Lone Star College System remembers Dr. Linda Stegall

HOUSTON, TX -- Linda Stegall, Ed.D., retired president of Lone Star College-Kingwood, spent her four-decade educational career as a staunch advocate for students, working to ensure they had access to top-notch educational opportunities. Although she died July 28, her enormous impact will continue to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives she touched.

“The thing I remember the most and always admired about Dr. Stegall was her commitment to students,” said Sherry Young, LSC-Kingwood English professor. “She knew what it was like to be a mom and a student and how difficult that was. Her every thought was about students, and she let that guide her decisions.” Young worked with Dr. Stegall for nearly 15 years.

Dr. Stegall started at Lone Star College System (then North Harris Community College District) in 1994 as the vice chancellor for education and student development. In 1999, Dr. Stegall became LSC-Kingwood’s fourth president, and under her leadership the campus achieved the following:

• Enrollment grew from 4,000 students in 1999 to nearly 8,000 in 2007.
• Dual credit courses were offered to high school students, laying the groundwork for the Early College High School program.
• The college launched two-year associate degrees in nursing and dental hygiene.
• Arts education expansion continued, and the first ceramics program began in fall 2000.
• The East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) opened in 2002, offering college courses and serving as a primary location for the Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) program.
• The Health Science Building (now Science Instructional Building) opened in 2003 to house all science and health-related programs.

“Dr. Stegall was committed to and very supportive of faculty and staff. She pushed everyone to be better but always worked harder than anyone else,” said Young. “It was a pleasure to call her a friend as well as work for her.”

When the former president retired from LSC-Kingwood in 2008, an anonymous donor gifted LSC Foundation with $1 million to establish the Dr. Linda Stegall Excellence in Education Scholarship, supporting students in superb academic standing. In 2012, the foundation received another $1 million to increase the scholarship amount.

“Dr. Stegall’s incredible passion, service and dedication to education serve as a shining example of how we each can help students reach their full potential,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSC Foundation executive director. “Thanks to her commitment to education, the Dr. Linda Stegall Excellence in Education Scholarship has supported more than 400 students and will continue to reward high-achieving students in perpetuity.”

Dr. Stegall earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Business Education and a Doctorate of Education from the University of North Texas in Denton. In retirement, she spent time with her husband, children and grandchildren; volunteered with various agencies; and pursued other activities. Her influence on LSCS, her family and the community will last for generations to come.

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