(Meal Provided by Mr. Gatti's Pizza)
DR. JUAN MEJIA
President & CEO for Tyler Junior College (TJC)
Juan E. Mejia proudly serves the students and communities of East Texas through his role as President & CEO for Tyler Junior College (TJC). He is approaching his seven-year anniversary with TJC, and prior to this role, served as a founding member and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at South Texas College (STC).
Both institutions are recognized as Legacy Colleges by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Only four from throughout the state.
He currently serves on the national Board of the Community College Baccalaureate Association, the state Board of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and on our local Tyler Economic Development Council. He has previously served on the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Tyler, the East Texas Human Needs Network, and the Music & Arts Alliance of Texas. He is a member of the Tyler Business Education Council, the Tyler Area Partnership 4 Education, the Smith County Seat Coalition, and the Lindale Music Friendly Community Designation Committee. He has also previously served on the Boards for the National Council for Workforce Education, the Texas Associate of College Technical Educators, the Literacy Council of Tyler, CASA of East Texas, and the Tyler Innovation Pipeline. (They do not have to all be mentioned. Overall, he enjoys serving our communities through his role in local boards.)
Dr. Mejia was the 2017 recipient of the Nelson Award by the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and he has been recognized during the 84th, 85th, and 86th Texas Legislative Sessions for his service to Texas students and communities through his role with a Texas junior/community college. He was also recently recognized as a Distinguished Pioneer of the Valley Scholars Program, by South Texas College.
He is a graduate of Texas State Technical Institute, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
He is a graduate of the Leadership Tyler’s Executive Orientation Series, and also an honorary member of PTK’s Chapters Beta Epsilon Mu, from South Texas College, and Alpha Omicron, from Tyler Junior College.
He believes in service to students and communities by creating a culture and environment where leadership is valued, learning is celebrated, collaboration is promoted, and personal and professional growth is encouraged and supported. His values include a commitment to the mission of junior/community colleges, the empowerment of everyone from the college community to achieve their fullest potential, an ethical value system where honor and principles permeate throughout, a vision for courage and legacy, and accountability and transparency that strengthens trust and respect within the College community and with external stakeholders. He is the father of five boys, and he lives in Tyler, Texas, with his wife Meela, and a number of rescue pets.