Bishop Denise Anders-Modest has been appointed the first woman to chair the Texas College Board of Trustees in Tyler. Anders-Modest, new to the city, serves as the presiding bishop of the Eighth Episcopal District, which leads the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the institution that founded Texas College in 1894. The bishop of this district traditionally holds the chairperson position on the trustee board.
In her role, Anders-Modest will work closely with the college president, focusing on the operational details of the school. Her appointment marks a significant moment, as she is also the second female bishop in the 154-plus year history of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Anders-Modest noted the excitement of joining another female leader at Texas College, referring to Dr. Sherrhonda Gibbs, the college's first female president. Both Anders-Modest and President Gibbs are graduates of Grambling State University. They first met at a Christian Methodist Episcopal Church general conference where Gibbs was attending as the newly appointed Texas College president. Anders-Modest was later appointed to the Eighth Episcopal District, which covers Texas and Oklahoma.
A primary focus for Anders-Modest is ensuring financial aid access for all students. She expressed a hope that the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, through its missionary and trustee ministries, can help fund scholarships for students in need. She also desires that Texas College provide personalized financial assistance to determine individual student requirements. Her prior experience includes working as an auxiliary manager at Grambling State University, where her responsibilities included financial aid. This focus comes as data shows 80% of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) rely on federal loans for tuition, a higher percentage than the 55% at non-HBCU schools. President Gibbs has introduced a five-point plan for the college, which Anders-Modest is excited to support as they both embark on new leadership roles in the district and institution.
Anders-Modest is urging the East Texas community to offer its support to Texas College. She called for the "village of East Texas" to be supportive and to double down on past contributions. She also encouraged community members to support students and help dispel any misconceptions about HBCUs.
