Dr. Katherine Persson - President of Lone Star College - Kingwood

Dr. Katherine Persson entered the education field with the passion to teach and help others reach their learning potential. Katherine became the president of Lone Star College-Kingwood in August 2008 after serving 2 ½ years as president of the Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus in Oregon.

 

Katherine is no stranger to the Humble/Kingwood/Atascocita and East Montgomery County community as most of her educational career has been in the Lone Star System. She began teaching in the Anatomy and Physiology labs part-time when North Harris College opened in 1977. Between her first position and being hired in 1984 at the Kingwood campus as a full-time Biology instructor, Katherine earned her master's degree while working in the department of Neurobiology at the University of Texas Research Institute of Mental Sciences. As a faculty member, she helped develop the first Associate of Applied Science in Biotechnology in the state.

 

While at Kingwood College, Katherine served as the Biology Department coordinator, associate dean of Science, Health Care, and Applied Technology, and vice president of Educational Programs and Student Development.

 

Katherine's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas, Austin; a Master of Science degree in Biology from Texas Women's University, Texas Medical Center, Houston; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas State University, San Marcos.

 

In the community, Katherine represents LSC-Kingwood on the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and on the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County board where she was the 2002-2003 chair. Previously, she served as an elected school board trustee for the Splendora Independent School District for 16 years; eight as a board chair. While in Portland, she served as a board member for both the Washington County Vision Action Network and the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce.

 

In spring 2006, Katherine was awarded the Splendora R. B. Tullis Community Service Award. She has been recognized by the University of Texas College of Education as a distinguished graduate and by the Community College Leadership Program as a visiting scholar and a distinguished scholar. She has been a Kingwood College Teacher Excellence award winner and a Texas Women's University Research and Writing Excellence award winner. After being nominated by her professional administrative assistants, Katherine was recognized by the Texas Educational Support Staff Association as the 2009-2010 Administrator of the Year.

 

Katherine and her husband Andrew have three grown children and two grandchildren.