Pierce College News

One of the professors in Pierce College’s veterinary technician program, Markiva Contris, has been appointed by Gov. Gregoire to the state’s Veterinary Board of Governors, the rule-making and governing board for veterinarians.

This is an especially prestigious appointment in that Contris is only the second Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) ever to serve on the board (the first was Deb Cofer, a graduate of Pierce’s vet tech program).  Prior to 2007, there were no vet techs on the Board of Governors. Contris was part of the group that drafted the legislation that required one member of the seven-member board to be a LVT. 

Student enrollment is at an all time high across the state and our classes here at Pierce College are filling fast! If you are a professional-technical or worker retraining student you will find several programs with classes still available. If you are a transfer student your choices may be limited. If you know the item# for the class you wish to enroll in, you can check to see if the class is open at http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/SOS/advising tools.html. Otherwise, please call the Fort Steilacoom Welcome Center at 964-6705 or 964-6520 or the Puyallup Advising Center at 840-8431 for assistance.

We also encourage you to check out course offerings at the Military sites (Ft. Lewis & McChord) at www.pierce.ctc.edu/military. For more information call 964-6606 or 964-6567.

Gaining exposure to a new culture is easy, affordable, and exciting when families host international students in their homes.

Pierce College is now seeking host families for several international students this academic year. Most students are college-age but may be older or younger. And, while students may come from all over the globe, most are from different parts of Asia. Students have basic to advanced English language skills and will be taking classes at Pierce College. They will be looking to their host families to help them learn American culture.

“Families really enjoy the cultural learning both they and the students get,” said Angela Parisotto, Pierce College’s international homestay coordinator. “It’s a great cultural exchange for all involved.”

Students pay a monthly reimbursement to host families to cover additional expenses. In exchange, host families provide the student with their own furnished bedroom and meals (several meal options are available), and live no farther than a short commute by bus from either Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood or Pierce College Puyallup.  Family members must also arrange for a home visit and provide a list of references, attend an orientation session for new host families, and pass a background check.

To learn more about hosting an international student, call Angela Parisotto at (253) 964-6593.

A lifelong Washington resident and former attorney with the state Attorney General’s Office, Jackie Rosenblatt has been appointed to the Pierce College Board of Trustees by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

“I’m very excited to serve as a trustee for Pierce College,” Rosenblatt said. “I look forward to attending and participating in Pierce College events and working hard on behalf of students.”

Jackie Rosenblatt

“I am very pleased to have Jackie join the board,” added Pierce College Chancellor Michele Johnson. “She is a longtime public servant and community member, and I look forward to the contributions she will make to the board.”

Rosenblatt is a graduate of Franklin High School, the University of Washington, and the University of Puget Sound Law School. After earning her law degree in 1976, she immediately joined the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office and, in September 1977, joined the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. In 1979, she moved to the Tacoma office, where she was promoted to section chief in 1983 and to division chief in 1991.

Over the course of her tenure with the AGO, Jackie represented the Departments of Social and Health Services, Labor and Industries, Employment Security, and Licensing, and served two years as the assistant attorney general for Olympic Community College.  She was also facilities manager of the Tacoma office before moving briefly to the Seattle office. She retired, after 29 years of service at the AGO, in January 2007. 

After her retirement, Rosenblatt continued her public service as a pro tem judge in Pierce Superior and District courts and Tacoma Municipal Court.  Jackie also serves as secretary of Pierce County Alliance.

Rosenblatt are her husband, local attorney Gary Johnson, recently celebrated their 30^th wedding anniversary.  They have two sons, Josh and Joseph, who both live in the Seattle area.  Rosenblatt enjoys traveling, biking and reading. 

Rosenblatt replaces Dave Hamry, whose 10 years of service as a trustee, including two as board chairman, ended in September.