DECADE 1985
Dr. Toni Jenkins
Retired Administrator
Before Collin College grew to 11 campuses and centers, Dr. Toni Jenkins remembers
being part of a small group that worked out of area office buildings.
One of the first employees hired at Collin College, Dr. Jenkins was involved in all aspects of early campus planning, including creating the first districtwide schedule by hand and selling textbooks from the trunk of her car.
Jenkins has fond memories of the college’s early beginnings, but her most cherished ones were formed during the “transformational” opening of the Technical Campus in 2020.
“We added so many new programs,” she said. “It was such a great experience to meet
with industry professionals and then translate that to programs that would train and
prepare students for high-demand careers.”
Glenda Morris
Alumna and Retiree
Glenda Morris had the unique distinction of being both a Collin College student and
an employee.
Morris not only served the college for 35 years, but she was also a graduate of Collin College’s 1985 inaugural class. Morris, one of Collin’s 13 graduates, was delighted to walk down memory lane and share her Collin College story.
“After only completing one year of college, I married and started my family at a young age,” Morris said. “I had the opportunity to take college courses part time in McKinney at Grayson College. Collin did not exist during this time.”
In 1985, Morris was employed at Collin College and realized how
close she was to accumulating enough credit hours to complete
her associate degree. With the encouragement and support
of her coworkers, she completed those credit hours and
obtained her degree.
Graduating from Collin College became a family affair. Morris’ son, Bryan Cook, and her husband, James David Morris, both graduated from the college. Glenda Morris says she stayed at the college as an employee for so many years because she “loved it.”
“My time at Collin was very satisfying,” Glenda said.
DECADE 1995
Nicholas Palmer, J.D.
Executive Assistant City Attorney
Nicholas Palmer is responsible for overseeing the appellate legal practice for the
city of Dallas, but he feels fortunate to still be in touch with Collin College professors
who impacted his life two decades ago.
“The biggest benefit of Collin College for me was my relationships with my professors.
Collin College offers smaller classes than large universities, and those classes afford
more personal interaction between students and professors. The critical thinking skills
I used at Collin College also solidified my desire to pursue
a career in law.”
After earning an associate of arts degree from Collin College, Palmer transferred
to the University of North Texas where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor
of Science in Criminal Justice degree. He earned his juris doctorate from The Pennsylvania
State University.
Jennie LeClaire
Community Volunteer and Retired Entrepreneur
Jennie LeClaire’s journey exemplifies how education can spark a lifetime of impact.
As a proud alumna of Collin College, LeClaire credits her time here with giving her
the foundation to thrive academically and personally.
“My college education not only provided me knowledge but also information on how to obtain the necessary resources to help me grow in school and throughout my career,” LeClaire said.
After completing her associate degree at Collin, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from the University of North Texas and a Master of Science from The University of Texas at Dallas, launching a successful career in business marketing, technology, and consulting.
LeClaire’s passion for learning and achievement has influenced her family as well. Two of her children have followed in her footsteps, earning business degrees and running successful businesses of their own.
Now retired, LeClaire dedicates her days to serving her community. She volunteers
as a chaplain at her local church, offering spiritual guidance and support, and spends
time helping at community centers. For LeClaire, the skills and confidence she developed
at Collin College have fueled her passion for giving back, embodying the spirit of
service she hopes to inspire in others.
DECADE 2005
Katharine Noddin
Software Engineering Manager
Katharine Noddin is modeling an experience she had decades ago at Collin College.
After working for a boss whose focus was developing employees, she was inspired to
go into management and discovered her passion for molding future leaders.
“I found a sweet spot mentoring the next generation. Today, I get to spearhead fostering
a healthy culture at my company, and it is one of the most rewarding aspects of my
career. The biggest thing that resonates with me when I think of Collin College is
that it was the first place where I felt like someone truly believed in me – that
someone was Dr. Greg Sherman. It’s the people who believe in you
that help you keep going and make monumental influences in your life. It only takes
one act of kindness to make a legendary trajectory change in a person’s path to excellence.
Folks need a space to feel safe and take risks that may fail to come up with truly
innovative solutions. Mistakes, after all, are just beautiful pit stops on the path
to something truly magical and awe inspiring.”
After earning an associate of science degree from Collin College, Noddin graduated
from The University of Texas at Dallas where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering.
Dr. Carlos Carrión
Dentist and Professor
Dr. Carlos Carrión has come full circle since he first took classes at Collin College.
In addition to practicing dentistry, he will soon be teaching at Houston Community
College — Coleman College for Health Sciences.
“I am paying back what Collin College gave me,” said Dr. Carrión. “Without Collin, I wouldn’t be here. Collin College was my ticket to dental school. This college gave me the flexibility to work full time and take prerequisites. Some people tell you not to take prerequisites at a community college. However, I have been to graduate school twice, and I can easily spot a piece-of-cake class. This is really a top-notch institution. It is up to par with any four-year university. The professors here know what they are talking about. My education at Collin was excellent.”
Dr. Carrión held several degrees before attending Collin College, including a Bachelor
of Science in Electronic Systems Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology;
a Master of Science in Computer Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville; and
a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from Southern Methodist University. After
completing prerequisites at Collin College, Dr. Carrión was admitted to and graduated
from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental School.
DECADE 2015
Dr. Mary McRae
Wylie and Farmersville Campus Provost
Dr. Mary McRae has not only witnessed Collin College’s explosive growth over the last
40 years, but she has also had a hand in it. Dr. McRae has held various roles throughout
her lengthy tenure at the college — including provost at the McKinney, Plano, and
now Wylie and Farmersville Campuses.
She said she loves that Collin is a dynamic institution that is always growing and evolving to meet the community’s needs.
“It’s been a joy to be on the journey,” said Dr. McRae. “I love that we have expanded
into parts of the county that we hadn’t reached before. I love that we can make a
difference in all parts of the county now.”
Pat McAuliff
Fire Science Program Director
For 38 years, Pat McAuliff has focused his efforts on delivering quality training
and education to the firefighters who serve our communities.
“Early on, Collin created an environment where new ideas were welcomed,” he said.
Among McAuliff’s favorite memories is his involvement in the opening of the Public Safety Training Center.
“Collin’s growth has been tremendous,” he said. “We have grown in every direction
— campus locations, employees, and program offerings — but we have remained constant
in our vision for student success.”
Collin College receives approval to offer bachelor’s degrees
Summer 2019
Collin College received approval on July 2, 2019, from the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
and a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity. Classes began in Spring 2020.
Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Collin College ribbon cutting ceremony
Feb. 14, 2024
Collin College and Texas A&M University launched this academy with a record- breaking
96 students in the Fall 2024 inaugural class. Students can save up to $40,000. Learn
more at www.collin.edu/tamuengineering.
Collin College Academic Alliance ribbon cutting ceremony and open house
Aug. 12, 2024
Collin College partnered with Texas State University and The University of Texas at
Dallas. Classes will begin Fall 2025. Area residents can earn an associate degree,
seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree, and save thousands of dollars. Learn more at
www.collin.edu/academics/alliance.