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
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 her local community college, where she works to align education and workforce development with regional industry across the Rio Grande Valley.
Her connection to the Port of Brownsville began at the age of five. Afternoons, weekends, and holidays were spent at her family’s shrimp boat–building business in the Shrimp Basin. The shipyard operated 365 days a year because vessels and cargo ships arrived at all hours for repairs and emergencies. She grew up around welders, mechanics, and crews whose work kept the port moving.
At 18, she was appointed President of the family business and worked alongside skilled tradesmen as operations expanded into offshore and commercial steel projects. Those years shaped her respect for working families and for the discipline required in maritime and industrial environments.
For more than 20 years, she has supported workforce pathways connected to manufacturing, trades, logistics, and applied technologies that serve employers throughout the Rio Grande Valley. She has co-developed and administered more than 250 federal, state, and local grant proposals supporting workforce training and credential attainment.
In addition to her professional work, she has served in public governance as an elected official in the State of Texas. She was elected to the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees in 2018 and served her full term through 2022, including serving as Vice President during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, the board achieved measurable outcomes, including consecutive years with no property tax increases; no healthcare cost increases; no reductions in force; teacher salary increases aimed at closing the wage gap; hourly wage increases for employees; reinstatement of the 40-hour workweek for bus drivers; establishment of seniority protections as policy; expansion of dual enrollment opportunities; facility improvements; and strengthened special education and mental health supports. Her board service reflected a commitment to fiscal responsibility, employment stability, expanding student opportunity during a challenging period, and a consistent focus on equity.
She has also served on other critical public and community boards. From 2020–2022, she served on the Cameron County Appraisal District Board, gaining additional experience in fiscal oversight and public governance. She currently serves on the Communities In Schools of Cameron County Board and remains active as a booster mom, supporting student programs and activities.
She is the proud mother of Scott Roca Tipton, a senior at Veterans Memorial Early College High School, Class of 2026.