60 Years Strong. A Future Just Getting Started.

Happy New Year, everyone and welcome to the debut episode of The Download. As we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we've accomplished together in 2025 and share a glimpse of what’s ahead.

Let's start with a milestone that speaks to our history and to our future. Dallas College is celebrating our 60th anniversary. For six decades, we have had an incredible level of impact in Dallas County, having served more than 3.5 million students. As part of that commitment, we recently announced that our new El Centro campus will remain at its original location on Main Street in Downtown Dallas. This isn't just about staying put; it's about reimagining El Centro as a hub for innovation, workforce development and community engagement. We're honoring our roots, while building a future that meets the needs of a rapidly changing economy. In addition to El Centro’s redevelopment, the bond is also funding other major projects, including the new early college high school at our Mountain View Campus.

And while we're investing in our roots, here in Dallas, we're also looking beyond and having a global presence. Our recent closing bell ceremony, at the New York Stock Exchange, wasn't just symbolic, it underscored Dallas College's leadership in workforce development and our role in shaping the future of higher education.

That global outreach continued as we signed an agreement with Mexico's sub-secretary of public education to explore further collaborations. During the visit, we also met with leaders from top Mexican universities building partnerships that will open doors for students and communities from both countries. By strengthening our local community and driving economic growth, we're proving that what happens here has an impact nationally, and across the world.

Speaking of impact, partnerships have been to the heart of so much of what we've done this year. We've partnered with The Commit Partnership to announce a second transformative investment from the O'Donnell Foundation. $50 million for North Texas higher education institutions. Of that, $20 million will go to the Dallas College Foundation to expand our success coaching program and launch the Dallas County Promise Transfer Success Fund, helping more students complete their degrees and achieve their goals. Also, we secured a $2.5 million HRSA grant to support nursing students helping address critical shortages in healthcare. We launched the PATH Project, a $5.7 million federal initiative to expand health care pathways in collaboration with other community colleges. We opened the Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce to tackle Texas's teacher shortage head-on. And we strengthen nursing pathways through a new partnership with the American College of Education. These efforts aren’t just programs; they're lifelines for industries that need skilled professionals now and more than ever.

And closer to home, we're shaping the future of aerospace education in our region. Back in April, we opened a state-of-the-art hangar at Dallas Executive Airport for our new aviation mechanic technology program. Students receive hands-on access to real aircraft and training for high demand careers that keep our economy moving. In the tech space, we've launched our bachelor’s in software development, giving students a pathway into one of the fastest growing fields in the world. And we're not stopping there, we'll roll out our newest bachelor's degree in management, expanding opportunities for leadership and career advancement.

And starting in January, our Accelerated Nights and Weekends program offers five-week terms hybrid learning and flexible evening or Saturday classes making it easier than ever to earn a degree or certificate for just $99 a credit hour. It's the perfect opportunity for those who've been waiting for the right time to return to school.

And finally, we know that sharing our story matters and so we've launched the Dallas College Speakers Bureau to help tell our story throughout the community. This program connects our community with knowledgeable engaging speakers from across Dallas College. The service is completely free and it's a great way to bring fresh insights to our community while also sharing the incredible work happening at Dallas College.

Check out the website to browse topics and request a speaker. 2025 was an incredible year in the life of Dallas College. As we celebrate 60 years of impact this community. I'm so looking forward to what 2026 is gonna bring. Thank you for being a part of this journey with Dallas College.