Meet the Finalists
Dr. Wendy Elmore
Wendy J. Elmore, Ed.D., currently serves as the Provost and Executive Vice President of Lamar State College Orange in Orange, TX. Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is one of seven independent institutions within the Texas State University System. Prior to arriving at LSCO in April 2020, Elmore served Trinity Valley Community College for fourteen years in a host of positions that include Director of Testing; Director of Distance Learning; Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs; Vice President of Instruction/Chief Academic Officer; and Adjunct Developmental Math and Psychology Faculty Member. Wendy earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX; a Master of Arts in Psychology and Counseling from The University of Texas at Tyler in Tyler, TX; and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. Dr. Elmore is a product of two-year colleges as she completed many undergraduate academic transfer hours at Trinity Valley Community College in Palestine, TX.
Since Dr. Elmore arrived at LSCO, the College has seen an overall increase in student enrollment, even amidst the worldwide pandemic that left many two-year colleges with declining or stagnant enrollments. According to preliminary data published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in November 2022, Lamar State College Orange experienced one of the most significant growth increases in two-year colleges throughout the State of Texas during the fall 2022 semester when compared with fall 2020 and fall 2021. Also under Elmore’s leadership, numerous credit and non-credit programs leading to high-wage, high-demand careers have been added and more than to $4 million dollars in grant funding and private donations have been awarded to the College.
Recently, Dr. Elmore was appointed by the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan, to serve on the nine-member statewide Industry-Based Certification Advisory Council. She also serves as a Board Member for Southeast Texas Workforce Development Council and is an Orange County Community Advisory Board Member. While at Trinity Valley Community College, Dr. Elmore was named the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Upper East Texas Region Chairperson as well as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Institutional Liaison.
Wendy is married to Brad, a retired Trinity Valley Community College Sociology instructor of 44 years. She has two grown children, Katie and James, who live in Palestine, TX.
Dr. Dreand Johnson
Dre, as he is popularly called, is the Provost of Trinity Valley Community College's satellite campuses. Upon his arrival at TVCC, he was first hired as the Associate Vice President, Palestine campus, where he immediately began networking with TVCC teachers, employees, and Palestine community members. His strong skill is relationship development, but he is also an expert in enrollment tactics and operations. His leadership abilities were instantly recognized by the executive management, as Dr. Johnson was appointed to the position of Provost and requested to preside over TVCC's satellite campuses in Kaufman, Palestine, and Terrell.
In addition to directing and providing for teachers and staff at these locations, he collaborates extensively with community groups at all satellite locations. By establishing links with each area's Economic Development Councils, local government officials, and legislative representatives, the alliance has improved future chances for students while also benefiting TVCC's development and growth prospects.
Dr. Johnson formerly worked at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Associate Vice Chancellor, St. Joseph campus. He was essential in enhancing and extending dual enrollment programs, boosting high school students' access and achievement, and forming collaborations with nonprofit and corporate leaders. During Dr. Johnson's tenure, Metropolitan College's Career Technical Education programs saw significant enrollment increase and record success in student job placement. As a result, the number of Workforce affiliates, which included both local and worldwide corporations, increased, bringing in millions of dollars for the institution.
Dr. Johnson was also the Vice President of Instruction and Chief Academic Officer at Iowa Central Community College, where he helped academics reach new heights. Because of his services to the state of Iowa, Iowa Central Community College has been recognized as a top-tier school. His connection building fueled a significant increase in enrollment in CTE programs, as well as the establishment of the first Career Academies at strategic sites around the service region. Under his leadership, the college's academic standards improved, resulting in higher retention and eventual graduation rates. Finally, Dr. Johnson served as the Dean of Math and Science at Tarrant County College's Trinity River campus, where he gained valuable experience writing and receiving grant awards, authoring the creation of Academic Curriculum Teams (ACTs), spearheading faculty professional development, and gaining faculty support in all areas of the college. His first job in higher education was as a history professor at Lone Star College in Tomball. He still likes teaching History to students when he has the opportunity.
Dre is a proud alumnus of Texas Southern University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history. He received his master’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration on History from Houston Baptist University, recently named Houston Christian University. Lastly, a devoted Longhorn fan of the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his Ph. D., in Educational Leadership.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and family, Phuong, and his four children, Kolbi, Kayla, Ky, and Kora.
Dr. Jason Morrison
Dr. Jason Morrison is currently the Chancellor of Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU Tech) in Camden, Arkansas. He has held this position since January 2017. SAU Tech is part of the Southern Arkansas University System in Magnolia.
Jason formerly served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Oklahoma, before coming to SAU Tech. Originally from Benton, Arkansas, He graduated from Henderson State University with a degree in Political Science before completing degrees from Arkansas State University in 1997, 1999, and 2003. Jason has earned degrees in Political Science, Community College Teaching, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership.
During his first six months at SAU Tech, Jason added religion courses, a scholar’s program, a community and student choir, a new course scheduling process, and a new degree focus in partnership with Southern Arkansas University. He also added a development and alumni relations department while consolidating many other college departments to ensure efficiency. He promoted the College at over 20 speaking engagements, held bi-monthly meetings with students during lunch, conducted a campus clean-up day with volunteers, and worked with the local electric cooperative to install a solar farm.
During the five years that Jason has been leading SAU Tech, he has been instrumental in dramatically changing the landscape of the College. He created a new workforce board to represent the aerospace defense industries the College serves and restructured workforce training to increase the institution's ability to provide customized training in advanced manufacturing. Other initiatives include creating a culture of trust among staff and faculty by connecting with them in person and through shared decision-making processes. Since January 2018, he added NJCAA baseball, men's and women's basketball, softball, cheerleading, Tech Scholars program, new academic programs in allied health, cybersecurity, and engineering technology, large-scale grant projects totaling over five million, new student housing, and many other ongoing initiatives. The men's basketball team played in the NJCAA national championship tournament two times in the last three years since the program started. Jason also increased the number of transfer agreements for college programs by 300 percent.
Jason currently serves as a board member of the Greater Camden Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development, and the Golden Triangle Economic Development Council. He recently completed an assignment by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as a Mobility Advisory Council member. During the time Jason has filled the role of chancellor, the College successfully went through reaccreditation, and he also serves as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.
Jason sees every new challenge as an opportunity to put the College's students first and grow the capacity of the institution to serve the community. When asked how he accomplished so much in five years, he always points to his staff and their willingness to work together and do whatever is necessary to support students. As a leader, he expects more of himself than anyone else and leads by example by giving of his personal wealth and time. He has raised more money in his role as chancellor than any chancellor since the College was started in 1968. Jason personally solicited donations to build the College's new baseball field. It is a common sight at SAU Tech to see Jason in his work boots helping the College's physical plant with the latest campus project.
He is married to Stephanie of Pocahontas, Arkansas. Stephanie is the College's cheer coach and teaches criminal justice classes as an adjunct instructor and maintains a respiratory therapist license. They have one beautiful and unique little girl named Brennan Lynn.