BACKGROUND: What motivated you to run for this position, and what unique skills or experience make you the best candidate for the role?

I am running for reelection to continue the trajectory the college is currently on. I believe we are operating at our highest level in our 90 year history. We have record enrollment and continually increasing graduation rates. We have a strong fund balance and have lowered the tax rate four times during my six years on the board. We have also reduced our bond debt by $6 million since 2023 and spent $27 million on our infrastructure. Let's keep the momentum going.

ISSUES: What are the two (2) most critical issues you plan to tackle as a Board Member, and what specific strategies or initiatives will you implement to address them?

Our most critical issues are our infrastructure and the successful launch of our branch campus in Mont Belvieu. We are currently working with an architectural firm to develop a Facilities Master Plan to address our infrastructure needs. From this process we will explore how best to finance these needs. Regarding the branch campus, we are working closely with our partners at BHISD to craft a mutually agreeable memorandum of understanding under which to operate and maintain the branch campus.

FUTURE: What is your vision for the community college system over the next 20 years, and what actions should the Board of Trustees take to achieve it?

I see the college expanding its presence deeper into our coverage area using the branch campus model as a template to better serve our students in the outer reaches of our coverage area such as Liberty, Hardin, and east Chambers county.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: How will you engage community stakeholders, students, and staff in the Board's decision-making process?

I am currently working with the administration on getting a student representative on our board. This would be an appointed non-voting position and would serve as a tool to get input from students about the direction of the college. Also if the Facilities Master Plan transitions into the development of a future bond, we would engage the community stakeholders, students, and staff in a Bond Advisory Committee.

COLLEGE: What are the strengths of your community college system, and what do you appreciate most about it?

The culture of Lee College is our greatest strength. You simply have to attend a retirement party for a faculty or staff member or attend Community College day at the state capital with students to see how special Lee College is to everyone it touches. The word family is used a lot when speaking to faculty, staff, and students. We are changing lives for the better every day through the services we provide. Services like our food pantry and clothing closet and the numerous scholarships we provide