Midland College – The First 50 Years--Dr. David E. Daniel, MC President, 1991-2008November 29, 2022

Dr. David Daniel served as Midland College president from 1991-2008.  Under his leadership, the college saw a 50 percent increase in enrollment, a $41.8 million bond pass with 70 percent approval and the creation of Midland College’s first baccalaureate degree.

“David Daniel gave 17 years of service to Midland College and the Midland community,” current MC President Dr. Steve Thomas said.  “He garnered tremendous community support for Midland College and established MC as a national leader among community colleges.”

Other David Daniel accomplishments include

• Establishing the Midland College Advanced Technology Center, which provides state-of-the-art education and training in technical applications, health sciences entry level professions, safety training and workforce skills to high school students, college students and employees of Permian Basin businesses.
• Establishing the Cogdell Learning Center serving South and East Midland.
• Developing the MC Williams Regional Technical Training Center in Fort Stockton, which later became the college’s only branch campus.
• Creating the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series and the Phyllis and Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series.
• Expanding the footprint of the Midland College main campus to include the Dorothy and Todd Aaron Medical Science Building, the Leona G. and John E. Fox Science Building, the F. Marie Hall Academic Building, three residence halls, a new maintenance facility, the Dollye Neal Chapel and the college’s first dining hall—the Jack E. Brown Dining Hall, which is now being renovated into the Jack E. Brown Conference Hall and will house the Petroleum Professional Development Center.
• “I am proud of MC’s place among other community colleges, the development of which has helped to keep this nation at the top of civilization as we know it,” Daniel said before he retired from Midland College in August 2008.  “People often say to me, ‘We’re so proud of our college.’  That sense of ownership means everything.”

In 2001, the Permian Basin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals chose Daniel as the Fundraiser of the Year, and in 2005, the Boy Scouts of America, Buffalo Trail Council awarded him with their Distinguished Citizen Award.

Daniel was also a state and national leader in community colleges.  In 1991-1992, Dr. Daniel was chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the highest elected office among America’s community colleges.  He was a member of the AACC Board from 1988-1993, and in 2005, Daniel was chosen by the AACC trustees as the Outstanding Chief Executive Officer for the Western Region.  Dr. Daniel was named a Transformational Leader in Community Colleges and was selected by the U.S. Department of Education for a Fulbright Award to China.

His service to Texas higher education includes serving as president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and as a member of the Texas Council of Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.

In 2012, Midland College named the men’s residence hall as the Daniel Residence Hall in honor of Dr. David Daniel and to commemorate his dedication and 17-year leadership of Midland College.  Dr. Daniel passed away in July 2020.