By Cale Vaughan/reporter
Nearly 400 students piled into NE Campus Center Corner to hear Joy Gates Black, vice chancellor of student success, alleviate students’ worries about their education.
With a mouth full of catered food and a ticket to win a free laptop or backpack, students settled in Sept. 3 as Gates Black spoke about her “commitment to student success.”
NE Campus President Larry Darlage set the tone for the all-day orientation Access and Engagement. He said faculty is ready to help students reach their goals and provide students background to transfer to a four-year college.
With 17,500 students at NE Campus, Darlage said, “Students will gain access to knock down barriers and to allow students to enroll at TCC.”
Gates Black asked who the newbies were, and one-fourth of the students raised their hands.
She holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and is a veteran of the Air Force.
“We are the future of Tarrant County,” Gates Black said.
She presented characteristics and strategies that she said would help give students the best experience.
Anything is possible and students should not allow barriers to get in the way, Gates Black said.
She referenced Lance Armstrong in his fight with cancer as well as Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey’s stories of overcoming racial tension.
Gates Black reassured the students that with reasonable goals, students can prevail.
Student Mina Youssef said she felt inspired by the slideshow of big names. She said they helped motivate her to accomplish goals like graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with an accounting degree.
Student David Rojas said Gates Black helped get rid of any doubt in his mind and encouraged him to go for his dream.
