Chancellor
Letter from the Chancellor
“This is a remarkable time to be at San Jacinto College. We’re producing more career opportunities for our graduates than ever before, through partnerships with global leaders in government, business and healthcare. We’re aggressively improving our training programs in science, technology, engineering and math to fill national job shortages and get students excited about STEM careers. And we’re making college more viable with strategies such as our Achieving the Dream initiative.
"We’re producing more career opportunities for our graduates than ever before..." - Dr. Brenda Hellyer
I feel that I discovered my path at San Jac 20 years ago. We’ve expanded a lot since then, but I love that we continue to attract great faculty and harness their real-world expertise. Here, we follow the maxim that there’s more than one road to success. We’ll constantly strive to make San Jac more accessible and market-responsive as we help students nurture their greatest aspirations — whatever their path may be.”
Dr. Brenda Hellyer
As chancellor of San Jacinto College, Dr. Brenda Hellyer leads a landmark Houston institution with nearly 30,000 students, five primary campuses and a $184 million annual budget.
Dr. Hellyer has been instrumental in shaping San Jac’s culture, curriculum and community partnerships over the past 20 years. She was appointed chancellor in 2009 — the 5th chancellor in our college’s history — and has held a variety of executive leadership roles since 1996.
- Created its mission, vision and strategic plan — in collaboration with more than 1,200 San Jac employees and the Board of Trustees
- Introduced the state’s first associate degree maritime transportation program, with courses customized to the needs of local shipping channel employers
- Established numerous partnerships with Greater Houston industry, education and government organizations to meet workforce needs
- Raised more than $110,000 for arts and sciences scholarships
- Built 10 extension centers and achieved record enrollment growth (San Jac is the 8th largest community college in Texas, with nearly 30,000 students)
- Attracted nearly $20 million in grants to train Houston workers
- Earned 2009 “Industry of the Year” award from the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce
- Successfully earned re-accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
In 2009 Dr. Brenda Hellyer was appointed chancellor of San Jacinto College. She began her involvement with the College in 1996 as an inaugural director for the San Jacinto College Foundation. She served in a number of executive positions at the College, including Executive Vice President for Resource Development, Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice Chancellor before being appointed chancellor.
Prior to joining San Jacinto College, Hellyer worked in the corporate world as an accountant in both the private and public arena. Her experience ranged from mom and pop businesses and Fortune 500 companies, to governmental agencies and entrepreneurial ventures in East Harris County.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a doctorate degree in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. She received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin in spring 2009. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Texas.
Hellyer has served on a variety of community boards and committees including chambers of commerce, economic development councils, city and county government and non-profit organizations. Her current board appointments include: Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, Economic Alliance of the Houston Port Region, Greater Houston Partnership, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the Texas Association of Community Colleges. She previously served as a member of AACC’s 21st Century Initiative Implementation Team and Commission on Academic, Student and Community Development. She is also a Rotarian and believes in being involved in the community through chambers of commerce, non-profit organizations and her church.
She has been recognized with various awards including being named Western Region CEO of the Year from the American Association of Community College Trustees, Administrator for Outstanding Support of Developmental Education award from the National Association of Developmental Education (NADE), Woman of Distinction award from the Bridge over Troubled Water, One of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Phi Theta Kappa - Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, Texas Region Hall of Honor for Chief Executive Officers and the Paul Harris Fellowship Rotarian Award.
Dr. Hellyer is deeply involved in community initiatives to improve the quality of life in Greater Houston. Her appointments and honors include:
- Citizen of the Year, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
- Western Region CEO of the Year, American Association of Community College Trustees
- Board Member, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region
- Executive Board member, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
- Administrator for Outstanding Support of Developmental Education Award, National Association of Developmental Education (NADE)
- Woman of Distinction award, Bridge over Troubled Water
- One of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women
- Phi Theta Kappa - Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction
- Texas Region Hall of Honor for Chief Executive Officers
- Paul Harris Fellowship Rotarian Award
- Executive Board member, Texas Association of Community Colleges
- Member, American Association of Community Colleges’ 21st Century Initiative Implementation Team
- Member, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Continuous Improvement Council
- Board member, Center for Houston’s Future
Contact the Chancellor
Mandi Reiland, Manager, Executive Operations for the Chancellor and Board of Trustees
Phone: 281-998-6100
Email: Mandi.Reiland@sjcd.edu