The recent death of the first SE Campus president left the TCC community facing a wave of emotions.
Judith Carrier, who died July 5 in Fort Worth, two days prior to her 88th birthday, was known for her ambition and concern for students.
After starting at TCC as an associate professor of psychology and student counselor on NE Campus in 1971, Carrier went on to work on NW Campus as dean of student development services and helped create the senior education program.
“When Northwest opened in 1976, she had dual roles – she was the chief academic officer, and she was also in charge of student affairs,” Chancellor Elva LeBlanc said. “She did both, and she did that until the Southeast Campus opened.”
LeBlanc said Carrier made an impression with her work ethic and innovation.
“As an administrator, she was a hard-working person,” she said. “She was very creative, had a lot of ideas and would work and work until she figured out how to put them into operation.”
Carrier made it clear to the administration of the NE and NW Campuses that she wanted to pursue a presidency in her future with the college.
“The thing that struck me the most about Judith was that she was ambitious and felt that she belonged in that role as a campus president,” former Vice Chancellor Bill Lace said.
SE career adviser Cyrus Crosby worked with Carrier from 2001 to 2011 and said she stood out to employees because she focused on the student community.
“With Dr. Carrier, everyone counted,” he said.
Crosby said Carrier was open to input from her peers. She created focus groups for staff and administrators to voice their opinions, regardless of how long they had been employed by the college.
“Getting everyone’s opinion was a way of expanding how she saw things,” Crosby said.
Carrie Tunson, who is still dean of lifestyle and community learning at SE, worked alongside Carrier from the beginning.
“She was always very gracious,” Tunson said. “She was a survivor, she was a fighter, and she knew what she wanted and she fought for it.”
As president, Carrier juggled responsibilities such as running the campus, creating events and advocating for staff.
“If it hadn’t been for the fight in her and how she pushed and pulled, I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today,” Tunson said.
In 2011, she endowed to TCC the Dr. Judith J Carrier Scholarship to help students in need.
“If there was a rotary club or a PTA club, there she was,” Lace said.
Carrier was the first woman to serve as president of the Fort Worth Rotary Club. She was also a chair member for the UNT Alumni organization.
LeBlanc, who was president of NW Campus while Carrier was president of SE, said she also remembers Carrier’s active involvement in the Rotary Club and advocacy for TCC.
“Everybody in the community, and when I say community that would be Arlington and Mansfield, knew her well,” LeBlanc said. “She was very active in the community, telling the Tarrant County College story and partnering with people.”
However, those who worked with her said her biggest impact was on the TCC community.
“Dr. Carrier was a mover and a shaker,” Tunson said. “And you would have to run to keep up with her.”
