College of Western Idaho: Promises Made. Promises Kept. Dunham Is Running for Re-election!

IT IS OFFICIAL! I am running for re-election to the Board of the College of Western Idaho representing Zone 5! I am asking for your vote November 8th! Though I represent Zone 5, I am “elected at large” meaning ALL voters in Canyon and Ada Counties elect trustees.

I have been on the board since the beginning in July of 2007 when we had one vacant building, a hundred acres, no programs, and no personnel. We didn't even have a phone.

Nevertheless, we had huge dreams and expectations! In those nine years, CWI has become the hallmark of community college innovation, serving more than 20,000 students every year and helping business and industry to succeed.

Look what CWI has done so far! https://youtu.be/GWYXZy3-ArY

My job as a trustee is not finished yet. I am seeking another four-year term because I want to complete the accreditation process, finish our strategic planning process, and help develop our campuses in the valley.

I have always been focused on student success, working with our stellar faculty and administration, working for underserved populations, and helping business and industry. I am keenly aware of taxpayer dollars. I have always been diligent to make sure our budget is cost-effective and conservative.

On a personal note, in January of 2012, I had two strokes. One was devastating. Throughout those difficult months of intensive therapy, I never missed CWI meeting. This wonderful college and the students I serve gave me incentive to persevere.

THEIR strength gave me strength.

Mark Dunham’s bottom line? When the voters approved the creation the College of Western Idaho May 22, 2007, there were huge expectations for the college. I was appointed July 17, 2007, and the initial trustees made many promises. I have run twice before.

In my 9 years, I have kept my promise to the voters, taxpayers, students, faculty, staff, and businesses to provide “a public, comprehensive community college dedicated to supporting the economic and social well-being of our community.”

From vague promise 9 years ago, today we have:

20,000+ students served each year

91% positive placement in professional-technical programs

13.9% return on taxpayer investment

5,000+ students have earned degrees and certificates

400+ business and industry partners

28% decrease in student borrowing

Promises Made. Promises Kept. I am not done yet! I need your vote to complete my job!

Comments

Same as it ever was

When I had my two strokes more than 13 years ago, I was 50 years old. In the ensuing years I’ve had some health issues related to my strokes and other assorted “age related” things. In May of 2023, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. As a result I have endured two years of pain and the resulting lack of exercise. That summer I tried to walk regularly but my heel pain was too extreme. I tried to do exercises to relieve the pain but nothing helped. In September of 2023 I asked my doctor to give me a shot of Cortizone. We were headed to Boston for meetings and then headed to Maine. I just wanted to enjoy the trip without pain. It helped a lot. Six months later I had the same pain. I went to an orthopedic doctor who prescribed minor physical therapy. It worked for a bit and then the pain got worse. In September of 2024, my regular doctor gave me another round of Cortizone shots so I could travel to Phoenix. It really helped. For a while. In February of 2025, the pain got worse. I went ...

January

January 10th was the 13th anniversary of my first stroke. After 18 days in the hospital (including my second massive stroke were I lost almost everything) we celebrated my son’s seventh birthday. I wanted to celebrate my son‘s birthday but I had no idea the sensory overload would cause. The flashing lights, the unbearable noise of the crowds and the music, and loud conversations caused me to panic. In the midst of my brain damaged confusion, I had to go to the bathroom. At that point I really didn’t know how to navigate the restaurant even though I had been there many times. I didn’t know the concept of letters and I didn’t know what “men” and “women” were on the doors. My little son gripped my hand and said, “Daddy… I will take you to the bathroom.” Stumbling through the crowded restaurant I was scared. My son guided me to the proper door and asked if I needed any more help. After I finished I came out and he grabbed my hand and took me back to the booth. In January this year, We cele...

Phantom Blindness and Taking a Break after Strokes

I met with my eye doctor last week about taking some time off from my vision therapy. I have been doing therapy since my stroke almost two and a half years ago. I am tired, and a need a break. My doctor said, “This is completely understandable. Take some time off.” At the appointment, my doctor tested my vision. Because of the strokes, my vision was affected, and I have a problem in my field of vision on the right side. I have a deficit with my right side peripheral vision. However, it is getting better. During the test, I told him that I “sense things on the right side of my peripheral vision.” It seems that I know that something is there, but I cannot really distinguish what it is. He told me that there is a body of thought describing phantom vision or phantom blindness. A Polish researcher, L. Bieganowski, described this phantom blindness this way: “The subject of the paper is the phenomenon of phantom vision. It occurs among the blind (or almost blind...

Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

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