Parker University elects new board chairman

December 18, 2012 — Parker University’s Board of Trustees elected Wright L. Lassiter, Jr., EdD, DCE, as board chairman during its recent December meeting. Lassiter will serve a two-year term in the position. He was first appointed to the board in 2007 and previously served as treasurer.

“I’m honored to serve as chairman of the board of trustees for the university,” said Lassiter. “Parker is a growing university that has many exciting developments ahead, which I’m glad to be a part of.”

Lassiter’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Parker University. With a five-year strategic plan that calls for 12 new degree programs and 2,500 total students by 2017, Parker University is growing to meet the needs of an expanding healthcare industry. In 2013, Parker plans to launch an associate’s degree in Radiological Technology, a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management, and an MBA with a concentration in Health Care Management. Parker University currently enrolls approximately 850 students in their doctor of chiropractic and massage therapy programs.

“With my experience in education and the recent hiring of a new president for Parker University, Brian J McAulay, DC, the institution now has the leadership in place to offer allied health degrees to students with a strong desire to work within health care,” said Lassiter. “The demand for qualified professions to fill these roles within healthcare is great and Parker is at the cutting edge of healthcare education.”

Chancellor of the seven-college Dallas County Community College District, which currently enrolls more than 104,000 students and is the largest community college in Texas, Lassiter, holds numerous years of experience in higher education. He has previously held positions as president of El Centro College of the Dallas County Community College District, president of Bishop College in Dallas, president of Schenectady County Community College in New York, vice president of finance and management at Morgan State University in Baltimore, business manager of Tuskegee University of Alabama, and more.

“Dr. Lassiter is a great fit for this role,” said Dr. Gery Hochanadel, provost of Parker University. “He not only has an extensive background in higher education, but he’s also an esteemed leader in the DFW education community. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Board of Trustees and Parker University will benefit greatly from his leadership.”

In addition to serving on the board of trustees of Parker University, Lassiter also serves on the board of trustees of Dallas Baptist University and is a past board chairman.

His service in Dallas also includes serving as chairman of the board of trustees of the African American Museum and on the boards of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Foundation, the Dallas Housing Authority Advisory Board, the North Texas Commission, the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and the State Fair of Texas.

He is also a distinguished adjunct professor of management at Dallas Baptist University and holds an honorary doctor of humanities degree from that institution. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University, a master’s in Business Administration from Indiana University-Bloomington, a doctor of education degree (EdD) from Auburn University, and a doctor of christian education degree (D.CE) from Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Source: Parker University, parker.edu