newsmakers. And welcome this
morning to the president of
Texas Southern University Doctor
Southern University Doctor
least Lisa Cumpton. Yeah, good
morning. Good morning. Thank
you for being here. Thank you
for inviting me. It is good.
You’ve been under a bit over the staff there now for year.
the staff there now for year.
>> And now as we get ready to
go into this new year, I see
that this is going to be one
of the biggest classes that’s
ever happened at Texas Southern University. Is this part of the
University. Is this part of the
comforting young influence?
Well, I would certainly like
to say so. But I will tell you
one of my favorite book is
entitled Teamwork Makes The Dream Work and together we can
Dream Work and together we can
accomplish the impossible.
>> So I think it is a
collective effort on behalf
of the faculty staff students
are longs and many of our
corporate partners as well. I think they’ve helped us to
I think they’ve helped us to
recruit and outstanding class
of students.
>> This energy there is
unbelievable for go any
further. I want to let people know a little bit about young
know a little bit about young
lady who was from Tyler, Texas,
the Tyler, Texas, went to Texas
AnM for your bachelor’s and
master’s and in industrial engineering a master’s in that
engineering a master’s in that
same feel doctorate degree as
well. First woman Ph D in
engineering class before
heading to higher education.
NBA from Tennessee State.
You know, I could take about 10 minutes to talk about all
minutes to talk about all
you’ve done, but I’m asking
you now because of all of that
you have done, including
academic at our economic
officer at Morgan State. What has that done to lay the
What has that done to lay the
groundwork for where you are
right now?
>> Well, I’ve been in our
education for 30 years. So this is my 6th institution. So I’m
is my 6th institution. So I’m
well prepared to lead at Texas
Southern University.
But I’m also passionate about
the work we do at Texas
Southern.
I always tell everyone that the presidency, he’s not a
the presidency, he’s not a
career move. The president sees
a calling and so I’m
knowledgeable and experienced. I’m passionate and I’m and I
I’m passionate and I’m and I
have the support that I need to
be success.
>> You have the great
partnerships that have been in
place there and it looks like
the partnerships are growing.
Talk about the value of those of us not like the Texans with
of us not like the Texans with
the ETSU. You’ve got one with
Southwest Airlines as well with
the aviation program has won so
many others. Talk about the
value of those partnerships
and how it’s helping you grow. >> Well, I tell you, the
>> Well, I tell you, the
partnerships are helping us
tremendously because it’s
providing an opportunity for
our students to have
internships to have experience to learning opportunities while
to learning opportunities while
they’re pursuing their degree.
So there gaining knowledge, experience developing skill
experience developing skill
sets. So that they can be a
true asset when they graduate
to many corporations and
organizations. So with that
being said, I know you have a
number of programs at the school which are focused on
school which are focused on
helping people.
>> Come back to school yet
whether it’s being allowing
them to ease you more easily
transfer and or to just come back to school. Talk about
back to school. Talk about
that. Well, we are excited.
the first and only college of
Transdisciplinary studies in
the state.
>> So we made history there, too.
But the reason we created that
is to serve individuals who
went to school, who took
courses and they have relevant
work experience. But for some
reason they were not able to
complete their degree. And so
we want to give them an
opportunity to come back,
transferring those courses get
credit for prior work
experience through
prior learning and complete a
degree. We have a bachelor’s
programs that they can consider
him for master’s programs that
they can consider.
>> Now, that doesn’t just
happen overnight. That has a
lot to do with your planning
going forward as well. I have
to think that has to be a part.
You have this big class of
students. You can have a big
class coming in with you want
them to graduate as well.
Absolutely. So we have what
we call our traditional
programs that the large glasses
coming in students.
>> And we put in place
strategies to ensure that we
retain them, that they were
tricky late and that they
graduate because that’s most
important. There’s always a
joke. This students come to
college. The party. That’s not
true. Students come to college
to earn a degree and get a
wonderful a job at the end. And so we have the traditional
And so we have the traditional
programs. Those strategies.
But we also know.
That individuals actually want
the accomplishment of
completing a degree so that they can also increase their
they can also increase their
employability. And that’s why
we strategically the ballot.
The clouds are trying to
discipline their studies. Now, what’s exciting about
Now, what’s exciting about
that? Also is we’ve had several
companies to contact us and say
we would love for you to
partner with us so that our employees can go back to school
employees can go back to school
and complete their degrees.
So that’s all happening.
You having these things, the
seeds are being planted and
they’re sprouting in getting
these are opportunities as well. Yes, and it’s exciting.
well. Yes, and it’s exciting.
>> And we were one of 2%
motivated. But our mission and
we we say our mission is very Texas Southern University is
Texas Southern University is
to transform lives. 2 words.
And so we’re working on
transforming the lives of lives
of our traditional students,
but also transforming the lives of those who’d like to come
of those who’d like to come
back and complete their degree.
We are also interested in
making sure that we graduate
students that are prepared for
the workforce needs this significant workforce needs
significant workforce needs
in Houston in the state of
Texas, but also nationally and
we are great supplier of those.
What was meant to work with me in the minutes that minute
me in the minutes that minute
we have What is your goal this
year this year for?
>> Completing your second year
as President Texas Southern University. My goal this year
University. My goal this year
is to continue to put in place.
>> Programs and opportunities
that respond to the needs of
the citizens of Texas and nationally as it relates to
nationally as it relates to
education. So we’re going to
continue to make sure that we
produce programs that they need. We’re going to put in
need. We’re going to put in
place corporate partnerships
to allow them to have those
experience to learning
opportunities, find job
opportunities and we’re going
to contribute to producing
outstanding work force for the
state. You’re going to come
back and tell me about how shrewd was for you to plant
shrewd was for you to plant
your daughter at Prairie View,
AM.
>> To be able to get all the
information about what’s going to Prairie
to Prairie
>> come on back and talk to me
about the okay. I will forward
thinking. Haha. Absolutely.
Doctor BC Company Young, thank you so much. Congratulations on
you so much. Congratulations on
their first year. Good luck.
And the next year coming in
this amazing what you’re doing
Texas Southern University.
>> And thank you so much.
Brandon makes good. We’re going
to do more. Good to see you.