A welcome ceremony was held for new SE Campus president William Coppola Feb. 2.
TCC and community leaders relayed words of appreciation as they, students, faculty and staff welcomed Coppola and his wife, Deborah, who lived in Arlington several years ago.
Before coming to SE, Coppola served as executive director of academic partnerships for Lone Star College in Kingwood, Texas. He came to SE following the retirement of founding president Judith Carrier, who said she is confident Coppola will do well running the campus.
“I plan on continuing what she’s done,” Coppola said. “What I plan on doing my first year here is getting to know the students and faculty. Her focus was on student success, and I’m going to do the same.”
Coppola said he doesn’t plan on making changes to the campus but to enhance it.
“The SE Campus is fortunate to have strong support from our local areas, organizations and ISDs, and so it was especially nice that together with TCC’s leadership team, so many local leaders were able to join us with our reception to welcome Dr. Coppola,” said SE mathematics/science/HP divisional dean Thomas Awtry.
Assistant professor of computer science Nosratallah Nezafati said it was a superb reception, and the most important part was the gathering of speakers such as Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley and several civic leaders, who welcomed the new leader with a community service message.
“And the message was strong —we are all connected from K-12 through college through university through the workforce,” Nezafati said.
—Karen Gavis
