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DeDe Griffith named Vice President of Workforce Development at Temple College DeDe Griffith DeDe Griffith, an experienced business owner, workforce and technical education administrator, has been named Vice President of Workforce Development for Temple College. She will joining the College on July 26. The new position was created to meet the growing needs of Temple College and the communities it serves. Griffith will focus on expanding the College’s workforce development programs, growing business and industry partnerships, and developing short-term workforce training and technical degree programs. A top priority will be to create new industrial and manufacturing programs. Griffith will oversee the college’s Business and Continuing Education Division, the Engineering Technology program and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning. Griffith currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College. She joined NLTCC in 2017 after spending 20 years as an administrator and faculty member at Lee College in Baytown. “We are extremely fortunate that DeDe will be joining the Temple College team,” said President Dr. Christy Ponce. “She will play an important role in helping us advance our goals and vision for Temple College’s future.” Temple College plans to build a new Workforce Development Center with a portion of the $124.9 million bond issue that Temple voters approved in May 2021. “Student success does not just happen,” Griffith said. “Programs have to be designed for it with the student experience and industry needs aligned for the greatest outcome. The community demonstrated its commitment to and confidence in Temple College with the passing of the bond. I look forward to working with existing business and industry partners and developing new partnerships to honor that commitment." Griffith earned an Associate of Science and Technology degree in Drafting Technology from Lee College and owned her own drafting business for 10 years. She later returned to Lee College to teach computer-aided drafting. She served as Chair of the college’s Computer Aided Drafting and Design and Engineering Technology Division from 2009 to 2012 before being named Director of Student Success and Access in 2012 and Vice President of Instruction in 2016. Griffith has received numerous awards for her work as an educator and administrator, including the Faculty Excellence Award from Lee College, the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award from the League for Innovation in Community Colleges, and the Texas Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She also helped Lee College earn top honors with the American Association of Community College Excellence Award in Student Success. She has participated in both the Aspen College Excellence Presidential Fellowship program and the Future Leaders Institute sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges. Griffith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Leadership & Supervision from the University of Houston, as well as a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration. She is finalizing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree at the University of Houston. “Quality workforce training and technical education is critical for high-demand, high-wage careers in our communities and across the nation,” Griffith said. “Temple College has a legacy of excellence and I am excited to continue that expectation into its workforce development.” https://www.templejc.edu/live/news/692-dede-griffith-named-vice-president-of-workforce
https://www.templejc.edu/live/news/692-dede-griffith-named-vice-president-of-workforce