Juan L. Maldonado

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Juan Leandro Maldonado​

Maldonado at the Veterans Day celebration at Laredo Community College in 2008​
President of Laredo College
(then Laredo Community College)​
In office
September 1, 2007​ – August 1, 2016​
Preceded by Ramón H. Dovalina​
Succeeded by Ricardo Solis ​
Born November 28, 1948 ​
Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Mexico
Died December 16, 2018 (aged 70)​
San Antonio, Texas​
Political party ​Democrat
Spouse(s) (1) Gloria Eloisa Torres Maldonado, later Gloria Longoria (married 1971-1984, divorced)[1]

(2) Peggy Jo Connally Maldonado (m. 1986-2001, divorced)[2][3]
(3) Linda Elevi Garcia Giddens
Maldonado (surviving widow)​

Children From first marriage:​

Erik Juan Maldonado
(born 1976)
​ Stepchildren from third marriage:
​ Timothy Mark Giddens, Jr.
​ Christina Marie Giddens
​ Jacklyn Jeannette Giddens[4]​ Parents:
Names of parents unavailable​

Residence Laredo, Texas​

San Antonio, Texas​

Alma mater Texas A&M University

University of North Texas
Texas Woman's University​

Juan Leandro Maldonado (November 28, 1948 – December 16, 2018)[5] was a higher education administrator who served as the sixth president of Laredo Community College (since renamed Laredo College) in Laredo in Webb County in South Texas. In August 2007, upon the sudden retirement of Ramón H. Dovalina, Maldonado assumed the LCC presidency.[6] Maldonado retired from LCC after nine years of service effective August 1, 2016.[7] ​

Background

​ Maldonado was born in Nueva Ciudad Guerrero in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico,[1] a small city opposite the Rio Grande from Falcon Heights, Texas. He moved to Laredo on January 3, 1950, at the age of thirteen months.[1]​ ​ Maldonado considered himself a native of Laredo[8] because he was reared there in the historic Barrio Azteca Historic District.[9] In 2009, Maldonado in an interview described how Laredo in its pioneer days developed out of necessity an independent spirit because of its remote location. Though the community was compelled to become self-sufficient, he noted how people from the early years of settlement became dependent on one another. This situation, he added, fostered an impressive community spirit.[10]

Education

​Maldonado attended the former Central Elementary School and in 1967 graduated from Martin High School, formerly Laredo High School, at which he was the co-captain of the "Tigers" football team, the senior class president, a member of the National Honor Society, and he was voted "Most Likely to Succeed." In 2008, he was named a "Tiger Legend," along with several other alumni, including Andres "Andy" Ramos, Jr., a former county judge for Webb County. As a "Tiger Legend," Maldonado urged graduates to be "committed to what you want to achieve in life and help others. In helping others, you help your community [to] be a better place [in which] to live."[9]​ ​ After completing high school, Maldonado attended Texas A&M University in College Station, at which he majored in Engineering and Business Administration. In 1970, he transferred from Texas A&M to the University of North Texas in Denton County, from which in 1972 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. In 1975, he received a Master of Education degree in student services from the University of North Texas. In 1986, he was awarded a Ph.D. in child development (elementary education) from Texas Woman's University, also in Denton. In both of his graduate degrees, he carried minor studies in sociology.[11][12]

For his doctorate, he wrote the 276-page peculiarly named The Relationship of English Oral Language Proficiency, Cognitive Tempo, Locus of Control, and Specific Language Acquisition Factors of Mexican American Preschool Children, a highly specialized study.[13]

Early career

From 1973 to 1975, Maldonado was a social worker for the Mexican American College Education Fund, which was established in 1970 to offer scholarships to only Hispanic students entering college. From 1975 to 1996, he served in numerous capacities, including counselor and psychology instructor, at Tarrant County College, a community college in Fort Worth, Texas. From 1991 to 1996, he was the chairman of the Tarrant College Business and Sciences Division. He came to Laredo Community College in 1996 as vice president for student development and human resources. In 1998, he became vice president for instruction and student development, a designation he retained until 2006, when he was elevated to the position of executive vice president prior to the assumption the next year of the college presidency upon appointment by the trustees.[12]​

LCC president

LCC was established in 1947 under auspices of the Laredo Independent School District. In 1970, the college established its own board of trustees with property taxing authority. In 1993, the nine-member board of trustees changed the name of Laredo Junior College to Laredo Community College.[14] Maldonado considered LCC a "family" organization which does not "just teach [but] cultivates [student] development by providing a nurturing environment to enhance learning."[15]​ ​ In September 2010, LCC trustees granted Maldonado a contract extension, salary increase, performance bonus, and a $5,000 contribution to his tax-sheltered annuity retirement fund. His pay through August 2013 was $163,211 annually.[16] In 2013, the trustees extended Maldonado's contract to 2015 and increased his compensation by $20,000, or $185,000 annually. He also lived in the presidential home on the Fort McIntosh campus.[17]​

LCC trustee elections

In the fall of 2014, Maldonado became actively involved in LCC trustee elections when he stood on street corners and wrote two letters to The Laredo Morning Times to express support for two candidates, Jackie L. Ramos and Ed Gonzalez, who ran, respectively, against trustees Jesse Porras, a former LCC employee, and Hilario Cavazos, Jr., a former educator with the Laredo Independent School District. Maldonado also endorsed Laredo businessman Carlos Carranco, Jr., for a seventh term as trustee; Carranco was unseated by Tita Cantu Vela, a former LCC employee.[18] Porras and Cavazos subsequently lost their reelection bids to Jackie Ramos and Michelle de la Peña, respectively. The defeats of Porras and Cavazos were major victories for Maldonado.[19]​ ​ In October 2014, Maldonado took nearly two weeks of leave time while the trustee campaign was underway, in his words, "to reinstate a sense of professional decorum and integrity to our beloved LCC and its governing board."[18] He affirmed that his leave time was not directly related to the trustee election campaign. Because of his political involvement, a letter writer to 'The Laredo Morning Times called for Maldonado to step down immediately.[20][21]​

The Laredo Morning Times questioned Maldonado's politicking in trustee elections; its education reporter, Judith Rayo, suggested that he could have been "walking on thin ice" legally in support of the three favored candidates, noting that in 1992 the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans upheld the firing of a school superintendent for similar "electioneering".[22]​

​

 
President Juan L. Maldonado (left) converses on September 15, 2010, with Jesse Poras, then the incoming LCC trustee, at the groundbreaking of the Rodney Ray Lewis Education and Academic Center. Four years later, Maldonado campaigned successfully to defeat Porras in the trustee elections. Maldonado announced his own retirement several months thereafter.

​

After the November elections, the board in 2014 elected three new officers, with Hilario Cavazos as the temporary board president to succeed Cynthia Mares (formerly Cynthia Jackson), but Cavazos' defeat at the polls a few weeks later in the runoff contest removed him from the ranks of the trustees. During his short tenure as board president, Cavazos was served a temporary restraining order initiated by fellow trustee Mercurio Martinez, a former county judge for Webb County, to block the board from reviewing the employment contracts of two employees accused of engaging in sexual relations on campus.[23][24] Hilario Cavazos accused President Maldonado of "covering up a scandal, and he didn't do anything about it. I owed it to the public to try to correct this."[25][26] In April 2015, Maldonado banned Cavazos from being on the LCC campus for fourteen days because of what Maldonado termed the former trustee's disruptive behavior at a public meeting on January 22.[27]​

Nora Stewart case

In January 2015, Maldonado suspended with pay LCC chief financial officer Nora Stewart, another member of his management team[28] Other Maldonado management team members were Vincent R. Solis, vice president for instruction and student services; Luciano Ramon, information technology officer, and Nora Ramirez Garza, a former reading instructor and the vice president for resource development in charge of grantsmanship. Maldonado claimed that Stewart misused her staff to obtain an undisclosed college document that Maldonado considered to be "confidential." Her attorney, George Altgelt, subsequently elected to one of the eight seats on the Laredo City Council, said that Stewart had been "retaliated against for doing exactly what her job requires her to do."[29] Stewart claims that Maldonado belittled her as "Miss Righteous" and then said in question form, "You are now the "auditor?", rather than the title of chief financial officer.[30]​ ​ Without revealing details of the investigation conducted into the Stewart matter by a McAllen firm, Anderson and Walsh, the trustees on May 18, 2015, directed the administration and its attorney to prepare an "amicable agreement" for Stewart's separation from the college. Stewart joined the LCC staff in 2002; she was previously the asset management officer.[31]

However, the trustees reversed course and voted 5-3 to renew Stewart's contract for another year. Altgelt had threatened to sue the members individually had they not done so.[32] Stewart had also clashed with preceding President Ramón Dovalina, whom she accused, along with the then the retiring chief financial officer Daniel J. "Dan" Flores, Jr. (1938-2016),[33] of "retaliation, verbal abuse, harassment, mental anguish, creation of a hostile work environment, and excessive stress and harm to her professional reputation."[34] Dovalina announced his pending departure within a month of the raising of Stewart's allegations.[34] Stewart continued in her position when Maldonado succeeded Dovalina.[35]​ ​

Retirement issues

In June 2015, the LCC trustees took formal action not to extend the president's contract for another year. This action forced Maldonado to retire earlier than he had planned.[7]​ ​ Despite the controversies of his last two years in office, LCC was ranked tenth in 2015 among Texas' two-year colleges by the website BestColleges.com. The institution was cited for its two campuses, affordable tuition, the variety of associate degree programs, restored accreditation, and in the quality of its nursing and allied health programs.[36]

Honors

​ In 2009, Maldonado received the "Tejano Achiever Award" from the interest group, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Maldonado is a member of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education[11] and was the president of that organization in 1997.[37] In 2005, as the LCC vice president, Maldonado was among fourteen people from Laredo appointed to the President's Laredo Advisory Council of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.[38]​

Successor

​ In May 2016, the trustees voted 6-1, with two members absent, to name as Maldonado's successor Ricardo Solis, the former dean of academic, professional, and technical education at GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona.[39] A month later, the trustees bought out the last remaining month of Maldonado's contract and hired Solis as the replacement under a three-year contract at an annual salary of $180,000.[40] Maldonado had started as president with $150,000 in annual compensation in 2007.[41] Upon his departure from LCC, Maldonado received some $100,000 in unused sick leave and vacation days.[42]​

In 2017, Juan and Linda Maldonado were residing in San Antonio, Texas,[43] where he died the following year. His obituary was published in the Spanish language edition of The Laredo Morning Times. U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas' 28th congressional district, who was reelected in 2022, worked with Maldonado on various college projects, called him a "great leader and visionary" whose work greatly benefited the students.[5]​ ​

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 [​http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=allgs&gss=sfs28_ms_r_f-2_s&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Juan%20Leandro%20&gsln=Maldonado%20&mswpn__ftp=Nueva%20Ciudad%20Guerrero.%20Mexico&MSAV=1&msbdy=1948&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&uidh=000 Juan Leandro Maldonado]. search.ancestry.com. Retrieved on March 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ The Marriage of Juan Maldonado and Peggy Connally. texasmarriagerecords.org. Retrieved on May 15, 2012; no longer accessible on-line.
  3. ↑ Divorce Records Recorded in Wise County, Texas, 1968-2001: Maldonado, Juan L.. wisecountytexas.info. Retrieved on September 14, 2015.
  4. ↑ Timothy Mark Giddens, Sr. (died 2005). findagrave.com (August 11, 2014). Retrieved on March 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Maria Salas (December 21, 2018). Fallece ex president de LC. The Laredo Morning Times (Spanish edition). Retrieved on December 22, 2018.
  6. ↑ Tricia Cortez (March 22, 2007). Ramón Dovalina stuns LCC with early retirement 1, 15A. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 LCC president to retire after 20 years of service to college. Laredo Community College (June 19, 2015). Retrieved on October 3, 2015.
  8. ↑ Juan Maldonado, LCC College president. Rotary Club of Laredo Daybreak (April 25, 2014). Retrieved on October 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Martin High honors 2008 Tiger legends. The Laredo Morning Times (April 23, 2008). Retrieved on September 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ Michelle Newman, "Lowdown: San Agustin Plaza Is the Oldest Public Square in Texas," blog.mysanantonio.com, March 1, 2009, accessed=October 21, 2015; no longer on-line.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Curriculum Vitae: Juan L. Maldonado. senate.state.tx.us. Retrieved on May 14, 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 LCC - Update. Rotary Club of Laredo Daybreak (April 25, 2014). Retrieved on September 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ The Relationship of English Oral Language Proficiency, Cognitive Tempo, Locus of Control, and Specific Language Acquisition Factors of Mexican American Preschool Children. Texas Woman's University (1986). Retrieved on October 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ Our History. Laredo.edu. Retrieved on July 10, 2015.
  15. ↑ President's Office. laredo.edu. Retrieved on September 9, 2015.
  16. ↑ Nick Georgiou (October 11, 2010). Maldonado gets contract extension, more. 'The Laredo Morning Times . Retrieved on September 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ Aldo Amato (November 22, 2013). LCC president gets pay raise, contract extension. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on September 9, 2015.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Judith Rayo (October 29, 2014). Un-presidential?: Maldonado on vacation 1, 14A. 'The Laredo Morning Times . Retrieved on September 14, 2015.
  19. ↑ Final voting results for runoff elections," The Laredo Morning Times, December 20, 2014, p. 1.
  20. ↑ Rudy Ramirez (December 31, 2014). Junior [Community college president should retire [because of] events that have taken place]. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on September 14, 2015.
  21. ↑ Intelius.com lists fourteen people named "Rudy Ramirez" in Laredo, Texas; the "Letter to the Editor" gives no middle name or address by which he could have been identified.
  22. ↑ Judith Rayo (November 2, 2014). Cause for termination? Maldonado's job at risk for supporting candidates. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on September 9, 2015.
  23. ↑ Judith Rayo and Philip Balli (December 14, 2014). Trustee vs. trustee: Temporary restraining order filed in personnel matter 1, 19A. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on September 14, 2015.
  24. ↑ Judith Rayo (December 23, 2014). Board takes no action: Contract evaluation postponed for now. Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on September 8, 2015.
  25. ↑ Kendra Ablaza (December 28, 2014). Board defers review again: Maldonado's evaluation date uncertain 1, 4A. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 27, 2015.
  26. ↑ Judith Rayo (December 22, 2015). Trustee's Temporary Restraining Order amended: Maldonado's evaluation meeting to proceed. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 27, 2015.
  27. ↑ Judith Rayo (April 24, 2015). Cavazos banned for 14 days 1, 11A. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 27, 2015.
  28. ↑ President's Management Team. Laredo Community College. Retrieved on October 4, 2015.
  29. ↑ Judith Rayo (March 6, 2015). Complaint discussed at meeting: CFO Nora Stewart waits for resolution after suspension. Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 27, 2015.
  30. ↑ Judith Rayo (April 16, 2015). Retaliation claim: Trustees to discuss grievance against Maldonado 1, 9A. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 27, 2015.
  31. ↑ Judith Rayo, "Financial officer may be on way out," The Laredo Morning Times, May 19, 2015, pp. 1, 12A.
  32. ↑ Judith Rayo (July 2, 2015). CFO stays, chief expires: President's contract will not be extended 1, 12A. 'The Laredo Morning Times . Retrieved on September 8, 2015.
  33. ↑ Daniel Flores, Jr.. Laredo Morning Times (April 29, 2016). Retrieved on August 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Tricia Cortez, "LCC feud: Auditor's complaint against President, CFO alleges retaliation, harassment," The Laredo Morning Times, February 23, 2007, pp. 1, 12A.
  35. ↑ Laredo Community College 2007–2008 Catalog, pp. 309, 312.
  36. ↑ Monica R. Walters (July 11, 2015). [​ http://www.lmtonline.com/news/local/article_749d2a14-27fb-11e5-91be-4f4379da5703.html LCC ranked 10th in online list]. 'The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 27, 2015.
  37. ↑ 1974-2008 Presidents and Conference Locations. tache.org (February 13, 2008). Retrieved on July 10, 2015.
  38. ↑ 14 leaders serve on President's Laredo Advisory Council. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (July 19, 2005). Retrieved on September 15, 2015.
  39. ↑ LCC names finalist for president of college. The Laredo Morning Times (May 16, 2016). Retrieved on May 17, 2016.
  40. ↑ Judith Rayo. LCC trustees buy out president's contract, hire his replacement. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on June 16, 2016.
  41. ↑ Tricia Cortez, "LCC ups perks; Board gives additional $3,000 per month to incoming president," The Laredo Morning Times, April 21, 2007, p. 1.
  42. ↑ Judith Rayo (August 29, 2016). Former LCC president paid for hundreds of hours of unused sick leave, vacation days. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on August 30, 2016.
  43. ↑ Juan L. Maldonado. Intelius.com. Retrieved on July 25, 2017.

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