Dr. Carolyn Lightfoot
Dr. Carolyn Lightfoot serves as the Chief Information Officer. She oversees an annual budget of more than $2 million for the operation of the Department of Information Technology. She is responsible for developing the strategic vision for the implementation of technology at Lee College.
The technology support infrastructure has enhanced the college’s global distinction in teaching and learning at the Baytown campus and HCLC. She was Technical Project Director for the implementation of technology in the Library/Advanced Technology Building and Sports Complex.
Dr. Lightfoot also received the 2014 Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
She has coordinated and directed the implementation of network and wireless upgrades across campus including telecommunications, videoconferencing, environmental controls, distance learning, and computing infrastructure that include smart classrooms, Tucker Hall multimedia digital presentation system, Blackboard learning management system, myLC student email, myLC Campus Web registration, alarm notification system, and emergency text messaging alerts.
She has served as the Oracle/PeopleSoft Project Technical Manager since 2000 resulting in six very successful implementations of PeopleSoft Student Records/HRMS and Financials. As Institutional Research Director she is responsible for a wide variety of tasks including planning, designing, and conducting research and institutional studies; providing analysis, reports related to program growth and development, program reviews, self-studies, accreditation and external surveys; and coordinating data collection and analysis related to Lee College institutional research and planning efforts.
As Interim Dean of Administration, Dr. Lightfoot was responsible for managing the Baytown physical plant consisting of 37 buildings on 652,088 square feet, the construction of the McNair Career Center and renovations to San Jacinto mall facility for Small Business Development Center. She also managed the Physical Plant Johnson Controls Climate Initiative to increase the number of large-scale energy saving retrofits for campus buildings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills without utilizing capital budgets or increasing monthly operating expenses. With the Green IT project, Lee College saves 44.5 percent on energy, with no impact on the campus.
Dr. Lightfoot is also an adjunct professor having taught Computer Science classes at community colleges. Dr. Lightfoot previously worked for Computer Sciences Corporation as a Computer Scientist and Oracle Database Administration Project Lead for NASA Johnson Space Center Houston. Dr. Lightfoot is a recipient of EDUCAUSE Jane N. Ryland Fellowship and the 2008 ACUTA Institutional Excellence in Communications Technology for the Chambers County Community Network (CCCnet) project.
She has served as Chair of the Mentoring/Career Development subcommittee for ACUTA organization. She is also a recipient of the NASA Group Achievement Award for Ground Systems/Software Production Facility Support for Space Station Freedom.
She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Texas (currently Texas A&M University-Central Texas), master’s degree at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and she holds a doctorate degree from the University of Houston.