Leadership, at its best, is not measured by how loudly someone enters the room, but by how much stronger the institution is when that leader leaves the chair. By that measure, David D. Itz has given the Houston City College Foundation plenty to celebrate.

Itz recently completed his 2024–2026 term as Chair of the Houston City College Foundation Board of Directors, concluding two years at the helm and moving into the role of Immediate Past Chair. The leadership baton officially passed September 1, 2026, to Tracy Janda, who will serve as chair for the 2026–2028 term.

For Houston, however, this is more than a routine changing of the guard. It is another chapter in a long civic tradition of business leaders, philanthropists and volunteers investing their time, credibility and resources in one of the region’s most important engines of opportunity: Houston City College.

Itz’s relationship with the Foundation reaches back more than a decade. Foundation records listed him as treasurer in 2016, and his service has included years of board leadership before his elevation to chair. Outside HCC, Itz also brought substantial governance and business experience to the table, including decades in the energy industry and longtime service with First Service Credit Union, where he previously served as board chair.

That background made him a natural fit for a Foundation whose work is ultimately about stewardship — stewarding donor dollars, student dreams and Houston’s workforce future.

Established in 1976, the Houston City College Foundation is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charity created to expand opportunity for HCC students, including nontraditional learners and students facing financial barriers. Its work centers on scholarships and endowments, support for college programs and capital projects, and grants that help faculty strengthen student learning.

Over the years, the Foundation has awarded thousands of scholarships. Its long-term ambition is even larger: building scholarship resources strong enough to help every qualifying HCC credit-hour student who needs assistance begin a college career.

That mission has taken on added significance as HCC itself enters a new era. The institution changed its name from Houston Community College to Houston City College in 2025, signaling a broader identity while continuing its historic commitment to affordable, accessible education across the Houston region.

Itz helped guide the Foundation through that institutional transformation — the kind of moment that requires continuity without complacency. While logos and names may change, the central assignment remains the same: connect generous Houstonians with students whose talent deserves a chance to flourish.

Now Tracy Janda steps into the chair with her own deep record of community leadership. The Foundation’s 2025 Gratitude Report described her as a longtime advocate for collaboration among business, nonprofits and education, with previous leadership and community-relations experience at CenterPoint Energy. She is also a Rice University graduate and longtime volunteer in education and civic organizations.

That makes the transition feel less like an ending than a relay race run well: one leader carrying the mission forward, then placing it carefully into capable hands.

Houston Style Magazine salutes David D. Itz for a chairmanship defined by service, continuity and commitment — and, perhaps more importantly, for understanding that philanthropy works best when the spotlight stays on the students.

The title may now read “Immediate Past Chair.” The impact, however, remains very much present.

 

LEARN MORE: Houston City College Foundation

— official website, scholarships and giving opportunities.