Maricopa’s newest Governing Board member, Scott Crowley, was sworn into his post at Glendale Community College on Thursday, February 19, replacing the late Gene Eastin.

GCC President, Phil Randolph, introduced W. Scott Crowley, 30, to the notable crowd of individuals that came from all over the valley to see the Arizona native sworn-in as District 4 member of the Governing Board for Maricopa Community College District.

One out of seven applicants, Crowley was appointed by Sandra Dowling, Maricopa County School Superintendent, after a panel reviewed the applicants and made a recommendation to Dowling.

Crowley is a firefighter, an executive board member of the Phoenix Bomberos and recently resigned as adjunct faculty from Phoenix College to take the governing board position.

He was endorsed by esteemed individuals like Andrés F. Irlando, President of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, Benito C. Almanza, Bank of America President-Arizona and Billy Shields, United Fire Fighters Association-Phoenix Local 493 President.

Crowley, along with Shields, is credited with introducing the Cesar Chavez Foundation to Arizona. He has also has worked with the Coalition of Students Seeking Change (CSSC), which focuses on “confronting and addressing the socio-political challenges facing the Latino and Immigrant community.”

Crowley’s first governing board meeting serving as a member is on Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the MCCD Support Services Center.

The day after the ceremony Crowley met with GCC students from MEChA. At the informal meeting on Feb. 20, Crowley discussed with students some of his concerns and plans for his term as board member.

“We need students to have a voice in the district,” said Crowley as he addressed questions and concerns of students.

Crowley said he plans to run for the seat in Nov. 2004 since his appointment is good through the end of the year.

In a letter addressed to Sandra Dowling, Crowley wrote, “I hope to serve our community and serve the students and the employees of the colleges while at the same time experiencing the joy of being a part of an institution that truly makes the valley and the state a better place to live.”