Innovation, continuing student success spark leadership changes at MCC

A change in administrative leadership started on May 21 that will help Mohave Community College drive educational attainment and student success into the future.

Former Bullhead City Campus Dean Shawn Bristle started his new position at the college, becoming the new Chief of Innovation and Transformation.

North Mohave Campus Dean Dr. Carolyn Hamblin replaced Bristle as the Bullhead City Campus Dean.  John Cawley is the new dean of the North Mohave campus in Colorado City.

“We are very fortunate to have such outstanding and talented people on our leadership team,” said MCC President Dr. Michael Kearns.  “These changes will ensure the college continues to enhance its value in all the communities we serve.”

For Bristle, the move places him at the forefront of helping determine the future direction of the college. The change means he will be working out of the college administrative offices in Kingman.

“I love Bullhead City and will remain a resident,” said Bristle, who has been very involved in the community.  He served on the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce board, the Western Arizona Regional Medical Center board, and the Bridges to Recovery board.  “In my new position, I will continue to serve our region—just in a different way.“

Bristle will continue to hold positions with the WARMC and BTR boards, while working full time to help guide MCC and determine where the community and the college will be in five, ten and even 20 years.

“We know that ‘business as usual’ is a recipe for irrelevance, so our goal for the college is to transform through innovation,” said Bristle. “We will focus on student needs and the interests of our regional community as a whole, while at the same time blending predictive analytics systems with creativity and an innovative mindset.  Ultimately, we hope to foster increased levels of institutional adaptability, enabling MCC to flexibly serve the region at the highest possible levels of service.”

Dr. Hamblin has been the dean of the MCC North Mohave campus in Colorado City since 2010. 

She’s been with MCC since 1990, when she started as an associate faculty member at the Fredonia Center teaching math, psychology and computer information systems.  She was hired as the director of student services on the North Mohave campus in 2003.

“Working in Colorado City for the last fifteen years has been one of the most rewarding periods in my career,” said Hamblin, who forged many positive relationships with people involved in education along Arizona-Utah border. “This is such a great community with so many remarkable people.  I have witnessed the community and the people in it face phenomenal challenges and emerge strong, vibrant and accomplished.”

Hamblin started as dean of the Bullhead City campus on May 21, where she manages all aspects of the campus operations.

“I have seen over and over again how students have changed their lives by pursuing their education at MCC and I look forward to being a part of creating opportunities for the people in the tristate region,” she said.

John Cawley replaced Hamblin as dean of the North Mohave campus.  Cawley started as an associate faculty member at MCC in 2002. Eight years later, he was hired as the campus academic chair and then in 2014 became the campus instruction supervisor.