Dr. Stacy Welcome, Dean of Student Success at Houston Community College (HCC), says her passion for aiding HCC students in achieving academic feats fuels her work.
She oversees the Student Services department and helps students deal with challenges like homelessness and food insecurity, secure jobs and pursue higher education.
The Houston native completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology from Texas Southern University, master’s in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University and doctorate in Counseling Studies from Capella University.
Welcome began her journey at HCC in 2003 as a part-time counselor and has evolved over the last 20 years serving in multiple roles: advising manager, associate dean and adjunct professor.
From the beginning, her mission was clear—to “impact the masses” and live in her “servant spirit.”
“ I thrive off of seeing people accomplish their goals and that they can be successful,” she said.
A career built on passion
Welcome says her educational background in counseling helps in her career today as she tries to support first-generation and international students. She believes that learning about a student’s goal is key to helping the student find success.
Some students battle additional barriers, including financial struggles, homelessness and food insecurity. To combat these issues, Welcome said HCC forges strategic partnerships with local organizations like Star of Hope, the YMCA and the Houston Food Bank.
The college has established Eagle Markets, on-campus food pantries where students, staff and faculty members can access groceries and food items.
“When you can bring all these entities together, it really gives the students the opportunity to be able to meet their ultimate goal, which is career or educational success,” Welcome said.
However, Welcome is also mindful of avoiding assumptions.
“I don’t want to assume that just because you are from maybe a low-income background, you have a need or that you have a deficit…Just because your zip code identifies you, I’m not going to profile you,” she said. “We do it in a discreet way with dignity.”
Welcome is also responsible for bridging the gap between education and employment. She works to strengthen partnerships with local organizations to create internship and full-time employment opportunities for HCC students.
For those pursuing higher education, the HCC Transfer Center connects students with universities like the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, who often visit the campus waiving application fees and providing on-the-spot admissions. University of St. Thomas and Houston Christian University have also gained traction among students in recent years, Welcome added.
Commitment to DEI despite backlash
Of 88,297 students, HCC’s current student demographics comprise 38.9% Hispanic, 25.9% Black, 12.8% Asian, 12.9% white and 9.5% students of other races and ethnicities. It also has a significant international student population of 3,610 students.
“Houston is a multicultural city and that comes with many benefits, we have diverse communities,” said Donald Sparks, HCC Central Communications Director. “These [HCC] students bring their diverse thoughts, backgrounds, and experiences in the classroom.”
However, with recent challenges to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies in higher education, Welcome acknowledges that the future remains uncertain.
“Our federal laws and our state laws and our policies, I’m going to adhere to that because I am bound to do that,” she said. “It’s just not gender, color or ethnicity…My mission is about advancing people who have a need. I want to see people have a skillset, that they can not only take care of themselves but their families because that only helps our community thrive. That’s gonna lower the crime rate, the homelessness.”
Welcome said that she will take every opportunity to help students while following guidelines.
“We’re gonna fight. When you still have people with a like mind and the same mission, no type of rollback is gonna take away from that,” she said.Her message to students is to find their life’s purpose, whether it’s working in a family business, as a chef, or in the HVAC and construction industries. HCC currently has a wide range of non-traditional programs, including Automotive Technology, Air Conditioning Technician, Culinary Arts, Digital Gaming & Simulation, Fashion Design and Cosmetology.
