Dr. Maude Ferguson is a native of San Francisco, CA  and was reared in Iowa City, IA. She is the daughter of the late Dr. W.C. Ferguson and Mrs. Josie McDade Ferguson. Maude received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University (1964).

 

 While a senior at “PV” she was elected “Miss Prairie View”..a highly coveted honor at historically Black colleges. She resigned her position in protest of the College administration’s hostility to student involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Maude joined her fellow students on the picket lines and earned a place in the history of the College!

 

  She received her Master of Education degree (Counseling & Guidance) from Texas Southern University (1970) and her Doctor of Education from the University of Houston (1975). She also is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and an adjunct faculty member at several local universities. Dr. Ferguson has lived and worked in Houston since 1966.

 

Dr. Ferguson is a retired senior administrator with a distinguished career in higher education. In over forty years at the Houston Community College System (HCCS),she has served in various positions from Upward Bound Director to Dean of Students  (HCCS-Southeast College) to Associate Vice-Chancellor.

 

She was a highly sought after grant writer whose skill laid the foundation for the HCCS Upward Bound and Talent Search programs which provided opportunity for thousands of first generation minority students to attend college. She served as President of the Texas TRIO programs and was a highly sought after speaker, panelist and author with numerous published articles to her credit. Upon her retirement from HCCS, Dr. Ferguson was awarded the Chancellor’s Medallion for exemplary service to the institution.

 

Dr.Ferguson is a founding member of the JOY Tabernacle Church and has served our ministry in many significant roles; Chairperson, Board of Advisors, Pastoral Leader, Director of GenCare, Chief Executive Officer of Helping Others Pursue Excellence,Inc. (H.O.P.E.). This community development corporation, founded by Dr. Michael P. Williams, provided social service and educational programs to thousands of at-risk children, adolescents and families. Dr. Ferguson wrote grants for H.O.P.E. ,and its affiliated programs, totaling over $8,000,000. In 2006, Maude received the Dr.Michael P. Williams Leadership Award for her exemplary service to JOY Tabernacle.

 

Dr. Maude has been highly recognized for her leadership, development and implementation of impacting programs from early childhood through secondary, college and graduate school levels, A partial list of her awards would include; Arnold Mitchum Award—National TRIO; Champions of Diversity-Houston Community College: Outstanding Educator-Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; Distinguished Service Award-Texas Southern University; Community Star Award- Drug Enforcement Agency and the City of Houston

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