The Yavapai College Foundation Board took a series of bold strokes at its May 12th annual meeting: Electing three new members, extending the terms of another two, and honoring a longtime College advocate as it pivots toward the post-COVID era.

“It is an honor to be a part of the Yavapai College Foundation leadership, especially during its 50th Anniversary,” YCF Board President Valerie Wood said. “I look forward to continuing the momentum in support of Yavapai College by enhancing educational, cultural, social, and economic opportunities in our community.”

The new YCF Board members include Spectrum Healthcare Chief Executive Officer April Rhodes, a 2009 Yavapai College Alumna. Rhodes brings nearly two decades of experience in healthcare and human services management to the Board. The current Chair for the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers’ Board of Directors, she also sits on several influential local boards including the Yavapai County Board of Health, Prevent Child Abuse AZ, and the Mental Health Corporation of America. She earned her Master of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from University of Arizona.

Rhodes is joined by Dr. Linda Mast, Associate Dean for the School of Health Sciences from Northcentral University. A passionate advocate for equity and access in higher education, Dr. Mast also co-chairs the Foundation’s Fundraising Committee. She holds a Nursing degree from the University of Maryland; an MBA, with a health care concentration, from Western New England University; and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

New member Jeff Spohn brings extensive public service credentials to the YCF Board. A distinguished 18-year employee of Arizona Public Service, his resumé includes work with the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation, the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Yavapai County. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Resource Management from West Virginia University.

The Yavapai College Foundation Board also approved third terms for standing members Anne Barton and Don Michelman. Barton, a former English teacher who rose to management positions at Xerox, People’s Bank and Deloitte & Touche, serves as Fundraising Committee Co-Chair and is an advocate for the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) Prescott Branch. Michelman, a retired commercial insurance wholesaler and the Immediate Past President of the YCF Board, remains active on its Finance and Board Development committees and in the community with SCORE and Habitat for Humanity.

The Board also honored one of its longtime leaders by bestowing Board Member Emeritus status on Phil Winkelstern. A former executive with General Electric, Ford Motor Company and Commercial Intertech Company, Winkelstern has served three terms on the YCF Board, including exemplary work as Board Treasurer and Finance Chairman. He has been active with YC’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) since retirement, and will prove a valuable mentor and consultant to the Yavapai College Board in the years to come.

In regular proceedings, the Board also elected new officers to one-year terms. Effective July 1, Board President Valerie Wood; First Vice President Cindy Nyman; Second Vice President Anne Barton; Treasurer Don Michelman and Secretary Marnie Uhl will each serve in their positions through June 30, 2022.

The Yavapai College Foundation’s mission is to support College objectives and activities and promote community awareness of the College and its programs. For additional information on the Foundation, please visit: yc.edu/foundation or call: (928) 776.2025.