DHL 2022 – Dr. Mike Flores

Enhancing Equity and Economic Mobility in Higher Education.

“All colleges, especially community colleges, play a critical role in providing a pathway for students to increase their economic and social mobility by providing both the technical and essential skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. That is why creating credentials of value is critical if we are to show not only the value of higher education, but improve our state and national economy.” – Dr. Mike Flores, Chancellor, Alamo Colleges District

Dr. Mike Flores, Chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District, delivered the Dallas Herring Lecture in 2022. His remarks zeroed in on the need of community colleges to both address and bolster economic mobility through localized collective impact strategies.

One key recommendation from Dr. Flores was the need to deepen your understanding of all of the communities you serve.

“These are students at Alamo Colleges who look like me, they look like my daughters — they are students who in many cases are the first ones to go to college and earn a degree. It is critical that we prioritize our funds for those who are under-resourced or don’t see themselves on our campuses, or don’t feel that they have a voice.”

Dr. Flores also highlighted the power of collective impact strategies, emphasizing how community colleges can partner with local government, businesses and nonprofit organizations to create comprehensive support systems for students and address broader community challenges. The AlamoPROMISE program exemplifies this approach, bringing together diverse stakeholders to provide tuition-free college education and wraparound services to eligible students.

“AlamoPROMISE is our collective community moonshot to end cycles of generational poverty in the greater San Antonio region.”

Summary provided by Nation Hahn, Advisor, John M. Belk Endowment
& Joshua Perrin, Founder, Sound and Sense Communications