Reception Touts TABPHE Members

Members of the Tarrant County chapter of Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education recognized recently promoted colleagues during a Welcome Back reception earlier this month. Honored were Interim Chancellor Erma C. Johnson Hadley, TABPHE Founder; Tracy Syler-Jones, Texas Christian University vice chancellor for Marketing and Communication; Kathy Crusto-Way, Business Services director; Benita Reed, assistant English professor; Regina Cannon, assistant business professor; and Felicia Battles, Mansfield Dual Credit Coordinator, all from Southeast Campus. South Campus Assistant Psychology Professor Staussa Ervin was recognized for receiving Faculty Development Leave.

TABPHE’s 2009-2010 theme, “Reaching Up, Reaching Out, and Reaching Back” will be the driving force for its initiatives, said TABPHE President Natalie Johnson. “We will ‘Reach Up’ for strength and empowerment, ‘Reach Out’ to build bridges with local organizations, schools, businesses and the Tarrant County community and ‘Reach Back’ to youth, young adults and adults,” Johnson said.

The group’s mentoring program, scheduled to be launched in November, will encourage African- American students in secondary schools, colleges and universities to complete their education. Several Town Hall meetings are planned to provide a forum to discuss and develop solutions to issues concerning the African-American community.  Meetings are the first Thursday of each month, with the next meeting at 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at TCU.

TABPHE information is available from Johnson and other 2009-10 officers: Myrtle Freeman, president-elect; Carter Bedford, vice president of marketing; TaMika Steward, vice president of programs; Janet Lee, vice president of public relations; Yolanda Johnson, secretary; Delores Linton, treasurer; Deidra Turner, historian; and Jeneen Smith Sims, parliamentarian.

In TCC Buzz, click on Galleries to see more photos from TABPHE’s reception.