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"From Classroom to Career: Dallas College's Role in Workforce Readiness and Economic Growth"

Dr. Justin Lonon, Chancellor, Dallas College

Since 2005, Dr. Justin H. Lonon has provided proven executive and strategic leadership for Dallas College, guiding the institution to fulfill its mission of “transforming lives and communities through higher education.” Following a unanimous vote by the Dallas College Board of Trustees in 2021, Lonon began serving as the college’s eighth chancellor in March 2022.

Lonon previously served as executive vice chancellor, leveraging his institutional knowledge to provide intentional leadership to the finance, governmental relations, legal, board relations, social responsibility, facilities, human resources, innovation and technology, marketing and communications, safety and security, emergency management, institutional effectiveness, and strategic initiatives functional areas.

Lonon served as a driving force in the consolidation of the 55-year-old Dallas County Community College District — and its seven colleges — into one Dallas College. The historic move helps to meet the needs of Dallas County students, improving their access to in-demand degrees and credentials.

To help address the teacher shortage, Lonon provided oversight to the creation of Dallas College’s first four-year degree in Early Childhood Education — the first in the state of Texas at a community college. This has led to the launch of the state’s first Teacher Residency Program. The college launched a second bachelor’s degree in nursing in summer 2024.

Lonon’s experience as a collaborative leader in higher education transcends the executive suite. He previously served as interim president of Dallas College’s Brookhaven Campus, overseeing the 13,000-plus students the campus welcomes each semester.

Prior to joining Dallas College in 2005, Lonon worked in the private sector providing public affairs counsel to local and national companies and nonprofit organizations. Lonon began his career in Dallas at City Hall, serving as press secretary for the Mayor’s Office.

Lonon serves on several national and local boards, including the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU); COMBASE, a national consortium of leading community colleges; the Austin-based United Ways of Texas; the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas’ Advancement Committee; the North Texas Crime Commission; the Dallas Father of the Year Awards, and Rebuilding America’s Middle Class (RAMC). He co-chairs the University of Maryland – Global Campus (UMGC) Doctoral Program Advisory Board and served as past chair of the Task Force on Higher Education Government Relations for the American Association of Community Colleges.

The Arkansas native earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Missouri State University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University o