88S40511 TBO-D
By: Turner H.R. No. 37
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Bill Coppola is retiring as president of Tarrant
County College Southeast Campus on January 31, 2024, after four
decades in higher education and 12 years with TCC; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Coppola began his career in 1984, when he
accepted a position at the Dallas County Community College
District; over the course of 15 years, he played an instrumental
role in developing and implementing the college's video technology
program; he also served on the faculty at North Lake College for 12
years, and he went on to hold a number of administrative positions,
culminating in his service as dean of technical education; he later
joined the Maricopa Community College District at Phoenix College,
where he served as senior associate dean of instruction and
director of the City Colleges Center; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Dr. Coppola became dean of instruction,
computer information, and applied technology at the North Harris
Campus in the Lone Star College System; he subsequently transferred
to the Kingwood Campus, and he served as executive director of
academic partnerships and initiatives before becoming vice
president of instruction and chief academic officer; he took on his
current role as the second president of Tarrant County College
Southeast Campus in 2012, and under his able leadership, the campus
won the prestigious Eduardo J. Padron Award for Institutional
Transformation in 2021; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Coppola has been active in numerous civic and
professional organizations, including the Greater Arlington
Chamber of Commerce Board, the City of Arlington Transportation
Advisory Committee, the Fort Worth Mayor's Council on Education and
Workforce Development, the American Association of Community
Colleges Commission on Structured Pathways, the National Alliance
of Community & Technical Colleges, and the Higher Education
Research and Development Institute; he is also founding chair of
the Arlington Mayor's Education Coalition, and he has served as
vice chair of Campus Compact; and
WHEREAS, Among his many accolades, Dr. Coppola has received
multiple awards in recognition of his contributions to the field of
education; he holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State
University as well as a master's degree and a doctorate from the
University of North Texas; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bill Coppola has led the TCC Southeast Campus
with tremendous vision, energy, and dedication, and he may indeed
reflect with pride on a career well spent as he embarks on the next
exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Bill
Coppola on his retirement as president of Tarrant County College
Southeast Campus 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. Coppola as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.