By Jamil Oakford/ editor-in-chief
Bogdan Sierra Miranda/The Collegian
TCC’s board of trustees selected a new member over the summer break after one member stepped down.
Diane Patrick, the University of Texas at Arlington’s superintendent certificate program director, joined the board when she officially took her oath Aug. 18.
“I was very excited and very honored,” Patrick said about her appointment. “I have the opportunity to serve with dedicated leaders.”
After 14 years on the board, Kristen Vandergriff announced she had to step down after she moved out of her elected district. The board then worked to find a replacement.
“It was an open, publicized process,” board president Louise Appleman said. “We posted about the vacancy and application on our main page and searched.”
Bogdan Sierra Miranda/The Collegian
Appleman said they found four prospects, and Diane Patrick, a former state representative, was among them.
The four candidates were invited to a board meeting. In the closed session, they met with Patrick and interviewed her before the board made it official.
“We ultimately chose her,” Appleman said. “She’s been on the state board of education. She’s been a state representative. She’s served on several district school boards. She brings a career of education, and that’s pretty exciting.”
Among serving on educational committees for elementary, secondary and higher education, she also teaches and works with students at UTA. Patrick hopes the knowledge gained from all of her previous work can be useful.
“I hope my experience will enhance the collaborative process and partnerships among pre-K-12 institutions, four-year universities, career and technical industry and the workplace,” she said.
Patrick also wants to see TCC further develop and strengthen existing areas of the college.
“We have a great opportunity to expand distance education, public and private partnerships and encourage community college research,” she said.
John Smith, UTA’s education department chair, said he wasn’t shocked to hear about Patrick’s new appointment.
“I was very pleased but not surprised,” Smith said. “With her extensive experience with the Texas state legislature, she knows top to bottom how to get things done.”
Patrick believes TCC is a trailblazer for community colleges and hopes her presence on the board can continue that.
“TCC is ‘where it’s happening,’ and I want to keep it that way,” she said.
