About YC

College Mission, Values, and Strategic Goals & Initiatives

Mission

Mission: Yavapai College enriches our community by providing accessible, quality workforce, transfer, lifelong, and cultural learning opportunities.

Vision Statement: Yavapai College ensures that Yavapai County is a premier place to learn, work, and live.

Goals

• Offer Career Education programs that provide the education and training necessary to compete in the global job market.
• Ensure that General Education students can matriculate and continue in other institutions and programs.
• Provide the Community with access to lifelong learning and cultural opportunities.
• Assure the Communities of Yavapai County receive the leadership and encouragement to promote economic development.

Values

Excellence

• We foster positive relationships with students, staff, and faculty to support student learning goals.
• We anticipate the needs of stakeholders and adjust our efforts to reduce their challenges and support their objectives.
• We create a positive, productive, and supportive environment conducive to learning.

Caring

• We actively listen and provide support to students and colleagues.
• We connect with others, respecting human dignity and responding with compassion.

Equity

• We are committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment aimed at supporting and educating our students, staff, faculty, administration, and community partners regardless of individual backgrounds, identities, and differences.
• We are committed to dismantling structural barriers to equity by investing in policies, practices, and behaviors that work to support all students, staff, faculty, administration, and community partners to continually assess and adjust our behavior to be more equitable, fair, and just.

Integrity

• We are accountable to our students, community, ourselves, and our local taxpayers.
• We demonstrate collaboration and respect in all interactions.

Strategic Goals & Initiatives

1. Belonging Strengthen our commitment to individual and organizational efforts to build respect, dignity, caring, equality and self-esteem in all employees and students.

• Develop and support a culture where all employees feel acknowledged, engaged, inspired, and supported by each other and the college.
• Provide equitable professional development opportunities where all faculty and staff can enhance their skills to serve students better.
• Create a sense of belonging for all students in our learning environment.

2. Living Wage Ensure a program mix that prepares graduates to obtain living wage jobs.

• Ensure that curriculum and programs are focused on imparting skills needed to secure living-wage jobs in a new economy highlighted by growing artificial intelligence and automation.
• Create a one-stop-shop for workforce training.
•  Develop Baccalaureate Degrees to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in high-paying professions.

3. Adult Learners Respond to shifting community and workforce needs to serve adult learners.

• Grow enrollment of non-traditional age learners with a focus on people with some college, no degree.
• Increase Hispanic learner enrollment and educational attainment levels.
• Become a leader in adult lifelong learning with financially self-sustaining courses and programs.

4. Delivery Redefine time, place, and methods of educational delivery to create a more learner-centric environment.

• Increase online enrollment and success by adopting and implementing best-in- class pedagogy and processes.
• Improve students' ability to complete programs more quickly through multiple start dates and fast track pathways.
• Expand Open Educational Resources (OER) Improve our credit for prior learning systems.
• Improve credit for prior learning systems, recognizing the value of life experiences and non-traditional learning opportunities. 

View details at Yavapai College Strategic Planning.

District Governing Board

Board Members

• Ms. Deb McCasland, Board Chair
• Mr. Chris Kuknyo, Board Secretary
• Mr. Ray Sigafoos, Board Member
• Mr. Steve Bracety, Board Member
• Mr. Alton "Toby" Payne, Board Member

The Board's role is to act as a link between the taxpayers and management, directing and regulating the organization on the taxpayers' behalf. While Board members are elected by the voters of Yavapai County, they make decisions in the best interest of the taxpayers as a whole.

Visit the Yavapai College District Governing Board's home page at www.yc.edu/dgb.

College Administration

President

Lisa Rhine, Ph.D. College President (2019)

Executive Leadership Team

Douglas Berry, P.h.D. Provost (2023)

Marylou Mercado, Ed.D. Vice President of Workforce & Health Sciences (2024)

Rodney Jenkins, M.B.A. Vice President of Community Relations and Student Development (2017)

Clint Ewell, Ed.D. Vice President of Finance & Administrative Services (2010)

Janet Nix, Ed.D. Chief Human Resources Officer (2023)

Associate Vice Presidents

Diana Dowling, M.Ed. Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management (2011)

Dean Holbrook, M.A. Associate Vice President of Instruction & Early College (2009)

John Morgan, M.A. Associate Vice President of the School of Career & Technical Education (1999)

Tyler Rumsey M.S. Associate Vice President of Community Relations (2018)

Tania Sheldahl, M.Ed. Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students (1986)

District Deans

Perry Baker, Ph.D. Dean of Math, Sciences & Technology (2023)

Joan Fisher, Ph.D. Dean of Professional Programs and Visual Arts (2003)

Stacey Hilton, M.S. Dean of Instructional Support (2000)

Irina Del Genio, Ph.D. Dean of English, Humanities & Social Sciences, and the Verde Valley Campus and Sedona Center (2023)

Yavapai College Foundation

Executive Members: FY24/25

• April Rhodes, President
• Jeff Spohn, First Vice President
• Tracey McCollum, Second Vice President
• Deanna Tarrant, Treasurer
• Joan Meyers, Secretary   
• Dr. Lisa Rhine, Yavapai College President
• Mary Talosi, Yavapai College Foundation Executive Director

Ensuring Excellence in Education at Yavapai College and Supporting our Communities

Since 1971 the Yavapai College Foundation (YCF) has been committed to excellence in education and enhancing the opportunities of Yavapai College's students, faculty, and local communities. The far-reaching scope of the Foundation is evident through its diverse auxiliary organizations and projects.

In 2024, the Yavapai College Foundation achieved GuideStar's Platinum Transparency designation, which is the highest possible rating for fiscal transparency and integrity.  Mary Talosi calimed "GuideStar's recognition helps us better explain who we are, what we do, and the impact we make on our community."  

As Yavapai County and Yavapai College grow, the need for a strong and financially supportive Foundation has never been greater. There are many ways you can help:

• Give a gift today
• Designate a gift to a specific priority
• Name YCF in your planned gift or will
• Become a Foundation/Auxiliary member
• Volunteer

Scholarships

Over 300 named scholarship funds benefit hundreds of students each year, and we will be providing more than $1 million in support to YC for scholarships and programs in the 24-25 academic year.

Through auxiliaries and volunteers, the Yavapai College Foundation supports the needs and opportunities in our communities across our county.

• Friends of the Family Enrichment Center (FoFEC)

Friends of the Family Enrichment Center is a group of individuals and companies dedicated to early childhood development and education. At the FEC, children are learning all the time! Teachers support and challenge children to develop new skills, think creatively, and work together to solve problems. FEC's program also provides hands-on teaching experience for Yavapai College students, an invaluable resource for elementary and early childhood education.

• Friends of the Southwest Wine Center (FoSWC)

The FoSWC support and raise funds for the Southwest Wine Center located on the Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus. The Center serves as a hub of education, research, and rural economic development activity designed to support the viticulture industry in achieving its potential as a significant US wine-producing region. At the core of the Center are five key components: academic programs, a student-run vineyard, a full-production teaching winery, a knowledge gateway, and business linkages. 

Join and donate to YCF @ www.yc.edu/foundation.

Campus and Center Locations

For callers outside the 928 area code, please call 1.800.922.6787

The following locations are high schools locations that offer Yavapai College programs to their students:  

Affiliation and Accreditation

Yavapai College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 800.621.7440/312.263.0456 Fax: 312.263.7462
Email: info@hlcommission.org
http://hlcommission.org

Program Accreditation

Nursing Program

Yavapai College first received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing in 1981.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
404.975.5000

Fire Science Program

Yavapai College first received accreditation from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress in 2001.

International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)
1700 E. Tyler
Oklahoma State university
Stillwater, OK 74078-8075
Phone: 405.744.8303
Fax: 405.744.8802

Radiologic Technology Program

Yavapai College first received accreditation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology in 2011.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312.704.5300
www.jrcert.org

Emergency Medical Technician Program

Yavapai College first received accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for Emergency Medical Services Professions in 2012.

CAAHEP - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727.210.2350
Fax: 727.210.2354
www.caahep.org

CoAEMSP - Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for Emergency Medical Services Professions
8301 Lakeview Parkway
Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
Phone: 214.703.8445
Fax: 214.703.8992
http://coaemsp.org

Automotive Program

Yavapai College received accreditation Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASE) in 2021.

ASE Automotive Service Excellence
1503 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE
Leesburg, VA 20176
703.669.6650
info@aseeducationfoundation.org

Equal Opportunity Statement

Yavapai College does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment of, or employment in, its services, programs, or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), veteran status, disability or genetic information or any other legally protected status in compliance with the laws of the United States and the State of Arizona.  Inquiries regarding the College's equal opportunity employment practices should be directed to the Yavapai College Human Resources Office at (928) 776-2344 or janet.nix@yc.edu.  Student inquiries regarding the educational programs and activities of the College should be directed to the Yavapai College Community Standards & Title IX Office at (928)776-2211 or monica.belknap@yc.edu.