GateWay Community College is pleased to announce the appointments of Dr. Steve Meneses as Dean of Business, Technology and Trades, effective July 13; Dr. Jonathan Paver as Dean of Liberal Arts and Learning Support, effective July 1; and Ms. Lora Timmons as the Dean of Nursing and Healthcare, effective Aug. 3.
As part of a re-organization, these appointments culminate three national searches for key positions within the college. The additional talents that each brings will allow GateWay to position itself better for the future, according to GateWay Interim President Maria Wise.
“Our decision to move forward with each of these candidates was not taken lightly as there were a number of outstanding candidates,” she said. “However, the feedback as well as our current needs as a college drove much of our decision-making on the following candidates.”
Dr. Meneses brings experience in a corporate environment and higher education, which will aid in the college’s entrepreneurial spirit. Dr. Meneses has taught and led many workforce programs at both four-year universities and community colleges within several state systems. He has experience in a college development/foundation office which has provided him great fundraising and grant development experience that have helped him to expand and grow programs to meet community needs. As an Hispanic, first generation college student himself, Dr. Meneses brings his knowledge and experiences to GateWay that will help us to better serve our students.
Dr. Paver has valuable experience within the Maricopa system as well as knowledge of what other state community college systems have found to be successful in general education and transfer-oriented programs. Dr. Paver is trained as an instructional designer and has vast experience designing curriculum and supporting faculty, adjuncts and instructors. Dr. Paver has experience with a Title III grant where he was responsible for developing curriculum with faculty that focused on diversity. This experience aligns well with our newest Title V grant that is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. We look forward to Dr. Paver helping us to engage in those “courageous conversations” that he talked about in his open forum.
And Ms. Timmons has diverse healthcare-related work experiences in both industry and higher education. While most of her educational work experiences have been at private four-year institutions, she has served as a dean in a similar capacity for more than three years. She has vast experience with management, leadership and supervision of faculty, programs and assessment of student learning.
For more details on each, read their brief bios below.
Aligned to this reorganization and the recent hires, the college also addressed the need for stronger coordination of the work done in Workforce Development and has promoted Kristin Gubser to Associate Vice President of Workforce Strategies and External Affairs. She will assist with the coordination of the comprehensive scope of Workforce Development at GateWay.
“I am confident our new organization of academic programs paired with the focused work of the Workforce team will allow us to leverage our existing resources and programs to position GateWay as the leading provider of workforce development in Maricopa County,” said Wise.
Dean Biographies
Dr. Steve Meneses | Dean of Business, Technology and Trades
Dr. Steven Meneses oversees Workforce Solutions and Academic Partnerships for the University of Phoenix / Bay Area Campus. Dr. Meneses has illustrated an entrepreneurial, corporate and higher education career that has focused on closing the social and equity gaps for underserved business and student populations. Dr. Meneses has held Dean, Executive Director and faculty positions with Evergreen Valley College, Klamath Community College and Westwood College along with corporate officer positions in the banking arena as president and vice president. Additionally, Dr. Meneses has presented at the “AACC” annual conference and has published workforce business articles and consulted in the business, workforce and higher education arenas.
A first generation college graduate, Dr. Meneses received his Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration from the University of Maryland University College. Originally from Chicago, Dr. Meneses completed his Bachelor's in Communications and Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University-Spokane, WA.
Dr. Jonathan Paver | Dean of Liberal Arts and Learning Support
Dr. Jonathan Paver is currently an Instructional Designer with the Maricopa Center for Learning and Innovation (MCLI). Dr. Paver’s 21 year career in higher education includes recent community college leadership positions serving as the Assistant Vice President of Transfer and Academic Support at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois, the Dean of Academic Support & Learning Technologies at Skyline College in California, the Dean of Instruction at Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon, and the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Triton College in Illinois.
Dr. Paver earned a Ed.D. in Instructional Technology from the College of Education at Northern Illinois University. He also holds an M.A. in Religion and History from Trinity International University, earned graduate credits in history from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a B.A. in Mass Communications – Radio & Television Broadcasting from Western Illinois University.
Ms. Lora Timmons | Dean of Nursing and Healthcare
Ms. Lora Timmons has been a higher education professional for 26 years, holding a variety of different roles at two mid-sized, private universities in Chicago. She currently serves as the Assistant Dean for the Robert Morris Experiential College at Roosevelt University. Ms. Timmons’ breadth of experience has provided her a well-rounded understanding of different levels of the university environment. Much of her experience has been focused on curriculum development, accreditation initiatives, experiential learning and freshman year experience programming. She has a proven track record in student retention and program success, specifically in health and science curriculum areas.
Ms. Timmons is currently completing her Doctorate of Health Professions Education from Logan University and has earned a Master’s in Public Health from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor's in Exercise Science from Iowa State University. Additionally, she loves traveling and spending quality time with her family which includes, her husband, three children and two dogs.