Laredo College Faculty Spotlight

From a small village in China to a career in engineering and education around the world, Dr. Dacun Li’s journey is one shaped by perseverance and a belief in the power of education.

In this episode of Faculty Spotlight, Dr. Li shares his remarkable path and his passion for helping Laredo College students succeed. He also celebrates a major milestone, earning tenure and becoming a full professor of engineering on Aug. 17, 2026.

For nearly five decades, George “Eddie Mac” Macdonald, Jr. has been part of the Laredo College story.

A former LC student who returned as a faculty member in 1979, Macdonald has witnessed generations of change while building a career centered on teaching, service and student success.

In this Faculty Spotlight, he reflects on 47 years at LC, his 30-year military career, the evolution of technology in the classroom and the philosophy that continues to guide him as an educator.

Government professor Lizette Henry shares the journey that led her from a small town and an unexpected start in beauty school to a 25-year career in education. She discusses her passion for government and history, her approach to creating an open and respectful classroom, and how continuing her own education has shaped the way she connects with students at Laredo College.

Dr. Selinda Martinez has spent more than a decade at Laredo College sharing her passion for biology and helping students discover where science can take them.

In this Faculty Spotlight, she reflects on her journey as an educator, the experiences that shaped her teaching and why she believes learning never stops, even for the professor at the front of the classroom.

In this episode of Faculty Spotlight, we sit down with Brenda Carmona, director of the Instructional Technology Center at Laredo College. Brenda discusses how the ITC supports faculty and students through innovative technology, emerging educational tools and hands-on learning experiences. She also shares her journey to Laredo College, her passion for education and how technology continues to shape the future of teaching and learning.

In this episode of Faculty Spotlight, we sit down with Linda Ramirez, Professor of Business Management at Laredo College. Linda shares her journey from Laredo College student to educator, her passion for teaching business, and how she helps students prepare for successful careers. The conversation also explores the impact of social media and AI in education, the evolving mindset of today’s students, and the rewards of helping students achieve their goals.

Dr. Rafael Romo has been part of Laredo College for 10 years, but his journey started much earlier. He began coaching at just 17 years old while he was a student at Laredo College himself. Today, he brings that same passion into the classroom, teaching kinesiology along with courses in health awareness and drug use and abuse, which he calls an eye-opener for students. His philosophy is simple and powerful: when you become his student, you become his student for life.

In this episode of Faculty Spotlight, we visit the kitchen at Laredo College’s South Campus to meet Alejandro Casillas, a Culinary Arts instructor whose journey came full circle. After earning a bachelor’s degree in dance from UTRGV, Alejandro followed his passion for cooking and enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Laredo College. He later returned as an instructor and has now been teaching at the college for the past four years.

Blanca Magaña-Shehab, a Vocational Nursing instructor and lab assistant, has been part of Laredo College for 14 years. After working as a floor nurse, she was encouraged by an LC professor to apply when her natural connection with students stood out. She takes pride in making a difference not only in patients’ lives, but in their families’ lives as well. Currently pursuing her master’s degree, she finds her greatest reward in hearing students say they feel fully prepared after completing the program.

Professor Brenda Garcia, Chair of the Cosmetology Department, moved to Laredo in 1996 without knowing English and began learning the language in high school. A Cigarroa High School graduate, she discovered her passion for cosmetology when a friend signed her up for classes. Licensed since 2000, Garcia has spent the last decade teaching future cosmetologists, including seven years at Laredo College, where she continues to share her love for the craft and her story of perseverance.