The Temple College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Dr. Glenda Barron as the college’s new president Monday night.

“Dr. Barron is a remarkable woman,” said TC Board Chair Jack W. Jones Jr. “She has served for a long time as a high-level official in Austin.

“Everyone we spoke to about (Dr. Barron) could not have had any higher praise for her,” Jones said.

Dr. Barron is currently on vacation in Florida, and was not in attendance during the board meeting.

Jones said that when Dr. Barron was informed of the board’s decision to hire her, “she was elated.”

Barron has worked with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board since 1987.

During her public interviews, she said that her role with the board would be helpful in dealing with state legislators.

“Through my positions (with the coordinating board), I have worked on and dealt with nearly every statewide education issue that has come up with colleges,” Dr. Barron said. “I have spent a number of years providing legislators and their staff members with data and information when it comes to higher education issues.”

Dr. Barron also developed a working relationship with former TC president Dr. Marc Nigliazzo.

“From the things he told me, I couldn’t have been more attracted to the job,” Dr. Barron said in the earlier interview. “I think the position matches up well with my skills and experience. Dr. Nigliazzo was a walking advertisement for this college for 15 years, and he always let me know what was going on at the school, so I feel like I’m very familiar with the issues and the successes TC has had and will be facing. I really think that I know the issues this college is dealing with.”

After the hiring was approved, board members and audience members applauded, praising the school’s presidential search committee, which reviewed 47 applications and nominations that werr narrowed down to five finalists who visited campus earlier this month.

“I think Dr. Barron was very clear that she wants to make a difference and help continue the success the college has had,” Jones said.

“The search process showed that there is a tremendous amount of respect and value placed into this college by people,” he said. “The candidates we had were all tremendously impressive, and they were tremendously impressed by what this school had to offer.”

Jones could not say when Dr. Barron would begin her term as president, although he said he expected her to be serving before the beginning of the fall semester.

“I expect her to be in town in the next week or so,” he said. “I’m sure she’ll be very busy meeting people, and introducing herself before she actually begins the job.”