The Vice President of the Instruction and Division Deans oversees the academic, administrative, and budgetary operations within their area.  They are a group of strategic thinkers that possess strong leadership skills, and the ability to build relationships. 

Please enjoy getting to know them through some fun and lighthearted questions! And feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

• Melinda Coleman, Dean of Instruction for Division I (Fine Arts, Math, Natural Science)
• Jared Cootz, Dean of Instruction for Division II (English, Education, Social Science, Behavioral Science, Languages)
• Latoya Hardman, Vice President, Instruction 
• Dr. Megan Mariveles, Dean of Instruction for Division III (Health Sciences/LSC-Tomball Health Science Building)
• Alejandra Solis, Director of Continuing Education/Workforce
• Katerina Wingfield, Dean of Academic Affairs (Dual Credit, Evening/Weekend College, Library)
• Daniel "Lee" Shorter, Administrative Assistant, Vice President of Instruction

Get to know Melinda Coleman, Dean of Instruction for Division I (Fine Arts, Math, Natural Science). 

Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: My favorite type of food is everything Asian. PF Chang's Mongolian Beef is an all-time favorite as are sushi rolls, but only if there is no raw seafood! 

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?
A: Like Dr. Strange, I would pick the ability to travel in time, both forward and backward.  It would be cool to go back and visit relatives and go forward to see future grandchildren!  And to easily visit other places around the world...fascinating!

Q: What was your dream job as a child?
A: I always wanted to do something with Crime Scene Investigation, WAY before CSI or Dexter were popular.  Blood splatter and bullet projectiles are super cool!  And very math-related!

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose?
A: Star Trek comes to mind, even though I don't really like the show.  But the ability to explore "strange new worlds" would be awesome! On the other hand, Ghostbusters would be super fun!  

Q: What’s number one on your bucket list?
A: I am the biggest fan of the prog-rock group RUSH. I have seen them in concert 36 times! To spend the entire day just hanging out with the remaining group members, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, would be a dream come true!  Especially Geddy.

Q: Do you listen to any podcasts?
A: I mainly listen to true crime podcasts.  Love them.  Some of my favorites are Crime Junkie, Up and Vanished, Serial Killers, and The Deck.  There are so many great ones! (That is only when RUSH is not playing in my ear!)

Get to know Jared Cootz, Dean of Instruction for Division II (English, Education, Social Science, Behavioral Science, Languages). 

Q: What would you choose if you had to choose one meal for the rest of your life? 
A: A Mediterranean meal. Particularly being able to eat this meal at Fadis restaurant every day.

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?
A: A regenerative healing factor like Logan or Wade Wilson. Hopefully with better results than Wade Wilson and his subsequent appearance. 

Q: What was your dream job as a child?
A: A champion race car driver, like the old Speed Racer TV series.

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose?
A: They Live. Once I get my hands on a pair of specialized sunglasses, I can help humanity. Plus, I would have plenty of bubblegum.

Q: What’s number one on your bucket list? 
A: Hiking the sections of the Appalachian Trail that are in the New England states. 

Q: What’s your favorite midnight snack?
A: Beer nuts bar mix.

Get to know Latoya Hardman, Vice President of Instruction.  

Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: My taste buds are ever-changing. Lately, they're more accepting of flavors I once avoided or could only tolerate in small doses. Recently, I have had a newfound appreciation for salmon and bell peppers (not necessarily together). I have also started to appreciate the richness of certain seasonings like curry and the kick of spices like Sriracha.

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?
A: I would love the ability to instantly resolve all issues that come my way in the blink of an eye. I would love the efficiency and peace of mind that would come with tackling problems head-on and resolving them with this power!

Q: What was your dream job as a child?
A: The calling to be in education was ingrained in me from the beginning. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be in education. I was surrounded by educators who gifted me with their old teacher's manuals, which I would use to “write and deliver lessons” to imaginary students; I would even grade their papers and record those grades in my gradebook. 

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose?
A: As a newfound Marvel fan, the concept of the multiverse fascinates me. I'd love to step into an alternate universe in any Marvel movie, to see how my life would be different and the same) across many realities.

Q: What’s number one on your bucket list?
A: Number one on my bucket list is to create a bucket list! I have set goals for my professional life, but life is about more than just work. This year, I want to challenge myself to set personal goals that enrich my experiences, broaden my horizons, and bring joy and fulfillment outside of the office.

Get to know Dr. Megan Mariveles, Dean of Instruction for Division III (Health Sciences/LSC-Tomball Health Science Building). 

Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: This question is difficult because I love all food, except cantaloupe…can’t do it. My favorite cuisine is probably Chinese, and I prefer anything super spicy. I love a good Kung Pao Chicken.

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?
A: I’d have to go with supersonic speed and telekinesis coming in at a close second. Cue the Quicksilver scenes from X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Days of Future Past. Of course, theme music is a must, and it would have to vary depending on my mood and the task at hand. 

Q: What was your dream job as a child?
A: My dream job as a child was to be a lawyer, like my dad. It’s never too late, right?

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose?
Tough choice…Number one would be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It goes without saying that I would be a super-talented wizard teaching at Hogwarts.

Q: What’s number one on your bucket list?
Wow, there are so many things I want to do and see! I love to travel, and we haven’t been to Europe yet. Two places at the top of my bucket list to visit are The Vatican and The Louvre.

Q: Who would you choose if you could be friends with a fictional character?
Hands down…Dr. Kay Scarpetta from the Patricia Cornwell book series. Dr. Scarpetta is a renowned forensic pathologist who plays a key role in solving murder cases. For a true crime junkie, it’s a no-brainer.

 Get to know Alejandra Solis, Director of Continuing Education/Workforce. 

Q: What’s your favorite food? 
A: As a little girl, I was a picky eater. I had a few things that I liked. My basic diet was milk, eggs, ham, tomatoes, and cheese. I grew up in Mexico in a household where meals were made from scratch. My mom put a lot of time and effort into planning meals and cooking for the family. My pickiness was a challenge for my mom. As I got older, I became more open to trying different foods and foods from different cultures. Of course, real Mexican food is one of my favorites. TexMex, Indian, and Thai are among my other favorites. I also enjoy seafood. Needless to say, I grew out of that pickiness that drove my mom crazy.   

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick? 
A: If I could choose a superpower, I would pick the power of speaking any language. This power would allow me to communicate with anybody, immerse myself in other cultures, and better understand the world. I would use my power to facilitate conflict resolution and expand cultural differences among people and countries.

Q: What was your dream job as a child? 
A: I used to play “teacher” when I was little. Playing teacher was my way to study and have fun. The walls in my bedroom were covered with wallpaper. I could use chalk on the wallpaper and erase it with a rag.  So, I would place all my dolls and stuffed animals on my bed and pretend they were my students. I would grab my brother’s or sister’s notebooks and “grade” them with big red check marks.  These two activities got me in trouble with my mom. The wallpaper in my classroom got damaged and my siblings were unhappy about my grading their school notebooks. I have vivid memories of hours “teaching” my dolls, the smell of chalk, and the good feeling the whole experience gave me. 

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose? 
A: If I had to live in a fiction movie, I would choose Back to the Future. I would like to go to the past and learn my parents’ stories, how they met, and how they envisioned their future.  I see my grandparents as young people, learn, and see their lives. I would like to understand my present by learning about my past.  

Q: What’s number one on your?bucket list? 
A: Besides traveling around the world, seeing polar bears in the wild, whales in the ocean and taking part in a turtle release event, the number one on my bucket list is to earn a doctoral degree. After some years of evaluating my options and career opportunities, I have decided to make this dream a reality. I have been accepted into the Doctor of Education program at Texas Lutheran University with a start date of August 26, 2024.  

Q: What's your favorite season, and what does it remind you of?? 
A: My favorite season is Fall. I grew up in Mexico City where the weather is steady for the most part. We have seasons but the changes between seasons are not as marked as in other places. I moved to Minnesota in 1996. I lived in Minnesota for 13 years and it was there that I fell in love with the seasons, especially Fall. The beautiful colors of fall, the tree leaves, and the transformations of nature are mesmerizing. Fall also means celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday, a holiday I have adopted. Fall reminds me of my mother, who passed away three years ago. She loved to walk over trails of dry leaves and hear the noise they made when she stepped on them. I remember her smile and joy playing on the leaves.  

Get to know Katerina Wingfield, Dean of Academic Affairs (Dual Credit, Evening/Weekend College, Library). 

Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: My favorite food is pizza! You cannot go wrong with pizza!

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?
A: I would definitely pick the power of time manipulation. This power would allow me to pause time, travel back in time, and add more time for myself and others!

Q: What was your dream job as a child?
A: I was a sports kid. I wanted to be a sports agent. I wanted to travel with all my favorite sports teams. 

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose?
A: This one is a little hard...I would have to say the original versions of Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory and Coming to America! Who could pass up chocolate and being a queen?

Q: What’s number one on your bucket list?
A: I would like to go off the grid and travel to each continent and explore various cultures. 

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Although I am not a fan of the winter season, my favorite holidays are Kwanzaa and Christmas! Both are all about gratefulness, appreciation, and togetherness! Truly the most wonderful time of the year!

Get to know Lee Shorter, Administrative Assistant, for the Vice President of Instruction. 

Q: What’s your favorite food? 
A: My wife’s crabcakes, made with Phillips (seafood company) crabmeat. 

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick? 
A: The ability to observe and manipulate matter at the subatomic level like Dr. Manhattan from The Watchmen

Q: What was your dream job as a child? 
A: Firefighter

Q: If you had to live in a fiction movie, which would you choose? 
A: Black Flag, the pirate version of the game Assassin's Creed

Q: What’s number one on your bucket list?
A: Own a vacation home where we can get away when we want, but close enough to return when we must