Dr. Cynthia Lenton-Gary

Dr. Cynthia Lenton-Gary is the Chair of the Houston Community College Board of Trustees.  In her capacity as Board Chair, she serves on the board of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. She is the first African American female to serve in city government for the city of Missouri City and the first African American female appointed to the Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology/Mathematics, Dr. Lenton-Gary began working as an Environmental Chemist.  After which, she worked as a Research Chemist and a Forensic Scientist (Criminalist) for the Houston Police Department.  She later received her master’s degree in Sociology and a doctorate in Christian Counseling.  After leaving corporate America to pursue a career in education, she began working as a Professor of Sociology at Prairie View A & M University and became very active in her community.

As a member of the city council, Dr. Lenton-Gary created a Youth Council in her district, which provided high school students with summer jobs.  Her passion and willingness to serve others afforded Dr. Lenton-Gary to be recognized by “Who’s Who Among Professional Women”.  She has been active in many organizations and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.  She was honored by her sorority as “A Woman of Change-Making a Difference in the Community”.  She worships at the Fountain of Praise Church where she is an ordained Deaconess.

Dr.  Lenton-Gary is a recipient of the YMCA Minority Achievers Award; NAACP President’s Award for Community and Civil Engagement, National Forum for Black Public Administrators’ award for Outstanding Success and Invaluable Contributions; and Holman Street Baptist Church honored as a “Woman of Legacy Impacting Others”. She is a 2022 recipient of the Forward Times “Lifting While we Climb-Legends Award”.

Dr. Lenton-Gary served on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council and is a former member of the Greater Houston Partnership.  She is a stroke survivor and served as an ambassador for the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.  As ambassador, Dr. Lenton-Gary was a special guest on “Great Day Houston” to discuss heart health. If you know Dr. Lenton-Gary, you will agree that she is passionate about public service, dedicated to educating members of the community, and committed to her position as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Houston Community College.