Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton for Port Commissioner, Place 4 – My priorities include workforce sustainability, long-term growth, and safe infrastructure that supports jobs, families, and local industry—because the port only succeeds when the community does.

Early Voting: April 20 to 28
Election Day: May 2

“My priorities include workforce sustainability, long-term growth, and safe infrastructure that supports jobs, families, and local industry—because the port only succeeds when the community does.”

Workforce Sustainability

Support practical workforce training aligned with port and maritime industry needs
Strengthen coordination between the port, industry partners, and our local community college to align certifications and technical programs with real job demand across the Rio Grande Valley
Encourage regional hiring pipelines so residents of the Rio Grande Valley are prepared for maritime, logistics, manufacturing, and skilled-trade careers
Value and elevate the experience of welders, mechanics, operators, and industrial workers who keep the port operating

Long-Term Growth

Support steady, responsible port expansion grounded in industry demand
Encourage collaboration between port leadership, economic development partners, and workforce institutions across the Rio Grande Valley
Promote policies that strengthen cargo movement, ship repair, and industrial services while protecting long-term competitiveness
Focus on decisions that expand regional opportunity without placing unnecessary strain on taxpayers

Safe Infrastructure

Maintain docks, roadways, utilities, rail connections, and channel access critical to daily operations
Prioritize safety standards that protect crews, contractors, and port tenants
Support long-term infrastructure planning that keeps the port operational and resilient for the Rio Grande Valley economy
Encourage transparency and accountability in infrastructure investments

Biography

Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton serves as Associate Vice President of Educational Partnerships & Outreach at Texas Southmost College. She oversees dual credit career and technical education pathways that allow students to earn college credit while preparing for high-demand, high-wage industrial sectors critical to regional infrastructure and economic growth. Through these roles, she advances Workforce Sustainability, Long-Term Growth, and Safe Infrastructure by ensuring local talent pipelines are aligned to regional industry and port-adjacent economic needs.

Her leadership foundation began in the Port of Brownsville Shrimp Basin, where at age 18 she was appointed President of her family’s shrimp boat–building business. She expanded operations into offshore and commercial divisions, gaining firsthand experience in industrial operations, skilled trades, capital management, and port-adjacent industry. When the shrimp market crisis disrupted the sector and forced the closure of the family business, it marked a pivotal inflection point in her career. That experience—navigating industry collapse, workforce displacement, and economic transition—shifted her trajectory from private-sector operations into systems-level public leadership focused on Workforce Sustainability, Long-Term Growth, and Safe Infrastructure. The lessons learned at the port continue to shape her approach to economic resilience, talent pipeline development, and infrastructure stewardship.

For more than 20 years at Texas Southmost College, she has led institutional partnerships connecting K–12 systems—including rural school districts—higher education, and industry to high-demand career pathways. She has co-developed and administered more than 250 federal, state, and local grants supporting faculty credential attainment, student certification pathways, applied research alignment, and workforce-ready talent pipelines tied to regional industry and infrastructure. Her work reinforces long-term economic competitiveness by preparing students early and sustaining industry-aligned workforce development systems.

Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton has also served as an adjunct faculty at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College | College of Business, teaching Microeconomics, Organizational Communications, and Introduction to Business in both English and Spanish, reinforcing her applied understanding of market systems, labor economics, and organizational strategy.

GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Elected Trustee, Brownsville Independent School District (State of Texas)

Vice President | 2018–2022 | Served during the COVID-19 global pandemic, helping lead a district of approximately 40,000 students and 6,000+ employees. During her tenure, board leadership delivered:

Consecutive years with no property tax increase
No healthcare cost increases
No reductions in force
Voted for and supported a total 23% increase in teacher compensation across all experience levels — including entry-level teachers — helping close regional wage gaps during her four-year tenure while maintaining fiscal stability
Equalized funding to ensure equity across Gifted & Talented (GT), Fine Arts, Athletics, Special Education, and At-Risk programs
Advocated for Zariah’s Law (Texas Senate Bill 776), advancing inclusive UIL athletic opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities
Reinstatement of the 40-hour workweek for bus drivers
Expansion of dual enrollment graduates from zero to 600+ students
Facility improvements, including new and renovated libraries, elementary gym enhancements, and middle school track upgrades

Cameron County Appraisal District Board

Vice President | 2020–2022

Provided governance oversight of countywide property valuation, tax base integrity, and fiscal transparency affecting municipalities, school districts, industrial properties, and regional economic stakeholders. The role required balancing statutory compliance, equitable valuation practices, and revenue stability that supports public infrastructure, workforce systems, and sustainable regional development.

Communities In Schools of Cameron County

Current Board Member

Supports a countywide model of integrated student services designed to reduce dropout rates, stabilize families, and strengthen the future workforce pipeline. The work reinforces long-term economic stability by addressing systemic barriers that affect educational attainment, workforce participation, and community resilience.

Booster Mom

Current Board Member

Actively supports student athletic programs.

Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton is also the proud mother of Scott Roca Tipton, a senior at Veterans Memorial Early College High School, Class of 2026.