Dallas College Board of Trustees Announces Intended Appointments to Districts 2, 4 and 6

Media Contact: Liz Scruggs; Newsteam@DallasCollege.edu

For immediate release — Sept. 11, 2026

The Dallas College Board of Trustees intends to take a formal action item to its October 6, 2026, Board Meeting to appoint Elizabeth “Libby” Crutcher McCabe to represent District 2, Maria Yolisma Garcia to represent District 4 and Joseph Rodriguez to represent District 6, ensuring continued representation for the three districts following recently announced planned board transitions. 

The appointments will be made in accordance with the process established by applicable law for filling vacancies on the Dallas College Board of Trustees. The board solicited expressions of interest from persons interested in being considered for appointment to fill the vacancies on the board and, after consideration of the expressions of interest and personal interviews with all of the interested persons, the board will take action at the October meeting to formally appoint McCabe, Garcia, and Rodriguez. Districts 2, 4 and 6 will be on the ballot in November 2027. 

Elizabeth “Libby” Crutcher McCabe, District 2, is an attorney and education policy leader with extensive experience advancing public education, postsecondary attainment and economic mobility in Texas. A founding team and board member of the Commit Partnership, McCabe served as senior policy advisor, leading state legislative and regulatory work spanning early childhood through postsecondary education. She also helped lead the Aim Hire Texas Policy Coalition, which successfully advocated to pass community college finance legislation focused on student outcomes and workforce needs. Earlier in her career, McCabe helped launch Axiom Law and practiced corporate mergers and acquisitions at Baker Botts. She graduated magna cum laude from Duke University and Harvard Law School. 

McCabe will succeed Trustee Philip J. Ritter, who announced earlier this year his decision to conclude his board service to pursue other endeavors. Elected in 2016, Ritter previously served as board vice chair, chair of the Finance Committee and, most recently, chair of the Governance Committee. His decade of service brought extensive business, public policy, and civic leadership to Dallas College. Dallas College thanks Trustee Ritter for his dedicated service.  

Maria Yolisma Garcia, District 4, is a communications professional, community advocate and Dallas College alumna with more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, multicultural marketing and community engagement. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Dallas College Eastfield Campus, where she was named Student Leader of the Year, and a bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies and non-profits alike, earning recognition through the American Advertising Federation's 32 Under 32 award. For nearly fifteen years, Garcia has connected immigrant families to pro bono legal aid, helping many secure legal working status and saving communities millions of dollars. A Callejo Botello Leadership Academy participant, she brings professional expertise, community commitment, and a personal connection to Dallas College to her role on the Board of Trustees. 

Yolisma Garcia will succeed Trustee Monica Lira Bravo, who announced in July that she would conclude her board service following a planned relocation outside District 4. During her tenure, Trustee Lira Bravo served four years as Chair of the Board of Trustees and helped guide the historic consolidation of the former Dallas County Community College District into the unified Dallas College, positioning the institution to best serve students, employers and communities. Most recently, Trustee Lira Bravo served as Chair of the Finance Committee.  

Joseph Rodriguez, District 6, credits his experiences in public education and access to affordable postsecondary education with shaping his perspective and commitment to service. 

A former Dallas ISD teacher turned board governance coach, he trains and provides direct support to school boards through his professional work. He is committed to developing community leaders into public education advocates and ensuring school leaders have the resources to create excellent learning environments for students across the K–12 and postsecondary education. Rodriguez is also the founder of Firme DFW, a nonprofit providing scholarships and mentorship to first-generation college students. He serves on Dallas ISD’s Small Business Enterprise Advisory Committee and the Dallas County Child Welfare Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University. 

Rodriguez will succeed Trustee Diana Flores, who retired August 30, 2026, following three decades of service to Dallas College. Throughout her tenure, Trustee Flores held several leadership roles on the board, including chair of the Board of Trustees from June 2018 through December 2020; vice chair from August 2016 through June 2018; and vice chair from June 2008 through July 2010. Most recently, Trustee Flores served as chair of the board's Education and Workforce Committee.  

The appointments will ensure continued representation across the three districts as Dallas College advances its commitment to student success, workforce development and economic opportunity across Dallas County. 

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About Dallas College

Founded in 1965, Dallas College consists of seven campuses - Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland - plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County. As one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., Dallas College offers online and in-person learning, serving more than 133,000 credit, workforce and continuing education students annually. Students benefit from partnerships with local school districts, four-year universities, industry and community leaders. Dallas College offers associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing, software development and management. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 64 dual credit programs.   

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