Presidents @ COM

Monday, February 23, 2009 College of the Mainland Trustees selected Dr. Michael Elam as the next president of the College following a competitive six-month national search.

Dr. Elam has held administrative positions at Illinois State University, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Houston, and Florida Community College in Jacksonville. He served as vice president for student development at Daytona State, the seventh largest community college in Florida with more than 40,000 students.

Dr. Elam graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology as well as a Masters of Education degree. His educational doctorate was conferred by Nova Southeastern University in Higher Educational Leadership. Dr. Elam also completed studies at the Harvard University Institute on the Management of Lifelong Education. 

Dr. Elam served as President of College of the Mainland from 2009-2011.

• Appointed Dr. Michael A. Elam as COM’s seventh president.
• Increased enrollment 11 percent in the fall semester, 19 percent in the spring semester and 15 percent in the summer.
• Converted Administration Building into a one-stop Student Enrollment Center.
• Improved navigation system throughout Technical Vocational Building with new room numbering and color-coded hallways.
• Employees contributed $15,000 toward Mainland United Way campaign and raised nearly $60,000 for cancer research through annual Relay for Life.
• Signed articulation agreements with Texas Southern University, Texas Chiropractic College and University of Houston Clear Lake.
• Received 2010 Western Regional Equity Award from the Association of Community College Trustees.
• Expanded distance education with the launch of College of the Mainland Online.
• Pharmacy Technician program launched:  Phlebotomy and EGG Technician.

Go to the President Lewis photo album.