Tom Lawrence, Ph.D.

Experience

• 

  Public Safery & Administration

  Jun 1996 - Jul 2011

  Law Enforcement Officer

  I served in leadership, management, and line roles across all state and federal government levels. I developed cohesive teams and supportive relationships with diverse individuals across multiple job descriptions. I successfully led up to 40 geographically dispersed direct reports in emergency and time-sensitive environments and managed a 1 million dollar budget. Only mid-level employee appointed to the executive committee for policy and planning. Served as the Training Director for a regional facility serving eight California counties. I carried out all executive and administrative duties, including: curriculum development and review, course assessment, instructor evaluation, state accreditation reviews, human resources functions, and fiscal management. Acted as primary liaison for two federally funded community initiatives, supervised long-term capital projects, and received a civilian appointment to Squadron Officer College (USAF Company Grade Officer Development Course). Elected for two consecutive terms as a public safety labor representative and contract negotiator. Show less

• 

  Tri-County Technical College

  Aug 2011 - now

  Providing visionary leadership to the largest academic division at TCTC. Responsible for 70+ faculty/staff and 7 direct reports. I determine annual & long-term fiscal needs, establish priorities for capital expenditures, and manage an 8 million dollar budget. I coordinate the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of all courses. I ensure the alignment of curriculum design and delivery to meet students, provide direction in faculty loading to maximize resources, and establish priorities to ensure relevant professional development. In support of academic affairs, I lead cross-functional teams to design new academic program frameworks, build strategies for our academic portfolio, and provide key insight into our digital transformation process. Show less Served as the Department Head for Public Services, responsible for leading a team of approximately 20 full-time and adjunct faculty members from disparate college units: criminal justice, paralegal, media arts production, and early childhood education. Competently served as interim Dean of Business & Public Services in 2015 and four years of Dean pro tem service. Led a diverse group of cross-disciplinary faculty through repeated performance measures with laudable results. Managed a zero-based budget exceeding $750,000. Provided critical committee service as SACSCOC faculty rep, faculty senate, and QEP communications group. Developed empowering growth environment for faculty resulting in Advisory Committee of the Year (MAP), Presidential Medallion winner, & SC CHE Service Learning Award (ECD). This assignment also integrates faculty duties in the criminal justice program. During AY 2014-15, I managed NAEYC re-accreditation for our early childhood education program and led academic program reviews/market analyses for all public services programs. Show less

  • Program Director, Criminal Justice

    May 2023 - now

  • Dean (Academic Administrator), Arts & Sciences

    Dec 2016 - Jul 2023

  • Department Head-Public Services

    Aug 2011 - Dec 2016