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Carmen Frederic Receives ATHENA Leadership Award

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ATHENA symbolizes strength, perseverance, success for Quad Cities women.

An invisible, yet powerful, thread of overcoming adversity to achieve long-held dreams wove its way through the audience of more than 100 attendees during the 4th Annual Quad Cities Leadership Awards as women came together to honor and celebrate each other Sunday, Sept. 24, at Starting Point in the Prescott Gateway Mall.

As Yavapai College President Dr. Lisa Rhine and Prescott College President Dr. Barbara Morris shared deeply personal stories of their own challenges, women could empathize with their struggles, some could see themselves in their stories, and many fought to hold back tears.

Carmen Fredric Shelters Those in Need

With a standing ovation and roar of applause, Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) Executive Director Carmen Frederic was honored with the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award. As she accepted the prestigious award, she didn’t share her story, but later reflected on how alcoholism and homelessness in her family motivated her to rise above her circumstances and then to commit herself to a career of supporting and encouraging other women.

“The Athena award is such a high honor and something I will always remember and treasure for the rest of my life!” she said in a Quad Cities Business News interview. “The award itself is beautiful and placed currently at the shelter office for all to see and enjoy. It will be a talking piece and maybe an inspiration to all of the women in shelter to aspire to someday, a pathway to be taken to be compassionate and build up other women as a goal in their life.”

Frederic left home for college after graduating from high school. “I helped to open the first teen pregnancy shelter in my hometown and worked for the education service district helping struggling families keep their kids in school. My biological father was a severe alcoholic and experienced homelessness himself. I often ran into him in my hometown when I would be working with my own clients.”

Today, she is credited with leading the evolution of PASS from a winter shelter in a church basement to a 26-bed facility at its own location, plus the creation of two transitional houses. The organization now serves about 180 women and children a year.

“All of these challenges in life have made me a better person and given me the insight and empathy in my work at the shelter,” she said.

Tracy Rogers Helps Students Stay in School

Cheered on by friends and associates from Yavapai College, YC Radiology Program Director Tracy Rogers was in disbelief as her name was called to join the stage to receive the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

“I was in total shock,” she said of the moment.

Rogers told QCBN how she burst into tears hearing about Dr. Rhine’s difficult childhood. “Her story is very similar to my upbringing. So many people have faced things you’d never expect. She is such an inspiration. I look at her and think, ‘That could be my future!’”

Rogers recalls a time when she could not imagine herself as a successful professional. “Growing up in a poor home, we didn’t know if we were going to have Christmas, and work was a priority to help provide for the household, not school. But I realized school is what makes a better life possible. I just kept pursuing education.”

Through a difficult divorce three years ago, she felt her world crumbling around her. As a single mom, the thought of balancing all of life’s challenges felt impossible. “Women especially find themselves in this situation, but I had an amazing career as an X-ray tech. I am so thankful to have this career. I always wanted to be an instructor for the [YC radiology] program. Before I knew it, I became the program director!”

As with many women, Rogers says she struggles with feeling like an imposter in her work. “Every day I feel like I’ve got to prove my worthiness. I think, ‘Is this real? Am I really doing this? Am I working hard enough?’”

At YC, her colleagues call her a transformational and servant leader. She established an emergency fund to support students struggling with unexpected expenses and recently received the Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) Fellowship Award for Teaching Excellence.

“This award reminds me that I have something to continue to be worthy of,” she said. “I just feel really empowered now to keep moving forward and inspired to help other women.”

Prescott Woman Showcases Women

As with the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, QCBN added another award this year. Breeanya Hinkel accepted the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award for her business, Prescott Woman Magazine.

“I’m honored and surprised to be the recipient of the first ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award,” said Hinkel. “Typically, we love to be the ones honoring other women and it is such a privilege to have stood on the stage and be recognized along with other outstanding organizations.”

Hinkel and Prescott Woman Magazine worked with Quad Cites Business News to bring the ATHENA Leadership Awards to the region in 2020. “I’m thrilled that Quad Cities Business News has kept the tradition of ATHENA going and for their commitment to honor women throughout the area.”

ATHENA Wisdom

Keynote speaker Julie Jones motivated the attendees to “Stop Waiting, Start Living,” which is also the name of one of her books. The former police officer and SWAT team member reminded the audience that tomorrow is not guaranteed. She urged women to be authentic and live the lives they were born to live.

ATHENA Leadership Program Founder Martha Mayhood Mertz delivered a recorded message congratulating the nominees. ATHENA International President and CEO Traci Costa reminded audience members that there is still work to do to support women in leadership. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Hear more from Julie Jones and Martha Mayhood Mertz on Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks.com.

Yavapai College Leaps into Virtual Reality, the Future of Education

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I have a strong belief that virtual and augmented reality is going to change almost every industry, including education.

Yavapai College took a giant leap into next-generation learning earlier this month, with its first class taught in a virtual reality space.

Dr. Brandelyn Andres’s ART 201 students journeyed to a museum to analyze the compositional details within Renaissance and modern artworks. They discussed implied lines and biomorphic shapes long enough to make you forget that the museum was digital; the students were still in the classroom; and the entire lesson was conducted on their headsets and in their minds.

“So much of the study of art is interaction,” Dr. Andres said. “We lose so much when we project a slide onto a screen or look in a book. If you can move around it, you can understand the scale.” So, she created a digital gallery on the web. Her students, in virtual reality headsets, entered the gallery through avatars and then identified and discussed the basic design elements of each painting.

The lesson is part of a broad initiative Yavapai College introduced last spring when YC received a grant from Meta to develop Virtual Reality classes. Working with digital education provider VictoryXR, the college is honing an immersive virtual platform where students and teachers use synchronized headsets to learn in digitized environments.

I have a strong belief that virtual and augmented reality is going to change almost every industry, including education. YC plans to be on the cutting edge of that change.

It is an incredible way to learn to interact with material, your classmates and instructors. The technology allows students to learn things they could not in a traditional classroom. Things that are dangerous, like electrical instrumentation; impossible, like magnifying the brush strokes in a painting to analyze the artists’ techniques; counter-productive, like having to set up and use the multitude of tools needed to perform health-related training; or expensive, like the amount of material it takes to practice and master welding. Virtual reality allows us to provide high-quality training in areas while eliminating barriers.

Yavapai College will be launching other VR and AI-assisted learning opportunities, in fields ranging from health care to the skilled trades, across its six campuses and learning centers this fall. QCBN

By Lisa B. Rhine

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

*Pending Higher Learning Commission Approval. This degree is not official and is not enrolling at this time.

In Feb. 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the 10th president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution more than 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona and the Prescott Airport.

Yavapai College Eyes Future Baccalaureate Expansion

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I am truly proud of the education and service that Yavapai College provides to our communities.

On Jan. 10, 2023, Yavapai College announced that it would offer a Bachelor of Science degree in business, with a concentration in organizational management and leadership. Since that time, it has added concentrations in accounting and entrepreneurship.

It is the first baccalaureate degree to be offered at Yavapai College and the first baccalaureate to be offered by any rural community college in Arizona.

Since the launch of the degree, our faculty and staff have worked feverishly to ensure that this degree fulfills its intended purpose, which was to create access to baccalaureate degree options right here in Yavapai County that are affordable and attainable.

The Bachelor of Science in Business degree has a tuition price of just $155 per credit for the upper-level courses, a massive discount compared to other baccalaureate options. There are also no additional program fees and nearly every class uses open educational resources or zero-cost textbooks.

So far, the degree has been a massive success. A staggering 342 students have declared the B.S. in Business degree as their program of study and 260 students have registered for classes this fall.

Of the 342 students pursuing the degree, 88% reside in Yavapai County. This is a game changer for our communities.

What’s Next?

I am so thrilled at the initial success of the business degree. It proves that Yavapai College can be the place to fill the educational need of our county residents.

Despite the program’s success, we aren’t stopping with just one degree.

YC is deep in the process of launching its second baccalaureate degree, a *Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

We fully understand the critical need for health care in our communities and have been working closely with the hospitals and health organizations in Yavapai County to identify their needs and create actionable ways in which Yavapai College can help.

The proposed Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the first of those actionable items, and I hope we can share more details about this new degree soon.

Yavapai College is also exploring additional future baccalaureate degrees that will be beneficial for our communities.

I am truly proud of the education and service that Yavapai College provides to our communities. I am excited to watch our first cohort of bachelor’s degree students’ progress toward their goals. QCBN

By Lisa B. Rhine

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

*Pending Higher Learning Commission Approval. This degree is not official and is not enrolling at this time.

In Feb. 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the 10th president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution more than 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona and the Prescott Airport.

Dr. Rhine Discusses Resilience as a Key Characteristic for Women in Leadership

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Resilient women are adaptable, learn from failure and work to create strong networks of support.

Women in leadership positions may hold various titles in our organizations and community. The concept of women in leadership acknowledges and addresses the historical underrepresentation of women in positions of influence. It recognizes women’s unique perspectives, skills and contributions to leadership roles and highlights the importance of gender equality and the need for greater representation of women in decision-making positions.

Being a woman in leadership requires a combination of qualities, skills and experiences often shaped by one’s personal and professional journey. In my experience as a senior leader in academe at colleges and universities in a number of states, a key aspect to leadership success is resilience.

Resilience is the ability to adapt, bounce back from setbacks, and maintain a positive mindset and a high level of perseverance and determination in the face of challenges. Resilient women are adaptable, learn from failure and work to create strong networks of support. They are adaptable to rapidly changing environments. They invite, welcome and embrace new opportunities, circumstances and uncertainty and respond to setbacks with newfound determination.

Resilient leaders learn from failure. They accept failure as a part of life and know that how we respond to it reveals our true level of resilience. Failures are often just redirection and opportunities for growth rather than dead ends. Temporary setbacks that cause us to reflect, extract lessons and learn and grow are actually gifts that build resilience and grit that prepare and armor us for the next challenge.

Resilient leaders also work to build, develop and maintain strong support networks. Surrounding yourself with individuals or groups that offer support, mentoring, guidance and camaraderie is key to working through foreboding challenges. A community of support that can serve to lend a listening ear, validate your experiences and motivate you to continue the leadership journey contributes to one’s overall resilience.

Being a woman in leadership inherently brings with it some responsibilities. Whether we like it or not, women and girls are looking to us as role models. Young women, new to the profession, often seek out women with experience as a mentor.

When I have been asked to serve in the mentor role, I work to offer unique insights into navigating challenging situations by using examples from my own life where I’ve successfully overcome a major obstacle. I encourage mentees to never stop learning and to take on new and different opportunities to further their personal and professional growth and development.

Fostering empowerment and self-belief in other women is the best part of the mentor role.  With that can come conversations about challenging stereotypes and bias in the workplace and society. It can be discussions that address issues of self-doubt, unworthiness or imposter syndrome. And while the mentoring process, in and of itself, is gratifying, celebrating milestones and accomplishments and recognizing the mentee’s achievements is the greatest reward.

Resilient leaders adapt and use the strength gained from adversity to navigate through difficult times, learn from failure and see value in connections with other people and networks of support. Women in leadership often find ourselves fostering empowerment and belief in other women because, collectively, we can drive positive change and, together, emerge stronger and more determined on our leadership journey.  QCBN

By Lisa Rhine

Lisa Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College. Hear from Dr. Rhine about her journey, including challenges, setbacks and successes that led to her leadership role in education. Dr. Rhine will be one of the featured guests in the “Women in Leadership Panel” at the 4th Annual Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards, 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 24, at Starting Point. For more information about the event, tickets and nomination forms, visit PrescottAthena.com

YC Legendary Basketball Coach, Director of Athletics Brad Clifford Resigns

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Clifford’s journey at YC began back in the late 1980s.

The Yavapai College Athletics Department has announced the resignation of Hall of Fame Director of Athletics Brad Clifford. Clifford leaves YC after spending 35-plus years at the college.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for my time as a Roughrider,” said Clifford. “I bleed green and gold and Yavapai will always have a special place in my heart. This is the correct move for me, personally and professionally; however, YC will always receive my unwavering support in all endeavors.”

Clifford’s journey at YC began back in the late 1980s. After graduating from Prescott High School, Clifford embarked on a two-year LDS mission in Quito, Ecuador and returned to Prescott upon completion of his mission to be a student at Yavapai College.

At the time, the men’s basketball team had been reinstated and Clifford joined the team. After a back injury sidelined his playing career, Clifford found his calling and first job at YC, when he was asked to be the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team.

Clifford served as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s basketball teams until he earned the head women’s basketball coach job in 1996.

Clifford would go on to coach the Roughriders for 15 years, building an overall record of 323-143, becoming the all-time winningest basketball coach in YC history and earning WBCA Region I Coach of the Year honors twice.

Overall, Clifford coached 58 All-Conference players, 11 WBCA Kodak All-Americans, six NJCAA All-Americans, three ACCAC freshmen of the year and three ACCAC players of the year.

After his coaching career came to a close, Clifford was named the assistant athletic director, a position he held for five months, before being promoted to athletic director in 2012.

“Brad has been an integral part of Roughrider athletics for nearly four decades. He has served as a leader and mentor for hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and the college community, and I thank him for his unwavering dedication and passion to the college and its athletic programs,” said Vice President of Community Relations and Student Development Rodney Jenkins.

Under his leadership, YC athletics expanded from four NJCAA Division I programs to eight, won numerous conference and region championships and is widely regarded as one of the top junior college athletic programs in the nation.

Clifford was inducted into the Roughrider Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. QCBN

Courtesy photo: Shown here being interviewed by Zach Calandra, Coach Clifford is the all-time winningest basketball coach in Yavapai College’s history. 

YC Creates New Workforce, Innovation Division to Connect Local Businesses to Education

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Dr. Moore will join YC from Tallahassee Community College, where she served as the vice president for workforce innovation.

One of Yavapai College’s priorities, which is given to the college president from the District Governing Board, states that: “Communities in Yavapai County are supported in their efforts to lead economic development, with emphasis on generating and sustaining economic base jobs.”

The college has previously met this priority through the work of its Regional Economic Development Center and Small Business Development Center. These two departments within the College have served as leaders in economic development throughout the region, having helped countless businesses in Yavapai County with customized training, career and job services, economic research and grants.

The college understands that to thrive in the future, Yavapai County and its current and future employers need even more support. To provide this support, we need to invest in resources and people, and the college has done so by creating a new Division of Workforce and Innovation.

This new division will help Yavapai College remain a leader in preparing our students for today’s workforce needs as well as tomorrow’s innovation. We have identified and hired a new leader for the Division, Dr. Kimberly Moore, who I am beyond excited about joining YC as chief workforce and innovation officer.

Dr. Moore will join YC from Tallahassee Community College, where she served as the vice president for workforce innovation.

Her experience connecting business and industry to education is exactly what both the college and our business community need. In my conversations with her, Dr. Moore has expressed her commitment to ensuring that employers throughout Yavapai County and the state of Arizona have a talent pipeline that is prepared to meet their current and future workforce needs.

Yavapai College will continue to play a major role in supporting the attraction of new businesses to the area as well as providing support to current businesses by enhancing short-term credentials, reskilling of the current workforce, experiential learning and on-demand training.

This new division will evolve to include more than the Regional Economic Development Center and the Small Business Development Center. Its creation demonstrates the college’s unwavering commitment to becoming a national leader in workforce and innovation. We aim to work strategically with existing industries to provide a skilled and qualified workforce that ultimately leads to a sustainable and vibrant economy. QCBN

By Lisa Rhine

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

Yavapai College Commencement Ceremonies Celebrate Achievements of More than One Thousand Students

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Commencement is about dreams realized for our graduates.

As a college president, there isn’t any other day that is more special, more exhilarating or more fulfilling than Commencement Day. For those of us in higher education, this is the biggest event of the year! It’s where we see the fruits of our labor and our mission fulfilled. And for our students and those who love them, it’s a day where hard work, perseverance and sacrifice have paid off.

Commencement is about dreams realized for our graduates. Never let it be said that dreaming is a waste of one’s time. Dreams are our realities in waiting. In dreams, we plant the seeds of our future. Dreams motivate and inspire. Dreams cause us to persevere under difficult circumstances and dreams create a focus in our lives.

More than 1,000 dreams were realized this year at Yavapai College’s spring commencement ceremonies. Two ceremonies were held at the Sedona Performing Arts Centers on May 6 for Verde Valley graduates, and another ceremony was held at Prescott Valley’s Findlay Toyota Center on May 7 for Prescott-area graduates.

Overall, an astounding 1,068 students, the majority of whom reside in Yavapai County, received a combined 1,351 degrees and certificates from YC this past year. This is a massive cohort of students and further shows that Yavapai College is completing its mission of providing accessible and affordable education to its residents.

The beautiful thing about Yavapai College is the diversity in age and the types of students who attend. Our youngest graduate this year was born in 2007. He is 15 years old, resides in Paulden and graduated with his Automotive Technician Certificate.

Our oldest graduate resides in Cottonwood, was born in 1938, and is 84 years old. She completed her associate of arts degree and Arizona General Education Certificate-A.

YC had 120 graduates under the age of 18 this year and 36 graduates over the age of 55.

All of YC’s students have found the strength to persevere under trying circumstances. They now know that no matter what challenges may come their way, they have the strength to prevail.

I’d like to salute Yavapai College’s graduates one more time. YC has been blessed by your presence and engagement with us, and we are humbled and proud to be part of your personal story. QCBN

By Lisa Rhine

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

In February 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the tenth president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution over 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers over 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona and the Prescott Airport.

YC Celebrates National Recognition for Leadership, Student Success Initiative

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In my four short years at YC as president, Chair McCasland has avidly supported YC, its students and our communities.

Yavapai College was recently recognized on the national level by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Deb McCasland, Yavapai College District Governing Board chair, was named the National Trustee of the Year, a tremendous honor and one that is so well deserved. In addition, the college Promise Program and I were finalists for Outstanding Student Success Initiative and CEO of the Year.

McCasland, a YC alumna who has served on the District Governing Board for eight years, the last three as chair, was nominated for AACC Trustee of the Year by Dr. David B. Borofsky, director of the Arizona Association of Community College Trustees. The award honors a trustee who has made significant contributions to the college, demonstrated exceptional leadership and presided over significant achievements that benefit the college, district, state, system or foundation.

In his nomination letter, Borofsky lauded McCasland’s “amazing growth” as a leader, her tireless community engagement and statewide advocacy efforts, and her unmatched passion for student success. “She is THE trustee focused on student success,” Borofsky wrote.

In my four short years at YC as president, Chair McCasland has avidly supported YC, its students and our communities. She is a true leader, and her passion and dedication toward student success never waivers.

In 1976, Deb started her 34-year career as the Student Activities director at Yavapai College. Her most successful achievements were founding and developing the Community Events program and the Performing Arts Charitable Endowment. In 2010, Deb was chosen as an Outstanding Yavapai College alumnus and retired from Yavapai College in 2011 as director of Major Gifts. She has been elected three times to represent District 2 on the Yavapai College District Governing Board.

The AACC is a non-profit advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. It represents nearly 1,200 institutions and more than 11 million students. The Awards of Excellence reflect and advance the association’s priorities and spotlight “promising practices” among member colleges.

It was overwhelming to attend the national awards gala. And for YC to be a finalist in three categories, and win one, shows that we are moving in the right direction and our peers throughout the country recognize it. QCBN

By Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D.

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

In February 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the 10th president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution over 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers over 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona and the Prescott Airport.

Courtesy Photo: Yavapai College receives prestigious awards from the American Association of Community Colleges. AACC representatives flank YC District Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland and YC President Lisa Rhine. 

Poised for a Rapidly Changing Educational Landscape

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We will continue to tackle our challenges head-on.

Yavapai College is poised for the future. In a post-pandemic world, where K-12 and higher education have changed significantly, YC is thriving.

Here are a few things that our college can celebrate:

  • The college awarded 466 degrees in 2020-2021, a growth of 58% from 2018-2019. This means that our students are completing their degrees at a higher rate than ever before.
  • The college awarded 484 Arizona General Education Certificates in 2020-2021, a growth of a whopping 84% from 2018-2019. Again, more students are completing these AZ Gen-Ed certificates than ever before.
  • YC’s first- to second-year retention rate in 2018 was 58%. In 2021, it was up to 63%. This means that students are returning for their second year to achieve their desired goals.
  • YC’s Hispanic student enrollment has grown to 24%, and we are now on the verge of becoming a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS) by the federal government.
  • The YC Foundation issued $1.03 million in scholarships and program supports in 2021-2022. This represents an increase of 35% since 2019, which is fantastic for our students.
  • The student default rate went from 25.5% in 2017 to 3.7% in 2022. This is huge for our students. It means they are finishing their degrees at YC and leaving without unnecessary debt.

YC has also:

  • Received its decennial accreditation with no findings or areas of concern.
  • Launched its first baccalaureate degree and received accreditation approval.
  • Received a stellar review and reaccreditation for its nursing program.
  • Been granted International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators accreditation for the College’s Campus Safety department.
  • Added a self-funded Promise program that reimburses student tuition upon completion.
  • Created and launched an Early College Academy for high school students.
  • Increased athletic programs from four to eight.
  • Received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
  • Been nominated for a national award for student success initiatives by the American Association of Community Colleges.

At Yavapai College, we understand that there are many challenges ahead. But it is important to recognize successes; this list above is something that our students, employees and communities should celebrate.

We will continue to tackle our challenges head-on. We will adapt as needed to ensure that our students and communities have the opportunity to receive the highest quality of education that we can offer at an affordable price. QCBN

By Lisa B. Rhine

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

In February 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the 10th president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution over 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona and the Prescott Airport.

Yavapai College Leaping Toward the Future with Classes in the Metaverse

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“Metaversity,” as it is being called, is an immersive way for students to learn through virtual and augmented reality.

The future of education is a hot topic as technology and innovation continue to change every industry. To excel in the future, we must accept these changes and adapt our current structures to take advantage of what technology can provide. It makes me proud that Yavapai College has its eyes set on the future, and the Metaverse is one of our focus areas.

“Metaversity,” as it is being called, is an immersive way for students to learn through virtual and augmented reality. The college has landed a grant with Meta and will partner with VictoryXR, a company specializing in virtual reality education. The grant provides Yavapai College with 25 Meta Quest 2 headsets to be used by students and instructors. The college will also have 10 branded classrooms at VictoryXR’s Virtual Academy. In addition, YC faculty and staff will receive training from VictoryXR.

The current form of traditional online learning can be difficult for students. Online learning presents itself as passive and unenjoyable via video conferencing. In contrast, VictoryXR’s immersive classrooms and campuses allow students to interact in a synchronous yet virtual environment through virtual reality. Educators are given training and 3D objects to teach a variety of subjects to students.

I participated in classes at the VictoryXR Virtual Academy and it is an incredible way to teach and learn. It is the future. We must change the mindset that technology will eliminate the need for people to work or learn. It is not, but it will change how people work and learn.

YC will now begin to determine which classes it will offer in the Metaverse, with the goal of the first classes being offered in the upcoming fall 2023 semester. YC will become one of the only community colleges in the country teaching in the Metaverse.

Students interested in taking classes in the metaverse should visit www.yc.edu/meta and fill out the information form.

I look forward to offering our students and communities the future of education where they can take advantage of cutting-edge learning experiences that are currently not widely available QCBN

By Lisa B. Rhine

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.In February 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the 10th president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution over 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers over 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona, and the Prescott Airport.