This page highlights our ongoing partnerships, profiles of faculty, staff, and students actively engaged in community service, and showcases photos from recent college-sponsored events. Updated on the 25th of every month, this page serves as a hub for the latest community activities and initiatives involving KC. We encourage you to bookmark this page and visit regularly to stay connected with our efforts and involvement.
KC Department Chair of History, Government, and Geography;
Associate Professor of History
Started at KC: August 2017
Dr. May is active on the board of the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance. The East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance is dedicated to providing resources and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias. ETAA offers respite care grants, educational classes, weekly day clubs, and other critical services to caregivers and families, ensuring that no one in East Texas faces the challenges of Alzheimer’s alone. The Walk to End Alzheimers will be takes place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Teague Park in Longview. The Walk benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, which raises money for a cure for Alzheimer’s. As long as there is Alzheimer’s, we need both the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance, pouring resources in to helping local families, and the Alzheimer’s Association making sure this disease comes to an end.
Answer: I serve on the Committee for Community Colleges within the Organization of American Historians; on the board for the East Texas Historical Association; on the membership committee for the Southern Association of Women Historians and as part of the team of scholars for the Civil Rights in Black and Brown Oral History project. I also serve on the boards of ETAA (see above); the Gregg County Historical Museum; and the Junior League of Longview, as a commissioner for the Gregg County Historical Commission, and as part of the steering committee for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and the Longview 1919 Remembrance Project, which is in the process of making a documentary about the 1919 Longview Race Riot.
Answer: I don’t think of a singular experience when I encounter questions like this. Instead, I think of all the many connections I can see in students when we are discussing the past and I can really see something hit them, whether they are getting how that events impacts them or simply having an emotional reaction. My favorite experience is when I have a student who tells me that they hated history or didn’t see the point of it until my class. That’s my drive.
Answer: My family has been in Deep East Texas for a very very long time. I grew up as an only child to Eugene and Saundra May, only grandchild, and only great-grandchild in Huntington, near Lufkin. I think that’s how I grew to love history so much. As the only person in my generation on my mom’s side, I was the one who heard all the family stories and lore, and I soaked it up.
Answer: My husband, Travis Lipscomb, is the executive chef at Scotties Bistro in Longview, and I love going there for food and to watch the sun set on their amazing outdoor patio.
Answer: A glass of a great wine that I’ve purchased from Britt’s Wine & Dine here in Kilgore, curled up on the couch with my two dogs and my husband watching a movie.
Answer: I’ve been obsessed with a playlist on Spotify called “lit girl fall x”. It’s perfect for autumn.
Answer: The mini bags of movie theater butter popcorn. Just the right amount for one person and delicious.
Program Manager for KC’s Upward Bound program
As the Upward Bound Program Manager, she is responsible for developing, implementing, and directing the program which serves high school students from Kilgore, Longview and Pine Tree. Her job as UB Manager is to ensure that the program meets all the goals outlined by the grant, supports students in meeting their goals, and supports advisors as they work with the students. Her team assists and advises students academically, helping them stay on-track and improving their GPAs. She creates and facilitates programming that focuses on social-emotional learning, college and career goals, and life skills. Ultimately her goal is to get all of the students to college and help them earn a college degree.
Answer: I enjoy shopping, listening to music, watching movies, and just relaxing. I also enjoy volunteering in the community. One organization I’m passionate about volunteering with is Longview PAWS. We hope everyone can come to the Longview PAWS HOWLS & GROWLS event on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 2-4 p.m. at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center. Bring your pets and enjoy local vendors and a “Spooky Shelter” as the backdrop to the event.
Answer: I grew up in Longview my whole life before moving to Shreveport to attend Centenary College to earn my bachelor’s degree, and later lived in Boston for two years while I completed my master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts Boston. My dad is from East Texas (all over), and my mom is from Alabama originally and has lived in different states. Their parents and families instilled in them a strong work ethic, which they passed down to me and my siblings. We work hard and serve others where we can. We have a lot of extended family and our family get-togethers are loud, but so much fun.
Answer: I have always enjoyed helping people and finding ways to serve others. When I began working in KC Financial Aid, my goal was to help people the way that the financial aid office at my college had helped me. Moving into Upward Bound was a natural progression of that desire to serve. We didn’t have a program like Upward Bound at my high school. I would have benefitted from having one. I did have a couple of teachers who pushed me and supported me. Without their support, I would have struggled to navigate the college process and probably would not have been as involved in school organizations. I want to ‘pay it forward’ in a sense and be that same kind of support for our program participants.
Answer: Alabama Crimson Tide Football – Roll Tide!
Answer: Popcorn!
Captain of the 85th Line of the Rangerettes
From: El Paso, TX
“As Captain, not only am I expected to uphold the “All-American” image in and outside of practice, but to hold my teammates to the same standards as well. I communicate daily practice attire and necessities, lead all practices, and alongside the other four lieutenants, help guide the new freshman Rangerettes to exceed far beyond what they thought possible. I am beyond humbled to be a small part of such a prestigious organization that represents the United States around the world. This year the Rangerettes will be traveling to London to perform in their New Year’s Day parade! Nothing compares to the incredible opportunities this organization brings. In just two short years, Rangerettes has taught me the importance of integrity, discipline, humility and so much more. I will always carry with me the lessons I have learned and will continuously strive to lead in a way that upholds the beautiful and prestigious legacy that is the Kilgore College Rangerettes.”
Answer: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and taking advantage of the little time that we have here together in Kilgore.
Answer: I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where I grew up with three siblings. As a family of six, things were not always easy but it only brought us closer. Being so far away from home has made me homesick at times, but I am lucky to say that my youngest sister has now joined me as a part of the Rangerettes during their 85th Anniversary. It is very special to me to have her in Kilgore, pursuing our dreams together once again.
Answer: In high school, I competed on the track and field team as a high jumper. High jumping became a fun outlet for me as it was very different from the passion I have for dance. Though I was not able to continue that after I graduated, I claim it as a hidden talent because my senior year I was ranked number one in the city of El Paso and at one point was top ten in the state of Texas!
Answer: My most memorable vacation was the summer of 2022. My best friends and our families came together for one big family vacation to Disneyland! At one point all 22 of us got on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” ride and I will never forget the picture of us taking up every seat on the ride. We enjoyed every moment we had together and it will forever be a core memory.
Answer: A lot of my motivation comes from my teammates. My teammates constantly encourage me and give me mounds of support daily. Having them by my side and becoming so close with them is something that I will always be grateful for.
View photos of recent community-wide activities KC participated in. Click on each photo or the links below for a larger photo gallery of the events!
