Media Contact: Emily Mercer;
EMercer@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — Nov. 22, 2024
(DALLAS) — Dallas College leaders Dr. Tracie Lowe, Royce Nwankwo, Dr. Toniette Haynes Robinson, Rochelle Ragas and Dr. LaJuanda Jones were recently accepted into the 2024 cohort of the National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA) Carolyn Grubbs Williams Leadership Development Institute.
The
2024 Leadership Development Institute (LDI) is designed to equip African American education professionals with the skills necessary for future executive leadership roles in higher education. Lowe, Nwankwo, Robinson, Ragas, Jones and other education leaders received a week’s worth of coaching and professional development from consultants and select faculty from across the country. Learn more about what the LDI experience meant to each leader.
Dr. Tracie Lowe
Dr. Tracie Lowe
Valuing the power of connecting with others, Lowe, the Dallas College dean of student success research, said the LDI’s program is designed to build a network of people who walk your career journey with you.
“This opportunity provides a week of intensive time dedicated to training, learning new things and speaking to people who are at different institutions around the world, allowing us to hone our skills together,” she said. “I am so thankful for the investment that Dallas College is making in their personnel to create leaders and for the people who see a vision in me that I can’t yet see — it motivates me to keep moving forward.”
Royce Nwankwo
Royce Nwankwo
For Nwankwo, Dallas College’s director of virtual student services, this opportunity is a perfect fit for both his personal and professional development. Starting his career at Dallas College in the mailroom and working his way up to a leadership position, he now uses his free time buried in books or lost in a podcast about how to become a better leader.
“You feel unstoppable whenever you can have a method or strategy to life, work and success — and that’s what gets me psyched about leadership,” he said. “I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to learn more and grow my skills and professionalism. I am definitely grateful for my supervisors for thinking about me for this program and having confidence that I’m ready to take on something like this.”
Dr. Toniette Haynes Robinson
Dr. Toniette Haynes Robinson
Dr. Robinson, Dallas College’s associate dean of special academic programs, is a thoughtful leader who gathered insights from the LDI about how to better support her team now and expand her leadership skillset for the future.
“The LDI prepared me to take an honest look at my leadership capability and skill set,” she said. “I am taking the time to have intentional introspective insight on my areas of development. The core competencies taught in the LDI will allow me to confidently move to the next level in my career. I am thankful that Dallas College always supports my career journey.”
Rochelle Ragas
Rochelle Ragas
As a procurement contract manager for the college, Ragas is using both the stories shared by the presenters and the connection gained from other individuals to inspire and create a solid plan for her ascension to a senior level position.
“This opportunity was a game changer,” she said. “The lessons learned from experienced leaders who have traveled similar paths helped build my confidence to rely on my skills and experience to help propel me to where I want to be.”
Dr. LaJuanda Jones
Dr. LaJuanda Jones
Dr. Jones is a senior director of operations at Dallas College, but she is preparing for her next role as an executive leader. The LDI allowed her the opportunity to sharpen her skillset in leadership, learn more about the continuously evolving industry of higher education and connect with other leaders with similar aspirations.
“The networking opportunities were invaluable and the dedication and commitment of the instructors to the professional growth and development of each attendee was focused, engaging and personalized,” Jones said. “This training was topnotch and one that I would like my leadership team to experience. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this program.”
# # #