BOARD ENDORSEMENTS
Governing Board Endorsements – 2022
KELLI BUTLER
AT LARGE
Although Kelli’s work experience is mainly in the healthcare industry, much of her volunteer and community experience focuses on education. She first became interested in education policy and funding as the parent of two boys attending schools in the Madison Elementary District. She volunteered in their classrooms, and later served on committees and boards at both the school and district levels. During their high school years, Kelli encouraged her sons to participate in dual enrollment courses offered through the Maricopa County Community College system, preparing them to successfully complete their degrees at Arizona’s public universities.
Kelli’s interest in public education inspired her to run for the Arizona State House of Representatives. She was elected as a State Representative in 2016 and has served in the legislature for six years. Most recently, she was appointed Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee. Advocating for funding for quality K-12 public schools and for access to post-secondary public education have been among her highest priorities as a state legislator.
Kelli knows the Maricopa County Community College system plays a crucial role in the future success of its students, and in the future of our state’s economy as well. Arizona’s prosperity is dependent on its ability to train its workforce for the jobs of the future. Kelli is dedicated to strengthening the Maricopa Community College system and helping students more readily access their quality, affordable educational opportunities and training programs. Our future — and theirs — depends on it.
Marie Sullivan
District 3
Marie Sullivan has been involved in economic and workforce development, education, and women and family issues for over 40 years. She is the Principal and Owner of Marie Sullivan LLC, focused on Advancing Possibilities of businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to achieve their strategic, innovative and impactful goals. Previously Marie served for 20 years as the President and CEO of Arizona Women’s Education and Employment, Inc., (AWEE), a non-profit organization dedicated to changing people’s lives through the dignity of work. She has worked in public policy development and advocacy in the social service and faith-based sectors. Overtime she has served on over 25 education, social service and faith-based boards.
Marie currently is serving as the chair of the MCCCD Board, a position her colleagues have elected her to twice. Marie has also served as a member of the AZ Center for Economic Progress Board, the Phoenix Charter 100 Board, Arizona Town Halls, a leader of the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board and Executive Committee, as a member of the Phoenix College President’s Advisory Council, the AZTechForce Foundation Task Force, and the West Valley Community Bank Advisory Board for Small Business Development.
Donna Davis
District 4
Donna is a first-generation college graduate with a degree in Health Education from the College at Brockport, State University of New York (SUNY Brockport). She married her college sweetheart, an Air Force officer, and traveled the world as a military spouse for 23 years. Moving every few years with the military offered a variety of different education-focused experiences for Donna. She taught reading improvement to airmen for the community college on George Air Force Base in Southern California, taught preschool on Davis Monthan-Tucson Air Force Base, and taught English to Yemeni military personnel; which led to her becoming the Community Liaison Officer for the American Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen.
Donna moved to Phoenix in 1990 from Yemen with her husband and three children. Since then, she has had a variety of experiences in the nonprofit arena which include coordinating a youth employment program, fundraising for the Future Farmers of America (FFA), and working for the last 13 years for a statewide nonprofit education advocacy group. In 2015, Donna was presented with the Phoenix Champion for Children award from Children’s Action Alliance recognizing her work to create a better world for Arizona children and their families. Donna currently chairs the Governor’s Commission of Service and Volunteerism and is a graduate of Leadership West, Class 3.
Donna knows the West Valley’s economy is growing rapidly and employers desperately need appropriately trained employees to fill their positions. Electing Donna to the Maricopa County Community Colleges Governing Board will allow her to use her lifelong expertise in the field of education and her passion for public education to promote the Maricopa Community College system to improve Arizona’s economy and thereby better our collective future and improve the lives of our students and their families.
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