The Aspen Institute has named Dr. Kimberly M. Lowry, LSC-Houston North and Dr. Jackie C. Thomas Jr., LSC-Tomball as 2020-21 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellows. The fellowship aspires to address the dramatic turnover in the community college presidency by recruiting and developing exceptional leaders.

“These candidates are selected through a very rigorous process,” said Dr. Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor. “Dr. Lowry and Dr. Thomas exemplify the quality of education available to our Lone Star College students and I congratulate them on this achievement.”

The Aspen Institute engages a select group of fellows each year in this intensive, applied executive leadership program, delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative. Candidates are considered based on their abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams, cultivate partnerships and focus on results-oriented improvements in student access and success.

Dr. Lowry currently serves as LSC-Houston North vice president for Instruction and Student Services where she works with faculty and staff to assist students in completing their educational goals. Lowery focuses on fostering a positive student experience, promoting teaching excellence, championing innovation across the college, and developing strong internal and external partnerships.

Dr. Thomas currently serves as LSC-Tomball chief strategist and provides leadership to the following areas: college relations; professional development; multimedia services; diversity and inclusion; grants; strategic planning; alumni relations and fundraising; community engagement; research and innovation; strategic enrollment management; and institutional effectiveness.

“Being the only higher education institution in the nation to have two fellows named in the same fellowship is a testament to the incredible talent we have at Lone Star College,” said Head. In all, 40 educators were selected for this year’s fellowship.

Dr. Kimberly M. Lowry, LSC-Houston North (left) and Dr. Jackie C. Thomas Jr., LSC-Tomball were named as 2020-21 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellows.

About the Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute has earned a reputation for gathering diverse, nonpartisan thought leaders, creatives, scholars and members of the public to address some of the world's most complex problems. But the goal of these convenings is to have an impact beyond the conference room. They are designed to provoke, further and improve actions taken in the real world.

About Lone Star College

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.