Message from the President

It is an honor and privilege to serve as the 14th president of St. Philip’s College. I began my service on March 1, 2007 – the 109th birthday of this great institution.

St. Philip’s College has a rich history that began in 1898 with a great vision. Bishop James Steptoe Johnston, the founder of our college, and Artemisia Bowden, who led for 52 years, were visionary giants who provided unparalleled leadership in advancing this institution. What began as a sewing school for the daughters and granddaughters of former slaves has evolved into comprehensive, multi-campus institution.

We are proudly designated as both a Historically Black College and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Now in our second century of student empowerment and educational excellence, St. Philip’s College is recognized for our organizational leadership as a 2018 Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE) and 2020 Texas Award-Next for Performance Excellence recipient. We’ve gained national attention as a model among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and as one of Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges in the nation.

It is with clarity of purpose, a collaborative learning culture and a focus on results that the faculty, staff and administration here at St. Philip’s College commit ourselves to student success and performance excellence. Our Mission, Vision, and Values demonstrate our commitment and our Strategic Plan outlines our methods.

I welcome you to explore the educational possibilities we have to offer. We are committed to providing clear pathways that empower our students to complete certificates and degrees that have a positive generational impact on families and support our region’s economic growth.

Sincerely,
Adena Williams Loston, Ph.D.
President