Twelve candidates are vying for four spots on the Austin Community College board of trustees. A candidate forum, organized by the League of Women Voters, is set for Thursday. Meet the candidates for Place 6, and see how they answered Community Impact Newspaper's questions.

Nora De Hoyos Comstock


Nora De Hoyos Comstock, Austin Community College Place 6 candidate Nora De Hoyos Comstock, Austin Community College Place 6 candidate[/caption]

Q: What would be your top priority if elected?

A: My main focus as an ACC Trustee will be working with ACC leadership to improve low graduation rates and providing work-ready and transfer-ready students. Given the low unemployment numbers, generally indicating that people are employed, [would-be college students] are not thinking of furthering their education. Yet this is the perfect time to prepare for the promotions or opportunities that are available due to unfilled workforce demands. When large numbers of appropriately prepared students are completing associate degrees, certificates, finding work and transferring to four-year colleges in a timely fashion, we will be doing our job. There are many obstacles to student success (financing, remediation, child care, transportation, parking, textbook costs, career decisions, first time in college, work schedules, working many hours, course offerings on different campuses, faculty workloads and time to devote to student success). These obstacles must be acknowledged and addressed for ACC to fulfill the promise of post-secondary education and workforce training for all citizens of Central Texas.

Douglas Gibbins


Douglas Gibbins, Austin Community College Place 6 candidate Douglas Gibbins, Austin Community College Place 6 candidate[/caption]

Q: What would be your top priority if elected? 

A: My top priority is student success as measured by increasing the number of our neighbors receiving degrees and certificates in ACC's accessible and affordable college programs.




Read the Q&As from the candidates running for ACC board of trustees in Place 4, Place 5 and Place 9.