FORT WORTH, Texas — Tarrant County College Chancellor and CEO Elva LeBlanc is one of the 500 most influential North Texans (education category) recognized in Fort Worth Inc.’s summer 2026 issue.
Since taking the reins in 2022 as TCC’s sixth chancellor, Dr. LeBlanc has helped position the College for an era of growth defined by student achievement, marketplace responsiveness and community impact.
Most recently, she led development of Trailblazing Together: 2030, the College’s multi-year strategic plan focused on building pathways and advancing innovation throughout the institution. The effort is strengthening programs, aligning resources and streamlining the student experience from enrollment to job placement.
Reflecting on the honor, she said it belongs to the “students, employees and partners who make extraordinary work happen here every day.” Some of that work culminated last week when nearly 9,000 graduates received degrees and certificates tied to high-demand careers.
Enrollment continues to climb, with nearly 100,000 learners served annually and almost 14,000 area high school students dual enrolled.
Chancellor LeBlanc: “We are preparing the workforce North Texas needs, and often before North Texas asks. That means listening to industry and building a bridge between education and employment that brings long-term opportunity.”
The College’s first bachelor’s degree — a Bachelor of Applied Science in early childhood education — is expected to help ease critical teacher shortages, and TCC is poised to become the first community college in Texas to offer an Associate of Applied Science in air traffic control.
Pending approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the ATC program could launch as early as spring 2027 to address a deepening crisis: a national shortage of thousands of certified controllers needed to manage a system that handles 45,000 flights daily. No air traffic control program exists within 50 miles of Dallas-Fort Worth.
A collaboration with Embraer is preparing students for careers tied to a new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility that is bringing 500 jobs to the region. And an investment from GE Aerospace is equipping Trailblazers with advanced tools and hands-on training.
Beyond aviation and education, Dr. LeBlanc is expanding regional collaborations that connect students to emerging opportunities with North Texas industries.
An alliance with SGS Studios — the largest film production campus in Texas — is preparing Trailblazers for more roles in set construction, postproduction and stage operations. The College stepped up three years ago to begin fast-track film certifications in mere months to complement Texas’ rapidly expanding entertainment and media industry.
To meet the urgent need for professionals in every corner of healthcare, TCC is partnering with universities, medical schools, hospitals and clinics to create clear avenues to employment. Each year the College trains some 1,400 students in nursing, respiratory care, radiologic technology, medical assisting and 24 other high-yield fields.
“We will be responsive to industry, committed to students and invested in the future,” the chancellor said. “We’re proud to be the community’s college.”
Tarrant County College serves nearly 100,000 students each year, offering accessible, affordable pathways to in-demand careers and university transfer. Across multiple campuses and TCC Connect — a fully online learning option — the College partners with more than 1,200 employers to help build the workforce that drives North Texas forward. Bold Steps. Better Futures.