Introducing Our Staff

• Lee Combs, General Counsel
• Margaret E. McConnell, Assistant General Counsel
• Victor Anderson, District Occupational Health & Safety Manager
• Susan Chiara, Administrative Assistant
• Diana Davidson, Assistant to General Counsel
• Leah Dustin-Hall, Executive Secretary I
• Christina Emmons, Administrative Assistant
• George Guariglio, Coordinator of Training & Recruitment
• Christine Hall, Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Recruitment
• Gloria Schoonover, Administrative Assistant
• Teresa Toney, Manager, Office of Public Stewardship
• Ruth A. Unks, Director of Enterprise Risk Management
• Pete Kushibab, retired General Counsel 1995-2009
• Janice Bradshaw, retired General Counsel 1974-1999

Lee Combs

Lee previously served as General Counsel of Metropolitan State College of Denver a position he held from March 1997 – November 2009.  Prior to taking on that role, he was a private practitioner for two years. Earlier in his career, he served as Associate General Counsel to the Colorado State  University System from 1987-1995; First Assistant Attorney General for Education, in the office of Colorado’s Attorney General from 1984-87; and Deputy District Attorney in the Felony Prosecutions Unit of the District Attorney’s Office.

Lee received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Denver and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Illinois State University. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Educational Leadership. In addition, he served as President, Treasurer and Legislative Liaison for the Adams County School District Board of Education.

Direct Line: 480.731.8878
E-Mail: lee.combs@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Margaret E. McConnell

Maggie McConnell, who joined the MCCCD Legal Services Department in September 1997, specializes in construction and contract law. She is responsible for reviewing and signing all contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and clinical agreements for the Maricopa Community Colleges.

After working as a partner at the Phoenix law firm of Lewis and Roca, she left to become State Procurement Administrator for the State of Arizona. More recently, Maggie consulted with public entities, public and private lawyers, and vendors on policy and legal issues relating to state and local government procurement.

She is an active member of the Public Contract Law Section of the American Bar Association and in 1996 received its Distinguished Service Award.

A native of Tucson, Maggie received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arizona.

Direct Line: 480.731.8888
E-mail: margaret.mcconnell@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Victor Anderson

Vic Anderson joint the Legal Services Department, Risk Management Division in December 2010 as the main OSHA and safety resource for the District. Vic was previously the sole risk management employee for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for over five years and worked for Texas Instruments in Tucson prior to that .

Vic is a native Phoenician, raised in Prescott, who received his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University in 1993, his Master's in Business Administration Degree from Aspen College in 2008 and is a 2009 graduate of Arizona State University's Certified Public Manager (CPM) program.

Direct Line: 480.731.8840
E-mail: victor.anderson@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Susan Chiara

Susan Chiara has been an employee of the District Office for 15 years. Her previous experiences include working with Think Tank and the National Center for Teacher Education.

Susan's primary responsibilities in the Legal Services Department is to assist Ruth Unks with Risk Management programs, including the Maricopa Integrated Risk Assessment (MIRA) project, insurance certificates, claims administration, and insurance policy administration.

A native of Wisconsin, Susan earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Lakeland College.

Direct Line: 480.731.8157
E-mail: susan.chiara@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Diana Davidson

Diana Davidson has been with the Legal Services Department since 1989, serving as Assistant to the General Counsel and the Risk Manager.

Her responsibilities include a broad range of legal assisting to the General Counsel, maintenance of budget and office management systems, scheduling, and document drafting.

An Ohio native, Diana attended North Harris College in Texas and Scottsdale Community College in Arizona.

Direct Line: 480.731.8877
E-mail: diana.davidson@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Leah Dustin-Hall

Leah began employment with the Maricopa Community College District with the desire to motivate others to continue their education. Leah currently works as the Administrative Assistant for the EEO/AA office.

Leah has worked on many planning committees and boards that assist with community growth and humanitarian work. Leah is currently a Certified HeartSaver – CPR/AED Instructor. She is also an Executive Board member for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Metropolitan Sun Section.  

Direct Line: 480.731.8832
E-mail:leah.dustin-hall@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Christina (Tina) Emmons

Tina joined the Legal Services Department in 2008, having worked with the Maricopa Community Colleges for 16 years; three years at Paradise Valley Community College and 13 years with the Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (MCLI).

Tina's primary responsibility is to provide administrative support to the area of Public Stewardship, which includes Maricopa Governance, Ombuds Services, and Public Records review and release. She also conducts web maintenance, research, publication layout and design, and trend monitoring.

Tina has a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Arizona State University and a Master of Education degree in Counseling-Human Relations from Northern Arizona University.

Direct Line: 480.731.8882
E-mail: tina.emmons@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

George Guariglio

George came to the Maricopa County Community College District in 2010. After 25 years on the Tempe Police Department, he retired as a Sergeant. During his career he was assigned to many areas of the department, including SWAT and clandestine Narcotics Investigations.

He has been recognized by the police department, receiving various awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal. He also received the Officer of the Year Award from the Tempe Soroptimist Club.

George has conducted training classes at several police academies throughout the US. He was a member of the adjunct faculty at Scottsdale Community College and taught in the Administration of Justice program.

Since retiring from the police department, he has worked in the private sector, managing recruitment and EEO investigations for various heavy equipment, construction and oil field companies.

Direct Line: 480.731.8194
E-mail: george.guariglio@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Christine C. Iijima Hall

Dr. Hall became the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Recruitment for the Maricopa Community College District in August 2008.  For eight years, she was District Director of Employment and Recruitment for the District.  Prior to this position, she was the Senior Associate Dean of Instruction at Glendale Community College (1998-2000).

From 1989-1996, Dr. Hall was the Associate Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at Arizona State University West.  From 1987-1989, she was the Director of Ethnic Minority Affairs for the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C

Dr. Hall received her Ph.D. in social psychology from UCLA.

She was the first female president of Asian American Psychological Association from 1995-1997.  She is a licensed psychologist in Arizona and California. 

Christine has authored of numerous books chapters and journal articles on multiracial identity, ethnic women and body image, and the need for psychology to diversify its profession in teaching, research and practice.  She appears on television, radio and in magazines on the topic of diversity.

She has received numerous awards including the Outstanding Career Contribution Award for the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues, Girl Scouts’ World of People Award, YWCA Tribute to Women Award and Distinguished Leader for Women in Psychology.  She was outstanding alumna of the American Psychological Association's Minority Fellowship Program, Black Board of Directors and Cal State University at Long Beach.  She is also listed as one of the 500 Most Influential Asian Americans by Avenue Asia Magazine.

Direct Line: 480.731.8477
E-mail: christine.hall@domail.maricopa.edu
BACK TO TOP

Gloria Schoonover

Gloria Schoonover is the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant General Counsel, Margaret E. McConnell, in the Legal Services Department of Maricopa County Community College District.  She has worked for MCCCD for the past twelve years.  In her previous position as an Administrative Assistant for the Community College National Center for Community Engagement at Mesa Community College, she assisted in the administration of grants and assisted in writing grant proposals which have netted over $12M in private and public monies within the last ten years. The focus of these grants has been on increasing academic achievement, critical and reflective thinking, civic responsibility, community involvement and faculty development.  In addition to her service learning experience, she has over fifteen years of managerial and supervisory experience.