Amarillo College board prepares for Lowery-Hart's decision

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·6 min read

The Amarillo College (AC) Board of Regents hosted a special board meeting Tuesday evening to discuss their contingency plan moving forward, following Austin Community College (ACC) District's announcement of AC President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart as their sole finalist for their open Chancellor position.

As previously reported by the Globe-News, during a meeting Monday in Austin, ACC announced Lowery-Hart as the sole finalist for the position. The ACC board announced that they will now begin the negotiation process with Lowery-Hart throughout the state-mandated 21-day waiting period where the decision will be finalized, and possible leadership changes will be made.

Dr. Barbara Mink, ACC Board Chair stated in a news release: “I am proud of the inclusive approach this Board took to find the best next Chancellor for ACC. Many voices were a part of this decision, and we’re excited to welcome Dr. Lowery-Hart to ACC. ... Dr. Lowery-Hart is a visionary with a proven history in the community college. Under his leadership, Amarillo College became one of the top community colleges in the nation. His focus on student success and his deep understanding of what students need to succeed is evident in his remarkable tenure.”

According to ACC, If appointed, Lowery-Hart would become the ninth Chancellor of the Austin Community College District, replacing their current Chancellor Dr. Richard M. Rhodes, who announced his retirement in January following 12 years of service to the college and Central Texas region.

The Amarillo College Board of Regents conducted a special meeting Tuesday to begin laying the groundwork for a potential presidential transition at AC, a contingency plan that includes the appointment of Denese Skinner as interim president, should the need arise.
The Amarillo College Board of Regents conducted a special meeting Tuesday to begin laying the groundwork for a potential presidential transition at AC, a contingency plan that includes the appointment of Denese Skinner as interim president, should the need arise.

In preparation for the upcoming decision, AC discussed during the special meeting, held Tuesday evening in the College Union Building Palo Duro Room, of an interim president, should Lowery-Hart decide to accept the position of Chancellor at ACC. During the meeting, AC board members announced Denese Skinner as interim president should the occasion arise, as proposed by the board and appointed by the cabinet.

Denese Skinner
Denese Skinner

"I'm honored for the opportunity should it present, that we are able to use the leadership from college and be able to keep the great things that are happening at Amarillo College moving ... We have a great leadership team here, should Russell go on down to ACC, we will not miss a beat. We have got the cabinet, we have got the board and we have got Amarillo College's best interest in mind," Skinner said.

Skinner's position as AC's interim president will begin if/when Lowery-Hart submits his resignation letter. Skinner currently serves AC as Vice President of Student Affairs. By accepting the role of interim president, Skinner will receive a $5,000 monthly stipend for taking on the workload of AC president, in addition to her current workload, until the college hires a new president.

As stated during the meeting, Skinner's qualifications for the role include her shown dedication to the college through her work since joining the AC administration in 2017 after 24 years of service in a variety of leadership positions at West Texas A&M University (WT), where on separate occasions she was both interim vice president of enrollment management and interim vice president of student affairs.

Skinner, a graduate of AC, attended the community college on a basketball scholarship, then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in school counseling from WT.

Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was named the sole finalist for Austin Community College Districts' Chancellor this week. The AC Board of Regents announced Denese Skinner as possible interim president of AC in their Tuesday board meeting, should Lowery-Hart resign and accept the ACC position.
Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was named the sole finalist for Austin Community College Districts' Chancellor this week. The AC Board of Regents announced Denese Skinner as possible interim president of AC in their Tuesday board meeting, should Lowery-Hart resign and accept the ACC position.

Lowery-Hart was not in attendance at Tuesday's meeting to give a comment about his possible exit from AC, but did state in a news release from ACC: “I’m honored and thrilled and overwhelmed. Community colleges are the place of innovation, and ACC is one of the premier districts in the country. I think the talent and resources exist here to do something truly magical ... I look forward to engaging with faculty and staff to explore the next phase of innovation. That’s my passion. It’s why I’m in this work and ultimately, what I look forward to bringing to ACC.”

Lowery-Hart began the interview process for ACC's Chancellor position back in January of this year. In June, he was announced one of three finalists for the position. Throughout the process, Lowery-Hart has participated in a series of interviews, campus visits to ACC district’s North, Central, and South regions, and participated in a local campus site visit.

Lowery-Hart, who received his Ph.D. from Ohio University; M.A. from Texas Tech University; and B.S. from West Texas State University, has served Amarillo College as president since 2014. Prior to his presidency, he served as Vice-President of Academic Affairs at AC and was named the National Council of Instructional Administrators Academic Leader of the Year for 2014.

More: Amarillo Globe-News 2021 Man of the Year: Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart's commitment to community

During his presidency with AC, the college developed the systemic "Culture of Caring" targeting removal of poverty barriers that was featured in The Atlantic by Marcella Bombardieri, in June of 2018, and in the documentary on AmazonPrime, The Antidote.

Among other recent major highlights, AC established the partnership of the THRIVE Scholarship program, receiving the $15 million "no strings attached" gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott; was announced the Aspen's Rising Star in 2021; established virtual learning space during the COVID-19 pandemic; reestablished Badger Athletics; launched their first comprehensive campaign Badger Bold; and was announced the 2023 co-recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges.

Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was named the sole finalist for Austin Community College Districts' Chancellor this week. The AC Board of Regents announced Denese Skinner as possible interim president of AC in their Tuesday board meeting, should Lowery-Hart resign and accept the ACC position.
Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was named the sole finalist for Austin Community College Districts' Chancellor this week. The AC Board of Regents announced Denese Skinner as possible interim president of AC in their Tuesday board meeting, should Lowery-Hart resign and accept the ACC position.
Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was named the sole finalist for Austin Community College Districts' Chancellor this week. The AC Board of Regents announced Denese Skinner as possible interim president of AC in their Tuesday board meeting, should Lowery-Hart resign and accept the ACC position.
Amarillo College President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was named the sole finalist for Austin Community College Districts' Chancellor this week. The AC Board of Regents announced Denese Skinner as possible interim president of AC in their Tuesday board meeting, should Lowery-Hart resign and accept the ACC position.

“It is thanks to Russell’s truly transformative leadership that AC is the number one community college in the nation, so it is no wonder he was courted by others. ... If we do lose him, we will be sad to see him go, but it is incumbent upon our board to prepare for the very real possibility of a presidential vacancy,” AC Board of Regents member Anette Carlisle said during Tuesday's meeting.

More: Another view: Aspen victory is great news for college, community, as work continues

As previously reported by the Globe-News, should Lowery-Hart choose to leave AC, the college will then establish Skinner as interim president and begin the process of seeking a president. While paperwork is being drafted of an RFP, or Request for Proposal for a new president, the college will begin speaking to search firms and create two search committees who will conduct evaluations, proposals and host a formal search for the new president. The college also plans to establish an advisory committee that will also play a role in the selection process.

For more information about AC, visit them online at https://www.actx.edu/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo College prepares for transition if Lowery-Hart chooses ACC