Two Area Men Named to a State Task Force

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed two East Texans among the five persons named to the Task Force On Academic Credit And Industry Recognition. The East Texans are Mike Bell of Henderson and Sam Hurley of Athens. Bell was also named the presiding officer. Both were appointed for terms that will expire on December 1, 2021. The Task Force was created by HB 553 during the 85th legislative session to identify academic credit and industrial recognition for offenders within the Windham School at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

*Mike Bell of Henderson is the vice president of Correction at Management & Training Corporation and a former Captain of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He is a member of American Correctional Association and the Texas Correctional Association. Bell received a Bachelor of Science in administration of criminal justice form the University of Charleston.

*Sam Hurley, Ed.D. of Athens is associate vice president of Correctional Education Division and administrator of the Prison Educational Division at Trinity Valley Community College. He is vice president of the Neches-Trinity Groundwater District, member of Texas Community College Teachers Association and the Association of College Technical Educators, and past president of Athens Kiwanis Club. Hurley received a Bachelor of Science from Arkansas State University, a Master of Science from University of Arkansas, and a Doctorate in Education from Texas A&M Commerce.

Also named to the group were Tac Buchanan of Amarillo, Vanessa Steinkamp of Colleyville and Jim Yeonopolus of Harker Heights