[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 132 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





     RECOGNIZING DR. KATHRINE B. SWANSON FOR HER ACHIEVEMENTS WITH 
             METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE LONGVIEW CAMPUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 20, 2024

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense, everlasting 
gratitude in recognition of the long and fruitful career of Dr. 
Kathrine B. Swanson, the outgoing president of Metropolitan Community 
College's (MCC) Longview campus. Dr. Swanson has dedicated over 40 
years of her life to service in higher education, demonstrating a 
lifelong commitment to student success that has benefitted MCC-Longview 
and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District as a whole. Today, I invite 
us all to take a moment to reflect on Dr. Swanson's contributions to 
her community in honor of her well-earned retirement.
  Dr. Swanson's journey as a professional in higher education takes us 
across the country. She first received her bachelor's degree in 
business management from Northern Michigan University, going on to 
complete a master's in adult and higher education from Montana State 
University. Lastly, she earned her doctorate in higher education 
administration from the University of North Texas. Dr. Swanson has 
dedicated the majority of her career to working in community colleges, 
being firm in her conviction that quality education should not be 
unattainable for underserved communities. Before arriving at MCC, she 
served as the associate dean of students at Collin County Community 
College in McKinney, Texas, and in several leadership positions, 
including vice president for student affairs, at Montgomery County 
Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Through a lifetime of 
such distinguished service, Dr. Swanson has clearly showcased her 
commitment to bettering her community through education.
  Dr. Swanson came to the Fifth Congressional District in 2015 when she 
was hired as vice chancellor for student success and engagement at MCC. 
In this role, she worked tirelessly to increase student civic 
engagement outside the classroom, expand financial aid for students in 
need, and support a promising young generation of new leaders for our 
community. Dr. Swanson quickly took an active role in strengthening the 
community herself, working frequently with local chambers of commerce, 
economic development councils, and community partners, and even serving 
on the boards of Saint Luke's East Hospital and Lee's Summit Creates, a 
local nonprofit working to promote community art. Such involvement 
demonstrates Dr. Swanson's dedication not just to MCC-Longview, but 
also to the broader citizenry of Missouri's Fifth Congressional 
District.
  Dr. Swanson's tireless work in service of her college and community 
has been recognized and rewarded by both students and staff. On August 
1, 2021, she was appointed the president of MCC's Longview campus, 
while continuing to serve in her role as vice chancellor for student 
success and engagement until June of 2023. To cap off her already 
distinguished career, student leaders at MCC-Longview elected to honor 
Dr. Swanson with Phi Theta Kapa International Honor Society's 
prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in April 2024. This honor, one 
worthy of being bestowed upon Dr. Swanson, is reserved for those few 
college leaders who have gone above and beyond to support student 
success initiatives and rear the newest cohort of leaders for our 
society.
  Education is the cornerstone of the American experience. It enables 
students to support themselves and ultimately support their community 
as they rise to answer the call of leadership to live out a constantly 
evolving, perpetually improving society. Without education, none of 
this advancement would be possible, and without college leaders like 
Dr. Swanson, there would be no education. Mr. Speaker, please join me 
in congratulating Dr. Kathrine B. Swanson on an immensely successful 
and deeply fulfilling career in service to MCC-Longview, the people of 
Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, and beyond.

                          ____________________