Executive Committee
2023-2024 Executive Committee
Purpose: Provide direction to the OCCA Executive Director between board meetings, annually evaluating the Executive Director, and any other functions on behalf of the Board of Directors as the board may authorize.
Austin Folnagy
OCCA President
Board Member, Lane Community College
Austin Folnagy joined the LCC Board in 2021, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise in various fields. Prior to his current position, he was elected to the Klamath Community College Board and the Southern Oregon ESD Board. With a diverse background spanning over 10 years, Folnagy has worked in areas such as workforce development, business services, political organizing, labor relations, and education. He pursued his education at North Idaho College and the University of Idaho, where he majored in Political Science and Organizational Science. Additionally, he engaged in graduate studies focusing on Organizational Dynamics.
Mark Browning
OCCA Secretary
President, Blue Mountain Community College
Dr. J. Mark Browning has served as the president of Blue Mountain Community College since 2020. He came to BMCC from the College of Western Idaho in Boise, Idaho, where he was the Vice President College Relations. Prior to that, he served four years as the Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at North Idaho College, and was the Chief Communications & Legislative Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education for five years. He brings extensive experience in building relationships, communications, government relations and K12 partnerships to BMCC.
Dr. Browning earned his doctorate in education from Idaho State University, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Idaho, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Idaho State University.
Dr. Browning and his wife, Kym, have three adult children.
Betsy McMahon
Member-at-Large
Board Member, Tillamook Bay Community College
Betsy McMahon’s community college roots include graduate work in Intercultural Communications at Portland Community College, which lead her to obtaining a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and another M.A. in English. Throughout her education, Betsy has taught in France, China, The Netherlands, and Yugoslavia. She taught under the Fulbright Grant in Bosnia-Hercegovina, and held administrative positions in International Programs at Concordia University in Portland, and St Thomas Academy and Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Minnesota.
She has served on the Tillamook Bay Community College Board of Education since 2019.
Lisa Skari
Ex-Officio Member,
Oregon Presidents Council Representative
President, Mt. Hood Community College
Dr. Lisa Skari is the ninth president to serve Mt. Hood Community College. She came to MHCC from Highline Community College in Washington State where she served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. She brings exceptional experience in supporting and empowering a diverse student body and staff.
Dr. Browning earned his doctorate in education from Idaho State University, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Idaho, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Idaho State University.
Dr. Browning and his wife, Kym, have three adult children.
Jane Reid
OCCA Past-President
Board Member, Clackamas Community College
Jane Reid has served on the Board of Education since 2007. She brings decades of community service and advocacy to both Clackamas Community College and OCCA. Reid also is active in the Estacada community and has served on the Estacada Area Arts Commission and Clackamas County Arts Alliance; coordinated the Estacada Summer Celebration for 20 years; developed The Powerhouse Project, which explored the dams and powerhouses along the Clackamas River through the arts; is president of Estacada Together; and serves the board of and volunteers with The Estacada Area Food Bank. Jane holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Connecticut. Jane is an advocate for the arts, education and the environment.
Donna Lewelling
Ex-Officio Member
Director, Office of Community Colleges & Workforce Development (CCWD)
Donna Lewelling serves as the Director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. In this role she directs the office forresponsible for coordination, leadership and resources to Oregon’s 17 locally-governed community colleges, adult basic skills providers, postsecondary career and technical education programs, and other partnerships to advance statewide goals.
Donna has years of experience with statewide community college policy and has served a variety of other important roles at the HECC since the agency was first formed in 2013, most recently serving as interim director of the HECC Office of CCWD since March of 2021. She served as deputy director of CCWD from 2016 to 2021, Oregon’s adult basic skills director, policy analyst, and numerous roles at the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development before it became an office of the HECC. She currently serves as the president for the Oregon Chapter of the American Association of Community Colleges, and is a recipient of the Howard Cherry Outstanding Community College Advocate Award by the Oregon Community College Association. Donna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership both from Western Governor’s University.
