SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 661
WHEREAS, Dr. Cesar Maldonado has made significant
contributions to higher education and workforce development as
chancellor of Houston Community College; and
WHEREAS, Named chancellor of the six-college system in
2014, Dr. Maldonado has fostered an inclusive, supportive
culture for students and staff while boosting academic
achievement through innovative programs; his restructuring of
HCC has increased the number of graduates by over 12 percent per
year, and the scholastic performance of first-year students has
improved markedly; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Maldonado has established academic
partnerships that allow students to transition seamlessly to
specified four-year programs at such institutions as Texas A&M
University, The University of Texas at Tyler, and Stephen F.
Austin State University; in addition, he has developed
partnerships with local industries to open pathways for students
eager to enter the workforce after obtaining an associate's
degree or certificate; and
WHEREAS, Ably steering the institution through such
challenges as Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic,
Dr. Maldonado has focused on fiscal stability, including debt
reduction and strengthening of reserves, as a key element of
strategic planning; at the same time, he has overseen the
expansion of HCC to 19 campuses and facilities; among HCC's 14
new Centers of Excellence are the Challenger Learning Center for
Space Science and the Resiliency Operations Center; moreover,
HCC has been reaffirmed twice as an Achieving the Dream Leader
College, signaling a solid commitment to educational access and
quality; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous honors, Dr. Maldonado
was presented with the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Chairman's Award; he was also named Most Admired Non-profit CEO
by Houston Business Journal, and he has been elected to the
Philosophical Society of Texas, the Texas Tech University
Engineering Academy, and the Phi Theta Kappa Texas Hall of Fame
for Student Engagement; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Maldonado brought to HCC an unusual breadth
of experience; after more than 25 years as a business executive,
he served as president of Texas State Technical College and as
vice chancellor for institutional effectiveness and
commercialization for the TSTC System; he holds bachelor's and
master's degrees in chemical engineering from Texas A&M
University and a doctorate in systems and engineering management
from Texas Tech University; and
WHEREAS, Through his adept leadership and commitment to
excellence, Cesar Maldonado has greatly advanced the important
mission of Houston Community College; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby honor Dr. Cesar Maldonado for his service as
chancellor of Houston Community College and extend to him sincere
best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Dr. Maldonado as an expression of high regard from
the Texas Senate.
Miles, Alvarado, Whitmire
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 25, 2023.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate