Anette Carlisle to Conclude Service on Amarillo College Board of Regents

Anette Carlisle, who has served on the Amarillo College Board of Regents since 2015, will conclude her service on the AC Board of Regents, following more than three decades of service to public education.

Carlisle said she is ready to spend more time with her family and feels comfortable concluding her service knowing Amarillo College is well positioned for the future.

“I’ve worked with great team members and leaders throughout my years in public education,” Carlisle said. “Public service is rewarding, despite the challenges, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served Amarillo College and our community.”

Carlisle began her public education service in 1996 as a member of the Amarillo Independent School District Board of Trustees. During her 31 years of service in public education, she has been a strong advocate for students and a proponent of using data to understand real needs and guide educational decisions.

One of Carlisle’s significant contributions to the community was her leadership of Panhandle Twenty/2020, a collective impact effort that brought organizations and leaders together around educational attainment and the needs of local students.

“Panhandle Twenty/2020 was a real team effort in our community that I was happy to lead,” Carlisle said. “It helped our community focus on attainment and the needs of our students.”

Carlisle said that community focus on educational attainment helped demonstrate the difference that could be made by working together to support students. She also pointed to the subsequent transformation at Amarillo College, including the College’s receipt of the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, as an important part of that larger community effort.

During her tenure as an AC regent, Carlisle also led the College’s 2019 bond election effort, helped establish joint meetings between the AC Board of Regents and AISD Board of Trustees, and worked with AC administration to develop new operating procedures for the Board. She also chaired the policy and legislative committees for many years.

She also helped train AC staff in understanding poverty and the challenges many students face, reinforcing the importance of recognizing students’ circumstances while maintaining high expectations for their success.

“We learned about the students we have and the challenges they face, but we also know that they can still be very successful,” Carlisle said.

Carlisle’s service to education has extended beyond Amarillo College and AISD. She has served on the board of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT) and the P-16 Council with Region 16. At AC, she helped craft transformational initiatives including the Thrive Scholarship and Badger Bound, which have expanded opportunities for students to pursue higher education.

Carlisle was recognized this month with the 2026 Outstanding Leadership Award at the CCATT meeting, honoring her leadership and service to community college education.

Carlisle also has found ways to connect her personal interests with lifelong learning at Amarillo College. Four years ago, she worked with fellow birders to establish the “Birding in the Texas Panhandle” continuing education class. The classes are now in their fourth year, and the interest has grown into the Panhandle Bird Club, which meets monthly and organizes field trips throughout the Texas Panhandle.

“AC has been such an important part of my life, and I will miss it,” Carlisle said. “But I know the great work will continue, and now I’ve got friends for life there.”

“Anette’s commitment to public education and to the students and families of our community has strengthened Amarillo College in so many meaningful ways,” said Dr. Jamelle J. Conner, president of Amarillo College. “Her thoughtful leadership, genuine care for our students, and unwavering belief in the power of education have made a lasting difference. We are deeply grateful for her service and the heart she has brought to our college.”

Carlisle said she feels comfortable concluding her service because she believes Amarillo College is well positioned for the future.

“Amarillo College is in a really good place, so it’s OK to step down and spend more time with my family,” Carlisle said. “I am confident Amarillo College will continue to serve the needs of our students and our community.”

Applications Open for AC Board of Regents Vacancy

The Amarillo College Board of Regents will accept applications from qualified individuals to fill the vacancy created by Carlisle’s departure. The vacancy will become effective at the conclusion of the Board’s Sept. 22 meeting.

Applications will be available online beginning Sept. 23, with a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. The AC Board of Regents Nominating Committee will review applications and may interview applicants before recommending an applicant or applicants to the Board for consideration.

The Board is expected to consider the Nominating Committee’s recommendation and make the appointment at its Nov. 17 meeting or at a special meeting in November called for that purpose. The appointed regent will serve the remainder of Carlisle’s unexpired term, which concludes in May 2027.

Applicants must meet eligibility requirements established by Texas law and Amarillo College Board policy. Complete eligibility requirements and the application are available at www.actx.edu/candidates.

For questions or additional information, contact Ally Greenwood, secretary to the Board, at ammiller28@actx.edu or 806-371-5124.