After 43 years of Service, Lenora Keas to retire in January 2026

Del Mar College

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) - For more than 40 years, Lenora Keas has helped shape Del Mar College’s growth and strengthen its role as a partner to students, employers, and communities across the Coastal Bend. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, she has collaborated with faculty, administrators, industry leaders, and community partners to expand opportunities that change lives and move the region forward.

Del Mar College Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas.

Her journey from instructor in 1982 to professor, department chair, vice president, chief financial officer and ultimately executive vice president and chief operating officer is more than a résumé. It is a story of leadership, resilience and vision that has transformed both Del Mar College and the communities it serves.

From reimagining academic and workforce programs in collaboration with the Del Mar College Board of Regents, college administration and regional employers to securing multimillion-dollar bonds that reshaped facilities and created the Oso Creek Campus, Keas has continually positioned Del Mar College to meet the evolving needs of students and industry alike. She also helped secure major partner gifts that led to the development of the world-class industrial pilot plant complex on the Windward Campus.

In January 2026, Keas will retire as Del Mar College’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, capping a 43-year career defined by persistence, collaboration and impact.

“Lenora’s leadership has been invaluable in carrying forward the College’s mission,” said DMC President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Escamilla, Ph.D. “She has built bridges between education and opportunity, ensuring Del Mar College remains a cornerstone of progress for the Coastal Bend. Her legacy is written in the thousands of students whose futures were changed because of her work.”

Keas’ influence has extended well beyond campus. She has served for nearly 25 years on the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Board, including as Chair and as a member of key executive committees. She has also been a dedicated member of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation and working with industry partners as they came into the region.

“For me, it has always been about creating opportunity. Whether working with students, faculty, or community partners, the goal was the same – to open doors that change lives. That has been my life’s work, and it will always matter to me,” said Lenora Keas, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

While she is retiring, Keas will not be stepping away entirely. She will continue to advise and help shepherd key projects for Del Mar College, ensuring their success with the same steady hand that has defined her career.

Del Mar College will initiate a search to fill the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer position this fall.