By Ranger Staff
Amarillo College students, faculty, staff and community members had the opportunity to meet AC’s 15th president, Dr. Jamelle Conner, during a reception on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
During the event, Chairman of the AC board of regents, Jay Barrett said the college had been on pause for the last 18 months, but that changed with Conner’s arrival on Jan. 27. “We hit the play button, and it may even be the fast forward button. She’s hit the ground running with a lot of energy, with a lot of steam behind her. She’s already met a lot of people in our college and our community. She’s doing what she needs to do right now to get out there and make herself known,” he said.
Although Conner has only been at AC for three weeks, she said it feels like much longer. “It just feels very natural,” she said. “Everyone at the college and the community has been so warm and welcoming, and everyone’s so passionate about wrapping around students. We’re all here for the same reason.”
Several attendees expressed excitement about AC’s new leadership. “She’s going to be pretty focused on enriching AC within the community, even more than we already are, I think,” Christopher Key, marketing special projects coordinator, said. “Denise has done a great job of standing in and holding grounds as we found this new president, but I am very interested to see where she takes it. I think it’s going to be in a good direction.”
Website Project Manager Corby Fails also shared optimism about AC’s future. “I’m excited for some new leadership and to see the plans ahead. I’m excited to be a part of the new era.”
Panhandle PBS Community Development Manager Cullen Lutz echoed Key and Fails. “Our team from Panhandle PBS here at Amarillo College is very excited about Dr. Connor’s arrival. We’re excited to work with her as she and the station works hard for student success here at the College,” she said.
Conner said she plans to visit Amarillo College’s other campuses soon and become more involved with the community. “I think that it’s really important in giving everyone opportunities and experiences,” she said. “I think that’s what the community college is all about, being there for their community and representative of the community.”
Conner said she is also looking forward to having the opportunity to meet other community college presidents in Texas.
Leave a Reply