Five candidates are eying the University of Dallas Board of Regents as the state increases its focus on how to fund community colleges.
Whoever is elected to the two open board seats will work with Chancellor Justin Ronon to run one of the largest community college systems in Texas.
Its leaders are working to advance a new community college funding model that ties state funding to student outcomes, recovers from declining enrollment and convinces North Texas residents of the value of their degrees.
Dr. Catalina Garcia and Dr. Edwin Flores will face off for the District 1 seat, which includes North Dallas and Lake Highlands.
Garcia, 86, a retired physician, took over in 2022 after the death of longtime trustee and local business leader JL “Sonny” Williams. His term was scheduled to expire this year.
If re-elected, Garcia said he would work toward making the University of Dallas tuition-free.
This could help the school's efforts to bring back “those who have already studied for a few hours but dropped out because they didn't have the money to complete the course,” she said.
Garcia said investing in “further supports for the Latino community,” coupled with school workforce certification and a variety of other tools, can help set the Latino community up for success.
“There is a huge number of people in the world who do not have access to [Dallas College]” Garcia said.
Mr. Flores, 57, a biotechnology patent attorney, is drawing on the experience and knowledge he gained as a Dallas ISD trustee for many years. His term on the board ends this year.
If elected, he said he would like to “make sure kids don't fall through the cracks” by smoothing the transition between high school and college, and between college and transferring to a four-year university.
Noting the influx of people moving to North Texas, Flores said he wants to make sure the school can tap into that new market.
“How do we reach people who may have moved here when they were 20 or 22 and make sure they know these options are available to them?” he asked. Asked.
Three candidates aiming to represent large swaths of south Dallas are seeking to take over the seat held by longtime Trustee Charletta Compton. Mr. Compton has served on the board for nearly 25 years, but he is not seeking re-election.
Jasmond Anderson, a former member of the Dallas Metropolitan Planning Commission, is vying for voters' support in the District 7 race. Joey Rodriguez, nonprofit director; and Kesha O'Reilly, a medical strategist and pharmacist.
Anderson, 49, who previously served as director of real estate planning and development at the University of Dallas, said he wants to “attract industry to the community” and strengthen the school's partnerships with businesses and state agencies.
He said these efforts will draw businesses and people to the area and create new opportunities for students.
“There's an opportunity to start merging work and education,” he says.
“I have lived in South Dallas for many years,” said Anderson, who has “spent a lot of time in the community and listening to their aspirations and dreams.”
Rodriguez, 30, who founded a nonprofit that helps Latino students attend college in Dallas, wants to help “young people grow up and earn a living wage.” If elected, he said he would work to close the economic gap between black and Latino students and white students.
“The University of Dallas is actually the key to that,” Rodriguez said.
He hopes to improve college access and completion by leveraging partnerships with school districts. For example, to help students be better prepared before transitioning.
“If you’re looking to join the University of Dallas network and you don’t know what you want to do yet…it’s already too late,” he said. “That's why some people fall through the cracks. That's why some students don't persevere and follow through.”
O'Reilly, 53, a mother of two, said it helped her understand the obstacles young black students can face after graduating high school.Understand how certain policies can negatively impact District 7 students
“I’m from the community and I know the community,” she said.
O'Reilly said if voters elect her to the board, she would like to invest more in removing obstacles students may experience when it comes to housing, transportation and food insecurity.
DeAndrea Fleming, an education consultant who has served as a DeSoto ISD board member since 2018, was among the candidates running for the District 7 seat. However, she suspended her campaign before her election and endorsed Mr. O'Reilly.
Early voting begins Monday and runs through the end of April. Voting day for him is May 4th. Voters can find their polling place on the Dallas County Elections Department's website.
The DMN Education Lab deepens our coverage and conversations about pressing education issues that matter to the future of North Texas.
DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative supported by Bobby and Lottie Lyle, Community Foundation of Texas, Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Dee Dee Rhodes, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Meadows Foundation, Murrell Foundation, and Solutions. I am receiving support. Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sidney Smith Hicks, University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control over Education Lab's journalism.
