Rate My Professor Dionne Bagsby

Dionne Bagsby served as Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives at Tarrant County College District Office. In this capacity, she played a key role in advancing student success programs, including spearheading the creation of a National Technical Honor Society chapter at the South Campus in 2017. This initiative recognized outstanding technical career students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, offering access to scholarships totaling over $250,000 annually, letters of recommendation, certificates, and networking opportunities. Bagsby collaborated with faculty adviser John Bullard to develop support mechanisms for aspiring members, promoting long-term career readiness in technical fields and extending honor society recognition beyond traditional academics. She also participated in professional development events, such as the NC3 Leadership Conference alongside faculty from heating, air conditioning, refrigeration technology, and automotive collision programs.

Bagsby earned an undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, a certification in speech pathology from George Peabody College for Teachers, and a master's degree from Texas Christian University. Her professional journey began as a speech therapist for Fort Worth Independent School District in the 1960s, where she contributed to the peaceful integration of Fort Worth schools. From 1989 to 2005, she served as the first woman and first African American elected to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for Precinct 1, advocating for enhanced education opportunities, greater employment of women and minorities, expanded health care via community clinics and immunization programs, and grants to women's shelters in Fort Worth and Arlington. Post-retirement, she held board positions with United Way of Tarrant County, Jubilee Theatre, Trinity Terrace, Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Development Program, and Social Learning Systems. Among her honors, she received the Legacy Award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership Fort Worth, and had a sub-courthouse named in her honor in southwest Tarrant County, underscoring her profound community impact.