Dallas College’s Derek Soper Confirmed to NACE Board of Directors

For immediate release — Feb. 3, 2026

Media Contact: C.C. Gonzalez-Kurz 
Newsteam@dallascollege.edu

 

Dallas College’s Derek Soper Confirmed to NACE Board of Directors 

DALLAS — Dallas College announced that Derek Soper has been selected and confirmed to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). 

Soper, associate dean of career skills development, has been with Dallas College for four years. He was elected by more than 17,000 NACE members to serve a two-year term on the board. Dr. Karen Stills, senior associate vice chancellor of student success at Dallas College, praised Soper’s appointment and leadership. 

“I am very proud of Derek and the way he represents our team and our college with valued partners like NACE,” Stills said. “His advocacy for the needs of community college students through service on this board is legacy-building work with the potential to positively impact students across the country. We are excited for him and fully support his continued growth and leadership.” 

NACE is a leading professional association that connects higher education, employers and workforce leaders to advance career readiness and equitable employment outcomes for college students and graduates. The organization sets national standards, develops competencies, and provides professional development that guides institutions and employers in preparing, recruiting and hiring talent. Through frameworks such as the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, the association helps shape best practices in career services, campus recruiting and early talent development across higher education. 

“My goals for this two-year term include elevating the community college voice in the national career readiness strategy, advancing equitable career outcomes beyond access, redefining employer engagement for two-year institutions, influencing policy and practice through research and data, and leaving a scalable, sustainable impact,” Soper said. 

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