When Dr. David Sam was named president of North Harris College in August 2000, his appointment was hailed as a breakthrough in race-relations for North Harris Montgomery Community College District (NHMCCD); the fourth largest community college district in the state of Texas, as he made history by being the first-nonWhite president to serve in the district. In his role as the College’s chief administrative officer, he heads the largest of the five colleges in the North Harris Montgomery Community College District. A native of Ghana, West Africa, which was once known worldwide for its vast gold reserves, this “Black Star” is a cum laude graduate of Illinois State University with bachelor’s degrees in Economics, Political Science and History.
In addition, Sam holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy and Doctor of Philosophy in International Economic and Political Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. In May 2001 he earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron Law School.

He came to North Harris College after a stint at the University of Akron, Ohio, where he served as Dean of the Community and Technical College as well as a Professor of Social Science and Business Management. Before that, he was Vice President for Faculty and Instruction at Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania. Prior to that position, he was acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Natural and Social Sciences at Mott Community College in Michigan. In addition, he has held professional and teaching positions in Illinois at the College of DuPage and Harold Washington College.

Impressive credentials indeed, which leave little doubt about his managerial abilities and his commitment to education. Without a doubt, he is the most eminently qualified leader in the annals of the NHMCCD. However, two years later, astute observers would note that “something is rotten in Denmark” when it comes to the question of whether or not, Sam will be allowed to make a great impact on the college community - although he is poised to do so.  Perhaps at the top of the short but potentially career damaging list is the fact that he has had to grapple with budget problems unlike any others faced by former North Harris College presidents. Although enrollment at NHC is at the highest level in recent years, it is the only one of the five NHMCCD colleges reeling from a budget crunch. This points to this being the product of unresolved issues left by Sam’s predecessor Sandy Shugart. Since many students lack college readiness skills and must take developmental courses and get extensive tutoring, an inadequate budget affects the support services given to them.

These same students must also have a vast array of student services provided for them including but not limited to financial aid, academic, retention and career counseling. Although costly, many nontraditional students will become dropout statistics or worse yet, may never make it into college without this assistance.  It was under Dr. Shugart’s watch in 1996, that NHC launched a satellite campus, the Carver Center at 2330 South Victory to provide a convenient location for residents of the Acres Home community. The Carver Center opened to much fanfare, however, the success of the campus has been hampered by a continuous lack of course offerings which ironically has seen a reduction over the years. This has led to an enrollment decrease from 1999-2002. However, records show that enrollments at Willowchase and the newly opened Cy-Fair Centers are increasing dramatically. Enrollment data shows a high percentage of students in zip codes 88, 91, 86, and surrounding areas taking courses at Cy-Fair and Willowchase Centers. The majority of these students are taking classes not available at the Carver Center.

Analysts say NHC needs a director who is familiar the Acres Home community and who has the authority and the resources to provide quality courses, programs and services desired by the community. This director should be able to establish rapport with community leaders who could help identify the area’s needs. Both Willowchase and Cy-Fair Centers have been able have autonomy when it comes to choosing their course offerings. However, Carver Center offers courses only if they have been approved by NHC’s program coordinators and/or associate deans.
Another obstacle left by the previous administration for Sam to encounter centers around the White dominated instructional team largely appointed by Shugart and supervised by Dr. Virginia “Nockie” Zizelmann, vice president of Education Programs and Resources. When Shugart resigned, Zizelmann was second-in-command. Strangely enough, she did not serve as interim president while a national search was being conducted. Dr. John Pickelman, NHMCCD chancellor, with the Board’s blessings, appointed Dr. Ray Hawkins to fill the interim post. Hawkins at the time was retired, but has since been awarded the presidency of the Tomball College campus.

Sam a family man (he and his wife, Julie, have two children, Michelle and David Charles) who values education, arrived with a work ethic unlike any other in the District’s history, but Zizelmann, has assumed the role of managing his initiation and assumption of duties. The majority of hiring decisions for the instructional area, is made by Zizelmann and Sam is left with some of the more unpleasant duties, such as firing employees. Many faculty and staff members are asking, “Who is really running NHC?”  It is difficult finding more than a handful of African-Americans at NHC who will say that they have had positive dealings with Zizelmann, citing most often that they have have not been allowed to advance in the system. Out of frustration, some have moved on to other colleges and universities where the atmosphere is more conducive to promoting Blacks and others say they are trying to do the same.

This “Black flight” from NHC leaves others to ask several questions namely: “Why is it that individuals with credentials that meet or exceed the credentials of the Whites currently in positions at North Harris College can’t advance?,” “How many African-Americans has Zizelmann helped move into an administrative positions at North Harris College?,” and “How is it that this administrator has so much authority?” It is speculated that perhaps she carries so much sway because of her husband’s links to the North Harris Montgomery Community College District Foundation.

Employees at NHC say they were led to believe that a consequence of reorganization would be more minorities in administration. However, only one person of color has been hired out of 16 possible dean positions. Dr. Vivian Lilly, was named head of Health Occupations and Kinesiology. Five other deans were chosen from the existing pool of instructional associate deans at NHC. Seemingly, although a national search was conducted, the best qualified were already working in the district. Nevertheless, complaints are mounting from some applicants with seemingly unimpeachable credentials that they were not even given the opportunity to interview.
Next week, AAN&I looks at diversity in the North Harris Montgomery Community College District.

With just over 200 employees working in support staff positions, non-whites make up slightly more than 50% percent (108 non-white employees). Only in support staff positions, does the make up of the student population mirror that of North Harris College employees. This reality is not lost on students, who go into higher education with the hope that, based on their preparedness, they have a realistic chance of advancing to the same levels as their fellows.

It is not enough to profess a commitment to diversity when the facts speak otherwise. NHMCCD must do more, much more. The District and its Board must exercise true leadership, vision, and professionalism. Qualified non-whites with the college district and in the community at large deserve to be administrators and faculty members. Openness in hiring could be more manifest from the District Office, where only 4 non-whites out of 32 (12%) work in administrative positions, through the rank and file. Convincing the colleges of the need for diversity is not an easy task when the top leadership is setting such a poor example. After nearly 30 years, there are only 1 president and 1 vice president of color, both at North Harris College. The remaining 4 presidents and 13 vice presidents are white.

In short, NHMCCD has a dismal record on including non-whites in its system. Ideally, each of the colleges should be comprised of a diverse administration, faculty, staff, and student

enrolled in courses at Cy-Fair and Willowchase Centers. Many of those students would take classes at the Carver Center if they were available.

The administration at North Harris College needs to hire a director who is knowledgeable of the Acres Home community and give that person the authority and the resources to provide quality courses, programs and services desired by the community. Such a person should be able to establish rapport with community leaders who could help in assessing the needs of the area. One of the main reasons that Willowchase and Cy-Fair Centers have been able to hit the road running is they have the autonomy to choose their course offerings. Unlike those two centers, Carver Center offers courses only if approved and blessed by the program coordinators and/or associate deans at North Harris College.

Everywhere Dr. Sam looks at North Harris College, he encounters yet another obstacle left by the previous administration. For example, Dr. Sam inherited a white dominated instructional team largely appointed by Sandy Shugart and supervised by Dr. Virginia “Nockie” Zizelmann, Vice President of Education Programs and Resources. Although second in command at Dr. Shugart’s resignation and departure, Dr. Zizelmann did not serve as interim president while a national search was being conducted; instead, Dr. John Pickelman, NHMCCD chancellor, invited, and the Board consented to, the appointment of Dr. Ray Hawkins, who was called out of retirement to fill the interim post, then awarded the presidency of the Tomball College campus.

Since Dr. Sam’s arrival, however, it seems that Dr. Zizelmann, miraculously, has assumed the role of managing Dr. Sam’s initiation and assumption of duties. While Dr. Zizelmann continues to make the majority of the hiring decisions for the instructional area, Dr. Sam is left with some of the more unpleasant duties, such as discharging employees who have been deemed undesirable by previous administrations. Many faculty and staff members are asking who is really at the helm, and whether the actual authority on campus rests with Dr. Zizelmann rather than with the new president, who arrived with a work ethic unparalleled in the District’s history.

Few African Americans at North Harris College report having favorable dealings with Dr. Zizelmann. On a number of occasions they have sought opportunities to advance in the system, but have not been allowed to do so. Some have moved on to other colleges and universities

body. While the student population at NHMCCD, particularly at North Harris College has become more diverse; the same can’t be said for the administration, faculty and professional staff. In the final analysis, then, is diversity an issue for all of the colleges or just for North Harris College?

Dr. Sam is married, and he and his wife, Julie, have two children, Michelle and David Charles.