Президент колледжа Джонетт Маккоун завершает 40-летнюю карьеру на фоне сокращения государственного финансирования

MCC president reflects on legacy, funding challenge ahead of final year Johnette McKown will remain president through May 31 of next year WACO, Texas — McLennan Community College is marking 60 years of fall classes this school year, and Dr. Johnette McKown has been on campus for 37 of them. She is now preparing for her final year as president. A four-decade tenure McKown joined MCC in 1989 and became president in 2009. She said the part of that history that matters most to her is the students. “I’m just honored as I think about all of the many changes we’ve had, that I’ve just been blessed to be here, and the difference we’ve made in students’ lives,” McKown said. During her time at MCC, she said the college has expanded student support, scholarships, transportation and academic programs. New buildings and new programs were added, along with more support aimed at helping students figure out where to go after MCC. Students describe personal connection Hanna Kendrick, a former MCC student now attending Tarleton State, said her relationship with McKown continued after she left MCC. “She would have the one-on-one meetings with us every semester. And to me, that was just awesome, because I think with a lot of colleges you don’t get that one-on-one. Especially with the president,” Kendrick said. Kendrick said McKown still checks in on her. Current MCC student Tristan Nichols said he has also felt that personal investment. “Seeing somebody like the president of a college who has so much concern with what I individually am doing. It definitely means a lot,” Nichols said. Funding cut poses challenge McKown’s final year comes as MCC works to make up a $3.1 million cut in state funding. She said the college has already cut its upcoming budget below the current year’s level. McKown said changes to the state’s community college funding formula created the shortfall. “The other is ensuring that our legislators know our importance, and we ask them for help in funding us. Because we did not do poorly. It’s just when the metrics changed in the middle of it, and there was no money, the coordinating board found itself needing to reduce everything,” McKown said. Despite the shortfall, McKown said she believes the college’s future is bright. Measuring a legacy McKown said her legacy isn’t something she measures in years. “It has to be with the difference in students’ lives,” McKown said. McKown will remain president through May 31 of next year. MCC’s board expects to name the college’s next president in the spring. Copyright 2026 KWTX. All rights reserved.