After a period functioning as the interim leader, Margaret Ford Fisher has been officially handed the reins as the new chancellor of the Houston Community College System, according to the Houston Chronicle. The decision was made with a 7-1 vote by the HCC System Board of Trustees. Ford Fisher will be faced with the formidable task of overseeing HCC's $398 million budget and its student population of over 50,700 across 20 colleges.
“I am deeply honored by the board's confidence in me and for this extraordinary opportunity to lead HCC," Ford Fisher told HCC. Her election marks her as the first African-American female chancellor in the system's history. Ford Fisher brings to the table nearly 40 years of experience within HCC, having served as the founding president of HCC Online and president of HCC's Northeast College, among other roles.
Ford Fisher steps into a role vacated by former Chancellor Cesar Maldonado after the Board opted not to renew his contract last year. During her interim tenure, she has already initiated measures aimed at improving student accessibility and success metrics. These areas are more crucial than ever due to a new funding model for Texas community colleges that emphasizes graduation and retention rates. However, she will also inherit issues from Maldonado’s tenure, including enrollment declines during the pandemic, legal entanglements, and strained board relations as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
During her presidency of HCC Online, Ford Fisher oversaw the launch of over 60 online degree programs and was part of a period of significant technological advancement within the college. HCC's Northeast College, under her leadership, embarked on two capital campaigns and spearheaded an annexation initiative that expanded the college's educational reach.
The new chancellor also brings to the position a storied academic career that stretches beyond HCC, having held posts at Wichita High School South, the University of Houston, and Texas Southern University. In conjunction, Ford Fisher has been active in community advocacy roles, including membership with the HISD advisory committee and the International Relations Commission of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Chair of the HCC Board, Cynthia Lenton-Gary, voiced strong support for Ford Fisher’s appointment, saying, “Dr. Ford Fisher is a driven and passionate educator with deep institutional knowledge of HCC. She is forward-looking and a nationally recognized leader who is ideal to move HCC forward in providing educational excellence and innovation."
