Dr. Eddie Tealer
Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — Oct. 3, 2018
(DALLAS) — Members of the Dallas County Community College District’s board of trustees unanimously approved a recommendation from Dr. Joe May, DCCCD’s chancellor, to appointment Dr. Eddie Tealer as the new president of Eastfield College.
Tealer, who currently serves as vice president for business services at North Lake College, will begin his tenure as Eastfield’s president on Oct. 15, 2018. He succeeds Dr. Jean Conway, who is retiring.
“I am excited about the future of Eastfield College under Dr. Tealer’s leadership as we move forward together to serve our students and the community,” said May. “Congratulations to Dr. Tealer on his first college presidency.”
May added, “He is committed to student and community success, leadership, academics and diversity. I also wish to thank the search committee and all members of the Eastfield community who participated in forums and discussions during this process.”
“On behalf of the DCCCD board of trustees, I want to congratulate Dr. Tealer on his appointment,” said Diana Flores, chair of the board.
Tealer, who addressed trustees following the vote, said, “Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. I hope to follow in Dr. Conway’s footsteps so that we can continue on our path of success for faculty and staff — but particularly for our students.”
The new Eastfield president then shared a short family story about his grandfather, who had worked full time in manufacturing when his grandson was growing up but who also did part-time plumbing work to help others.
“My grandfather helped folks in the community and charged them what they could afford to pay. He saved that money and told me that it was an investment in the future,” recalled Tealer. “When it was time for me to go to college, my grandfather gave me the money he had saved and told me ‘The future is you.’
“I wanted this job (as president of Eastfield College) because I want to invest in our students now. My grandfather would have been proud of me,” he added.
May also acknowledged Conway’s accomplishments during her eight years of service as Eastfield’s CEO. “We are proud of the work that Dr. Jean Conway has done. During that time, Eastfield successfully established two collegiate academies, two early college high schools and two Pathways to Technology, or P-Tech, early college high schools.
“The college’s Pleasant Grove campus and the Pleasant Grove Advisory Council will have a lasting impact on that community. Significant increases in enrollment growth and graduation rates are among other benchmarks of Dr. Conway’s administration,” he added.
Tealer joined DCCCD in 2008 as a senior financial analyst on the district’s bond management team; he also served as district director of business services from 2010-2013; executive director of business services from 2013 to 2014; and has served as vice president for business services since 2014. Before he began his work for DCCCD, Tealer worked for several private companies and a bank.
The new Eastfield College president has taught as an adjunct instructor at Southern Methodist University and the University of Dallas.
Tealer earned his doctorate in leadership studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio; a master’s degree in management (corporate finance) from the University of Dallas; a second master’s degree in business administration (management) from Our Lady of the Lake University; and his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Texas.
For more information, contact Ann Hatch in the DCCCD office of public and governmental affairs, by email at
ahatch@dcccd.edu or by phone at 214-378-1819.
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