BLINN VICE CHANCELLOR NAMED WINNER OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES NELSON AWARD

  

Blinn College Vice Chancellor for Administration Karen Buck has been named this year’s winner of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) Carl M. “Cheesie” Nelson Award.

The Nelson Award is the most prestigious annual award presented by the TACC, and recognizes the winner’s commitment to the mission of community colleges, support for student learning and success, leadership qualities, and involvement in community activities.  The award is named after former Texarkana College President Carl M. Nelson.

A member of Blinn staff or administration since 1996, Buck has been a key leader in expanding Blinn’s technical and community education programs.  Under Buck’s leadership, Blinn set enrollment records in every term throughout the 2019-20 academic year; established new credit degrees in carpentry, facilities maintenance, HVAC, and water purification; developed new health science programs in Surgical Technology and Veterinary Technology; and twice relocated and expanded its credit and non-credit welding program in Brazos County.

In addition, Buck also played an important part in Blinn’s transition of more than 2,200 spring courses into an online format in response to COVID-19.  Once classes resumed, she created and oversaw a student outreach project in which roughly 90 Blinn personnel contacted over 7,700 students by phone or text to see what challenges those students may be facing and how Blinn could assist them.

Blinn Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley said the College congratulates Buck on this “tremendous accolade,” adding that over the past 25 years, “her leadership skills and dedication to students have played a vital role in Blinn’s success.”

Buck recently announced her plans to retire at the end of the month.