industry partnerships, and workforce-aligned program development.
   
• Dr. Shelley Pearson
  Dr. Shelley Pearson is a higher education leader with 20+ years of experience advancing career and technical education, workforce partnerships, and student success in community colleges, currently serving as Interim Director of Dual Credit at Hill College. She previously served as Vice Chancellor and Provost at Tarrant County College District, overseeing academic and student operations for 50,000+ students and leading initiatives focused on workforce-aligned programs, industry partnerships, and regional economic impact.
   
• Dr. David Campbell
  Dr. David Campbell is a senior community college executive with 30+ years of experience in workforce development, career and technical education, and regional economic growth, having held vice presidential roles at multiple institutions. Most recently, he led the Communiversity at East Mississippi Community College and now consults on large-scale workforce and apprenticeship systems, focusing on industry-aligned, entrepreneurial education models.
   
• Andrew Clegg
  Andrew Clegg is the Academic Dean of Workforce Development and Skilled Trades at Central Arizona College, where he leads efforts to align education with regional industry needs and workforce demand. With more than a decade of experience, he has led major grant initiatives, supported statewide student success strategies, and brings a background in economic development and workforce partnerships.

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Contact:
Katheline Ocampo
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Arizona Western College
katheline.ocampo@azwestern.edu
(928) 317-6050