Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon
Media Contact: Emily Mercer;
EMercer@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — Sept. 19, 2024
(DALLAS) — Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon and Tarrant County College Chancellor Elva LeBlanc today received the North Texas Commission 2024 Education Leadership Award. A public-private partnership established in 1971, the commission addresses regional challenges and opportunities to spur economic development, promote innovation and improve quality of life.
The commission’s annual membership lunch recognized the chancellors for their lasting impact on North Texas.
“To receive this prestigious honor with my friend and fellow community college champion, Chancellor Elva LeBlanc, is fitting,” Chancellor Lonon said. “It represents the commitment of our colleges to create viable opportunities that enable our students, our workforce and our economy to thrive. When we work together, our communities win big.”
Dallas College and TCC last month signed a historic agreement to help fill the region’s high-demand jobs and boost economic vitality. Among other initiatives, the colleges will consider economic development centers for emerging technologies and a consortium to fill health care vacancies.
Dr. LeBlanc: “What an honor to share this award with my colleague Dr. Justin Lonon. Together we are working with business, community and education partners to create a powerful support system with far more capacity than would be possible for any single organization.”
In 2025, both schools will celebrate 60 years of transforming lives and communities.
“There is no question that when community colleges work together, our students and workforce win big,” Dr. Lonon said. “By strengthening our partnership with TCC, we are creating new opportunities for our students to gain the relevant skills and credentials to succeed now and in the future.”
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About Dallas College
Dallas College, formerly the Dallas County Community College District, was founded in 1965 and consists of seven campuses: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland. Dallas College offers online learning and serves more than 122,000 credit and continuing education students annually. Dallas College also offers dual credit for students in partner high schools and early college high schools throughout Dallas County. Students benefit from partnerships with local business leaders, school districts and four-year universities, and Dallas College offers associate degree and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education and nursing. Based on annual enrollment, it is one of the largest community colleges in the U.S.
About Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County and online classes, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees, workforce and economic development programs, technical and skilled trades programs, and customized training for area businesses and corporations.