Linda Battles, Interviewed by Myra Leo

This episode was recorded on September 28, 2020.

In this episode, higher education policy specialist Linda Battles talks with her good friend and former colleague Myra Leo about a long career in public service and her role as a Regional Director for Western Governors University.  The two also tell some of the most endearing stories about their shared mentor Chairwoman Irma Rangel - the first Mexican-American female legislator in the Texas Legislature.

Learn more at: https://www.wgu.edu/ 

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Season 2 of the Pink Granite Podcast is generously sponsored by:

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Public Blueprint

Thank you for listening!

Guest:  Linda Battles
Host: Myra Leo
Editing: Amy Whited
Music:  "Only the Brave Run Wild" Sounds Like Sander
Voice Talent:  Sarah Keats
Executive Producer: Amy Whited

Transcript

Myra Leo: 0:25

Hi, this is Myra. Leo. And I'm so delighted to be here, Linda, and I need to thank you for the opportunity to introduce you on this podcast. As you know, I am a Principal at Husch Blackwell Strategies. I just started that new job, March 1, leaving a 23 year career at K & L Gates Law Firm. Prior to that, I was with the City of San Antonio. And prior to that I worked for the first Mexican-American woman elected to the legislature, Irma Rangel and that's where that's where our true story begins. It's under her leadership and her guidance. And again, I'm just so happy to be here and be part of this. And so I know that you and I go back many, many years. And really, it was I think, gosh, I don't even know how many years it's been 1994, perhaps I hired your older sister when I was Chief of Staff, for Chairwoman, Irma Rangel, And when I was leaving, you came in, your sister actually recommended you and you were hired immediately. So there's a lot of great stories and all of this. And I want to move forward and give you the opportunity to introduce yourself. And let's talk about your many lives in the business world government and everything that has come from that. So I'm going to go ahead and let you tell us a little bit about yourself. Perhaps going back to those first moments with Chairwoman Rangel.

Linda Battles: 2:04

Well, thank you, Myra. I'm so excited to be here and to see your face. I think the last time you and I saw each other was for lunch in February prior to the COVID outbreak. And so we've texted each other and talk to each other on the phone but have not seen your beautiful face. So I was so excited to see you and to have this conversation with you and to relive some of our old memories of one of our fondest fondest mentors, and trailblazers in Texas. But yes, you and I have known each other for years, I would about myself before I get into how I got started at the Capitol I was raised in El Paso, Texas. I moved here to Austin to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned a bachelor's degree in and actually worked in the at the Austin State Hospital for a bit.

Myra Leo: 3:13

Something I didn't know about you.

Linda Battles: 3:14

Yeah. That that was where I got my start. And I was at the time I was looking for a job that would pay me more than minimum wage and gave me some nice health insurance. And that's when lo and behold, my sister received that call from you and and I really credit my start at the Capitol to you because had not reached out to my sister I never would have known about the opportunity. And working for Irma really opened the door for me. And I've my career has just moved forward ever since to bigger and better things. I started with Irma as a legislative assistant in 1994. And you were moving on at the time as her chief of staff.

Myra Leo: 4:12

To the City of San Antonio, with federal state and local government affairs and we had to leave Chairwoman Rangel with good people and when you walked in the door and she was just taking it you know taken with you and she because she knew your older sister lawyer Ana. You were family immediately and I think you felt the same way at the time.

Linda Battles: 4:40

I did. She put me at ease right away. We we probably talked for a good 20 minutes. But she asked me certain questions like okay, you don't live in my district because she had a thing about not hiring constituents. She just didn't want to be placed in any kind of conflict of interest, right? So she was real careful about that. And she asked if I spoke Spanish because her district was primarily Spanish speaking and I needed to be able to communicate effectively. And then she offered me the job. And I was stunned because I had zero Capitol experience. And I asked her, I said, so it doesn't matter that I don't have any experience? And she said,"Honey, if, if all of us waited to give opportunities to Hispanic women, based solely on their previous experience, how do you think we'd increase diversity here at the Capitol?" And of course, at the time, Hispanic women were few and far between.

Myra Leo: 5:44

Well, she was the first one, Mexican American woman elected to the legislature. And there's some just some fabulous stories associated with her. But one of the things when she first got here, she said, members would come up to her, they'd want to know what a Mexican-American woman looked like that that wasn't at home and pregnant. You know how bold she was. And she spoke loudly. But we were both just so honored to have these experiences with her. So I'll let you continue Linda, with your storyline.

Linda Battles: 6:14

Well, and before I do, let me tell you that she was such an influence on me and what I thought that I can do in my career, because when growing up in El Paso, you see, you know, you are basically you are not a minority, you are part of the majority growing up in a border town. And I didn't think I was different until I moved to Austin. And before that, I think there was a expectation for people like women like me, too. Yes, get your education, but get married, have children. And I think that that was the expectation that was there for me. And it wasn't until I started working for Irma that I realized that I could do more than just that. Not that there's anything wrong with it, okay. But I wasn't pigeon holed to any one way of being as a Hispanic woman. And Irma was a single woman who got engaged twice, didn't actually ever get married, but didn't have children. And that was a first role model that I had that here's a woman who's smart, independent, influential in state government making significant policy on the state level. And I was inspired by that, and I think heavily influenced my decisions in my lifetime, so I, I learned a lot.

Myra Leo: 8:04

You worked for her how many years because I did nine years, and I think I was the longest I have to say.

Linda Battles: 8:10

I think you were because I worked for her for six years from I started as a legislative aide in 94. And in 95, she promoted me to be her chief of staff and legislative director. And then I did that for another five years. You'll recall that she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, and it was the year 2000. And because I'm so loyal, and and committed to was committed to her and I've had a pattern of that in terms of my loyalty to my employer, I mean, I think we all are very, very loyal to an extent and I was looking to potentially make a transition but didn't want to do that without her blessing. And I'll never forget after working with her, and you know, seeing her go through treatments, which was a really hard thing to do. I thought there's I will be committed to her until you know, she she's ready for me to move on. And I remember the last day of this posting of a job opening at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board had come up and they were going to close it at five so I must have been talking to her at about noon that day. And and I just brought this up this posting up and and she knew I had always wanted to go work at the Higher Ed Coordinating Board. And she I told her about the job posting and she said well have you applied I said no, I'm committed to you and I'm here to you know, to serve you and your your district and she said nope. Finish everything that you're doing go apply. Get that application in, hand deliver it now and get it in. And sure enough, fast forward. I, I got the job as an assistant director.

Myra Leo: 10:09

How long were you there Linda with the Coordinating Board, because you were there for while?

Linda Battles: 10:14

Yes, I was there for 19 years up until April of this year. And I've worked in various positions started off as the assistant director, so serving as a liaison to the Coordinating Board to the legislature and the governor's office. And in 2014 is when I was introduced to my second mentor. So Irma was my first mentor. And then Dr. Raymond Paredes. This was my second mentor. And he also originally from El Paso, Texas.

Myra Leo: 10:50

Such a big, big network from El Paso, I have met so many folks, and a lot of them are in government as well. But yes, El Paso and Austin, Texas.

Linda Battles: 11:01

We're everywhere. And it's wonderful to see, although at some point, I wish some of us would return to El Paso and bring the wealth of education and knowledge and experience to to the city and support the local economy there. But yes, so 19 years at the Coordinating Board working in various positions and working under initially under Dr. Don Brown, who was the the first commissioner of higher education in Texas, and he stepped down in 2004. And then Raymond Peredes, this was hired by our board. And he started and, of course, he and I hit it off right away, being from El Paso and also being to time undergrads are graduates of UT Austin. But he immediately at the time, I only had my bachelor's degree in psychology, and he sat me down and said, what are your career goals? And I said, Well, I want to continue working in higher education and on policy. I said, ultimately, I think I'd like to work at an institution of higher education to round out my knowledge and. And he said, Well, if you're going to be in higher ed, you need to get a higher credential. You need to bring that credibility. And so he encouraged me to apply to the LBJ School at UT. And it was wonderful because I had a letter recommendation from him as the sitting commissioner of higher education. I had a letter of recommendation from Don Brown, the previous Commissioner, who I'd worked with, and then also Dr. Kenneth Ashworth, who was a longest standing for higher education. He served for 24 years. And he and I had worked closely together when Irma was the chair of the house Higher Education Committee, and I was working for her. So it was wonderful to have the support of those three commissioners very influential in their own right.

Myra Leo: 13:22

Working, you know, with with the board, because those are given tutorial appointments. Right? You have to meander a great deal dealing with with board members. And that's that can always be a challenge too. So not only with with those commissioners and your associates, but the board play a pivotal role.

Linda Battles: 13:41

And that's a very good point. And yes, I was I served as the board liaison from, for most of my time at the Coordinating Board and establish the such great relationships with them, and to this day, have strong relationships with many of them. But it was just a wonderful experience to really move up the ranks at the higher ed Coordinating Board, getting, you know, more responsibilities over time learning every aspect of the agency and higher education policy.

Myra Leo: 14:21

And I think that ties back to the legislature because unless you're in the business that we're in, myself, I finally say I grew up at the Capitol having started a senate messenger and then going on to work with Representative Rangel and everything that ensued after that. But the tie into the Texas Legislature, YouTube, we're surrounded by all of that and and, and taking it to the Coordinating Board and knowing the ties because it was Chairwoman Rangel and higher education that established a lot of the new things. The top 10% different things that affect colleges and universities and so That tie in was was such a, it just seemed like such a great alignment for you going from the legislature to the Coordinating Board, and then where you sit now with the Western Governors University.

Linda Battles: 15:13

Yes, thank you for letting letting us know where I'm at now. I am at Western Governors University, which is a nonprofit, online private institution. We have a state affiliate here in Texas called the WGU Texas that was actually created by the governor in 2011. And our mission is to change lives for the better by providing pathways to opportunity. And one of the things that I love about WVU, Texas is that the majority of our students come from one or more underserved populations. And my passion for serving underserved populations really stemmed from my experience working with Irma when she was chair of the house Higher Education Committee, and that was her primary focus. And one of the pieces of legislation that I'm most proud of that I worked on with her is the top 10% law, which was House Bill 588, which she filed in collaboration with Senator Gonzalo Bonds Barrientos, who was a senator for Austin, and she worked with Hispanic academia, from UT Austin from University of Houston. And they came together to devise the bill. And this really was, was created in response to a decision by the US Fifth Circuit Court that dismantled affirmative action in higher education.

Myra Leo: 17:01

What, I got excited about myself being from South Texas, actually, right, you know, in the same general area, where am I was from, in South Texas, you know, for me, I went to rural High School. So the application of this law was was very important that the top 10% from little bitty South Texas, someone was going to come to our had the opportunity to come to the University. So it to me it was it was an incredible opportunity for rural America, rural Texas let me say, to participate,

Linda Battles: 17:39

Right. And that's exactly what the results showed is that you had more students who are graduating who are graduating in the top 10% of their class, regardless of where that high school was located. We're we're automatically admitted into the state's public universities. And that would include our flagship institutions of UT Austin, and Texas A&M. So you started to see much more high school feeders, feeding into these two tier one institutions that you didn't see before. And that included rural students, it included diverse students, because the state of Texas is predominantly is still very much segregated. And so you see that opportunity across the state. So I'm pleased that it's it's, it's stayed, it has stayed pretty much in existence, since it was passed, except for UT Austin.

Myra Leo: 18:47

I love where you're going with this. You're the closing the digital divide is essentially what you're saying, Linda and I, again, being from rural Texas, I appreciate that so very much. And I do want to ask you a little bit specifically about maybe perhaps what you're working on with WGU, which I believe, like you said, it's online. Is it and I did want to ask you this question, is it? Is it mostly adult learners? Or is there a mix? What does that look like?

Linda Battles: 19:18

So the average age of our students is about 36. And the reason being is the whole purpose of why WGU is created. We were created back in 1997 by 19, governors of the western states to really expand access to higher education, particularly for working adults. adults who work full time who have families who really the traditional brick and mortar institution doesn't work for. And so since we also offer a competency based learning model, which really caters to the adult learner, because they can bring past knowledge and experience into the classroom to demonstrate mastery of courses, as opposed to us measuring seat time.

Myra Leo: 20:21

And so if I may ask, what kind of courses are y'all offering? Is it? Do you have a nurse program? What does that look like?

Linda Battles: 20:29

So we are we have four colleges. We have College of Health, which includes nursing. We have the colleges, the College of IT, College of Business, and College of Teaching, and we offer over 60 programs across those colleges. And each of those are competency based. They're also we also do what's called skills mapping, which makes our degree programs relevant to workforce demands. Because our faculty work closely with business and industry to ensure that we are embedding those skills in our courses and degree programs. So we've got really great outcomes in terms of work, workforce relevance. And our graduates, for example, are prepared for the workforce. And we get wonderful feedback from employers who hire our graduates who have high satisfaction rates. Sometimes we get 96-97% of employees who are surveyed, are highly satisfied with our graduates and say that they will hire graduates again. So I, in this role as regional director, I was hired in April as regional director. And that's where I left the Coordinating Board to, to come here, which was a really interesting time because it was the middle of the pandemic.

Myra Leo: 22:04

Yes, I know the feeling I did the same thing.

Linda Battles: 22:08

Yes. So I really didn't get to meet my team in person. I've really interacted with them once in person. And it's been working from home this whole time. But it's been wonderful, because I've learned so much. Two and a half months after I was hired as regional director, my boss who was Regional Vice President and Chancellor for WVU, Texas, ended up getting another job and so he left and but that gave me an opportunity. I was asked to step up in an interim role as acting regional vice president so I've been doing those roles since and been learning a lot and I love it.

Myra Leo: 22:57

Well, you you know how to meander best I'm telling you, having, you know, been in the legislature, obviously, with with the chairwoman and going to the Coordinating Board and serving in those capacities where you have to deal with the gubernatorial appointments and dealing with, you know, really the task at hand of higher education. And you know, the goals that are set by the Coordinating Board, and it's a huge challenge to educate our population, and to provide options for them, whether it's online or or restructuring to accommodate the adult learners and all those things. So I do have a pretty big question for you. If you had to take a look at yourself, say 20 years ago, or even more, would you have done anything differently? I know that I've got my own perspective on this. You know, I think I would worry less, perhaps. But I want to ask you, what would you tell yourself if you were just starting out 30 years ago? What, what are your impressions at this point? Because it's an important answer to because anyone listening to this, and hopefully there'll be lots of people listening to this. It's good to know how to think at a vulnerable time in our lives, we I think we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves and looking back now I wish I hadn't hadn't done that to myself. So it sounds it's a sincere question here. And I'd love to hear what you have to

Linda Battles: 24:28

Yeah, and I I've actually thought about this say. because I've noticed how I have, over the years become much more confident in my ability and who I am as a Hispanic woman. So I would say that just don't be so down on yourself. Don't be so hard on yourself. Believe in yourself. have the confidence that you need to get out of your comfort zone. Because when you get out of your comfort zone, that's when you grow, that's when you are able to learn and learn from your mistakes, don't beat yourself up over the head for your for mistakes, learn from them, and help them to make you better. And so for me, I, that's always been my problem growing up, not having that self confidence to really grow. And I had wonderful mentors who believed in me, and who really picked me up and encouraged me and empowered me. And so they're the ones that gave me the trust and responsibility with greater with greater roles within their purview. And that's what helped me grow. So I would say that I would also say, don't be quick to judge for quickly. You know, don't don't sweat the small stuff, you know, it's and just live every life, being grateful.

Myra Leo: 26:15

Well, Linda because I know, I know you so well. And you and I have had wonderful, wonderful conversations, discussions about our faith, it plays an important role in both our lives. And I think we're really committed to that, and knowing God, and I really like you to talk just a little bit about that. Because you and I have engaged many times and those moments of a great anxiety of the great unknown, of feeling alone, perhaps, and not knowing what to do, but I we share a commonality in our strong belief in God. So I'd like to share a little bit about that.

Linda Battles: 26:53

Yes, I appreciate the question. Because you know, working in state government, you're always real careful about separation of state and church. And so but now that I'm I met WGU, I just feel much more open about it. But I've grown in the last five years in terms of my faith, I've always had faith, I just have been more deliberate about learning more. And so I put God first. And every day, every day that I wake up, I do something I read, or listen to something that helps educate me on how to be more. Really, like one of God's children.

Myra Leo: 27:44

Centered.

Linda Battles: 27:48

And it's been quite a journey to learn more about my spirituality, and how to apply it in my everyday life. And I've found that I'm less anxious, I'm less worried about things I catch myself if I'm not being positive or saying something positive or reaching out to others in need. So for me, one of the things that helps me is if I'm going through a tough time, personally, I try not to focus on that. And instead I ask God, how can I be a blessing to somebody else who you know is in need, and I know that my needs will be taken care of. But I need to be used in ways to help others. And so that's my key to success is have faith. You know, forgive, be quick to forgive, be grateful, be grateful for every blessing. Don't look back and try not to look too far into the future and get yourself worried about things that are beyond your control. And just have have faith.

Myra Leo: 29:10

Well, Linda, I've always seen you have a real truly, you're a person of mission. And I think that when you look at life, and you wake up in the morning and it's not about you like you said it's about serving others and I think that is just such a strong connection to to Irma as well. She was a person of great faith prayed a rosary every night very few people knew that it pray rosary. At the same time being ostracized by the Catholic Church for for supporting or excommunicated, rather, for supporting pro choice issues. But she was very dedicated and committed and she knew God and I just think that we You and I have learned so much from her leadership. But I think The word that comes to mind for me every day is it's about mission. And that's what you have done. And I want to tell you also that, which I appreciate greatly, because you don't necessarily see this in, in everyone. Because some of us are still evolving. I, you know, I'll have to say that about some folks to be nice and kind here. But the fact is that you have always been accessible. And in your positions, you know, again, going from a legislative office, where you have people like lobbyists like me coming in knocking on the door trying to get through, you were always very open and generous, accessible, you went on to the Coordinating Board, and you never skipped a beat in, in, when, when folks needed a job or needed advice. You've always just been there with an open door. And that's a rarity in this life. I certainly appreciate those when I call them that they take the time to visit that they take this on, how are you. And so I too, have have a list of folks looking for jobs. Again, you and I are very aligned in mission. And so I want to thank you for always doing that. And being that that you haven't forgotten where you came from, which was another Irma Rangel motto, don't ever forget who you are, where you came from.

Linda Battles: 31:53

It's the mission that really motivates me and the mission of WGU Texas, the mission of the higher ed Coordinating Board, and even as mission is really what develops my passion and loyalty. I am also a very transparent person, I like to share information, I think that information is power. And I think that it empowers us all to know what's going on to have those connections, networking is so important. So that's the other piece of advice that I would give young women entering higher education or state government, or any kind of public policy position is networking and information are key. Because it's who you know, and what you know. That's why I try to do as much as I can for others and opening doors. Because it's so important to do that. I've always felt very strongly that any help that was given to me, I have to then give back to others who are coming behind me. And so it's for you, Myra, I want to I want to take this opportunity to thank you for being my mentor as well. And for You're such You're so savvy when it comes to people and connecting and networking and the strategy that you have in terms of trying to get your legislative priorities through the process. You know, people who you can rely on and you nurture you establish genuine relationships with these folks who can help you and they genuinely want to help you. Because you build that trust. And I, I, you've you've demonstrated that to me. And I've learned that over the years, you've got to build that trust, build those relationships, to be able to rely on those relationships to help get things done.

Myra Leo: 34:17

Well, and thank you so much, Linda, but I'm going to go back to mission and being authentic. I think if you're true to who you are, and it's you're not carrying an agenda of sorts is about what's presented to you and how we manage it and the gifts were given along the way. I feel very blessed in my life. I wake up every day and I thank God for this wonderful job as a lobbyist of all things but it's a great it's a great life and has allowed me to meander the legislature and really become close to a lot of folks as a staffer. You know, I fought I often say I grew up at the Capitol Starting out as a senate messenger, many moons ago, but I again going back to knowing how to meander, right I call it that a lot. But in the same aspect of your your life story you meandered over here, and now you're at WGA, we all have such unique stories to share. But I think being true to self being authentic being about mission, you know, you can cut out a lot of things. And that ego, you know, sort of put it aside and get get to work. I think as women, we do that really well, we do it. So sometimes it hurts us because we're about getting the work done, and not thinking through things and men thing, not all men, but a lot of them think very differently. And so we get the job done is what I want to say, and but I have established a lot of great friends. And again, I'm really happy. What I do every day, and I'm very grateful for gratitude. And again, I want to thank you for allowing me to participate and be part of this. This was a it's an honor to be visiting with you, Linda and be part of this podcast. And I just want to simply Thank you very much.

Linda Battles: 36:16

Well, thank you for participating as well. And thank you, Pink Granite for the platform, too. And it's just a great opportunity to share experiences, to share the history of, you know, working at the Capitol as a Hispanic woman. And some of the, we didn't get to share some of the stories of working at the Capitol. But you know, we started when prior to, you know, 9-11, you know, when the Capitol was much more accessible. And things were very, very different. You know, I know, I've worked under I've worked under four governors. So beginning in governor Richards, last term. And then under Governor Bush, Perry, and now Abbott, and I've worked 13 consecutive sessions. So if I've done that many consecutive sessions, you're you've got so many more years ahead of me.

Myra Leo: 37:30

I want to hear a story I think that you know about, what was it, Governor Bush at the time? I want you to share that.

Linda Battles: 37:38

Yeah, no, I think it's such an it's so a characteristic of Irma and who she was the, you know, even though she was what, 52. She had a big presence and a big personality. So one time when I was working for her, this must have been right before the 1997 session. And, you know, we parked right around the Capitol Building. So we were able to, you know, prior to 9-11, you know, parked on there, and we were unloading her car because she would take us to Sam's, if you remember to buy us all kinds of goodies because we would stay late, you know, during the session, and we we needed some sustenance. So there we are unpacking her car. And here comes George Bush, Governor George Bush and two DPS troopers, one on each side, escorting him somewhere. And so of course, he came across Irma she, you know, introduced me and another staff member who is with her. And so she says, So Governor, she said, "Can we expect you to sign a bill this session that would create a state personal income tax?" Because, you know, Irma had been pushing that for many, many years, and she thought it was the fairest way to do it in lieu of property taxes. And so he responded in Spanish and said"sobre mi cuerpo muerto," which means in English means over my dead body. Without hesitation, she responded and in English, I guess the DPS troopers would hear. She said she said it with a smile. She said "Governor, be careful what you ask for." And oh my gosh, we were like everybody started laughing because it was just so right on and she wasn't shy about saying anything. And she was just so quick witted. It just, that's that was her and she she had so much fun, she was tough. And she expected all of her staff to work twice as hard as anybody else to stay as late later than anybody else. Turn in high quality, accurate work. I mean, she she was tough in terms of her training. And all of us who received that training have gone on to do, you know, amazing, have amazing careers. And we all look back and said it was the Irmal Rangel training that we had.

Myra Leo: 40:31

We are referred to as Irma's girls and we do refer to her as mother. Yes. And you know, we take the the annual trek to the state cemetery, you want to share that story?

Linda Battles: 40:42

Oh, yeah. So. So, you know, Irma was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and what January early February of 2000. And she even though she was able to lick that it came back as ovarian cancer. And so that second time, when it came back, she realized that she needed to start taking care of her final resting arrangements. And so she had me and you and other close friends, join her at the state cemetery to pick out a plot. And she was very particular about where she wanted to be laid to rest. And so we all walked out. And we, we helped her find this really nice place, and that she called the Mexican Hill, because other Hispanic legislators had been, had picked out their plots there or had already been buried there. And so when she finally selected her plot, we broke out a bottle of champagne, and glasses, and we did a toast in her honor. And she, I remember, she commented saying that she wanted to have a nice bench there so that when people come visit, they have somewhere nice to sit under this big, lovely tree. And they can see the beautiful water there with the small creek that's there. And so sure enough, after her passing, and she did pass away in the middle of the 2003 session in March, and I was already at the Coordinating Board. And I remember, you know, the day that she went into the hospital that the day passed, she had all kinds of legislators coming to visit and pay, you know, their respects and and it was just a wonderful turnout to have so many people who loved her.

Myra Leo: 43:03

We had a lot of actually dignitaries in terms of of members of the legislature, I think, I think Governor Perry even was there and I it was Our Lady of Guadalupe church on East Seventh Street. And I remember the priest is a good friend actually saying, when he talked about her, he had all these accolades, of course, but he also said she could have been the first pope was just fantastic. I'll never forget her giving money as well to to the church and saying, you know, I don't know how much money it was, could have been a minimum of 500 or more, who knows. But she looked at the priests and she said, Now this is for the children. Make sure it gets to the kids. Yeah, that's who she was. And that is part of I think, our what we know today, Linda, but especially you I think you've really taken a lot of what you learned with her throughout your work. And, and, and again, shared a lot of that with others in terms of her leadership, and you've taken those tenants and you use them very wisely throughout your career. We've learned a lot from her, all of us, her girls, there's so many stories, I'd love to delve into all it would take days just to get through and I think we'd have a lot of folks laughing and crying. Yeah. And it just a lot of fun things but again, I just want to thank you for this opportunity and pink granite and I don't know if you have anything to final words, Linda at this point to share with us.

Linda Battles: 44:48

Well, I just want to say how appreciative I am of the opportunities that I've had over my career and You know, learning from Irma, like you said, I learned about how important access to higher education is for students for all students, regardless of where they live, their geographical location, their socioeconomic status, the color of their skin. talent, we know what, which is what we say at WGU, talent is universal, but opportunity is not. And so making sure that we expand access to higher education is so critical. And I carried that from Irma, then to the Coordinating Board where, you know, Dr. Beredes, this taught me that access and success are so important because access without success is not opportunity. So just because we can get underserved students into higher education isn't enough. We need to do everything that we can to make sure that they graduate and earn their credential. Which brings me to WGU Texas, which is why I am just loving every bit of work that I'm doing with WGU Texas and expanding that to online education, which knows no boundaries and the fact and I can tell you that the people at WGU Texas and WGU, nationally, are very special people. They all think about the students. We, the students are the center of everything that we do. And that's how I have felt my entire career, my entire 25 years of higher education, and higher education policy. It's always been about the students and putting them first and the fact that WGU does not have, you know, facilities to worry about, does not have to does not engage in research does not, you know, have football teams, they don't have these other distractions, that we're just focused on learning and making sure that students are getting the education that they deserve. And so I just feel like I've come full circle in my career ending, you know, I hope it's not the end, I hope that I will continue serving these students, particularly those who are underrepresented. Like I said, 75% of students at WGU are from one or more of the underserved populations, which includes first generation students, low income students of color, rural students, and the military. So we're very proud of, of our outcomes again, and I'm just so passionate about expanding the knowledge of all Texans of WGU exas, particularly during this ime of, of this COVID-19 andemic, we're a great pportunity to come back rescale pskill, if you have some ollege, no degree, you know, oming back and getting that egree. It's so important, and e want to be part of the conomic recovery in Texas. We ant to improve lives and and hat's, that's where I'm just so hrilled to be where I'm at, and ery grateful. Once again, I hink when we show gratitude for verything in in our lives, I hink that's the key to appiness. And I can tell you hat I'm a very happy person.

Myra Leo: 48:46

I agree. Thank you so much, Linda again, and pink granite. Excited to be here and excited to know what the future holds. Thank you.

Linda Battles: 48:55

Thank you.