Wharton County Junior College hosted Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Dr. Wynn Rosser at the Richmond campus on Sept. 18. The event included a Student/Alumni Panel Discussion which provided insight on how WCJC has positively affected the lives of students. Pictured, left to right, are cosmetology student Erika Leanos Raigoza, EMS student Ashley Jones, EMS graduate Kristyal Vann, Commissioner Dr. Wynn Rosser, WCJC President Dr. Amanda Allen, police academy graduate Elizabeth Smith and dental hygiene graduate Angela Toler.
RICHMOND, TEXAS — Wharton County Junior College hosted Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Dr. Wynn Rosser earlier this month at the Richmond campus. WCJC was one of only three institutions the commissioner toured while visiting the Gulf Coast Region.
During the Sept. 18 event, Commissioner Rosser and Chief of Staff Lizette Montiel were provided with a detailed analysis of the college’s priorities, community impact, and future plans before embarking on a behind-the-scenes tour. The event closed out with a Student/Alumni Panel Discussion.
“We were truly honored to welcome Commissioner Rosser to our Richmond campus. The visit gave us the unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant learning environment we’ve built at WCJC, the dedication of our faculty and staff and the determination of our students,” said WCJC President Dr. Amanda Allen. “What made the day most impactful, though, was the way the Commissioner took time to genuinely listen to our students’ experiences and aspirations. His presence reinforced the importance of the work we do every day and left our campus community feeling both seen and inspired for what’s to come.”
Allen shared an in-depth presentation on the college’s enrollment, expansion plans, priorities and alignment with the “Building a Talent Strong Texas” initiative. Allen explained that WCJC serves approximately 5,500 students per semester, with 27 percent considered academically disadvantaged and another 35 percent being economically disadvantaged. WCJC is well-known for preparing students to continue their education at universities, with the college having the highest transfer rate (35 percent) in the region and the second highest in the entire state. WCJC also continues to be the school of choice for high school graduates in the college’s service area.
After the presentation, Rosser was taken on a tour of the Richmond campus. This included an up-close look at the college’s Emergency Medical Services and Cosmetology programs, where students were on hand for demonstrations. EMS Program Director Karl Johnson and Cosmetology Program Director JoshAnn Alvarado were on hand to answer the commissioner’s questions and provide information on their programs.
A Student/Alumni Panel Discussion closed out the tour. Included in the panel were Cosmetology student Erika Leanos Raigoza, EMS student Ashley Jones, Police Academy graduate Elizabeth Smith, Dental Hygiene graduate Angela Toler and EMS graduate Krystal Vann. While each student had her own unique experience to recount, the overall consensus was that WCJC had made a dramatically positive impact on each of their lives.
WCJC staff members assisting with the event included Vice President of Instruction Leigh Ann Collins, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Lindsey McPherson, Division Chair of Vocational Science Gary Bonewald, Dean of Enrollment Management and Registrar Jerry Martinez and Dean of Workforce Danny Bacot.
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