Texas Border Business
An intensive months-long national search for candidates to fill the Laredo College presidential role has produced a shortlist of three distinguished finalists.
At its March 22, 2022, special board meeting, the Board of Trustees met in executive session to discuss the status of the presidential search process. The Presidential Search Committee, comprised of 20 members that included Laredo College students, staff, administrators, trustees and community leaders, was in charge of identifying the top candidates after carefully reviewing their qualifications and conducting interviews.
Laredo College Board President Lupita Zepeda announced that the presidential finalists selected by the Laredo College Board of Trustees are Dr. Naydeen González-De Jesús, Dr. Pamela Monaco and Dr. Maria “Minita” Ramirez.
All three contenders have an extensive background in academia and senior-level administrative experience in higher education. Dr. González-De Jesús is the Executive Vice President for Student Success at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Milwaukee. Dr. Monaco serves as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. Dr. Ramirez is the Vice President for Student Success at Texas A&M International University.
Although Dr. Marisela Rodriguez Tijerina has served as interim president since July 2021, this will be the first time in Laredo College’s 75-year history that a woman will be at the helm of the institution in a permanent position as the eighth college president.
“We would like to thank the entire college community for their continued interest and support in the process to identify our next president,” Board President Zepeda said. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each member of the Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional work and effort.”
Public forums will take place the week of April 4. Each candidate will participate in a one-hour forum where they will be introduced and participate in a question-and-answer session. We invite and encourage the community to participate in these open forums, which will be made accessible to all faculty, administrators, staff, students and the general public.
Additional information about the presidential finalists and the upcoming open forums will be posted on the Laredo College Presidential Search website: www.laredo.edu/presidentialsearch.
