News Provided By Temple College October 24, 2018
The Temple College Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Christina Ponce to be the college’s 11thpresident. She will assume the position in early 2019.
Ponce was selected Oct. 29 following a national search that drew more than 70 applicants. She was one of three candidates who were named finalists for the position Oct. 2.
Ponce will replace Dr. Glenda O. Barron, who will be retiring Dec. 31. Barron has been president of Temple College since July 2008.
Ponce has served as executive vice president at Lee College in Baytown, Texas, since 2016 and was vice president of student success, workforce and resource development at Lee College from 2014-16. Prior to that, she was executive director of the El Paso Community College Foundation from 2009-14. She has also held positions at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Austin Community College.
In 2016, Ponce was awarded the prestigious Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. This enabled her to participate in a year-long executive leadership program designed to develop leaders who can help community colleges achieve higher levels of student success while maintaining broad access.
Ponce received her Ph.D. in educational administration from the Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in education from UT and a master’s degree in political science from Texas State University. She has taught Texas and U.S. government classes at Austin Community College and El Paso Community College.
“I am very excited about becoming part of the Temple College family,” Ponce said. “I look forward to working with the outstanding Temple College board, faculty and staff on advancing the college’s student success agenda. Working together, we can make sure Temple College has a bright future.”