El Paso Community College (EPCC) has recently wrapped up a notable celebration for its latest Leadership Academy graduates. According to EPCC News, a cohort of their employees completed a five-month professional development program and presented innovative proposals before receiving their certificates on June 16.
The Leadership Academy program, which ran an accelerated format this year, was led by Dr. Linda Brown, who rejoined to spearhead this session after retiring in 2024. Dr. Brown marked the efforts of the graduates stating, “This class did in five months what others have done in twelve," according to EPCC News. Their proposals focused on various institutional growth areas, from employee wellness to student support innovations. EPCC President, Dr. William Serrata, highlighted the graduates' dedication in his address to the class, saying, “Time is our most valuable resource. The investment you've made here, in leadership and in each other, is incredibly meaningful to the future of EPCC," as obtained by EPCC News.
Among the highlights from the team presentations were ideas such as expanding food pantry access for those struggling with food security and a move to digitize human resources and onboarding procedures for efficiency. Proposed enhancements touched on space utilization and privacy on campus, including developing underutilized areas and providing more private workspaces for adjunct faculty. In a move to modernize and provide additional support to students, the class also suggested the implementation of automatic scholarships and clarified pathways for associate degrees.
Fernando Flores, Vice President of Finance and Administration, underscored the recurring themes of digital transformation and student focus in the projects, stating, “The repetition of themes across groups tells us where we must go next." Other proposals mentioned featured health and wellness initiatives, like creating cardio walk paths and ergonomic work areas, as well as boosting EPCC's brand through a comprehensive merchandise and retail strategy. In an educational advancement, Professor Daniel Miskei outlined a plan to integrate AI tools ethically for multilingual support, coupled with workshops to enhance media literacy, as told by EPCC News.
