At his last board meeting, Lowery-Hart reflects on his time as Amarillo College president
The Board of Regents of the Amarillo Junior College District held its last regular meeting with President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart on Tuesday at its Amarillo College Washington Street campus in Amarillo.
During the meeting, board members applauded his time and gave him a going-away gift of an Amarillo College custom bat house, which fits his new assignment in Austin that are known as the Riverbats.
With Lowery-Hart having accepted the leadership position as Chancellor at the Austin Community College District after nine years as Amarillo College's president, following his last meeting, he reflected on his time with the college.
Lowery-Hart says that he is most proud of the change in the student interaction experience at Amarillo College.
“What I found when I came here was a college full of great people that cared about their students, but the college was also experiencing enrollment declines, real financial strains and division that was not unified around our students,” Lowery-Hart said. “I think what I am leaving is not just a college that has changed our community, but has also inspired the entire sector of higher education around the country, around the concept of loving students to success.”
As he is seeking new challenges, Lowery-Hart says that Amarillo College could benefit from new leadership.
“I feel like I have given every ounce of my heart to this college and the community,” Lowery-Hart said. “I think the college will benefit from a fresh set of eyes, and I would benefit from a fresh set of challenges.”
Lowery-Hart said the lessons that he has learned at Amarillo College will benefit his future endeavors. He said that he has learned to trust his gut and have the courage to follow it.
“I can look back at my nine years as president here, and when I have struggled the most is when I knew what I should be doing but I did not have the courage to do it. It took me time to think through it,” Lowery-Hart said. "I think I will take a deeper understanding of how to move systems and bureaucracy that I do not have to be as afraid of.”
Regarding how he and the college were able to get AC to the level of being able to be recognized by the Aspen Institute, Lowery-Hart said it took a clear focus of what their student was.
The college identifies its composite student as "Maria," whom it describes as a first-generation, part-time female Latina, who has substantial financial barriers. She works, on average, two part-time jobs, is 27 years old, and raises 1.2 children. She was created to draw attention to the type of student the college should be designing its services to cater to.
He said that these goals and changes make students more likely to complete their degree. During his time at the school, the graduation rate increased from 19% to 58%. These changes in culture in service to the students were a huge factor in getting recognition from the Aspen Institute, according to Lowery-Hart.
“It took courage to listen to students to tell us what we needed to be, and it took courage to reimagine our processes, offerings and policies to be the institution that our students need us to be,” Lowery-Hart said. “That meant that we were an institution that removes barriers, that we could offer different schedules suited to students and be a college that loves our students.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo College's Lowery-Hart reflects on his time as president
