Dallas College

10/16/2026

Martina didn't know the path to take until COVID. Then, watching nurses care for their patients on the front lines changed everything. Meet Martina ⬇️

“I went to different colleges and jumped through different majors, but there was no path for me. But right when COVID hit, I watched the news and saw all the hospitals with so many nurses at the scene right there next to their patients. I thought, ’Wow, they are very strong people, and I want to do something like that.’“ - Martina, Dallas College Brookhaven Campus student

Watching nurses care for patients on the front lines inspired Martina to pursue nursing. She enrolled at Dallas College, started her prerequisites and is now a proud first-generation college student in our Nursing program.

Martina says nursing has helped her grow from someone who was once shy and quiet into someone who is more confident, outspoken and not afraid to use her voice. “Every day in class, I’m always participating and practicing having conversations.”

Through class and clinical experiences, she’s learning not only how to care for patients, but how to connect with them. For Martina, the most rewarding part of nursing is seeing patients improve.

“When I see the smile on their face, that makes me feel good.”

Her journey is also deeply personal. Having experienced being a patient herself, Martina hopes to one day be on the other side, providing the same care she experienced. Whether she becomes a psychiatric nurse, school nurse or works in a nursing home, Martina knows she wants to help people.

And her advice to others?

“Just always keep improving yourself.”

Martina is working toward graduating and becoming a registered nurse by fall 2028.

10/15/2026

A former elementary school in Richardson ISD has a new purpose: helping an entire community access education, workforce training and essential services close to home.

Dallas College joined Dallas County leaders and community partners for a ribbon-cutting celebration at the Esperanza Community Center, a county-led initiative bringing education, health care, child care and family support services together under one roof.

We're proud to be an education and workforce partner at Esperanza, with planned programs including GED preparation, Opportunity High School Diploma (OHSD), career readiness and college transition services, along with training in construction trades and facilities maintenance.

During the celebration, Chancellor Dr. Justin H. Lonon spoke about the importance of removing barriers and reaching people who may not see college as an option for them. Esperanza creates another front door to Dallas College and the opportunities education can provide.

We're grateful to Dallas County for leading this investment in the community. By bringing education and career pathways directly into the neighborhood, we're helping more residents find a path to economic mobility and prosperity.

Thank you to our Trustees Dr. Catalina Garcia, Elizabeth "Libby" Crutcher McCabe and Joseph Rodriguez for joining us at the celebration.

10/15/2026

Big news for student success at Dallas College!

We’re proud to be one of six institutions nationwide selected for the 2026–2027 Student Success Action Lab, led by the City University of New York (CUNY). Through this initiative, Dallas College will develop a new student success program modeled after CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) to help students stay on track, complete their associate degrees, transfer to a four-year university and continue toward a bachelor’s degree.

With personalized coaching, academic support and financial assistance, we’re working to make the path to a degree more accessible and achievable for more students.

Student success doesn’t stop at graduation. It creates opportunities for what comes next.

10/14/2026

Dallas College is changing how students earn a bachelor's degree, giving more working adults a realistic path to finish what they started and move forward in their careers. More than 600 students are already enrolled in our new Bachelor of Applied Science in Management program and turning their education goals into opportunities for the future.

Chancellor Dr. Justin H. Lonon, Board of Trustees Chair Paul Mayer and Trustee Dr. Catalina Garcia joined students, faculty and community partners at our Richland Campus to celebrate the innovative bachelor's degree program.

Designed to meet student needs and respond to workforce demands, this program offers a flexible, affordable path to a bachelor's degree built around students' lives, not the other way around. By recognizing prior learning and professional experience, it helps students build on what they’ve already accomplished while preparing them for leadership opportunities ahead.

“This program has given me confidence in my abilities, clarity about my career direction, and the opportunity to continue my education without feeling like my financial circumstances had to determine my future," said Ashley Nicole Ch*****ne, a student in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Management program. "Sometimes the path becomes clear while you are walking it.”

Congratulations to Ashley and all the students taking this next step in their education. We're proud to be part of your journey and excited to see where it takes you.

10/13/2026

Connecting Dallas County residents to education, job opportunities and support at every stage of life is central to our work at Dallas College. We showcased that role at the 2026 Aging and Housing Summit, where more than 75 community members explored resources for older adults.

Our Community Relations team partnered with the city of Dallas Office of Housing and Community Empowerment’s Age-Friendly Senior Services Division to bring 25 organizations to the West Dallas Center. Local residents connected with free resources for housing assistance and property tax exemptions, as well as legal services and emergency preparedness. They also learned practical ways to stay safe in their own homes as they age.

Attendees also explored educational programs designed for older adults through Dallas College Lifelong Learning, along with continuing education and workforce training available at the West Dallas and RedBird centers.

Partnerships like this put our commitment to community impact into practice, helping us respond to local needs and better serve Dallas County residents.

10/12/2026

What if your next classroom was across the world? Dallas College is sending students on study abroad learning experiences to Canada, Costa Rica, England, France, Iceland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Panama and Spain in 2027 — and registration for these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities is NOW OPEN!

Programs run between seven and 14 days, with scholarships and payment plans available. Visit the Study Abroad page linked below; on that page, click on "Log In To Explore Programs and Apply" for details and to sign up. Link: https://bit.ly/4hZYQ4H

10/09/2026

Dallas College is building a new pathway that connects franchise growth with education, workforce development and business ownership.

On Oct. 15, Dallas College and PreXsentials will bring the DFW franchise community together at our Bill J. Priest Center for the 2026 Franchise Initiative Conference.

The conference is designed for small-business owners who want to explore franchising as a growth strategy, franchise companies building stronger talent pipelines and people considering ownership. It also brings workforce, economic development and nonprofit partners into the conversation. The agenda includes emerging concepts and local owners, pathways for women entrepreneurs, the role of nonprofits and franchise education.

We will turn those ideas into action when the Franchise Operator Development Track launches Oct. 27 through the Ascend Global Training Institute. The four-course, 128-contact-hour program will prepare aspiring owners and operators while helping existing businesses develop the talent needed to grow. Participants can also access Dallas College’s broader entrepreneurship and small-business ecosystem through the Small Business Launch Pad.

Together, these initiatives give us another way to support small-business growth and workforce development while creating an educational pathway into an important part of the DFW economy. That pathway can help local talent move from education to leadership and eventually ownership.

Learn more and register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/franchising-intersection-of-entrepreneurship-employment-and-education-tickets-1998655846439?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/08/2026

Together with the Global Mission Institute, we're changing the world for good! This year's Global Mission Summit, presented by Dallas College, brought high-impact sessions, curated connections and investor conversations to Dallas.

Our students represented Dallas College well during the event. Four members of the student entrepreneur club — Deni Bojay, Madison Cobbs, Valerie Hernandez, and Eboni Johnson — shared their vision for mobile workplace wellness with 10 venture capitalists during the Mission Cup pitch competition. Our Student Ambassadors welcomed attendees and showcased our institution's spirit and excellence.

The expectation that education happens once, early in life, is being replaced by a reality where people must continually learn, adapt and develop new skills throughout their careers. As Dr. Lonon said in his keynote address, the future of higher education belongs to institutions that adapt to the realities of our changing world.