Dr. Paul Matney Guest Speaker At Dumas Noon Lions Club

Dr. Paul Matney became the 13th president of Amarillo College in July of 2009.  Dr. Matney literally got his start at Amarillo College, his place of employment for the past 30 years.  Matney spent his first year in higher education at Amarillo College, where he received a solid academic foundation.  He next attended the University of Texas at Austin, he then went on to earn a master's degree in speech communication from West Texas State University. Dr. Matney then became an instructor and director of radio and television.  While working at WTSU, Matney worked first for KVII-TV as a weatherman on weekends and later on KAMR-TV.  He also worked in sales for KGNC Radio during that time.  Matney came back to Amarillo College in 1979, accepting a job as instructor of mas communications and a year later named to chair the Language, Communication and Fine Arts Division.  He completed his doctoral studies at Texas Texas University in 1989 where he was made a full professor at AC.
In 2004, Matney was named associate vice president and dean of instruction at AC, and a year later he moved to vice president and dean of instruction following the retirement of Dr. Gene Byrd.  In 2008, Matney was named acting president of Amarillo College, a responsibility compelled by the illness and passing of President Steven Jones.

I tell you all of this about Dr. Paul Matney because with all of his credentials he cares for each and every student that steps on AC's campus.  Every opportunity is given to any student expressing a desire to go to college with Amarillo College staff making sure that the student succeed if an individual is willing to work hard to make the grades.  In May at a brunch given to the graduates I heard story after story of how supportive the staff was in helping those students to be able to graduate.  The students are given a friendly, learning environment where the students can thrive academical.  One of the reason for the great staffing is because of the Student Support Service area in Amarillo College which was the result of a five year grant.  This grant helps first generations students and low income students to be successful in college.  I listen to students tell heart wrenching stories of how they felt like an underdog but thanks to staff they know that they can do anything they set their mind on.  I think this attitude from staff comes from the top down to our local AC campus. 

 My opinion is this about our college, "The Staff is the Key to a Successful Student".   Upon hearing Dr. Matney speak today at Dumas Noon Lions Club I would like to add to that statement this thought, "Good leadership results in great staff who are the key to a successful student."