When Collaboration and Community Take the StageJanuary 12, 2026

By Brie Ragland, MC Director of Marketing & Communications

There are moments in our work when you stop taking notes, stop worrying about what comes next on the agenda, and simply sit back and listen. Midland College’s Spring Convocation was one of those moments for me.

This year’s convocation centered on two of our strategic pillars: Collaboration and Community. Those words are familiar to us at Midland College. We see them in plans, presentations, and priorities. Hearing them come to life through the voices of our industry and community partners, however, was something entirely different.

It was powerful. It was affirming. And honestly, it was kind of moving.

We got the opportunity to hear from two panels made up of leaders from industry and the community. These are partners who work alongside Midland College every day to help our students succeed. They spoke candidly about workforce needs, mentoring, professional training, and the realities of staffing challenges across the Permian Basin. But what stood out most to me was not just what they need, but why they care.

Our partners talked about seeing Midland College as a launchpad – a crucial starting point for our youngest community members. Providing early and consistent opportunities for growth and learning is not something that one entity can do alone. It takes collaboration. It takes community. It takes continued commitment.

Over and over again, one theme rose to the surface for me: homegrown.

They shared that companies like theirs are actively looking for people who want to be here, who are invested in this region, and who see their future in the Permian Basin. And Midland College is a pathway into meaningful careers right here at home. 

That message matters. And it validated exactly what Midland College is working to do.

Industry leaders spoke openly about workforce pipeline challenges, the need to grow talent from within, and the responsibility we all share to prepare students not just for jobs, but for long-term careers. Hearing them say clearly and confidently that Midland College is doing exactly what we should be doing was incredibly rewarding.

And the impact they described was not limited to one sector.

They talked about how our graduates are fueling not only the oil and energy industry, but also healthcare, public service, education, and essential community fields. They spoke about collaborative mentoring opportunities, job placement, professional guidance, and training that extends far beyond the classroom and into the companies themselves, further solidifying that these partnerships are shaping futures and strengthening the Permian Basin in real, tangible ways.

Just as impactful was hearing from our community partners.

Listening to them speak about their commitment to Midland College students was a reminder that collaboration does not always look like a formal agreement or a line item in a budget. Sometimes it looks like food donations, school supplies, encouragement, and showing up when students need support the most. Sometimes it looks like generous financial contributions that remove barriers and open doors.

Their message was clear. Student success is a shared responsibility.

Another takeaway from both panels was the emphasis on the impact a cradle-to-career approach is having. Our partners understand and value that Midland College reaches students at every stage of life. From our Pre-K Academy, where learning begins early, to Early College High School and dual credit opportunities, to traditional degree and certificate pathways, and all the way to College Classics and lifelong learning.

That continuum matters. And it is one of the things that makes Midland College so unique.

Speaking on behalf of our faculty and staff, hearing this firsthand was invaluable.

We talk often about impact, alignment, and outcomes. Seeing our work reflected back to us by leaders in industry and the community reinforced the importance of what we do every single day. To see it play out on stage and hear our partners articulate the value of our programs and our people was a powerful reminder that the work happening across this campus is making a difference.

Spring Convocation was not just a kickoff to the semester. It was a moment of clarity.

It showed us that when education, industry, and community truly come together, the results are meaningful and lasting. Collaboration is not just a theme at Midland College. It is how we move forward. And as we continue to strengthen those partnerships, we move closer to achieving our ultimate goal: student success.

This is what happens when we listen, align, and work together. And if Spring Convocation was any indication, we are just getting started.

I want to say a special THANK YOU to our panelists: 

• Mike Walton – Diamondback Energy 
• Kevin Douthit – Midland Fire Department
• Marcie Madrid – Midland Health
• Cody Cooksey – Warren CAT
• Libby Stephens – West Texas Food Bank
• Ashley Colquitt – Diamondback
• Amanda Day – Conoco-Phillips
• Morgan Hebert – Permian Strategic Partnership