Dr. Lynda Villanueva, president of Lee College, emphasized the institution’s role as the “community’s college” during a speech at the Kiwanis Club of Baytown on Thursday, underscoring its mission to improve students’ quality of life and transform the region through education.Villanueva, who became Lee College’s president in January 2020, shared key statistics about the college’s diverse student body. She noted that 80% of students attend part-time, balancing complex lives that often include work and family responsibilities. Additionally, 22% are student parents, with 54% of them single parents, and 10-12% are incarcerated students at the college’s Huntsville Center, making Lee the largest provider of incarcerated education in Texas and the second largest in the nation.
“Our students don’t come to Lee College just to earn a degree or transfer,” Villanueva said. “They attend because they want to improve the quality of their lives.”
Villanueva highlighted the college’s goal to connect students to careers they are passionate about, offering family-sustaining wages to break cycles of generational poverty.
Villanueva outlined Lee College’s initiatives to support its students holistically. The “First Time Free at Lee” program offers free tuition, fees and books to first-time students, allowing them to earn an associate’s degree for under $5,000.
The college also operates the largest community college food pantry in Texas, offering 100 pounds of food per month to students without stigma. Emergency funding, mental health services through the TimelyCare platform, and partnerships ensuring shelter for students in crisis further demonstrate Lee’s commitment to serving the “whole student.”
“Seventy-three percent of our students report at least one unmet basic need, like food insecurity or housing instability,” Villanueva said. “We never want a student to choose between paying utilities or buying books.”
Villanueva credited a $5 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2020 for expanding these services, including a renovated student services building.
Under Villanueva’s leadership, Lee College has seen significant growth. Enrollment has increased by 15% since 2020, with the number of first-time college students rising 54% from 617 to 1,071. The dual credit program, serving high school students, has grown, with a 50% increase in economically disadvantaged students participating through the FAST program, which covers costs for eligible students. The college is also set to break ground in December on a new branch campus, funded without additional taxpayer cost, offering in-district rates and new allied health programs.
Despite these achievements, Villanueva expressed concerns about challenges facing the college. Nationally, 50% of high school graduates do not pursue further education, and Lee’s transfer rate, though improved to 25%, remains below her expectations. Retention is another issue, with 50% of students not returning from one fall semester to the next.
“These are the things that keep me up at night,” she said. “We owe it to our community to address them.”
Mark Hall, a Lee College regent and Kiwanis member, introduced Villanueva, praising her transformative leadership.
“She applied only to Lee College for the president’s role, and we hired her,” Hall said. “Since she arrived, there’s been a transformation, even through the uncharted waters of COVID.”
Villanueva’s leadership style, rooted in empowering students and staff, drives her vision for Lee College.
“My style is to love people so they can become their best, truest selves,” she said.
Villanueva emphasized disciplined innovation, focusing resources on transformational initiatives impacting at least 40% of students.
Villanueva closed by reaffirming her commitment to the community.
“I love Lee College, and I am so honored to serve as your president,” she said, inviting community support through scholarships to further student success.