Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Dr. Ricardo Solis, dean of Academic, Professional and Technical Education at GateWay Community College, has been named President of Laredo Community College in Texas. The Laredo Community College (LCC) board of trustees voted June 15 to confirm the appointment, which will be effective Aug. 1, 2016. LCC serves approximately 10,500 students a semester, with two campuses located near South Texas on the border with Mexico.
The LCC board of trustees visited GateWay in May and identified Solis as a finalist in late May. Their procedures required a 21-day period before taking final action or a vote. Three other candidates for the president position were named during the process.
Solis has been dean at GateWay since January 2015. Prior to entering the higher education field, Solis spent more than 20 years in international economic and workforce development. A global leader in U.S./Mexico trade with a dedicated commitment to community service, Solis worked in numerous leadership capacities in the public and private sectors and has successfully transitioned his industry expertise into community college administration.
He served as executive director of International Initiatives at Houston Community College System, before coming to GateWay. In this role, he managed all global projects including campus partnerships in Qatar, Saigon, and Mexico. He has also held administrative leadership roles at Texas State Technical College, McLennan Community College, and with the Alamo Community College District. He also was a business and management professor at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and at the University of Guangzhou, China.
He has sights on using his vast and varied experience to benefit the college on multiple fronts.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity to engage with students, faculty, staff and the Laredo community to advance a comprehensive learning and global success agenda,” said Solis. “I hope to use my international business experience to strategically position the college as we are at the front door to U.S/Mexico trade.”
Solis earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA in International Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA. Also, has a B.S. in Business Administration from Trinity University.