|
The Carl M. “Cheesie” Nelson
Administrative Leadership Award
 The
award was established in 2003 in memory of Carl M. “Cheesie” Nelson,
who served as president of Texarkana College for a number
of years and helped dozens of others as they assumed leadership
positions in community colleges across the state of Texas.
The honor celebrates the importance of administrative leadership
at Texas community colleges by recognizing a vice president
or dean who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.
Winners of the Nelson Award must have demonstrated
leadership qualities/traits which are generally associated
with successful community college presidents. They include
but are not limited to:
- Understanding of and commitment to the mission of the comprehensive
community college
- Demonstrated support for student learning and success
- Ability to develop broad-based perspectives
- Capacity to develop effective, collegial working relationships
with faculty and staff
- Character traits typically associated with effective leadership
(e.g., honesty, integrity, compassion, sense of fairness and
equity)
- Demonstrated involvement in community-oriented activities
outside the college
- Support for and personal engagement in professional development
activities
The award provides a $1500 cash stipend, a commemorative, and
travel expenses for two persons to attend the annual summer conference
of the Texas Association of Community Colleges at which the award
is presented.
Winners of the Carl M. “Cheesie” Nelson
Administrative Leadership Award
2006 – Lydia Tena-Perez
|
Dr. Lydia
Tena-Perez has served for the last sixteen years
as a member of the administrative staff at El Paso Community
College in numerous positions at the division and campus
levels. She currently serves as Campus Dean and Dean of
Instructional Programs for the Northwest Campus where she
is responsible for all credit programs offered at the campus
as well as campus facilities issues. She is also serving
as the Achieving the Dream (AtD) Coordinator for EPCC where
she oversees all activities in this initiative and is involved
in deliberations and major decisions as a member of the
AtD Core Team and the Developmental Education Council.
|
|
|
| |
2005 – Johnette McKown
|
Dr. Johnette McKown is Executive Vice
President at McLennan Community College where she has been
employed since 1989. In this role, she serves as chief financial
and operations officer and supervises Financial Services,
Administrative Services (Technology, Auxiliary Services,
and Central Services), Physical Plant, Human Resources, Facilities
and Construction, Athletics, and Campus Police. Additionally,
she has responsibility for elections, contracts, legal issues,
insurance, and special projects for the president. |
| |
|
| |
2004 - Christal
M. Albrecht
|
Dr.
Christal M. Albrecht is the Vice President
of Student Learning at Cy-Fair College. She joined the
founding team at Cy-Fair College in October 2000 as its
third employee and was a member of the small start-up team
to who planned, developed and implemented the first community
college in the 21 st Century. As the founding Vice President,
Dr. Albrecht provided leadership for planning the start-up
of the comprehensive community college, including leadership
for over 30 technical programs, academic transfer courses
and programs, the integrated continuing education program,
corporate training, resource development, faculty and staff
development, and institutional effectiveness.
|
| |
|
| |
2003 - Judy Traylor
|
Dr. Judy G. Traylor is Associate Vice President
for Outreach Services at Northeast Texas Community College,
where over the past 20 years she has impacted virtually every
area of the college, including instruction, administration,
strategic planning, student services, public relations, and
grant-writing. In addition to holding the title of associate
vice president at NTCC, she is an associate psychology faculty
member at NTCC, adjunct psychology instructor for Texas A&M—Texarkana,
executive director for Communities In Schools of Northeast
Texas, director for a state-wide training academy for part-time
faculty, and the college coordinator for dual credit. |
| |
|
| |
Carl M. “Cheesie” Nelson
Dr. Carl M. "Cheesie" Nelson,
served as President of Texarkana College from August 1975
until his death in July 2001. Dr. Nelson is remembered
as a gifted cartoonist, orator, community leader, and sportsman.
Only the fifth President to serve at Texarkana College,
Dr. Nelson's administrative acumen provided for the addition
of five new academic facilities, expansion of the campus
library, a new Student Center, new administration building,
and the return of student housing to the campus.
In addition to his service to Texarkana College, Dr.
Nelson was an active member of the Texas Association of
Community Colleges. He served as TACC Secretary-Treasurer
from 1995-97. Dr. Nelson also served on a number of local
and regional boards.
A true visionary, Dr. Nelson was admired locally, regionally
and nationally as a champion of community college education.
He was often called upon by higher education institutions
to use his oratorical skills and razor-sharp wit to motivate
and inspire students and faculty alike.
It was once said of Dr. Nelson, that "…no
other single individual or factor is even remotely as significant
to the growth and development of Texarkana College, than
Cheesie Nelson". He was, during his tenure, the College's
most ardent advocate and gave his life to the campus that
he held so dear.
In addition to the Nelson Award established by the Texas
Association of Community Colleges under the auspices of
the Texas Community College Education Initiative, Dr. Nelson
was honored posthumously in April of 2002, as the Texarkana
College Board of Trustees voted to rededicate the College's
administration building as the Dr. Carl M. Nelson Administration
Building, in honor of his passion for higher education
and in appreciation for his meritorious service to Texarkana
College. The Texarkana College Alumni & Friends Association
also named Nelson the College's Distinguished Alumnus
for his life's work on behalf of Texarkana College and
the Texarkana community.
|
|
|
