By Steve Knight/editor-in-chief
TCC will start the academic year with new leadership.
In a special meeting June 29, the board of trustees named Erma Johnson Hadley interim chancellor.
Hadley, who most recently served as vice chancellor for administrative and community services, temporarily fills the position left vacant by Leonardo de la Garza, who resigned June 21.
Hadley, serving her 41st year with the district, said she was deeply humbled by the board’s appointment, and that her goal would be to continue working for students.
“I’ll continue the legacy of putting students first,” she said. “We all [faculty and staff] have one job description — to serve students.”
Hadley, a charter faculty member of NE Campus starting as an office occupations instructor in 1968, said she would continue the tradition of new ideas and innovation.
“This ain’t the place it used to be,” she said.
Hadley’s track record
Hadley holds a bachelor’s degree in business education from Prairie View A&M University and a master’s degree in business education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
She has pursued postgraduate study in higher education administration at the University of North Texas and received an honorary doctorate in education from Dallas’ Paul Quinn College.
Hadley’s accomplishments include appointments to the Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Governor’s Committee on Volunteerism.
She was also the first woman elected chairwoman of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, representing and promoting the airport to U.S. congressional delegations, Texas legislative delegations and many foreign countries, including Australia, Ireland, China and Brazil.
Saying adios
At a reception on Trinity River Campus June 29, outgoing Chancellor Leonardo de la Garza said the college should continue its tradition of vision and service.
“This is far beyond anyone’s expectations,” said de la Garza, who had been chancellor since 1997. “It has been a wonderful 12 years.”
De la Garza said the Trinity River Campus will fulfill the educational needs of Tarrant County’s underserved population.
“This [the Trinity River Campus] is not my campus. It is the community’s campus,” he said. “It’s in your care, not mine or the Board’s.”
After years of planning, the downtown campus officially opened Monday.
