Dr. Barbara A. Beno
President

Dr. Beno has served as the chief executive officer of the ACCJC since August 2001. She came to the Commission with extensive experience in higher education. Her positions include twelve years as president of Vista Community College in Berkeley; Assistant Chancellor for Educational Policy and Human Resources; Director of Research and Planning; and university faculty member. Dr. Beno received Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and sociology, and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in sociology from the State University of New York, Stony Brook. Dr. Beno served as the founding president of the Research and Planning Group, the statewide community college researchers' association. She is presently on the Executive Committee of the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative, and is the incoming chair of the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions for 2006-2008. Dr. Beno has served as a Commissioner for both the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of WASC. She served three years on the Board of Directors of WASC. Dr. Beno has chaired and served on evaluation teams since 1993.

Dr. Susan Clifford
Vice President of Commission Operations

Dr. Clifford was appointed Vice President of Commission Operations in March 2008. She comes to the Commission from Pasadena City College, where she served as Dean, Health Sciences Division, Title III Grant Coordinator, and faculty member in dental hygiene. She has also served as Dean of Academic Services and Interim Executive Vice President for Educational Programs and Student Services at Fullerton College. Dr. Clifford holds a Master of Arts Degree from California State University, Long Beach and a Doctor of Education from Pepperdine University in Institutional Management with an emphasis in Community College Administration. She has served as a self study leader at her institutions as well as an evaluation team member for the ACCJC.

Dr. Steve Maradian
Vice President of Policy and Research

Dr. Steve Maradian was appointed Vice President for Policy and Research in February 2008. He joins the Commission after serving as President of Los Angeles City College. He has also served as Vice President of the University of Armenia for two years. He has held a number of administrative positions (including president of Middle Georgia College, Lamar University at Orange, and Belmont Technical College) at colleges and universities in Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Massachusetts. Dr. Maradian has a Master of Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit College and a Doctor of Education from University of Massachusetts in Higher Education Leadership. He has served as a team member and evaluation team chair for the ACCJC, and has accreditation experience in the Southern, Middle States and North Central accrediting commissions. 

Garman “Jack” Pond
Vice President, Team Operations and Communication

Mr. Pond holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Hawai'i in Teaching English as a Second Language and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and French from the University of Redlands. Prior to joining Commission staff, Mr. Pond taught English, Spanish, and ESL at Leeward Community College on Oahu for 32 years where he also served as Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences for one year. He was a member of the college's Faculty Senate for 25 years. In 1984, Mr. Pond received the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents' Excellence in Teaching award. Mr. Pond's Commission work includes service as a member of the Commission from 1998 to 2004 and on more than 15 comprehensive and special visit teams since 1985. Mr. Pond joined the Commission staff in July, 2004.

Dr. Lily Owyang
Associate Vice President

Dr. Owyang has served in a variety of senior academic administrative positions at both private and public institutions in and out of California including Humboldt State University as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Owyang received her doctorate from Boston University and her MS and BS degrees from the Juilliard School. Dr. Owyang provides staff support for the substantive change process.

Ms. Barbara Dunham
Business Officer/Assistant to the President

Ms. Dunham provides support for Commission staff and maintains the Commission's financial operations. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, she joined the Commission staff in 1996.

Ms. Deanne Wilburn
Executive Assistant and Business Officer

Ms. Wilburn provides support for Commission staff and maintains the Commission’s financial operations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University and a Master of Science degree in Education from Dominican University. Deanne joined the Commission staff in 2006.

Mr. Tom Lane
Information Technology/Administrative Support

Mr. Lane provides Commission staff with information technology and administrative support. Mr. Lane attended Santa Rosa Junior College, majoring in Computer Information Science.  He has an extensive background in micro-computer hardware and software, operating systems, network management and database programming and operations. Mr. Lane joined the Commission staff in 1996.

Ms. Clare Goldberg
Administrative Assistant

Ms. Goldberg provides administrative support to the Commission staff. Clare received her Bachelor of Science degree from Molloy College in New York and attended graduate school at San Francisco State University where she studied Art Education. She joined the Commission staff in 2006.
 

Source: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Information current as of Aug. 20, 2008.