Morris and Shannon promoted and directors named
Recently Ann Morris and Dr. Joe Shannon were promoted at Panola College. Ann Morris was named Dean of Distance Education, and Dr. Joe Shannon was named Dean of Instruction. Both have been associate deans at the college.
Mrs. Morris has received state recognition for the work she has accomplished in the field of Distance Education. When she first became the Director of Distance Education at Panola she had approximately 300 student enrollments in distance classes. This year the total will approach 4000 student enrollments. In addition, she serves on state committees and is consulted frequently by colleagues across the state.
In 1999 Ann Morris took the helm of the Distance Learning Department at Panola College, and under her guidance the program has matured into mainstream education with tremendous growth. As Dean of Distance Education, she administers the distance learning program, Instructional Technology, and Information Technology Services. She received the National Council of Instructional Administrators Exemplary Initiatives Competition Award 2000-01. Currently, she chairs the North East Texas Consortium Professional Development Academy Task Force. Ann serves on numerous committees and boards including the Texas Association of Community Colleges Virtual College of Texas Distance Learning Advisory Committee, the Texas State Leadership Consortium for Professional Development, and the Board of Directors for the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
“Ann Morris is an exceptional leader. She always handles herself professionally and has continued to be the force behind our success in Distance Education. Educators and administrators from across the state call to get advice from her,” according to Dr. Lillian Cook, Vice President of Instruction.
Dr. Shannon supervises both the technical education at Panola College and the Shelby College Center in Center, Texas. He has helped increase enrollment in Shelby County every year that he has been at Panola College and has recently begun a Petroleum Technology program to meet area workforce needs.
Dr. Shannon began his career in higher education at Coffeyville College in Coffeyville, Kansas. He taught in the Agronomy and Horticulture program there. In 1992 he became the Chair of the Life Sciences Division at Tyler Junior College where he served from 1992-2004. He earned his doctorate in Human Dimensions in Natural Resources from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2001. In 2004 he came to Panola College as the Associate Dean of Instruction.
According to Dr. Lillian Cook, “Dr. Shannon has been a godsend for us at Panola College. He has helped our Shelby County operations flourish and has worked diligently to expand our technology programs college-wide. His latest success has been the Petroleum Technology program, which will be expanded to the Carthage campus this fall.”
As part of an administrative restructuring of instruction, three new division directors were approved at the June Panola College Board meeting. Mr. Freddy Mason was named Director of Liberal and Fine Arts. Mr. Mason currently serves as division chair in addition to teaching speech classes at Panola College. Mr. Mason has been with the college for several years and often performs in college, as well as community, theater productions. He is a member of the Carthage Lions’ Club and works actively in the Regional Arts Council.
Gary Hughes was named Director of Technical Programs. Mr. Hughes is currently working with Panola College as a grants coordinator. He has extensive experience in the petroleum industry, working in the United States and abroad.
Kevin Rutherford, biology professor, is the new Director of Math, Science, and Business. Mr. Rutherford presently teaches Anatomy and Physiology and works closely with the nursing majors at Panola College.