Dr. Belle S. Wheelan Endowment

Dr. Wheelan’s career spans 40 years and includes the roles of faculty member, chief student services officer, campus provost, college president and U.S. secretary of education. In several of those roles she was the first African American and/or woman to serve in those capacities.

Dr. Wheelan received her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in Texas (1972) with a double major in psychology and sociology; her master’s from Louisiana State University (1974) in developmental educational psychology; and her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin (1984) in educational administration with a special concentration in community college leadership.

She holds and has held membership in numerous local, state, and national organizations including Rotary International; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; the American College Testing Inc., Board of Directors; American Association of Community Colleges, Board of Directors; the Lumina Foundation for Education, Board of Directors; the President’s Round Table of the National Council on Black American Affairs; the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, Board of Directors; Excelencia in Education, Board of Directors; National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Community College Honorary Board; Next Generation Learning Challenges, Advisory Panel; Project GOALS (Gaining Online Accessible Learning Through Self-Study); and the National Student Clearinghouse, Board of Directors.

Dr. Wheelan attributes her success to hard work, endurance, tenacity, and being
in the right place at the right time. She recognizes that prayer and support from family and friends make anything possible.