Transition of Dr. Kurt Ewen

Oct 23, 2023

Dear HCC Family,

Regrettably I write to inform you that Dr. Kurt Ewen, our colleague, and friend, passed away Saturday morning after a lengthy battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

During his tenure, Dr. Ewen served as Chief of Staff and Vice Chancellor of Strategy, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness. He was also a valued member of the Chancellor’s Executive Council. A steadfast champion of community colleges, Dr. Ewen sought to improve the lives of students and others, including faculty and staff. His support of education, evidenced in part by the Ewen Family Endowed Chairs for Teaching and Learning Excellence Awards, which he established, is a testament to his commitment to higher education.

Dr. Ewen’s dedication to Houston Community College (HCC) is an inspiration to each of us. His demonstrated perseverance is a hallmark of his journey at HCC. His leadership is evident from the creation of the college’s strategic plan, “Embracing Houston’s Future,” Mosaic & Me, and shepherding our institution through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Ewen also successfully led HCC’s preparation for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges Decennial Review.

We will all indeed miss Dr. Ewen and extend our thoughts and prayers to his family. We will remember him with gratitude for his lasting impact on each of us and HCC.

Sincerely,

Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D.

Interim Chancellor