Julie Weismann

Zone 3
Age: 65

Julie Weismann

Brief biography: My experience as a University of Oregon board governance instructor and chair of many boards, coupled with my organizational management as a small business CEO, executive and finance director of a nonprofit with a multimillion budget makes me uniquely qualified to the board and to effectively navigate the challenges and opportunities facing LCC.

Current employment: Finance director (former executive director) of Hope & Safety Alliance (formerly Womenspace).

Connection to Lane Community College: I’m currently the Zone 3 Board of Education Trustee. I fell in love with LCC back in 2011 when I decided to go back to school to finish my bachelor’s degree. I had started in my early 20s, but life took me down a different path. The Ford Family Foundation gave me its Restart scholarship, which allowed me to start at LCC, get my associate’s degree, and then transfer to the University of Oregon. I got my bachelor’s in political science and a master’s certificate in nonprofit management.

Why are you running? I’m passionate about ensuring LCC’s financial stability, supporting our leadership in achieving the college’s goals, meeting the needs of our students, and helping them succeed. I also want to contribute to addressing the growing needs of our community by supporting workforce partnerships and collaborative efforts with local and regional businesses. As a nontraditional student who attended both LCC and the University of Oregon, and with experience as an executive director, business owner, and board leader, I bring a unique perspective to the board. I’ll use my experience to ensure the board governs effectively, representing all of the college’s stakeholders: students, faculty, staff, leadership, and the community.

Priorities: My top priorities include:

  • Stabilizing the budget for long-term sustainability.
  • Supporting student success and workforce development.
  • Ensuring competitive wages and support for faculty and staff.

Challenges: 

Financial stability and sustainability: We have challenges, but I’m determined to keep costs down for students, ensure competitive wages for faculty and staff, be inclusive and expand our workforce objectives. We are fortunate to have an incredibly experienced cabinet and financial team who helps us understand where we can adjust, where our vulnerable funds are, analyze and forecast effectively. We have good plans and goals, but in times of uncertainty we must have the tools to be able to pivot, as well as react and respond when the time comes. I will continue to ensure they have the support and tools they need to give the board and President Stephanie Bulger the information we need to make decisions. I am looking forward to having four years to work with the team if elected.

Student access and education costs: Students are struggling to make ends meet with the current tuition fees. We need to find alternative solutions to keep tuition costs down. The community needs a skilled workforce, but if the training costs are too high, we’ll lose students. I’d love to explore tuition savings programs where businesses can help subsidize some of the costs. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m eager to work with President Bulger and the community to find a solution, especially during this uncertain time when funding is tight.

Board effectiveness:  First, I think it is important for the board to understand its role, understands its rules and processes, and understands its commitment to respect and ethical conduct. Our job is to ensure the success of students and success of LCC. We represent all facets of the community college (students, faculty, classified, admin, and Lane County) — and we do that through a student’s success lens. Similar to a city manager, the LCC president is tasked with running the college, the board is tasked with supporting their employee, the president, in implementing approved strategies and goals.

Second, the board needs a chair that understands their role, understands they do not have individual power, and they do not have the power to direct the president or the staff or the college.  Their job is to ensure that board meetings operate smoothly and on time, and collaborate with the vice chair and president on how the board can address issues facing the college through agenda setting. It is important that the chair represents the board with the board’s consent and approval; they do not have authority to set direction independently or unilaterally.

After the new board members are seated, I will ask for extensive board training, as well as specific training for the chair and vice chair that includes understanding our policies.

Until there is a chair that understands their role and operates appropriately, I will continue my commitment to the board process and the rules by participating and ensuring the meetings are running smoothly and within the guidelines and rules we agreed to.  

Endorsements: The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce; LCC Board of Education Vice Chair Kevin Alltucker; Sean Van Gordon, Springfield mayor; Kaarin Knudson, Eugene mayor; Steve Mital, LCC Board of Education; Heather Quaas-Annsa, Springfield School Board; Kori Rodly, Springfield City Council; Marshall “Marty” Wilde, former state representative; Julie Aspinwall-Lamberts, retired; Mary Bartlett, Oregon Pacific Bank; Joel Barlett, retired; John Brown, Evans, Elder, Brown & Seubert; Rebecca (Flynn) Dinwoodie, University of Oregon; Noreen Dunnells, United Way; Gregory Fitz-Gerald, retired; MarDee Hansen, artist; Diana Learner, retired; Anne Marie Levis, Funk/Levis & Associates; Darcy Philips, CEO, Conerstone Community Housing; Christine Silver, consultant; Victoria Smithweiland, Homes for Good; Scott Williams, Hamilton Construction.

Mike McInally is a Pacific Northwest journalist with four decades of experience in Oregon and Montana, including stints as editor of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Albany Democrat-Herald.