The Rogue Community College Board of Education on May 24, 2018 appointed Roger Stokes as interim board member representing Zone 6 of the RCC district, which primarily covers southwest Jackson County. Stokes fills the position left vacant Feb. 27 by Tim Johnson. The appointment expires June 30, 2019. The next regular district election will be in May, at which time an election will be held to fill the remainder of the four-year term through June 2021.
RCC Board of Education Chairman Dean Wendle said, “I am very pleased to have Roger Stokes join the RCC Board. His educational background in engineering plus his longtime history as owner and operator of a successful manufacturing business fits so well with the RCC mission. His community involvement with nonprofits reflects his awareness of the multiple needs and challenges facing the entire RCC district.”
Roger Stokes is a longtime resident of the area. He is retired from 25 years as owner and president of Brill Metal Works, Inc. As a committed community volunteer, he has participated in local organizations including the Medford Rogue Rotary, the Medford Rogue Rotary Foundation, the Oregon Community Foundation, founding board member of Maslow Project, and past board member of Kids Imagination Discovery Space and the Rogue Valley YMCA. As a former SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) volunteer, he read one-on-one with students weekly during the school year, modeling a love of reading and building children’s reading skills and self-confidence.
Involvement with those organizations has allowed Stokes to participate in a variety of programs, projects and discussions related to the economic vitality, sustainability and diversity of the Rogue Valley. One of the many things that first drew him to Southern Oregon nearly 40 years ago is the quality of the people with their willingness and enthusiasm to work collectively to manage growth and enhance the livability of the valley.
“From my many years of business experience,” Stokes said, “I have learned that the path to individual and collective prosperity involves planning for, recognizing and embracing the various opportunities that are presented by ever-changing circumstances. I am encouraged by the efforts currently underway in our local school districts in recognizing the importance of providing meaningful pathways for the development of vocational skills and in striving to foster enthusiastic engagement in the learning process for all of our students.”
The RCC Board of Education is a governance board consisting of seven elected members representing Jackson and Josephine counties from designated zones in the voting districts. Board members serve four-year terms with no restriction on term limits. The Board establishes and oversees college policies, including those regarding its own organization and operation. Policies are created, revised and maintained in collaboration with college administrators.