82R24118 MGR-D
By: Gonzales of Hidalgo H.R. No. 1678
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Shirley A. Reed, the founding and current
president of South Texas College, received the 2011 Alfredo G. de
los Santos, Jr., Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award
from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on
March 5, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1987, the award recognizes
outstanding administrators in higher education, and Dr. Reed
demonstrates the exceptional leadership qualities of the award's
namesake as she works to mentor her students and faculty and create
greater access to higher education; and
WHEREAS, Born in northern Canada, Shirley Reed was the
daughter of a nickel miner, and as the only young girl within 50
miles, she learned early to be strong and to persevere; her family
eventually relocated to Florida, and she enrolled in her first
institution of higher education at the age of 26, attending St.
Petersburg Junior College and working nights as a lab technician in
a hospital; and
WHEREAS, She went on to earn a bachelor's degree, two master's
degrees, and a doctorate; she joined Spoon River College in
Illinois to create a library for the school and then moved to
Northland Pioneer College in Arizona, managing multiple campuses
across two sprawling counties and three Native American
reservations; and
WHEREAS, The legislature established South Texas College in
1993, when McAllen and its environs represented the largest
metropolitan area in the State of Texas not served by a community
college; Dr. Reed was chosen as the school's first president, and
her initial objective was to garner support at the ballot box; she
succeeded in securing the passage of a tax district and $20 million
in bond construction projects to make the college a reality; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure, Dr. Reed has overseen the
school's remarkable growth; it now encompasses five campuses in
McAllen, Weslaco, and Rio Grande City, and its enrollment has risen
from 1,000 to more than 28,000 students; South Texas College also
employs more than 1,600 faculty and staff and offers over 100 degree
and certificate programs, including two bachelor's degrees; in
addition, the college hosts many cultural and educational events
that benefit the community and makes dual enrollment programs
available to high school students seeking to accelerate their
studies; and
WHEREAS, Sixty percent of the students at South Texas College
are the first in their families to attend college and 75 percent
receive financial aid, and Dr. Reed is committed to economic
development and regional prosperity in the area; her colleagues
readily cite her boldness, tenacity, affinity for hard work, and
student-centered approach when discussing her accomplishments,
while she is quick to credit faculty and staff; and
WHEREAS, The visionary guidance and tireless dedication that
Dr. Shirley Reed has brought to her endeavors as president of South
Texas College have contributed immeasurably to the school's growing
stature and to the transformative experience it provides to
thousands of future leaders of the Lone Star State; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate South Texas College president Dr.
Shirley A. Reed on her receipt of the 2011 Alfredo G. de los Santos,
Jr., Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award and extend
to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Reed as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.