The Cochise College Foundation’s vision is that Cochise College is accessible to all and affordable by our diverse and changing communities. Thank you for joining our mission to promote student success through scholarships, facilities development and program support.
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Join Our Mission to Promote Student Success.
Donate to Cochise College with the button below. Donate to Cochise College Athletics.
Checks may be written and mailed to:
Cochise College Foundation
4190 W Highway 80, Douglas, AZ 85607
foundation@cochise.edu
(520) 417-4149 (Douglas Campus) | (520) 515-3690 (Sierra Vista Downtown Center)
501(c)3 ~ EIN: 86-0211414
Credit card gifts can be made by calling the Douglas Campus location.
- If you wish to support something that isn’t listed, contact us at 520-417-4735 or foundation@cochise.edu.
- Required Minimum Distribution: Avoid taxes on your IRA’s RMD by donating it to the college foundation. Ask your financial advisor and contact us to discuss your charitable goals.
- Checks: We are unable to process checks unless they are written to Cochise College Foundation. Include a notation of the fund or program you wish to support.
- Securities: Transfers may help avoid transaction fees and also serve as charitable contributions. Contact the foundation and your investment/tax professional for details.
- Matching Gifts: Check if your employer offers this opportunity to support nonprofits.
- Non-Traditional Student Scholarship – The pandemic impacted many jobs and left some adults with a need to reskill so they can find their place in the changing workforce. The Non-Traditional Student Scholarship provides funds for Cochise County adults who are returning to college.
- Senior Scholarship – The State of Arizona seeks to increase the percentage of residents who hold post-secondary certifications and degrees. The Senior Scholarship provides funds for Cochise County graduating high school seniors who enroll at Cochise College immediately after high school.
Donors who wish to make a tax-deductible donation in support of scholarships for any student identified by Cochise College may make payments to the Cochise College Foundation using one of the methods listed under Giving Options.
Planning Your Legacy.
To advance the culture of excellence at Cochise College and ensure access for future students, consider making provisions in your will for the benefit of academic programs, scholarships and other needs.
Estates of any size can leave a mark on the future by supporting higher education in Cochise County while creating brighter futures for generations of students.
Contact the Cochise College Foundation at (520) 417-4149 or foundation@cochise.edu to set up an appointment or to have a copy of Planning Your Legacy mailed or emailed to you.
Mission
To promote student success through scholarships, facilities development and program support.
Vision
Cochise College is accessible to all and affordable by our diverse and changing communities.
Values
Integrity: We will honor our code of ethics and be open and honest in our interactions with others.
Stewardship: We will ensure responsible use of all assets entrusted to us.
Collaboration: We will maintain supportive, trusted relationships and partnerships in the pursuit of our mission.
Excellence: We will strive to achieve the highest possible results in all we do.
Accountability: We will adhere to our policies and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Donor Bill of Rights.
Joanna K. Michelich, Ph.D. ('68), Sierra Vista, President
Dr. Joanna Michelich (’68) has had an ongoing relationship with the college since her enrollment as a freshman in 1966. Upon graduating from Cochise, she pursued degrees from Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona and Washington State University. She received the Outstanding Community College Alumni Award for 1964-1978, presented by Cochise College and the State Board for Community Colleges of Arizona in 1978. Over 35 years, Michelich served in a variety of leadership positions in higher education and related professional associations. She retired as executive vice president/provost of her alma mater – Cochise College – in 2009. In addition, Michelich was a trustee of the former Sierra Vista Regional Health Center and a founding member of the board of the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona. She has served as a board member with numerous other community organizations and brings to the foundation a personal passion for Cochise College and its successful future.
John F. Pintek ('72), Bisbee, Vice President
John Pintek’s association with Cochise College began in 1964 when he was a member of the first class of students and he was elected the first student body president. After graduating from Cochise College, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in public administration from St. Mary’s College in California.
His varied background includes being an officer with the Department of Public Safety. During that time, he was a highway patrolman, worked in special investigations, and did undercover assignments. Pintek has served as Cochise County sheriff and started a Detention Officer Academy at Cochise College. He owned a handyman service in Phoenix and built three custom homes after he received his Residential Electrician Certificate.
Pintek has been married 51 years to his wife Rosaline. He looks forward to continuing to support Cochise College and believes the benefits and opportunities the college provides are immeasurable.
Mary Jackson, Sierra Vista, Treasurer
Mary Jackson’s parents insisted that she and her siblings finish high school. After that, because of finances, she spent 15 years pursuing a bachelor’s degree at three community colleges in three different states, finishing at Arizona State University. Most of those years, she worked full time and attended school at night. Mary has worked in public accounting, private enterprise and government, retiring as a CPA from Arizona G&T Cooperatives.
Joel Borowiec ('78), Sierra Vista, Secretary
Joel Borowiec (‘78) has strong family connections with Cochise College, as his father, Matthew, served on the Governing Board from 1967-78, and his mother, his daughter, and he all earned degrees from Cochise. Joel joined the foundation board because he values education and the “kinder, gentler” environment that provides students with everything from university preparation and basic skills training to tutoring and scholarship opportunities. After earning his degree from Cochise, Joel graduated from the University of Arizona in 1982, and from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1985. He is a founding member of Borowiec & Borowiec PC in Sierra Vista.
Mark Battaglia, J.D., Benson
Mark, an avid investor, has served the Cochise College Foundation board of directors for some 20 years. A semi-retired attorney, he came to Benson following a stint as national transportation manager, chemicals and plastics, with Union Carbide. He opened a private practice, which he today shares with his daughter, but also has served as city manager, city attorney, and deputy Cochise County attorney. Before enrolling in law school, Mark earned a degree in finance. He is never very far removed from the day’s trading news, and he spent about 20 years as foundation treasurer, in addition to previously serving as board president several times. His other hobbies are fishing and spending time with his grandsons.
Trudy Berry, Sierra Vista
Trudy held the position of elected superintendent of Cochise County public schools from 2001 to 2016. Previously, she was the director of Adult Education at Cochise College, as well as a faculty member. “As a former educator, I think it is important to assist students who wish to be a part of a prepared workforce that serves our county, our state and the global community. Education can improve an individual’s quality of life and instill a lifelong love of learning.”
Larry Borger, Bisbee
Larry has extensive experience as an adult trainer. He has served with the Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee, VICAP, Renaissance House/Women’s Transition Project, and Bisbee Community Chorus. He also spent a year facilitating and writing a strategic plan for the Community Montessori School of Bisbee. Borger earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in higher and adult education at Columbia University. He also earned a master’s in business administration at Arizona State University. He spent the early part of his career as director of independent day schools in New York and Arizona. He later became a logistics manager and trainer for Motorola; training manager, productivity consultant and project manager for the Salt River Project; and instructor, head of faculty, and lead faculty trainer for the University of Phoenix.
Carolyn Rowland Dirksen, Ph.D., Bisbee and Tennessee
Carolyn graduated from Bisbee High School and attended Cochise College in its first year – 1964-1965 – before transferring to Northern Arizona University, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s in English. She also holds a doctoral degree in linguistics from the University of Arizona. She served in many positions, from faculty to chief academic officer, at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, for about 50 years.
“I was privileged to attend Cochise College for its inaugural year, and it was perfect for me. My teachers were knowledgeable and inspiring, and I left well-prepared for a career in academia. Even in that first year, Cochise offered a great balance of the familiar and the challenging. I had excellent teachers that prepared me for all the academic work in my future, and the atmosphere was affirming and supportive. Despite my gratitude and deep appreciation for my experience, I have not given back to Cochise College in any significant way. Serving on this board gives me that opportunity.”
Doug Dunn, Bisbee
Doug Dunn has lived in Cochise County since 1970 and has served on many community organizations, including the Bisbee City Council, the Bisbee Foundation, and the Naco Wellness Initiative. He also has been a Bisbee Main Street merchant for 21 years, associated with the Acacia Art and Antiques shop. He has served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, South America, is a founding member of the Cochise County Water Wise Program, and has served in many organizations in Bisbee and Willcox. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the Cochise College Foundation board with his community connections and service.
He is married to Donna Gaab, retired director of the Cochise County Library District. Together, they are very interested in education, especially early childhood literacy, and what can be done to encourage educational achievement and academic success. Dunn is community oriented, feels that community colleges provide a nice bridge to four-year institutions, and enjoys supporting local students as they continue on their educational journey.
Melany Edwards-Barton ('08), Sierra Vista
Melany Edwards-Barton (’08), executive director of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce, was an adult student when she enrolled at Cochise College and earned a scholarship to complete her bachelor’s degree at Northern Arizona University. At Cochise, she was an active member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She has more than 20 years of business leadership experience in non-profits, for profits and volunteer organizations. In addition, she is a licensed real estate agent and business advisor for Professional Women of Excellence.
Annette Flores, Bisbee
Annette Flores is the chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee. She earned a bachelor of science degree in human services with a family and child services certificate after receiving a full scholarship from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. While completing her master’s in business administration with a concentration in human resource management, she found herself exploring avenues to contribute to the community. “Through my work in the non-profit sector, the importance of taking action and being active in my community has been instilled in me.” Annette is the president-elect of the Bisbee Rotary Club. She has also volunteered with youth groups and sports, Girl Scouts, St. Patrick’s Parish and the local schools. She and her husband have three children, two grandsons, and six furry kids.
Crystal Hadfield ('10), Willcox
Crystal Hadfield (’10) is the finance director and city clerk for the City of Willcox. She earned an associate’s degree in business administration with high honors at Cochise College, where she was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She also earned a bachelor of science in commerce, summa cum laude, at the University of Arizona. She has been a math and algebra teacher and also worked as finance manager for Northern Cochise Community Hospital, and she has a daughter enrolled in Cochise College classes. She serves on the board of Willcox Against Substance Abuse.
Dr. David Mosow ('66), Mobile, Alabama
Dr. David Mosow currently serves on the Northern Arizona University Foundation board of directors and feels that his service to both of these boards can provide insight into helping students from community colleges be successful at four-year institutions.
Mosow has spent 13 years on the NAU Foundation board and has come to love all aspects of foundation service. It has been his contention that one of the critical keys to foundation service is first friend-raising. Once people identify with Cochise College and what drives the school, he feels becoming a donor is the next logical step. Since Cochise was so significant in his growth as a student, it seems only right to want to give back.
Mosow received his Ed.D. in educational leadership from NAU in 1978. He is qualified to teach programs in computer information sciences and business management. He holds a private pilot license with instrument rating, is president of the Mosow Family Foundation, has been married for 44 years, and has four grown children.
Candyce Beumler Pardee, Hereford
As a second-generation native of Douglas, Arizona, Candyce Beumler Pardee has deep roots in Cochise County. Her father, Henry Weber Beumler, was involved in the creation of Cochise College in the 1960s. Her mother was a teacher in Pirtleville. Together, they instilled in her a deep interest in public service and education. Candy followed her parents into education, then later, her dad into law. She spent 19 years with the Gila County attorney’s office, prosecuting major felonies and representing local school districts. In 2001, she began work as a general crime prosecutor with the Cochise County Attorney’s Office, later transitioning to the civil department and representing school districts once again. She retired from Cochise County in 2009. After a stint with the Mesa law firm Udall Shumway, PLC, she retired from the active practice of law in 2020 and began working part time as judge pro-tem for the Cochise County Superior Court and Justice Courts. Candy is a member of the Sierra Vista Rotary Club, where she raises funds for scholarships and is the District 5500 Youth Protection Officer. She also volunteers with the Salvation Army and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona in Hereford.
J.D. Rottweiler, Ph.D.
J.D. became the 11th president of Cochise College in 2009. A first-generation college graduate, he earned a bachelor of arts in sociology with a Japanese minor in 1990, and a master of arts in sociology in 1992 from the University of Wyoming. In 2005, he earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah. He arrived at Cochise with more than 15 years of community college experience, ranging from small, rural colleges to large, multi-campus, urban institutions. Prior to becoming president, he was executive vice president for academic services and professor of sociology at Central Wyoming College. He has served as associate dean of instruction at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa, and on the faculty at Ricks College, now Brigham Young University – Idaho, and was associate professor/chair of the Department of Sociology at Salt Lake Community College. An avid sports fan, J.D. will travel far for a good football, basketball, baseball or volleyball match-up.
Chuck Chambers
Chuck Chambers operates a small family cattle ranch east of Douglas. He has served on the Whitewater Draw Conservation District Board of Supervisors for 16 years, two of them as chairman. He also serves on and is past president of the Cochise/Graham County Cattle Growers Board of Supervisors. Chuck served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years as a pilot, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He is a life member of the Arizona Rangers and was company commander of the Douglas Company for seven years. He is deacon and financial secretary for his church, and he holds a master’s degree in engineering. He joined the board of the Cochise College Foundation in 1992.
Shirley Gregory
A retired classroom teacher, Shirley worked for many years with the Douglas Unified School District. She and her husband owned a florist shop and were involved in the landscaping of the Douglas Campus. Shirley resigned from the board in 2012 but remains an avid supporter of Cochise College. She is now board member emeritus.
Dan Rehurek, Ed.D.
Dan served as Cochise College president from 1985 to 1994 and later joined the board of the Cochise College Foundation. He first came to Cochise County as a teacher at Douglas High School, then a faculty member at the college. As a foundation board member, he held numerous leadership positions and finished his tenure in 2020 after serving a final term as board president. His historical knowledge of the community and the college, as well as his connections with both the college and donors outside the college, are beneficial to advancing the foundation mission.
Linda Staneart
Linda, a resident of Green Valley and formerly of McNeal, served on the Cochise College Foundation board of directors for 15 years. When she resigned in 2012, the board named her its first board member emeritus. Previously a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Douglas, she helped connect the foundation with local donors and became a real estate agent after leaving Cochise County.
George Hooper (deceased)
The late George Hooper served as an active board member from 1978 through 2009, often hosting foundation gatherings at his home in Sierra Vista. He spent 30 years in the U.S. Army and later managed Southeast Arizona Medical Center in Douglas. He also volunteered with the Fry Fire Department. Now a resident of Snowflake, he keeps in touch with his Cochise County friends and recently endowed the George and Barbara Hooper Scholarship for nursing students.
George Bugen (deceased)
Bugen family history in Bisbee dates to 1907, when George’s father Chris arrived from Yugoslavia. A World War I veteran, he married Mamie Milutinovich, ran the Bugen Brothers Grocery, and had three children – Bette, Sam and George. The boys served in the Korean War. Members of the family were active in various professional, civic and social circles. All were members of the St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church. In 2012, George, the last remaining member of the family, made a gift valued at some $1.2 million to the Cochise College Foundation in support of capital improvements at the Sierra Vista Campus. At the time, it was the largest recorded gift received in support of Cochise College.
Marsha Arzberger
Now retired, Marsha was raised on a farm in Missouri and worked her way through college with scholarships. A resident of Arizona since 1967, she was elected to serve in the State Senate in 2000. Marsha’s background includes service as dean of Draughon’s Business College in Kansas City, Missouri, and professor at the Oklahoma Junior College of Business and Technology. She also served on the Arizona Board of Regents from 1993-2000. She was a member of the Civil Air Patrol for more than 30 years and is a private pilot with an instrument rating and more than 5,000 of flying experience. She is a partner with her husband Gus in the family ranching business. Now retired from politics, she was appointed an honorary member of the Cochise College Foundation board in 1999.
Denise Hoyos, Executive Director
Denise studied journalism and worked as a reporter and editor before taking her first community college position in the district development office at Ivy Tech State College, now Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. After two years handling newsletters, special events and award programs, she joined Cochise College as public information officer in 2001. She became executive director of the Cochise College Foundation in 2007. In 2009, her role expanded to executive director of the Office of External Affairs, which handles fundraising, marketing and communications for Cochise College. Denise has implemented consistent public and donor communications, planned the college’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2014-2015, and serves on the college Grants Committee. She is a member of CASE website (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) and currently serves on the District VII Communications Committee. She also serves on the boards of the Cochise County Fair Association and the Bisbee Council on the Arts & Humanities.
Rose Berumen, Administrative Assistant
Rose graduated from Douglas High School and studied for a year at Cochise College before pursuing a secretarial certificate at Chaparral Career College in Tucson. After working as a teller for Pima Savings & Loan Association, she joined Cochise College in 1988. She worked first in human resources, then with the vice president for administration, before joining the foundation.
Eva Dickerson ('89), College Advancement Manager
Eva brings many years of fundraising and marketing experience to the Foundation. She worked for the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center Foundation for seven years as their Foundation Manager, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring Digital Mammography to Cochise County. She has recently served as the Public Information Officer for the Sierra Vista Unified School District, promoting staff and student achievement and handling marketing and media requests.
She has created and implemented programs for donor outreach, communication and recognition, and has developed and executed successful fund raising events for many community organizations.