THECB Taps East Texas A&M Professor to Evaluate Workforce Training Initiative

Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, a professor of counseling at East Texas A&M University, has been awarded a $200,000 grant by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to evaluate the Texas Innovative Adult Career Educational (ACE) Grant Program.

The ACE Grant Program's intent is to support efforts that prepare low-income students for entering careers in high-demand and significantly higher-earning occupations. The grant funds are distributed to nonprofit workforce intermediaries and job training organizations. Previous ACE grantees include Capital IDEA, Project QUEST and the Pitzer Family Education Foundation.

Using the THECB grant, Hendricks' job will be to analyze ACE data from various sources and determine the program's impact on low-income and veteran student populations, as well as the degree to which ACE goals and requirements have been met. Based on his findings, Hendricks will make recommendations on improving the program's effectiveness.

As a longtime faculty member at East Texas A&M and an integral part of the Commerce community, Hendricks has made it one of his life's missions to help those in need—particularly those seeking access to education. Through his work with the THECB, he aims to ensure that individuals in need are receiving the full benefit of the programs designed to support them.