Dallas College Trustee Diana Flores Retires After Three Decades of Service

Media Contact: C.C. Gonzalez-Kurz ; cgonzalezkurz@dallascollege.edu

For immediate release — July 13, 2026

DALLAS, Texas—Dallas College today announced that Trustee Diana Flores will retire from the Dallas College Board of Trustees, effective August 30, 2026, concluding 30 years of service marked by an unwavering commitment to student success, expanding educational opportunity and community impact.  

First elected in 1996 to represent District 6, Trustee Flores is the longest-serving member on the Dallas College Board of Trustees. Throughout her tenure, Trustee Flores held several leadership roles on the Board, inclding Chair of the Board of Trustees from June 2018 through December 2020; Vice Chair from August 2016 through June 2018; and previously Vice Chair from June 2008 through July 2010. Most recently, she has served as Chair of the Board's Education and Workforce Committee, supporting the College's efforts to align academic programs with the workforce needs of North Texas employers. 

Trustee Flores' tenure has coincided with periods of significant transformation for Dallas College, including voter approval of the 2019 bond program to modernize campuses across the district and expand educational opportunities for future generations of students. That transformational vision continues today through the expansion of Dallas College's downtown El Centro Campus, an investment that redefines how education and workforce development support the economic future of North Texas. As a next-generation downtown campus, El Centro will serve as a convener of education, industry and opportunity, reflecting the College's commitment to expanding access, accelerating economic mobility and meeting the evolving talent needs of the region. Embedded in the life of downtown Dallas and designed to foster innovation at scale, El Centro represents Trustee Flores’ support of Dallas College vision for how community colleges can prepare tomorrow's workforce and strengthen regional prosperity. 

Beyond governance responsibilities, Trustee Flores has consistently championed expanded educational opportunities, student success and economic mobility, guided by a belief that higher education transforms lives, strengthens families and creates more prosperous communities. That commitment has extended beyond her service on the Board – through leadership roles as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Project Coordinator of the Gulf Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center, where she advanced workforce development, small business growth and community engagement throughout North Texas. 

A lifelong learner, Trustee Flores earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Science in Public Leadership from UNT Dallas. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the National Honor Society for Leadership and Success in 2021; the LULAC National Presidential Medal for Leadership in Education; the TACHE Meritorious Service Award; the Adelita Leadership Award from the Mexican American Democrats; and numerous District-wide Employee of the Year recognitions during her early career with the Dallas County Community College District. 

"Diana has exemplified the spirit of public service throughout her 30 years on the Dallas College Board of Trustees. Her commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting student success has helped guide the College through important milestones and periods of growth. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I thank Trustee Flores for her years of dedicated service and the many contributions she has made to Dallas College and the communities we serve,” said, Chair Paul Mayer, Board of Trustees. 

Chancellor, Justin H. Lonon, added, "Trustee Flores has been a steadfast champion for the transformative power of Dallas College. Through her dedicated service, she has helped shape an institution that opens doors of opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students. Her leadership, connection to our community, and unwavering belief in the life-changing impact of higher education have left an enduring mark on Dallas College. We are grateful for her service and the legacy she leaves for future generations." 

Reflecting on her three decades of service, Dallas College Trustee, Diana Flores, said, "It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the students and communities of Dallas County. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education and have been privileged to work alongside extraordinary trustees, college leaders, faculty, staff, and community partners who are committed to changing lives. I leave with great confidence in Dallas College's future and its continued impact on generations of students." 

As Trustee Flores concludes her service, Dallas College expresses its deepest appreciation for her extraordinary leadership, unwavering commitment and lasting contributions to the institution, its students and the communities it serves. To recognize a legacy of unwavering commitment to service, Dallas College and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will jointly honor Trustee Flores during a special recognition event on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Dallas College El Centro Campus.  

The Dallas College Board of Trustees will follow the process established by applicable law to fill the vacancy created by Trustee Flores' retirement. 

About Dallas College  

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, 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 127,000 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 63 dual credit programs. 

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