Dr. Christina Ponce Dr. Christina PonceThe Temple College Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Christina Ponce to be the college’s 11th president. She will join the college on Jan. 2, 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 currently serves as the Executive Vice President at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. She brings with her a broad range of experience, having also worked at El Paso Community College, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Austin Community College. 

In 2016, Ponce was one of 40 up and coming college presidents selected to be part of the inaugural Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. This enabled her to participate in a year-long executive leadership program designed by The Aspen Institute and Stanford University 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.”

 

Presidential Search webpage