Q: Why are you excited to join Community College of Philadelphia?

A; This fall is my first semester teaching at CCP. I am excited to join such a vibrant and caring community of faculty and staff who truly care about their students, their school, and the great city of Philadelphia.

Q: How do you look forward to impacting our students with your academic field/ training?

A: This fall, I have the opportunity to teach our linked courses in the English department, a great program that gives students the ability to earn college credits they otherwise wouldn't have tested into. I love writing, reading, and engaging with text, and I hope by the end of the semester my students will share some of that enthusiasm!

Q: Tell us a little about your previous work experience, including titles, and what degrees you have.

A: In the past, I was an adjunct at La Salle, Thomas Jefferson East Falls and the University of Memphis. I earned my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis in spring 2020.

Q: Why did you choose to become an educator?

A: Becoming an educator has never felt like a choice, more like a prescription for happiness. ​

Q: What experience or individual influenced your career direction?

A: This might sound cheesy, but my husband. We got married very young, but our relationship never required me to sacrifice my goals of becoming a professor. He's always in my corner—in fact, he saw the job post for CCP first and sent it to me! ​

Q: Tell us something about yourself you would like the College community to know– hobbies, what you like to do for fun, a fun fact about yourself.

A: I love thrifting, reading books and quilting. Last year, I made a quilt replica of Van Gogh's Starry Night, but with cats!

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia announced the appointment of three new members to the College’s Board of Trustees. Timothy J. Ford, partner at Dilworth Paxson LLP, is filling the seat previously occupied by Tyrell McCoy. Dr. Carol Jenkins, a Philadelphia ward leader and retired professor at Temple University, is filling the seat of Michael Soileau. Reverend Jonathan A. Mason Sr., pastor at Northeast Baptist Church and past international president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., is filling the seat of Dominique Ward.

All three new board members were officially appointed in July of this year. Timothy’s term will expire June 30, 2030, Dr. Jenkins’ will expire June 30, 2028 and Rev. Mason’s will expire June 30, 2027. The College’s 15-member board is appointed by the mayor of Philadelphia.

“Our Board of Trustees continues to shine as we welcome three new members who share the College’s passion for strengthening our community,” said College President Dr. Donald Guy Generals. “It’s my honor to welcome Timothy J. Ford, Dr. Carol Jenkins and Rev. Jonathan A. Mason Sr. to the board, all of whom are dedicated to guiding CCP as we support our students and our city.”

Timothy Ford is an attorney, representing governments, businesses, political committees and individuals in high stakes and sensitive disputes. He founded Dilworth Paxson LLP’s political and election law practice group. He practices regularly in the Pennsylvania Supreme and Commonwealth Courts in matters of public importance from election administration to the opioid epidemic.

“CCP is an engine for the City’s workforce and community engagement,” Timothy said. “I look forward to being part of the College’s mission of preparing students to join Philadelphia’s workforce and become informed, active participants in their communities.”

Committed to higher education and the community, Timothy is an adjunct professor of Law at the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, teaching Election Law, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Committee of Seventy.

He earned his B.A. in Public Policy from Stanford University and his J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, where he was executive editor of Michigan Law Review.

For 20 years, Dr. Carol Jenkins has served as the 27th Ward Leader in Philadelphia, where she oversees local democratic processes in choosing strong candidates to serve the city. Outside of politics, she has been active on various community boards including Friends of Clark Park and the United Nations of Greater Philadelphia.

“As a graduate of Bucks County Community College, I am a longtime supporter of the community college system,” Dr. Jenkins said. “I’m honored to be part of CCP’s work to ensure higher education is attainable for all learners in the Philadelphia area.”

She previously was a faculty member of Temple University, where she taught Urban Policy classes. Dr. Jenkins focused on improving course material that introduced students to the ways in which they can impact their state and local contexts. She specifically engaged with transfer students from Community College of Philadelphia, which provided insight into transfer preparation to a four-year institution.

Dr. Jenkins earned an associate degree at Bucks County Community College; a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at Indiana University, Bloomington; and an MPA and Ph.D. from Temple University.

Rev. Jonathan Mason was driven to service by his father, Rev. Lee Mason Jr., an esteemed and connected pastor in the Philadelphia area who ran in the same circles as Martin Luther King Jr., Clay Evans, Jesse Jackson, James Cleveland and many other prominent figures of that time.

"I’m honored to continue my family’s legacy of service in the Philadelphia area,” Rev. Mason said. “CCP's commitment to providing opportunities for students of all identities is inspirational and I look forward to working with my fellow board members as we support the College’s mission."

Pastor Mason has had a distinguished career in media sales and management, leading teams at iconic New York radio stations such as 92.3 K-ROCK, 1010 WINS and 77 WABC. Tasked with driving exceptional revenue growth in the nation’s top media market, Pastor Mason consistently guided his teams to surpass revenue goals.

He now serves as the owner and operator of Philly's Favor 100.7 FM, the last remaining Black-owned Gospel radio station in Philadelphia, where he continues to make a lasting impact in the industry. He has partnered with corporations, institutions of higher learning and community organizations for leadership training at his facility, Camp New Joy.

Rev. Mason is a visiting professor at Norfolk State University, teaching courses in media sales and radio broadcasting. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in News and Public Affairs, with a minor in Public Relations, from NSU; a master’s in Ministry from Missio Seminary in Philadelphia; and received an honorary doctorate from NSU.

Members of the Community College of Philadelphia Board of Trustees meet on the first Thursday of each month. All meetings are open to the public. Full board bios for Timothy Ford, Dr. Carol Jenkins and Rev. Jonathan Mason Sr. are available at ccp.edu.