Lone Star College System board reshapes leadership, seeks to elevate profile

HOUSTON, TX -- In recent months, the Lone Star College System Board of Trustees has reshaped its slate of officers and committees to better serve the ever-changing needs of the nine districts it represents and to guide the vision for the college system.

The nine-member board chooses new board officers and committee members after each election, with the most recent election occurring this past November. Trustee Mike Sullivan is the newest chair of the nine-member board and is honored to helm the board in its work.

“We have an exceptional board,” said Sullivan upon his unanimous election as chair in December 2024. “One that I believe in, one that I’m going to listen to. I view my role as chair as a facilitator. I want to facilitate the meetings and the work of the system in supporting the chancellor for this to continue to be the number one community college in Texas.”

Sullivan took over as board chair after being re-elected to a second term in November 2024, running unopposed. He represents District 8, which covers the northeast sections of the LSCS service area and includes Lone Star College-Kingwood and its centers. He first joined the board in 2018 and has served in various roles, including as secretary and assistant secretary. Along with his chair duties, he also chairs the board’s Audit and Finance Committee.

Since his selection as chair, Sullivan has championed efforts to elevate LSCS’ profile and reputation throughout the college’s 2,700-square-mile service area. Most recently, he supported the creation of a new ad hoc board committee for community engagement as a way of “putting the community back in community college” with a major event hosted by a trustee in each of the college system’s districts. The new committee is chaired by Trustee Daniel Meza and includes Board Secretary Iesheia Wilson and Trustee David Vogt.

“Elevating the profile of the college system within our communities is one way we can ensure that we have a meaningful impact on those we serve,” Sullivan said. “Our campuses and centers are hubs for people of all ages, and they should be seen as a place where everyone belongs.”

As part of this new endeavor, Sullivan co-hosted the inaugural State of Lone Star College-Kingwood on July 22 alongside Melissa N. Gonzalez, Ph.D., campus president. This event was designed to bring area business and community partners to the campus to learn more about its vision, mission and accomplishments, followed by campus tours.

Other board committees include Policy Review, Chancellor Goals and Evaluation, Grievance, Committee on Committees and Technology. Each committee is headed by a different board member.

Sullivan is honored to work with his colleagues and college leadership to make a difference in the lives of the more than 90,000 students who choose to attend LSCS each semester. He knows firsthand the quality and benefits of an LSCS college education; he is a proud product of LSC-Kingwood, where he received an Associate of Arts degree at the age of 54. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Houston-Downtown.

Like his fellow board members, Sullivan has a long history of community service in the Houston area. He has served on the Humble ISD Board of Trustees, the Houston City Council and as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector. He also has roles with or serves as a director of The 100 Club of Houston, Camp Allen, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, Texas Automobile Dealers Association and Georgia Automobile Dealers Association.

He continues to serve on the Harris Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, where he previously was board chair. He is also an advisor to the Houston Police Officers’ Union and a member of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands CEO Advisory Committee.

When not helming the monthly LSCS board meetings, Sullivan serves as director of Governmental Affairs and Corporate Partnerships for Group 1 Automotive, an international, Fortune 300 automotive retailer headquartered in Houston.

The Lone Star College System Board of Trustees is comprised of nine single-member districts, with trustees serving six-year terms to help lead the college system in providing educational opportunities to the communities it serves. Elections are held every two years, with three seats up for election. The LSCS Board of Trustees chooses new board officers after each election.

The full slate of LSCS board officers includes Myriam Saldívar, vice chair; Iesheia Wilson, secretary and Rebecca Broussard, assistant secretary. Other board members include Michael Stoma, Daniel Meza, Art Murillo, David Vogt and Jim Cain, Ed.D.