PCC Foundation Board of Trustees welcomes five new members

There are five new faces among the Portland Community College Foundation Board of Trustees.

The new trustees are Abby Coppock, an independent consultant; Brigid Flanigan of Tenfold Senior Living; Elaine Charpentier Philippi of M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; Sama Shagaga of Northwest Natural; and Rich Truitt, a retiree of Indian Health Service.

“It is with great excitement that we welcome our new board members to the Portland Community College Foundation,” said Foundation Board President Kim Morgan. “Their diverse backgrounds, expertise and passion for education will undoubtedly enhance our mission to remove barriers to education at Portland Community College through the power of partnerships and create a community where anyone can thrive through education.”

The 21-member board is a volunteer group which aims to lead the foundation and represent a wide range of business and community interests to support student success at the college and beyond.

Here's more about each trustee:

Abby Coppock

Her work as an independent consultant specializes in organizational transformation, leadership development, team effectiveness and change management. Coppock formerly worked in communications for the city of Portland and in partnership development for a workforce reentry program in Chicago.

Brigid Flanigan

For 30 years Flanigan has been developing and managing retirement communities in Oregon and California. As founder and principal of Tenfold Senior Living, she manages all elements of the development process, including market analysis, public approvals, design, financing, construction and marketing. Flanigan is committed to urban redevelopment and is a strong supporter of the arts, including seven years on the board at Portland Center Stage.

Elaine Charpentier Philippi

She helps facilitate grants for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in her role as senior program officer, investing in education, leadership and development across the Pacific Northwest. Philippi believes in the power of education and addressing barriers that individuals, families and communities face when accessing education pathways. She was the former executive director at In4All and has served on multiple boards and committees in Oregon.

Sama Shagaga

Shagaga is a former PCC student and serves on the Partnerships and Government Affairs team at NW Natural where he collaborates with local nonprofits, unions and trade partners with a focus on workforce development, energy education and community investment. He is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow and current board director for ALF Oregon. Shagaga sits on several advisory groups working with local workforce boards and STEM Hubs.

Rich Truitt

A retired professional engineer, Truitt served with the Indian Health Service for more than 50 years — more than 36 years as a commissioned officers with the U.S. Public Health Service and 14 years as a civilian. He worked with Indigenous tribes throughout the American West to plan, design and construct safe water supply, waste disposal and health care facilities. Truitt has served as an executive member of the governing boards of six federal health care facilities, and he is an active volunteer in the community.