Dr. Thomas Johnson
As Dr. Thomas A. Johnson concludes his 7-year tenure as President of Lamar State College Orange, we celebrate a leader whose vision has transformed our institution. Under his leadership since September 2018, LSCO has experienced unprecedented growth, with enrollment increasing by more than 50% to a record-breaking 3,613 students in Fall 2024.
As Dr. Johnson transitions to retirement, he leaves LSCO fundamentally strengthened with new campus facilities, record enrollment, expanded partnerships, and a clear vision for continued success in transforming lives through accessible, quality education.
Thank You, Dr. Johnson!
Faculty and staff reflect on Dr. Johnson's impact during his LSCO presidency and the lasting impact he has made on our campus community.
“Dr. Johnson has a way of telling our story that speaks to people. In one of the sessions with the legislation, he told our story in such a way that made me proud to say, 'That's my president!' He has a way of making you believe in what we are doing.”
Cindy Wyles
“He never accepts an accomplishment on his own. He always acknowledges his support team and makes it known that great achievements in higher education come from great teamwork. He is always proud of that, and that pride trickles down.”
Lauren Collins
“His heart is focused on providing what his students, staff, faculty, and community need.”
Kristin Walker
“Thank you for being a wonderful leader! LSCO has been taken to new heights under your leadership, and you have certainly fulfilled the mission of transforming lives.”
Nathan Campos
“I had never given LSCO a second thought until one day my son came home from college thrilled that a guy in a bowtie had taken the time to sit with him on a park bench and talk about his ambitions. Now I understand that having a humble servant as our leader is the magic that makes this place resonate with so many non-college types.”
Keith Jones
- July: Dr. Thomas Johnson named the sole finalist for LSCO presidency
- August: TSUS Board of Regents confirms Dr. Johnson as President of LSCO
- September: Dr. Johnson officially assumes the role of President
- October: Formal installation ceremony at the Shahan Events Center, where President Johnson receives the Presidential Chain
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January: LSCO begins its 50th year
- March: President Johnson inducted into TSUS Education Hall of Fame
- June: LSCO and SFA sign seamless Transfer Agreement, LSCO receives TWC JET Grant
- July: LSCO Tilley mascot is born, named for named for 2nd Lieutenant Willam, M. “Bill” Tilley, Orange’s hometown hero and first casualty of World War II
- August: Stark Foundation makes record $1 million grant donation, renames Nelda C. and H.J.
Lutcher Building
- Ambassador Program created for leadership and scholarship initiative
- Dr. Johnson starts LSCO Fishing Club, making waves in national tournaments
- September: LSCO acquires former bank to build new academic building
- October: Keep Orange County Beautiful awards Dr. Johnson with Beautification Award
- President Johnson signs transfer agreement with McNeese State University
- New and improved Gator Café opens in the student center
- April: Dr. Wendy Elmore joins LSCO as Provost and Executive Vice President of Student Affairs
- May: LSCO holds virtual commencement due to COVID-19 Pandemic
- June: LSCO receives grants from the Texas Workforce Commission and the Skills Development Fund totaling $650,000
LSCO offers 2 free courses during the summer to help address the uncertainty and economic unrest from the pandemic
- August: Introduction of Flexible Learning options during COVID-19 pandemic
- Fishing Club ranks number 1 topping national rankings
- LSCO campus is hit heavy by Category 4 Hurricane Laura
- September: LSCO maintains enrollment numbers despite the COVID-19 Pandemic
- October: LSCO creates the First-Gen Gators campaign and braces for second hurricane of the year, Hurricane Delta
- November: LSCO Dental Assisting Program receives donation of a $60k panoramic x-ray machine
from Dr. Christopher Ridel, DDS.
- LSCO demolishes old bank building to make way for new Academic Building
- December: TSUS Board of Regents approves LSCO’s 10-year Master Plan
- May: LSCO’s first Early College High School Cohort with West Orange Stark High School graduates with associate’s degrees
- LSCO constructs outdoor plaza in honor of the late Grammy award-winning, Orange native, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
- LSCO hosted the first Career and Technical Education (CTE) Signing Day event awarding scholarships to 22 students in technical programs
- LSCO honors former State Senator Carl Parker with a first-ever Honorary Degree from Lamar State College Orange
- August: LSCO begins offering courses in an 8-week class model and launches Gator Pass, an early alert student success program
- September: Louisiana Workforce Commission agrees to fund enrollment for Louisiana residents in technical workforce courses
- October: Senate Bill 52 provides more than $37 million dollars to construct a new academic building
- November: LSCO receives $500,000 donation from Cloeren Inc. for Electromechanical Technology
program and scholarships
- LSCO receives nearly $840,000 in grant awards from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to support CDL and Electromechanical Technology programs
- December: President Johnson invited by Texas Education Commissioner Harrison Keller to present on higher education’s role in addressing workforce needs
- February: State of Louisiana approves LSCO’s status as a Louisiana degree-granting institution
- March: LSCO purchases building in Lumberton for campus expansion
- April: LSCO and McNeese State University announce credit transfer and preferred tuition agreement for LSCO Nursing graduates
- July: LSCO secures $208,741 from the Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) Grant for nursing and health-related programs
- August: LSCO build a 54,000 sf driving pad for the Commercial Driver’s License program through an $800,000 grant from The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund
- October: LSCO sets Fall student enrollment record with 2,629 students enrolled, an 11.7% increase from the previous year
- November: LSCO Fishing Club places among the national top 10 percent of college and university teams
- March: LSCO receives a check from Golden Triangle for $1.3 million dollars to purchase a Polaris Hands-on-Training 3 Glycol Distillation Trainer for Industrial Technology students
- April: Lamar State College Orange and Lamar University partner with Vidor ISD for a Grow Your Own program for paraprofessionals to earn college degrees in teaching and education
- May: LSCO awards a record 345 certificates and degrees to 240 students
- June: LSCO receives donation of the historic, former First Baptist Church building on Green Avenue and purchases the 1912 building on Front Street from Stark Foundation
- August: Lamar State College Orange partners with local industry partners to announce the
creation of a new chapter for the national Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education
Program (FAME)
- LSCO received a customized “mobile training unit” that was purchased with Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Through Education (TRUE) grant funds
- September: LSCO announces expansion into Livingston through a partnership with Lamar State
College Port Arthur and Lamar Institute of Technology
- Lamar State College Orange celebrated the grand opening of the Electromechanical Technology Buildings on the corner of 1st and Green Avenue
- October: LSCO unveils newly renovated satellite location in Lumberton to begin serving Hardin
County Students
- LSCO breaks more records enrolling 3,154 students for Fall 2023 courses, a 20% increase from the previous year
- February: LSCO breaks ground on new Student Success Center with renovations to the former, historic First Baptist Church on Green Avenue
- March: Golden Triangle Polymers donates $100,000 to the LSCO Foundation to fund scholarships for students pursing degrees in industrial and pre-engineering programs
- April: The student center is renamed the Joe Ben Welch Student Center in honor of the first president of Lamar State College Orange
- May: SGA President Josh Taylor is elected to serve as the TSUS Student Advisory Board
Chair, the first to hold the position from a 2-year institution
- LSCO hosts an unveiling ceremony for the Hands-on-Training (HOT) Unit made possible through donations from Golden Triangle Polymers, Chevron Phillips and Qatar Energy totaling more than $1.3 million
- LSCO breaks another commencement record with 438 certificates and degrees awarded to 349 graduates
- August: LSCO unveils the TSUS Polk County Center with a grand opening ceremony to begin serving students in the Livingston area in partnership with LIT and LSCPA
- October: LSCO sets another record enrollment for Fall 2024 with 3,613 students representing
a 15% increase from the previous year
- Completed the process for LSCO’s 10-year SACSCOC re-accreditation with zero recommendations from the committee (pending final board approval Summer 2025)
- November: LSCO holds a grand opening ceremony for the newly completed Academic Building with 8 lab spaces, 6 classrooms, 2 computer labs, faculty and IT offices to begin serving students in Spring 2025
- January: President Johnson announces his retirement plans
- February: President Johnson selected for Phi Theta Kappa’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction
- President Johnson inducted into the Texas Hall of Honor for Presidents for the Texas Region of Phi Theta Kappa
- Dr. Wendy Elmore is appointed by Chancellor Brian McCall to serve as the 4th president of Lamar State College Orange pending Board of Regents Approval in May 2025
- April: President Johnson receives the prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
- May: Texas State University System confers President Emeritus status to Dr. Johnson
New Programs Added Under Dr. Johnson's Leadership
- Automotive Technology
- Building Construction Technology
- Construction Management
- Cosmetology
- Court Reporting
- Electrical Technology
- Electromechanical Technology
- HVAC Technology
- Logistics Management
- Massage Therapy
- Medical Assisting
- Ordinary Seaman (Maritime)
- Paramedic Program
- Plumbing Technology
- Real Estate
- Standalone ADN Program
- Registered Nursing
- Welding Fabrication Technology
- …with many more slated for approval in 2025
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From Our Faculty and Staff
What do you think everyone should know about Dr. Johnson?
"Dr. Thomas Johnson is the most genuine, passionate, and student-centered leader that I have ever known. His vision and energy are always focused on removing barriers and obstacles so that students can be successful in their pursuit for a better life." - Dr. Wendy Elmore
"That he really cares about all the students and faculty/staff and he is a very down to earth president!" - Robert Dominguez
"He genuinely cares for our students and wants to ensure them the ability to reach for their dreams. His heart has always been in the right place for the benefit of the student. Dr. Johnson doesn't have a problem with being told "No," especially with educational funding. He always puts his feet back on the ground to search for another way with a "Yes". His branding of LSCO with our slogans, gator mascot, and campus improvements will be remembered for years to come. Through hurricanes, pandemics, and severe weather, he has never failed to take care of us at LSCO." - Kevin Doss
"He honestly cares about LSCO, the faculty, staff, and students. He has proven to be a good stewart and has brought so much growth to our college." - Tammy Davis
What would you like to say to Dr. Johnson?
"Thank you for being an inspirational leader and building a strong foundation we can build upon. You have truly shown us all how bright our future is here at Lamar State College Orange." - Summer Rather
"I hope that you have a very happy and blessed day today and always." - Tammy Davis
"I want to express my deepest appreciation for your leadership and dedication to our institution. Your vision, commitment, and unwavering support have not only shaped the success of our students but have also fostered a culture of growth and collaboration among faculty and staff.||It has been an honor to be part of an institution under your guidance, and your impact will continue to be felt for years to come. Wishing you all the best in your well-earned retirement-may it be filled with joy, relaxation, and new adventures!" - Alicia Lloyd
"Thank you for your unwavering dedication to creating a place where hope DOES meet opportunity for people who never believed that they could go to college. You have taught me more than you can even imagine. You have given me so many experiences to learn from and I will forever be grateful to you for your support. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." - Dr. Wendy Elmore
Tell us a time where you thought, "That's my president."
"This might seem like no that big of a deal, but one time I was delivering some notebooks across campus. They were not heavy by any means and I was just making my way across campus, when out of no where Dr. Johnson pulled up on the side of me. He simply just offered me a ride to my destination (normally I would refuse) but him being the president I accepted. I just had to go right across the street, but him offering to help me just made my day. He probably had way more important stuff to do, and really had no obligation to help me. It is very easy to get recognized or rewarded for doing big things, but it is the little things that count!" - Robert Dominguez
"Any time Dr. Johnson talks about being a first-gen graduate and his passion for helping every student cross the finish line, I think, ""That's my president."" He doesn't just talk about student success-he lives it. His story, his leadership, and his commitment to our students make us all proud to be part of this journey." - Alicia Lloyd
"When I learned of the extension campus in Livingston, I immediately thought "That's my president." I think the behavior of Dr. Johnson that resonated with me the most is when he took the president of the Texas State University System through a close up tour of the old Academic Center. I remember sitting in my office thinking, "He is really going to get us a new building!" and he DID!" - Kevin Doss
"There are too many to mention. Dr. Johnson's leadership and successes make me proud every day. He has mentored me for the past five years. He has been patient and with me and gracious to me during the stressful times. He has celebrated small victories that we have experienced together, never accepting credit for his immense contribution and impact." - Dr. Wendy Elmore
Words to Describe Dr. Johnson
