Ian Roark
Midland CollegeWith 23 years of Education experience, Ian Roark has served in the positions of: secondary-level music teacher, social studies teacher, assistant principal, K-12 central administrator; and Community College dean, vice president and vice chancellor. Roark holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Angelo State University, a Master of Education/Educational Leadership from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is dedicated to collective impact partnerships, community college innovation, the future of work, early college programs and business and industry engagement, with an emphasis on learner access, success and upward mobility.
He currently serves as the vice chancellor of Workforce Development & Innovation for Pima Community College and works with internal and external stakeholders to respond to the workforce needs of businesses and industry and lead the college's alignment to the economic development priorities of the region and state. He also oversees innovation for the college district, including the development and implementation of new models such as micro-pathways, apprenticeships and baccalaureate degrees. He oversees the Workforce Development & Continuing Education and Adult Basic Education for College and Career Divisions, which together serve 9,000 students on an annual basis in workforce education, adult education, academic transfer and continuing education programs. Roark has served on Pima's Educational Master Plan committee, is on the Strategic Planning committee, is responsible for conducting multiple college-wide strategic goals and initiatives, and led the comprehensive alignment of programs to meet industry needs under our Centers of Excellence initiative. Prior to serving at Pima CC, Roark served as dean/executive dean of Career, Technical and Workforce Education at Odessa College, from 2010-2015.
Roark currently serves on the Pima Association of Government Economic Vitality Advisory Committee, Tucson Metro Chamber Board of Directors, Arizona Community College Coordinating Council Workforce & Economic Development Committee, Arizona Association of Economic Development Workforce Development Committee, Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center Executive Committee, and more. Roark was named to the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence for 2019-2020, received the Workforce Development Practitioner of the Year Award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development in 2019, served as the Steering Committee lead for Arizona's Reskilling & Recovery Network Team in 2020, was named to the New America New Models for Career Preparation Advisory Committee in 2021 and was selected to be a part of the first Designer in Residence cohort by the Education Design Lab for 2021-2022.
Roark has been married to his wife, Landi, who is an exemplary public-school teacher and a Midland native, for 24 years, 15 of which were in Midland. They have two children; a son who is 15 and loves playing guitar; and a daughter who is 20 and loves art and is attending Arizona State University. Together, they enjoy road trips, watching movies, and backyard cookouts. Roark's favorite activities include hiking, camping, and writing and playing music.
