Lone Star College Foundation Board of Directors appointed a new board chair and three new board members to help create resources and financial assistance to help students achieve their educational goals.
“Lone Star College Foundation Board advises and oversees the financial security and longevity of the Foundation's assets,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSC Foundation executive director. “They also serve as Foundation ambassadors and strategic plan advisors.”
James B. Harrison III, principal at HarrisonKornberg Architects, began his two-year term as LSC Foundation board chair Sept. 1. He will lead members as they advocate on the Foundation’s behalf to receive support for students destined to be tomorrow’s leaders. Harrison believes no other investment yields as great of a return as the investment in education.
“As chair, my goal is to bring more visibility to the Foundation and the important work we do,” said Harrison. “My favorite aspect of serving on the Board is seeing the lives we impact through the generous donations to the Foundation.”
Along with Harrison, new terms also begin for LSC Foundation Board Executive Committee members Miranda Hadamik, vice chair; Bryan Kenski, treasurer; Alton Smith, Ed.D., secretary and Gennifer Kelly, past chair.
LSC Foundation has 21 board members who serve three-year terms. They are nominated by peers and approved by the LSC Chancellor and LSC Board of Trustees. The new members are:
- Alim Adatia, senior director of sustainable infrastructure for Johnson Controls, Inc. He serves on the boards of Houston Arts Alliance and Etoile Academy Charter School. Adatia earned a bachelor’s degree from Western University and a J.D. from New England Law.
- Rhonda Arnold, chief community relations officer for Houston Airport System-City of Houston Aviation. She is a current board member of Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce and Partnership Lake Houston and a former board member of DePelchin Children’s Center. Arnold earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a law degree from Texas Southern University.
- Trent Eckel, senior vice president at Frost Bank. He serves as a member of the Rotary Club of The Woodlands. Eckel graduated from Conroe ISD, earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and returned home to live, work and give back to the community.
“I joined LSC Foundation Board to give back to my community and to our local college system that helped me get to where I am today,” said Eckel. “I have fond memories of the quality professors I had in my semester at Lone Star College-Montgomery. I am driven to provide those same opportunities to students who will inevitably make our community an even better place to live and work.”
LSC Board of Directors finds innovative resources to provide students with scholarships and educational programming to help them complete their education at Lone Star College, transfer to a four-year institution or successfully enter the workforce.
“I believe that an education is one of the most important attributes that we give to ourselves,” said Arnold. “Relationships are paramount and are essential to maintaining positive economic stability. It is important to me that I use my talents to build this bridge between education and economic stability for the Lone Star College Foundation.”
LSC Foundation’s mission is to change lives through student scholarships and quality educational programs achieved by excellence in relationship building, fundraising and investment management.
“My hope, as a member of Lone Star College Foundation Board, is to assist the Foundation in planning and ensuring that the great work it has accomplished to date will be available for students for many years to come,” said Adatia.
LSC Foundation would like to thank the following board members whose term has ended for their continuous support of the mission of LSC Foundation: Faisal Amin, Richard Cantu, Chris Michel and Nancy Shortsleeve.
About Lone Star College Foundation
Lone Star College Foundation impacts students' daily lives by reducing the financial barriers to a quality college education. More than 20,000 students have felt that impact, with over $18.6 million awarded in scholarships and $8.5 million in program support since the Foundation's inception in 1991. Through tuition scholarships, emergency aid relief or textbook funds, partner with the Foundation today to make your impact on the next generation. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/Giving.
About Lone Star College
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as LSC Chancellor, one the largest institutions of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education and recognized by Fortune Magazine and Great Place To Work® as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Texas™. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.