By Susan Tallant/editor-in-chief
The distance-learning program at TCC was small when Kevin Eason first started working in the department as an instructional assistant.
Eason is now in charge of the program, with more than 20,000 enrollments, after an April 1 promotion to director.
“ [Eason] has moved up through the ranks of this whole unit,” Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chancellor for learning support services, said.
“ He was a student when he started,” he said.
Aguero said Eason was selected because of his experience in distance learning and because of his vision for the department.
“ [Eason] has been a national and state leader in the distance learning organization,” he said. “But most important, he brings a great record of service to students.”
Eason, who has been the assistant director of distance learning since 1993, is excited about the opportunity.
“ TCC has a great distance learning program, and we help meet the needs of many students,” he said. “The potential is there to do even greater things. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities to come.”
Eason started working part-time at TCC more than 20 years ago while earning a bachelor’s degree in management at UTA. He went on to earn his master of business administration in marketing and Ph.D. in humanities from UTA.
He has been a distance-learning instructor since 1994 and has taught computer-delivered Internet courses and ITV courses and has taught through the Virtual College of Texas.
Eason has also served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Distance Learning Association, the largest state chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association, for five years.
Eason’s honors include the Don Foshee Award for Outstanding TxDLA Leadership in 2006 and the Outstanding Individual Commitment to TxDLA Service in 2003 and 2006. He is the only person to receive both the leadership and individual commitment awards in the same year.
He is also one of two people to have received the commitment award more than once and the first to be honored as the sole recipient of the award in seven years.
Chancellor Leonardo de la Garza expressed his thoughts about the promotion in a press release.
“ Dr. Eason clearly understands the importance of distance learning as a program that provides greater access to higher education for our communities.”
