Remarks at 2025 CCATT Annual Conference in Austin

At the 2025 CCATT Conference in Austin, I had the distinct honor of addressing my fellow trustees, college presidents and higher education leaders as a candidate for the CCATT Board of Directors. Serving our students and community at McLennan Community College has always been an incredible privilege, and I am deeply humbled that I was unanimously elected and officially installed to the CCATT Board during the event. Below is the full text of the speech I delivered outlining my vision for our shared work ahead.


Good morning, y’all.

My name is Jonathan Hill, and I’m a trustee at McLennan Community College in Waco. Today, I’m a candidate for one of the two Medium College seats on the CCATT Board of Directors.

A little bit about myself… I started college as a marine biology major at Texas A&M Galveston. I stand before you today as neither a marine biologist… nor a graduate of Texas A&M Galveston.

Like so many students at our colleges, life happened. I moved back home to Waco and enrolled at MCC. But let me tell you — like some students at our colleges, I was also a knucklehead. I drifted. I declared a new major every other day — each one came with more false starts and more failures.

But MCC didn’t give up on me. Dr. McKown – then in her first year as president of MCC – along with one of the VPs at the time sat me down and gave me a second chance. I came back the next semester. Failed again. They sat me back down again. Gave me a third chance. And something finally clicked.

I finished my associates degrees and transferred to Tarleton State University through MCC’s University Center. I was accepted to grad school at Baylor, where I earned my master’s in education. That kicked off what has now been a decade of work in higher ed.

I worked four years in communications for Baylor Athletics before moving into central marketing at Baylor for the last six years. I now serve as Baylor’s Brand Manager, just reaching my 10-year milestone at the University earlier this week.

My wife and I have a three-year-old son at home who asks “why” after every sentence.

So I’ll close with this: I believe our “why” is to build bridges — not just for our kids, but for every learner who needs a way forward. We clear pathways. We give second chances — and sometimes third and fourth ones.

That’s why I joined MCC’s board in 2023 and why I’ve served on the Engagement and Education committees with CCATT over the last year and a half.

Because my community college experience didn’t just change my life — it’s what made my life possible.

I’d be honored to continue to serve our state’s community colleges on CCATT’s Board of Directors.

Thank you.