Trustee Profile: Andy Hardin dedicates his life to service

For more than 40 years, Andy Hardin has dedicated himself to Collin County. From his time on the McKinney City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission to his role as a founding member of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, Hardin’s leadership has left an indelible mark.

Hardin’s commitment extends to Collin College, where he serves as an invaluable asset as a leader on the Board of Trustees. Hardin was elected to Place 9 in 2012, has served as chair since 2021, and is also an active participant on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee. Hardin, as part of the nine-member Board, plays a pivotal role alongside Dr. Neil Matkin, Collin College district president, in the college’s rapid growth and continued success.

“Mr. Hardin’s devotion to help students succeed and enhance our college community has been vital to our success,” Dr. Matkin said. “His work and dedication as chair have set the standard of excellence in leadership and service. We are grateful to have someone like Andy on our team.”

Hardin’s relentless pursuit of excellence has positively impacted Collin College and the communities it serves.

“As we continue to foster Collin College’s core values, we’ve seen quite the expansion in our locations, programs, and services in the last few years,” Hardin said.

Hardin has been a champion of the college’s rapid growth. This expansion has directly addressed the needs of a growing county and expanded Collin College’s ability to serve more surrounding communities. Since 2016, four new campuses have opened – Celina Campus, Farmersville Campus, Technical Campus located in Allen, and Wylie Campus – alongside facilities such as the Public Safety Training Center, the Cary A. Israel Health Science Center, the Andrea-Mennen Welcome Center, and the IT Center at the Frisco Campus. Additionally, the college launched the iCollin Virtual Campus in 2021.

“With the building of new campuses and the addition of new programs and baccalaureate degrees, we strive to provide the best education to all Collin County residents at the lowest possible price,” he said. “Our goal is to have easily accessible higher education at a reasonable driving distance for our communities.” 

Not only is keeping education accessible at the forefront of the Board’s mission, but it is also important for the Board to create opportunities to help bridge the gap between community workforce shortages and education. This involves implementing programs that meet the needs of a diverse student body, enhancing faculty development, and maintaining strong community partnerships.

“We spend time and effort evaluating degrees and connecting with corporations in our communities to ensure we address the different critical job needs in our area,” Hardin said. “This is evident through the success of our four-year degrees. We want the best faculty and facilities for these programs that, in turn, will prepare our students for success in the workforce after their time at Collin College.” 

As Collin College grows, so does the community it serves. The Board, with Hardin actively involved, is firmly committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on each campus. With the Board’s approval, Collin College now participates in Texas’ school marshal program allowing the college to designate licensed district employees to carry concealed weapons. The marshals, whose identities are private, are only authorized to respond to active shooter or emergency situations that threaten lives on a campus and can only act before police arrive. The Board has also approved the increase of security cameras across the district, as well as the labeling and numbering of buildings and parking lots to ensure anyone on a campus can effectively describe their location in case of an emergency.

“We’ve been able to gain from the knowledge and experience that other people have had,” Hardin said. “The Board has never been approached with an opportunity to enhance safety that we have turned down. Investing in safety is one of our highest priorities.”

From simple adjustments such as labeling areas to more complex approaches involving Collin College’s police force and security on campuses, Hardin said Board members are constantly engaged in these conversations.

“I feel privileged to work alongside the devoted leaders of the Board to successfully keep moving Collin College forward,” Hardin said.

The Board’s dedication is instrumental in guiding Collin College toward continued growth and an even brighter future.

Hardin and his wife, Amy, live in Frisco. They have two children—Thomas, a commercial architect who lives with his family in London, and Blaine, a highly-functioning adult with Down Syndrome who lives in Melissa.

To learn more about Collin College’s Board of Trustees, visit www.collin.edu/leadership/board_of_trustees.html.