Amarillo College administrator blends faith, service and higher-ed leadership

Carlee Garrison, Executive Assistant to the Dean of Liberal Arts at Amarillo College, is being spotlighted for her role managing operations across 16 academic programs while continuing her education. Her profile highlights how faith, persistence and community service shape her approach to leadership, student support and women’s advancement in higher education.

Why it matters: - Carlee Garrison’s role shows how administrative leadership can directly affect student access, faculty support and day-to-day academic operations at a community college. - Her profile also reflects a broader push for women to speak up, lead and advance in higher education and administrative roles.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Carlee Garrison, Executive Assistant to the Dean of Liberal Arts at Amarillo College. - Garrison has worked in higher education for four years. - Garrison oversees operations that include travel, events, instructor compensation and a $4 million budget across 16 academic programs. - Garrison also develops and mentors administrative assistants and serves as a key contact for the division and its administrative team. - The profile was published on November 2, 2026. - More information is available in Carlee Garrison’s Influential Women profile.

The details: - Garrison’s specialties include executive and higher education administration, database management, analytical strategy and operational process optimization. - Garrison says her approach to workflow improvements relies on pattern recognition to identify bottlenecks and streamline processes. - Garrison previously worked in independent field sales, which she says strengthened her communication, relationship-building and problem-solving skills. - Amarillo College has recognized Garrison with two institutional awards. - Garrison earned an associate degree in Business Technology from Amarillo College. - At Amarillo College, Garrison was named Outstanding Major in Business Technology. - Garrison maintained a 4.0 GPA at Amarillo College. - Garrison was selected as the 2024 Commencement Speaker at Amarillo College. - Garrison then earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Business Administration and Management from Tarleton State University. - Garrison graduated summa cum laude from Tarleton State University. - Garrison is now enrolled in Tarleton State University’s MBA Fast Track Program. - Garrison’s certifications include Mental Health First Aid, The Science of Well-Being, Foundations of Project Management and Microsoft Office Specialist 2019. - Garrison is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society and COABE. - Garrison teaches Sunday school at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and volunteers with the Lone Star Kickers clogging team. - Garrison has also been involved with the Future Billionaires Club and Kappa Chi, a Christian organization.

Between the lines: - Garrison frames her success around faith, perseverance and trust in God’s plan. - Garrison says late nights, demanding schedules and uncertainty forced her to rely on prayer and persistence while balancing school, work and personal responsibilities. - One career lesson that shaped Garrison’s mindset was the reminder that not every task is an emergency. - That advice pushed Garrison to prioritize what matters most, stay calm and avoid overloading every task with the same level of stress. - Garrison’s perspective on women in leadership centers on using their voices, advocating for themselves and supporting one another. - Garrison says women’s ideas and experiences strengthen the institutions they serve. - Garrison also argues for a human-first mindset built on kindness, respect, dignity and empathy.

What happened in higher ed: - Garrison sees Amarillo College as being in a period of growth and change under new leadership. - The college now has a new dean, a new vice president overseeing the business office and its first woman president, Jamelle Connor. - Amarillo College continues to build on its Aspen Award-winning status while focusing on student success. - The college offers the Badger Bound dual credit program, which lets high school students earn college credit toward a degree at no cost. - Rising enrollment and deeper partnerships with local schools are creating pressure to expand faculty, increase course availability and add support resources.

What’s next: - Garrison is continuing her studies through Tarleton State University’s MBA Fast Track Program. - Garrison says she plans to keep serving Amarillo College while helping expand pathways that support students and the surrounding community. - Her profile positions her as part of a broader generation of women working to shape higher education through service, voice and leadership.

The bottom line: - Garrison’s story is less about title and more about impact: steady operational leadership, academic persistence and community service are driving her role in higher education.