Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs has been named the first female president in Texas College’s 132-year history, a milestone marked Thursday at a ceremony at the Mayfair Building in Tyler.
“Today is a new day for Texas College,” Gibbs said at the event.
Background and experience
Gibbs is not new to historically Black colleges and universities. She attended an HBCU herself and most recently led the business division at Morehouse College, where she helped raise more than $30 million for students. She also attended college as a first-generation student — the fourth child in a single-parent home with six children.
“It’s deeply humbling to be the first female president of Texas College,” Gibbs said. “I think about all of the women who made great sacrifices for this day to be possible. And I’m going to work diligently and extremely hard to make them proud.”
Gibbs said her personal background informs her approach to the challenges students face.
“It was not easy,” she said. “But I bring that experience and understanding the hurdles that our students face. And I know what’s needed to help them succeed.”
Financial challenges facing HBCUs
HBCUs across the country face financial pressure. Nationwide, 80% of HBCU students rely on federal loans to afford school, compared to 55% at non-HBCU schools.
To address funding needs, Gibbs said she plans to pursue corporate partnerships as a primary strategy.
“One of the ways I plan to raise money for Texas College is through corporate partnerships,” she said. “That’s a key effort that I used at Morehouse College to get funding for our co-curricular programs and academic programs that our employers were interested in seeing and having our students become more prepared for the workforce.”
Capital campaign and scholarships
Gibbs said she is also launching a major fundraising effort.
“I’m partnering with development and advancement professionals to commence a $50 million capital campaign specifically for Texas College — to get scholarships for our students, new facilities for our athletics programs, and development opportunities for our faculty and staff,” she said.
She said the college will also revamp its website to make scholarship opportunities more visible to students.
“We’re going to do a complete revamp of our website so students are aware of the scholarship opportunities that they may have available, particularly not just from Texas College, but UNCF and external organizations,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs also announced plans for a new center for financial and professional excellence focused on financial literacy.
“We’re going to start a new center for financial and professional excellence that will focus on financial literacy so that our students who do have to apply for and receive financial aid, particularly federal student loans, are ready to handle those loans and that debt proficiently when they get into the workforce,” she said.
New academic programs and initiatives
Gibbs outlined a series of new academic programs planned for Texas College, including supply chain management and logistics, finance and asset management, math education, and allied health — including associate degrees and credentialing programs.
She also described a new initiative called Work Integrated Learning.
“One of our key strategic initiatives is called Work Integrated Learning, where we affiliate workplace practices into every part and aspect of our curriculum,” Gibbs said. “Students will get internships, experiential opportunity, applied learning opportunities, and service learning so that they’re ready for the workforce on day one.”
Call for community partnership
At the ceremony, Gibbs called on the Tyler community to engage with the college.
“We’re ready and willing to partner with those who want to partner with us,” she said. “We need your support. And I’m ready to partner with you at any time that you present the opportunity to us.”
She added: “I stand on the shoulders of brave women, and I hope to live up to that greatness and leave the door open for women and young people who follow behind me.”
Smith County Commissioners Court declared August 13 as Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs Day in Smith County. Gibbs officially begins her role this school year.
