(AUSTIN) – The Texas State University System Board of Regents today approved a resolution honoring Dr. Betty Reynard as President Emeritus of Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA). President Emeritus is an honorary designation granted to a former president after retirement in recognition of distinguished service. Dr. Reynard retired as president of LSCPA last December after 11 years of transformational service to the college.
“This recognition reflects Dr. Betty Reynard’s extraordinary impact on Lamar State College Port Arthur and the communities it serves,” said Chancellor Brian McCall. “Over more than a decade of leadership, she expanded educational opportunity, strengthened workforce partnerships, elevated student success, and helped position LSCPA as a driving force for economic growth in Southeast Texas. Her legacy will be measured not only in new facilities and record enrollment, but in the thousands of students whose lives and careers have been transformed through her commitment to accessible, high-quality education.”
Under Dr. Reynard’s leadership, LSCPA launched more than a dozen new certificate and degree programs, ranging from liquefied natural gas operations to pharmacy technician – all strategically aligned with regional workforce needs.
Reynard oversaw the expansion and improvement of the LSCPA campus, adding three new buildings, including the Umphrey Industrial Technology Center and the Industry Training Facility. One of her most notable achievements is the construction of LSCPA’s Allied Health & Sciences Building, a modern facility housing nursing, allied health, and science programs. Opened earlier this year, the 60,000-square-foot complex stands as a symbol of LSCPA’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers.
During Reynard’s presidency, LSCPA achieved record enrollment, surpassing 5,000 students this fall, the highest in the college’s history. Much of this success stems from her focus on dual credit partnerships with local school districts, giving high school students early access to college courses and career pathways.
Reynard’s career in higher education spans more than four decades. She began her journey in 1979 as a dental hygiene instructor at Lamar University, where she advanced through multiple academic and administrative roles. She later served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Workforce Technology at Lamar Institute of Technology before being appointed President of LSCPA in 2014.