Featured Leader: Dixon Boyles
Dixon Boyles
Dean of Business and Social Sciences, QEP Director, Texarkana College
LT Class of 2018
Dixon’s passion is education and he has worked most of my adult life to become more effective in making the world a smarter, wiser place. Dixon says, “The value of a college degree has never been more important, and my mission is to increase the college graduation rate of area citizens and thereby to improve their personal wellness in terms of health, earnings, happiness and many other wellness factors and to help end the generational poverty which so many of our citizens have endured.
When asked what his wish would be to make a difference of significance, he said it would be “to restore the appreciation of the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge’s sake. The current demand that everything taught in schools be immediately applicable in the marketplace can blind us to beauty and prevent us from becoming enlightened citizens who are dedicated to building the best communities we can. We need to feed the human spirit if we are to conquer the challenges of the future.”
About Texarkana, Dixon replies, “I love that we have held our own and are still in the fight. Population trends are toward the big cities and most towns our size have lost population, but we are hanging in there and that gives me hope. We have also managed to hold on to our unique identity and don’t look like every other town in the orbit of the metroplexes that was built in the last twenty minutes. Our future is not assured, but it is in our hands. Who can ask for more than that?”
What have you learned most about making a difference in Texarkana (or about your opportunity for community leadership) from being a part of Leadership Texarkana?
“The richness and complexity of Texarkana’s history throughout the 20th century had never really hit home with me until LT, and I developed a great appreciation for its leaders over the years. I also had never fully appreciated the challenges that being a border city presents and how important it is for us to rely on one another in promoting our interests in both states.”
What does leadership mean to you?
“Leadership is thoughtful action and a commitment to meaningful accomplishment regardless of who gets the credit.”
For what community organization or issue or opportunity do you have a passion and invest your time, talent or money?
“Education is my passion, and I have worked most of my adult life to become more effective in making the world a smarter, wiser place. Texarkana College is my organization. The value of a college degree has never been more important, and my mission is to increase the college graduation rate of area citizens and thereby to improve their personal wellness in terms of health, earnings, happiness and many other wellness factors and to help end the generational poverty which so many of our citizens have endured.”
If you had one wish and could make a difference of significance in Texarkana (your small corner) what would you do with that one wish and why?
“My one wish would be to restore the appreciation of the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge’s sake. The current demand that everything taught in schools be immediately applicable in the marketplace can blind us to beauty and prevent us from becoming enlightened citizens who are dedicated to building the best communities we can. We need to feed the human spirit if we are to conquer the challenges of the future.”
What do many people not know about you that you would to share with us?
“What are some of your passions and hobbies? I am a good cook and can whip up a meal out of just about anything. I love watching birds in my backyard and have probably caught more kinds of fish than most people can name—lol.”
What do you most love to do in Texarkana?
“I love driving through the old neighborhoods with all of the big hardwood foliage.”
What do you most love about Texarkana, in general?
“I love that we have held our own and are still in the fight. Population trends are toward the big cities and most towns our size have lost population, but we are hanging in there and that gives me hope. We have also managed to hold on to our unique identity and don’t look like every other town in the orbit of the metroplexes that was built in the last twenty minutes. Our future is not assured, but it is in our hands. Who can ask for more than that?”
Dr. Dixon Boyles is Dean of Business & Social Sciences at Texarkana College where he also serves as liaison for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A native of Texarkana, Dr. Boyles has decades of experience in higher education at Beaufort County Community College (NC), Clemson University, and the University of Arkansas. His wife Tracey is principal of Trice Elementary where their daughters Sarah and Shannon are fourth graders.