The LSC-Online Leadership team works collaboratively to ensure LSC-Online students receive the support services and quality instruction you expect from Lone Star College. Our team of highly regarded experts in online learning dedicate themselves to promoting student success. They also work diligently to provide safe and inclusive learning experiences for our student body so you can live your life and thrive online!
Carlos R. Morales, President
Carlos R. Morales, Ph.D., is the inaugural president of Lone Star College-Online. With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Morales has built his career at the intersection of academic leadership, online education, innovation, and student success. His leadership focuses on expanding access to high-quality education, advancing innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and positioning online education to meet the evolving needs of students and communities.
Before joining Lone Star College, Dr. Morales served as the founding president of Tarrant County College’s virtual campus. His previous leadership roles include Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Ana G. Méndez University System–Virtual Campus, Executive Director of Academic Technologies at Lock Haven University, and Instructional Designer at New Jersey City University.
Throughout his career, Dr. Morales has championed technology and innovation as catalysts for expanding educational access and strengthening student learning. He has authored peer-reviewed academic publications and book chapters, delivered more than 150 refereed conference presentations, and contributed his expertise through service on regional and national boards and academic editorial boards.
Dr. Morales earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biology and Science Education from Inter American University of Puerto Rico and a doctorate in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University. He was named a Frye Fellow in 2009 and a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in 2012.
Cindy Manjounes, Chief Academic & Innovation Officer
Cindy Manjounes, Ph.D., Ed.D., serves as Chief Academic & Innovation Officer for Lone Star College-Online, providing leadership for academic strategy, innovation, faculty support, and initiatives designed to strengthen student success in the online learning environment. With extensive experience in academic affairs, institutional effectiveness, and online education, she brings a collaborative and student-centered approach to building academic programs and systems that expand opportunity and support student achievement.
Throughout her career, Dr. Manjounes has held senior academic and administrative leadership roles across public and private higher education. Her experience spans academic operations, strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, accreditation and compliance, curriculum and assessment, faculty development, student persistence and completion, and organizational change. She has also served as a faculty member and doctoral chair, experiences that continue to inform her belief that effective academic leadership begins with understanding and supporting both students and faculty.
At LSC-Online, Dr. Manjounes is focused on advancing the college as a comprehensive digital campus; one that extends beyond the delivery of online courses to create a connected academic community where students experience flexibility, belonging, and clear pathways toward completion. Her work includes advancing innovative academic models, strengthening faculty engagement and support, exploring the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence, and leveraging data to inform decisions and improve student outcomes.
As a first-generation college graduate who has earned both a Ph.D. and an Ed.D., Dr. Manjounes understands personally the transformative power of higher education. Her leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, continuous improvement, and thoughtful innovation, grounded in the belief that institutional growth is most meaningful when it removes barriers, expands opportunity, and translates into measurable progress for the students and communities Lone Star College serves.
Vincent Nguyen, Executive Director of Online Student Services and Enrollment
Vincent Nguyen serves as Executive Director of Online Student Services and Enrollment at Lone Star College-Online. With nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, he provides leadership for student services, enrollment, and the overall online student experience. His work centers on developing accessible and responsive support systems that help students navigate college, overcome barriers, and progress toward their educational goals.
Since joining LSC-Online in 2014, Nguyen has played an integral role in expanding virtual student services across the Lone Star College System. His contributions include the development of the Virtual Learning Assistance Center (VLAC) and the integration of live online support within the Lone Star College student portal, extending access to essential resources and services for students regardless of location.
Drawing on extensive experience in student life, student services, enrollment, and online education, Nguyen brings a student-centered perspective to service delivery and continuous improvement. His leadership emphasizes accessibility, responsiveness, and collaboration while strengthening the systems, resources, and connections that support students throughout their educational journey.
Nguyen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Tyler and an Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Tyler Junior College. He has also pursued graduate studies in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Management at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Jess Kelly, Executive Director of Online Teaching and Learning
Jess Kelly, Ph.D., serves as Executive Director of Online Teaching and Learning at Lone Star College-Online, where he provides leadership for academic quality, faculty development, instructional effectiveness, and initiatives designed to strengthen pedagogical best practices, teaching excellence and student success in the online learning environment.
Dr. Kelly brings extensive experience in higher education spanning faculty, academic and operational administration, program development, artificial intelligence, and institutional leadership. He began his career teaching biology at two-year colleges before joining Baylor University as an administrator and Senior Lecturer of Forensic Science. He later served as a faculty member and Coordinator of Scientific Inquiry at Ouachita Baptist University and as Director of Research for the Arkansas Academy of Science. His subsequent leadership roles at Dallas College included Continuing Education and Workforce Program Liaison for STEM, Senior Executive Dean of STEM, Executive Dean of Career Technologies, and Executive Dean of the School of Health Sciences. He also served as the Senior Athletics Administrator, ensuring educational access to a broader range of students. He joined Lone Star College in January 2021 as Dean of Instruction for Mathematics and Sciences at LSC-University Park.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kelly has focused on expanding educational opportunity, strengthening academic programs, and developing initiatives that support student success, especially among traditionally underserved student populations. His experience includes program assessment and development, academic affairs leadership, accreditation and institutional effectiveness, Guided Pathways, academic advising, and faculty and staff development. He led institutional compliance and success initiatives and partnered with organizations such as SACSCOC, the Higher Learning Commission, Achieving the Dream, and NACADA.
Dr. Kelly holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Baylor University, an M.S. in Limnology and Applied Statistics and a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Stephen F. Austin State University, and an A.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Tyler Junior College. His leadership reflects a commitment to academic excellence, continuous improvement, faculty and staff success and development, and creating educational environments in which students can thrive.
Elaisa Acosta Meneses, Director of College Relations
Dr. Elaisa Acosta Meneses serves as Director of College Relations at Lone Star College-Online, where she leads marketing and communications and advances institutional strategy, organizational effectiveness, strategic initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. Her work centers on translating institutional priorities into coordinated strategies and executable initiatives that strengthen the student experience, improve organizational performance, and support the continued growth and evolution of online education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Acosta Meneses has worked across higher education, government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to strategy and organizational leadership. Her experience spans strategic planning, communications, organizational effectiveness, project management, and change leadership. She has advised organizations ranging from small and mid-sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies, partnering with leaders to align strategy, operations, communications, and stakeholder engagement to advance organizational priorities and navigate growth and transformation.
In addition to her leadership role at Lone Star College-Online, Dr. Acosta Meneses serves as faculty in Business and Management at San Francisco State University. Her teaching and research interests include strategic management, leadership, organizational systems, innovation, sustainability, and organizational performance. Her work as both a practitioner and educator reflects a commitment to connecting management theory with the complex challenges facing contemporary organizations.
Dr. Acosta Meneses holds a Doctor of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Management and Organization, and a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. She is also a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and holds a certification in project management. Her leadership approach emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, continuous improvement, and the ability to translate strategy into meaningful and measurable organizational impact.
LaDonna Williams, Administrative Assistant to the President
LaDonna Williams serves as Administrative Assistant II to the President at Lone Star College-Online, supporting executive administration, presidential operations, and institutional coordination. She brings extensive administrative experience across education and community organizations, with a professional background grounded in service, collaboration, and organizational support.
Before joining Lone Star College, Williams accumulated more than 14 years of experience working in K–12 independent school districts and more than 20 years of administrative service at Faith Temple Church. She joined Lone Star College in 2019 as Office Administrator in the Marketing and Communications department at LSC-North Harris. In 2022, she transitioned to LSC-Online, where she has supported the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Interim President, and inaugural President.
A first-generation college graduate, Williams holds an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting Technology from Lamar Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy, Manufacturing, and Trade Management from Lone Star College, which she completed entirely online in 2025.
Her experience as an online student provides a personal understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with pursuing higher education while balancing other responsibilities. She brings this perspective to her work, reflecting a commitment to service, accessibility, and supporting the institutional mission of helping students achieve their educational goals.