Buchanan appointed to Deep East Texas Development Workforce Board

Dr. Barbara Buchanan, Director of Workforce and Continuing Education at Panola College, has been appointed to the Deep East Texas Workforce Development Board. She will serve a two-year term as the literacy representative. This Board is responsible for policy and planning decisions as well as funding and serving the workforce needs of employers and citizens for a twelve county area in Deep East Texas.

Since joining Panola College in 1995, Dr. Buchanan has served in several positions including English instructor, grants officer, and distance learning director before moving into administration. She now serves as Workforce and Continuing Education Director for the College.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Dr. Buchanan later earned a Master of Arts degree from the same university. She continued her education by completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Human Resource Development at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Before entering the academic field, Dr. Buchanan owned Barbara’s Garden Center on the Carthage Square for 19 years.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the East Texas Workforce Development Board with appointments to the Welfare to Work and Youth Committees. In addition, she is a member of the board of directors for New Destinations, the Texas Rural Development Council, Panola County Boys and Girls Club, and the American Heart Association of Panola County Division.

Dr. Buchanan is an active member of the Texas Community College Teachers Association, Texas Association of College Technical Educators, Texas Association of Continuing Education, and the Texas Association for Educational Technology.

A Beckville native, she is the daughter of Melba and the late John W. Langford. She has four children, Matt Buchanan, Katie Gary, Adam Buchanan, and Carrie Buchanan. She is a member of the New Prospect Church in Beckville.

"I will represent Shelby County to the best of my ability and make certain that our local needs are considered in planning and policy decisions. I greatly appreciate the confidence shown by county officials who nominated me and by the Texas Workforce Commission who appointed me to serve on this board" Dr. Buchanan said.