Looking out for the community we serve is rooted in the six Lone Star College Cultural Beliefs. It becomes a point of pride for each employee to serve as an example of what a quality education and hard work can achieve.  

For people like Dr. Luis Lucio, Dean, LSC-East Aldine Center, it’s personal. The Aldine community has been his home since he was a kid. It’s not just the community he grew up in; it’s the community that raised him and helped him overcome obstacles that could have held him back.

“I think for me, my motivation is to show others that a kid from Mexico, without a word of English, raised by a single mother, persevered and has come back to his community to hopefully inspire others to continue on whatever their path may be,” said Lucio.

However, it was anything but an easy path for Lucio to find himself in the position he is in now.

Born in Brownsville, Texas, Lucio grew up in Matamoros, Mexico, until he was five years old. When his mom moved Lucio and his sister to Houston, he relied on the help of Aldine ISD’s bilingual program to learn English.

Another roadblock almost detoured Lucio’s path during his senior year of high school, when he was in a car accident. At first, Lucio’s injuries prevented him from returning to school, but it didn't prevent him from moving forward with his life.

“Recovery was long and hard,” said Lucio. “I had to learn how to walk again, but with faith, I was able to graduate on time. I feel my car accident opened my eyes since I literally got a second chance at life.”

After graduating from MacArthur High School, Lucio attended LSC-North Harris as a part-time student while balancing two jobs. It wouldn’t be long before the place he called home was once again ready to lend a helping hand.

As a recipient of Aldine ISD's Homegrown Scholarship, Lucio became a full-time student while working part-time for the school district as a paraprofessional or teacher’s aide.

From then on, Lucio’s academic journey was in motion. He transferred to Sam Houston State University and graduated with his bilingual teaching certification, and over the years earned his master’s degree and doctorate in Professional Leadership.

In 2019 everything came full-circle when Lucio was named the dean of the new LSC-East Aldine Center. It was time for Lucio to give back to the community that gave him so much growing up.

“Everyone has a story, and if I can share mine to help someone continue their educational journey or help provide different options or resources to help them succeed, then I feel I have made a difference,” said Lucio. “In the field of education, we always want to make a difference in the lives of others, and that has always been my goal.”

Whether it’s working with the East Aldine Town Center for community events or Aldine ISD for an ESOL/GED program for the parents of students, Lucio knows that his story is one that resonates with the people he’s trying to help.

“We are constantly looking for ways to partner with the community, and we are always working on more exciting partnerships,” said Lucio. “I feel very blessed to be a small part of the vision of so many.”

Dr. Luis Lucio, Dean, LSC-East Aldine Center